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Udderly Amoosing


Date:  July 6, 2003
Places:  Fort Weyr's Skyspace, Northeast Bowl, and Hatching Galleries
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Ow!  Ow!  Stop beating me for that log title!  Ow!  
It's all Kichevio's fault--well, Kichevio's and that guy who runs
the Disturbing Auctions website.  Aeriste should also probably get
some of the blame.  He's the one who brought up udders while Alessi,
Kich, and Kassima were on a visit to Fort, after all, even if they 
weren't really *his* udders.  Or so one should devoutly hope.

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The Log:

<*> Lysseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

<*> Saulith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

<*> Kiyoth spirals down lower into the bowl.

You spiral down lower into the bowl.

<*> High above the bowl, Saulith loop-the-loops, because she can, and heads
downward.

You wing your way towards the northeast end of the bowl.

You spiral down and backwing to a neat landing on the bowl floor.

<*> Above the northeastern area, Saulith spirals down and backwings to a
neat landing on the bowl floor.

<*> Alessandra walks up the stairs leading into the Hatching Ground galleries.

<*> Kichevio slides down easily from Saulith's neck.

<*> Kichevio walks up the stairs leading into the Hatching Ground galleries.

<*> Lysseth spirals down to a neat landing near her sister greens, furling
her wings as soon as her hind claws are securely on the ground. Double,
double, toil and trouble; and when shall we three meet again, in thunder,
lightning, or in rain? "Nay clawing up their Bowl, beast," Kassi murmurs as
she unbuckles her straps and slides on down.

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.

You walk up the stairs leading into the Hatching Ground galleries.

Aeriste asides over his shoulder to Nananthia, "...Besides, when did
sleeping with the bovine turn into wearing its udders?"

Nananthia laughs and shrugs, "Sorry, I hadda think fast, ya know.. ya keep
m' on m' toes." she says with a wink.

Barely into the galleries before Alessandra and the other two walk in, at
the sound of her voice calling his name, Taika whips around -- and tackles
her rather soundly, enough to send her staggering backwards a pace or two.
"...I missed you too," she murmurs, laughing afterwards.

Heading into the galleries proper with a Taika in her arms, she glances
towards the eggs, then grins broadly. "Kassi! Kich! They have a fine clutch
this time. Taika, I'm putting you down, you're way too heavy anymore.
Thirteen Turns old... Sweet Faranth."

"Nana! Aer! Meet Alessi!" Pause. "My cousin," Taika continues, a bit more
quietly, though perhaps the familial resemblance might be obvious in
eye-shape and face-shape and perma-grin. "And Kassi, I told you about her.
Didn't I?" Aah, confusion (and an almost dragon-short memory) reigns
supreme...

Kichevio bounces in with Alessi and Kassima, looking far too cheerful for
this hour of the night. "I finally get to see this famous clutch that
you're betting half your marks on," she tells Kassi. "Maybe I'll get luck
this time around and win a mark or two back from you." Ah, wishful
thinking. Seeing the Candidates, and choosing to ignore the discussion of
udders, she calls "Telgar's duties to Fort, her queens, and her multitude
of Candidates! This is your cousin, Alessi> I'd never have guessed. Should
I pry him off you, or is he attached?"

"--And I mean it!" Kassima pauses just within the entryway to call over her
shoulder. A gusty, disgusted sigh can likely be heard, if faintly, from
outside. "Wench. I probably shouldn't say that t'her," she confides to the
two other Telgar greenriders whom she's followed in. "She's more apt t'do
it just t'be contrary." Exasperation with one's dragon can only hold one's
attention so long, however, in the face of certain topics; Kassi slowly
turns her head to slew a distinctly disturbed glance in the direction of
the Candidates. It becomes rather *less* disturbed when she sees who's
speaking. "G'deve, Candidates--g'deve, Aeriste. Should've guessed 'twas you
speaking of udders. Oh, Alessi, they do indeed--ripe ground for betting on!
But I didn't know this one was... nay, Taika, I don't think you did, at
least nay by name. Though 'tis hard t'be saying, given how half-asleep
'twas when I saw you last. Right, right, duties and all that too."

Aeriste flashes Kassima a bright smile. "Not your udders, of course. Hers."
And he jerks a thumb towards Nananthia's. And he adds to Kichevio, "Fort's
duties to Telgar. And I'm not sure that a rampaging horde counts as a
multitude, though I suppose it might, since we're trying to keep up
appearances and all." And to Taika, "I don't think you did. Uh, ALessi, is
it? Tell him to lay off the wine. He's turning into a delinquent."

Nananthia blinks and chuckles, shaking her head at Taika. She turns to the
rider, "Evenin' Telgari riders, duties ta yer Weyr and it's queens. Nice ta
meet'cha Alessi, ma'am, likewise Kich, 'n Kassi." she says with a smile.
"How far the knives and the bathing suits?" she asks and then glares at
Aeri, "I don' have udders, ya do, Aeri. In yer bed, next ta the lye.."

Alessandra chuckles softly, prying Taika off and setting him to the ground.
"Is he?" She turns a disbelieving look on Taika, then shakes her head and
laughs aloud. "Really -- Aeriste, yes? -- I'm not surprised. It runs in the
family." She's not asking about the udders, she's really not. Though she
does snicker softly after a moment. "Great, now Kiy's wanting to find out
what udders are."

"Why would you have udders in your bed, Aer? And lye?" So questions Taika,
blinking those ice-blue eyes innocently -- he's long since forgotten about
the stuffed bovine situated in Aeriste's cot courtesy of one Nananthia.
"And the eggs are getting really hard, I've heard a couple of other
candidates say so. They'll hatch soon, right?"

"Do Candidates need udders?" Kichevio wonders, musing on a great
philosophical conundrum. "Are they necessary for cleaning or chore-doing?
They're hardly dress-up accessories..." She glances between Aeriste and
Nananthia, amused at the byplay. "It must be a Fort thing. Your family,
Alessi, delinquents? I'd never have believed it. You're certainly not known
for corrupting the innocents." And she kept a straight face while saying
this, too!

Aeriste just shrugs. "The lye's for the udders."

Kassima's smile back to Aeriste is drolly amused, as is her reply: "I'd be
disturbed beyond all measure if'n you *had* been talking about mine,
methinks. What a thing t'walk in on. I shouldn't ask what he's saying about
your, ah, udders, should I, Nananthia?" Pause. "I can't believe I even
*asked*... m'knives are faring fine. M'swimsuit, a bit less so, but that's
t'be expected. Err. Why would anyone have udders in their bed?" A moment
later, her expression suggests she can't believe she asked that, either. "I
vote Aeriste explain it to her, Alessi. It might be good for comic value.
Anyone mind if'n I snag a seat? I hope 'tisn't *too* soon; I've got a bet
on 'twill be at least three sevendays more. Kich... all right, I *know* I
shouldn't ask this one, but I must. Did you ever use *yours* for cleaning
or chore-doing? I can honestly say I didn't."

Alessandra says nothing, and just reaches to the side blindly to try and
thwack Kichevio on the upper arm, smiling serenely all the while.

Nananthia snickers, "I reckon he said he wasn' interested in mine, which is
a great relief ta m' mind, I'll tell ya what.." she takes a seat and rolls
her eyes.

Aeriste just looks serene, and leans against the railing, and folds his
arms. "Nananthia put them there," he chirps.

Kichevio lets herself be thwacked. "I did nothing," she says blithely to
Alessi. "Never said a word, I'm harmless. Kassi, I don't _have_ any udders
to speak of, I couldn't use them for chores even if I wanted to. Oh, it's
someone else's fault that udders are running amuck. If you say so. So long
as Alessi knows it wasn't me, and doesn't smack me again."

Taika, a delinquent? Certainly not. He really is the absolute picture of
innocence, this one. And all that that entails -- including naivete and a
tendency to totally miss a lot of things. Like this. Clueless, he just hops
up to sit on the railing. "Why would you use udders for chores, anyway? Or
was it knives? Or..."

"Does Alessi often smack you for udders gone amok?" Kassi wonders, while
helping herself to a place on one of the benches. "I mean, is this some
sort of regular occurance with you two? Nananthia put udders in your bed."
Now she just has to split a long look between the two Candidates in
question. "But they weren't, apparently, *hers*. I can officially be
colored confused--and intrigued, quite against m'better judgment; whose
udders *were* they? Oh, well, Kich, 'twill take you at your word. I have
t'honestly admit I don't spend much time gauging the udder-possession of
other women. Don't ask *me* how you'd use 'em. I don't think I even want
t'know."

Telgar Weyr> K'nan waves!

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snugs an Evil Mentor!

Telgar Weyr> K'nan snugs. What's up, folks?

Telgar Weyr> L'han tries waving but got knocked over. Grph.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Udders are running amok, apparently."

Telgar Weyr> Alessandra, Kichevio and Kassima are tormenting Fortian
candidates.

Telgar Weyr> K'nan says, "...?"

Telgar Weyr> K'nan oos.

Telgar Weyr> K'nan says, "Maybe I should come out to Fort."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Ooh, K'nan, do! You can torment too! Alas that
you can't also talk with Tiffy about how F'laav has a stick up his butt and
have him conveniently show up, this time. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio just sits back and snickers, loudly.

Aeriste chirps brightly to Kassima, "Oh, Nananthia loves me, which is why
she gave me those udders, because we're candidates, so she couldn't give me
HER udders, you understand. And the lye is because she was supposed to
scrub them clean, but she didn't. I guess candidate chores just keep her
busy."

Telgar Weyr> K'nan says, "..but he DID have a stick up his butt."

It all seems to make sense to _Aeriste_, anyway.

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Kiyoth ponders curiously, from the depths
of Fort Weyr, << What are udders? And why do they run amok? >>

Nananthia glares at Aeriste, "Oh go bend a tail, Aeri.. I can' love ya,
because ya like yerself too much. I reckon I'd be a crowd. Besides, yer the
one who threatened ta put a bovine in m' bed, so I only returned th' favor.."

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Veyath's thoughts stir in response, lacy
weaveries of confusion. << My K'nan says that they are things which young
herdbeasts drink from.. I do not know why they would run amok. Where are
you that this happens? >>

Sigh. Alessandra settles into a seat, crossing her legs at the knee, and
shakes her head again. "I can see why he sticks close to you -- you confuse
him." And with that cryptic statement, she turns her gaze on the eggs once
again. "Which one do you all like best? Everyone has a favorite -- most
everyone, usually." Eggs. Safer than udders.

Aeriste says "...Only because you were mumbling about them in your sleep.
Uh, the black one."

"Any udders of mine are kept firmly under control," Kichevio assures Kassi.
"Unlike Fortean udders, which are apparently left loose to run about and
scare Candidates. Until they're cleaned with the lye that Aeriste is
hoarding...other Weyrs have such quaint native customs." Nananthia's
comment elicits a muffled snicker. "Oh well, if you put it that way. _Much_
rather have an udder in my cot than the entire bovine."

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Lysseth affirms in drifts of pale blue
mist across the surface of crystal, << They are, and I do not *see* any
udders running about. Not that I'm quite certain how they would run in the
first place. We are at Fort, Veyath--perhaps it is in the Feeding Grounds
that the udders are? I haven't checked there. >>

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Kiyoth offers a picture of Fort Weyr,
from above the bowl. << We are at Fort. The younglings are giving each
other udders. And lye. >> Hence the confusion.

Aeriste blushes delicately. "...Well, the rest of it's in there, too. But
the udders are the important part."

Nananthia blinks, "I didn'!" she insists huffily, "Fer the love a dragons,
ya always obssess over things."

Something about this topic of conversation causes Kassi to fold her arms
across her chest, without really thinking about it. "But if'n she loves
you, should she really want you scrubbing someone else's udders?" she wants
to know, brows twitching upwards once or twice. "--Oh, well. That makes
more sense. Mayhaps. Why the *udder*, Nananthia? Didn't the herdbeast it
used t'be attached to kind of miss it?" She can't help it: she snickers
quietly at 'firmly under control.' "Alas for certain men?"

Left loose to scare candidates? "Do B'var and Wryn keep udders?" Well,
/that/ made sense to /Taika/, anyway...

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Veyath's sapphire thoughts glimmer in
confusion, << Odd. We have not seen the eggs yet.. perhaps we shall join
you. >>

Aeriste lifts a finger. "You very clearly said something like, 'No, Da',
not th' bovines agin....'" And at Taika's comment, he begins to laugh.
"Shards, don't ask them that. They're already in enough trouble as it is.
I'll be back in a moment. Have to get something." And he hurries off.

Dragon> Telgar dragons sense that Kiyoth rumbles and purrs, a vibration of
ruby with amethyst; it clouds another offering, this time an image of the
sands as seen through the distortion of human eyes. << It is a good clutch.
...Almost as good as a Telgar one. For it is Nraith's. >>

Nananthia wrinkles her nose, "Musta been a dream about th' Ol' Man again.."
she mutters, tugging at her chin, by her frown it's obviously a subject she
doesn't like. She chuckles at Tai and, for once, agrees with Aeriste, "Yeah
Tai, hun, I don't reckon ya should."

Lysseth> Above the northeastern area, Veyath spirals down and backwings to
a neat landing on the bowl floor.

"Oh." Blame the wine for that one, really. Plus he's starting to fall
asleep where he sits -- a Taika all woven through railing rungs, as per the
usual. Seems like klah makes him hyper, and wine makes him sleepy.

Kichevio is now joining the ranks of the confused. "If B'var and Wryn keep
udders, I'm not sure I want to know or understand. Did they chase you
around the Bowl with them or something, Taika?"

By now seeming fairly thoroughly confused, Kassima nevertheless tries to
stay abreast of the conversation, as it were. "I'd be surprised if'n
*B'var* does, being a man and all--but then, what do I know? If'n Aeriste
can have udders in his bed, I suppose anyone could. What's this trouble?"
Ah, trust her to home in on the promise of gossip. Since Nananthia seems to
know about it, she's the one who gets the curious look. "And d'*you* have a
favorite egg yet, Alessi?"

Lysseth> Veyath descends from the skies of the weyr in a slow spiral
downwards from the heights, wings spread in a translucent shimmer and tail
trailing behind her. A sweep of a turn brings her towards the other Telgari
dragons, backwinging to a landing with a graceful sweep before settling in
with a soft, shy croon of greeting to the others as her lifemate makes his
way down.

Lysseth> K'nan climbs down from Veyath's neck, and arrives on the ground.

Aeriste returns a few moments later with something behind his back; this,
he whips out and holds under Kassima's nose: a stuffed bovine, udders and
all, with a bit of lye on a rope around its neck. "Exhibit A."

Lysseth> Lysseth has settled herself in not far, though not too near, from
the younger two greens; her claw-tips are just resting on the ground
without yet digging in. Her head had been turned towards the Galleries, but
she shifts to glance towards Veyath at the other's arrival and offers a
quiet, pleasant note to her in return.

Alessandra pauses, eyes going vaguely distant; moments later, she grins,
nodding towards the galleries exit. "K'nan's coming. I just saw Veyath. Eh?
Me, a favorite egg?" She considers that, then nods towards a brilliantly
blue egg. "That'n, I'd say."

"No," mumbles Taika, though he's quite serious about it. "I was asking
because Wryn and B'var didn't make it to the guest weyr." What that has to
do with udders, only Taika knows, and an explanation from him right now
probably would make little to no sense.

Kassima suddenly has a bovine beneath her nose. Little wonder she looks
somewhat nonplussed. Her eyes cross, uncross, finally manage to focus:
"*Oh*!" Relieved? Oh, yes. "*That* isn't so bad. Nay likely t'bleed all
over aught, or spill milk, or... whatever, but may I say, a stuffed toy
with obvious udders disturbs me a little bit? Just a twinge. Oddly cute,
though." Then, "Aye, so Lyss confirms. Wonder what he'll make of all the
udders. That one? I do rather like the blue...."

Aeriste shrugs quite helplessly. "I didn't make it, woman."

Lysseth> Saulith is napping, eyes lidded to near-colorlessness, but thrums
softly to Veyath from where she's coiled.

Lysseth> "Lysseth, Saulith.. Kiyoth.." The three greens each get their own
greeting from K'nan, along with a cheerful grin, as he heads at a trot
along over towards the galleries.

K'nan walks up the stairs from the Bowl.

Nananthia gloats, "The udders were a stroke a genius, ain't they."

Kichevio eyes the stuffed bovine critically. "Nananthia made it? Very
impressive, true-to-life and all. And certainly better to keep in your cot
than a real bovine. Like a decoy or something." Oh great, now Kich is
babbling too. Taika must be contagious. "Hey, K'nan."

Lysseth> Kiyoth glances up at Veyath, offering a faint rumbling purr; then
she, too, settles into somnolence, curled up feline-like, complete with
tailtip over her nose.

Aeriste holds the plushie bovine by the rope around its neck, now; it
dangles alarmingly. "All of my secrets are now revealed."

Nyneve walks up the stairs from the Bowl.

Nananthia snorts, "Like ya had any ta begin with, Aeri.." she says dryly

Alessandra glances across at Taika, who just went from 'sleepy' to
'asleep', and stands to carefully unwind him from the railing. "Really, he
shouldn't sit on it like that... I'm certain there would be no warm welcome
for him were he to slip and fall onto the sands. Aeriste? Please do us a
favor and help him back to the barracks?"

Kassima slants a perplexed look at Taika next. "Didn't make it to the guest
weyr?" When has a lack of sense ever stopped her before? "Didn't say you
did, Aeriste. Thankfully. Since if'n I learned that you had a secret hobby
of sewing well-endowed female stuffed animals, well, 'twould wreak nay end
of havoc on m'view of you." Pause. "And this, this is me nay making any
comment about that being all your secrets. Nay a single one. But they're
quite well done, Nananthia--I don't suppose you make stuffed dragons too,
d'you...? K'nan! Evil mentor mine! Come in and sit? We're talking about
udders."

Nyneve walks in and climbs into the seating area, a rather young candidate
in tow. "There, you see? All sorts of people you know who aren't afraid of
Niyath." The girl bites her lip, keeping close to Nyneve, who looks mildly
irritated.

K'nan's boots sound out upon the stairs as he heads along up into the
galleries, a chuckle tumbling rough and husky from his throat and lips as
he over-hears the conversation he's walking into. "Y'never change, Kassi,"
he says, flashing a grin over to the gathering as he trots along towards
them, "T'never do.. Kich, Alessi. H'lo there. Candidates."

Aeriste wanders over to Taika and hoists him up over his shoulder,
staggering rather precariously for a few moments. "He keeps on _doing_
this. Uh. No, Kassima- the only udders I'd sew are yours. I promise." And
then he, as best he can, runs for the exit.

Nananthia grins and shakes her head to Kassima, "Nah, I din' make it, m'
cousin did, can't sew worth spit, but she used ta be a seamstress, so I had
a rider go ta Ista ta ask her ta make one fer me." She nods to K'nan,
"Fort's duties, sir." she says and waves to Nyneve and the lass behind her.

Nyneve inclines her head to Nananthia, glancing at Aeriste as he rockets by
her with Taika. Her left eyebrow arches. "Hmn."

Rather fondly -- if a bit exhasperatedly -- Alessi watches as Aeriste runs
off with her young cousin, then waves to K'nan as he enters, as well as
Nyneve. "K'nan, come sit and egg-watch with us. We've been discussing
udders, as I'm certain you've since heard."

Kichevio bursts out laughing as Aeriste gets the last word in, then runs
for his life. "I _like_ him. He'd make a great greenrider. That much
sarcasm should be reserved for posterity. Sorry, K'nan, just bovine udders.
Nothing more risque than that." Given the current company, risque might
happen fast, though.

"I'd offer Telgar's duties, but I'm sure one've these lovely riders've
already done so.." K'nan chuckles deep in his throat as he walks along
over, glancing to find a place to sit near them before, seat unfound just
yet, he glances out towards the clutch. "How's it look? Bettin' pool
started yet, Kassi?" At Kich's words, he just grins.

Good thing he runs, too: Kassi turns such a shade of red, and chokes, and
starts to yell, "If'n you ever--!" But quick, wise Aeriste has escaped
before she manages to complete the threat. So she's left to sink back into
her chair and splutter quietly to herself for a moment or two. "Figs," she
says when she can at last speak again. "Figs and olive oil; I'll torture
him with both if'n he ever so much as thinks of it again, I *swear*... oh,
Mirrari! A'course, I should've known," she agrees, bobbing her head to
Nananthia. "I've a piece of her stitchery, something one of m'mentees
commissioned from her for me... K'nan, K'nan, are you suggesting I *should*
be changing? You wound me. G'deve, Candidate," she greets Nyneve too, as
the last color fades from her cheeks at last.

Kassima adds almost immediately, "A'course there's a pool! Any wagers you
care t'be laying? I've already made some money off this clutch; y'know I'd
never say more t'more."

Nyneve nods to Alessandra, and then Kassima, saying, "Fort Weyr's duties to
Telgar and her queens." She sighs at the girl at her side, then makes a
shooing gesture. "Go on, then. Get a little closer to the rail and have a
look."

Kichevio asks, oh so casually, "What _are_ your bets like this time around,
Kassi? Just so I know what I'm probably going to be getting into..."

Nananthia grins and stands, "Yeah, that's her, she'll be glad ta here ya
kept it, ma'am.. Now I reckon I'll head off now.. chores tamorrow."

"Good night, Nananthia!" Alessandra calls after the candidate, then eyes
Kassima as well, an eyebrow raising. "Yes, Kassi," inquires she of her
wingleader, "what /are/ the bets like? I've a mark or two I'm willing to
wager..."

Nananthia goes down the stairs to the Bowl.

"Oh, y'know me," K'nan says with a low chuckle, as his gaze wanders over
the collected eggs, "I only bet on th'final result.. an' I always /lose/,
o'course, but I ne'er fail t'/bet/."

Kassima offers the timid-seeming girl a smile that's meant to be
reassuring. "Niyath and Nraith haven't eaten any of us yet, and we're
probably being far more potentially annoying to 'em than you. Duties, aye,
a'course... g'deve, Nananthia; good t'be seeing you again. Keep on
tormenting Aeriste, would you? Torment him *lots*." Kichevio's casual tone
draws one of Kassi's more suspicious glances towards her, but the
greenrider answers anyway. "The one I won was on whether Yvera'd be
Searched for this one--I swear, nay one Candidate's won me so much money
a'fore. I'm taking wagers on what comes from which eggs, a'course, as
always. And who Impresses, and what, though fewer of those since I don't
know this group. What options catch your fancy? And keep in mind, I'm *nay*
going t'bet *against* Aeriste on a green."

Nyneve's nose wrinkles as she takes a seat; she glances over at the Telgari
with a vaguely displeased expression.

Kichevio chuckles. "Given my luck on bets, I try only to go for sure
things. Which means, Aeriste on a green, Yvera with _something_, gold not
ruled out. Is there a gold in the clutch? And with Nraith the father, at
least four fairly handsome bronzes. I don't know any more of the Candidates
well enough to guess...though with Taika being your relative, Alessi,
surely he's got a better-than-average chance."

Alessandra nods towards the eggs again, standing and heading over to the
railing to lean over it. "I'm going to be conventional, Kassima, and say
that pretty blue one's holding a blue -- have you your tally on you?
Kichevio, K'nan, what are you two going to wager?" Nyneve gets a blink and
a bit of a smile, though a curious one at that. Then, "Of /course/ he does,
Kichi." Not biased at all, is she? "I'd say... blue or green, for Taika.
Probably green."

K'nan gives his head a slow shake, admitting, "I don't know any've
th'candidates here, but that's not surprising - I don't get out'n about
much anymore - I'll probably jus' bet on th'first one t'hatch, this way
'round."

Nyneve abruptly demands, "Do you always make *bets* on Candidates? How
horrible."

"Nraith's the father and the clutch fine-blooded, but this late in the
Pass... I'd nay be surprised if'n the number of bronzes were two or three.
I half want t'suggest that one's a bronze, only because it reminds me of
Nicoth's--" Kassima points towards the Doodle Egg. "Small as 'tis. I'd take
a bet on Yvera on gold. Methinks there is one; see that one that looks a
bit like golden wedding marks are all over it? Taika, y'know, I could see
on a blue for some reason. That blue egg, methinks I said brown on; one
moment." Some rummaging in her pockets brings up a hide that bears her
list. "Aye. Brown. T'be contrary, since it does look like such a blue egg.
What're you thinking will be first, K'nan?" Before she can hear the answer,
though, she turns to blink once towards Nyneve with faint surprise. "Nay
always on the Candidates themselves, but sometimes. Why nay? It doesn't
hurt or help their chances any."

Kichevio blinks curiously at Nyneve. "It's not like we're betting on
whether or not they'll get gored, or faint, or run off screaming. It's just
good clean fun. And it shows faith in them, that we're betting they
Impress. The only horrible thing about it is that Kassi gets everyone's
marks."

"What about the ones who don't have anyone betting on them? And what about
afterward if someone doesn't Impress and finds out that there were people
betting that he would?" Nyneve demands. "I'm not concerned about their
chances, really. I suppose at least I won't have to hear the whining at
least, since the Hatching will be over and I can go home again."

Kassima doesn't answer right away; she mulls over the question, first,
though since she shows no surprise at it it's unlikely to be one that's
never occured to her. "Almost everyone has *someone* laying marks on their
fate. Mayhaps nay with me--certainly nay here, where I don't live--but with
someone. I don't know how many really worry about it anyway. Didn't occur
t'me t'be asking whether anyone bet on me at first, and then later I
decided I'd rather nay know. Being bet on when you don't, I'd think could
be taken as a compliment of sorts--or a revenge, if'n you're so minded.
Will you really care whether anyone's put wagers on or against you?"
Glancing towards the other riders, she wonders, "For that matter, did any
of you care?"

Alessandra considers Nyneve for a while, then chuckles softly, head canting
to the side. "M'lass, we've been doing this for Turns upon Turns. Kassima
here for even longer -- since the dawn of time, I'd wager," she adds with a
wink towards Kassi. "Never have we had a problem with the wagering. It's
fun for us, and usually we end up with recent impresses joining in on the
fun with the next clutch. Though, yes, Kassi does usually end up with all
the marks..."

"Oh, thankee, Alessi," Kassi drawls. "Since the *dawn of time*. You'll have
t'carry me out of here when we go, y'know. These decrepit ancient legs
probably can't carry me."

K'nan glances over his shoulder with a pained look towards Alessandra,
observing dryly, "What's that make me, as I trained th'lass? Thanks a whole
lot.." Wry, he shakes his head.. and then looks over to Nyneve, his
expression a bit sympathetic. "Nobody really takes it seriously, lass."

Kichevio shrugs. "Shells, I didn't think I was going to Impress. The fact
that people were betting on me was a morale booster. And it's not like
Kassi posts the lists of her odds before each Hatching. Generally, nobody
knows they've been bet on until a good bit after the fact."

Nyneve eyes them, arching an eyebrow at Alessandra. "I'm sure it's fun for
*you*; that wasn't the question. Well, it's not as though I could stop any
of you." She sniffs once.

"No, you couldn't. And I'm willing to bet -- Kassi, make a note of this --
that you might end up betting, too, if you impress. Me, I can't tell
whether people were betting on me -- It was the fourth time standing, for
me, after all -- but if they were, I'd have been pleased, too." Alessi
leans back against the railing, pausing long enough to grin at Kassima
again, and blow a cheerful kiss K'nan-wards, and pushes a lock of hair out
of her face -- an entirely Taika-ish habit, right down to the upraised
ring- and little-finger.

Kassima chortles at K'nan's expression, and reaches over and up to attempt
to muss her mentor's hair shamelessly. "Oh, please. As if'n you'll *ever*
be old. You'll be wining and dining lasses--and probably siring children,
you reprobate--when you've a hundred Turns or more, and we all know it."
Leaning back, she affirms, "I don't post the odds anywhere, nay. And
Candidates are welcome t'bet on and against themselves or their mates too,
if'n they want to. I'd offer t'wager with you," she tells Nyneve with a
brief, wry half-grin, "but I've a hunch you'd nay be interested... oh,
there were bets on you, Alessi. Couldn't tell how many or *what* without
m'books, but I can say that much with assurance."

"I s'pose that I'm lucky that y'liked ancient men at some point, then,"
K'nan casts back towards Alessi with a broad, roguish grin.. an amused
shake of his head swings his gaze back towards the eggs again, one hand
raising to try and neaten his hair once more in the wake of Kassima's
mussing. It seems more or less automatic, really. "You've had more children
yourself than I e'er have, little girl. I'sai--" A bit dry, "--has long
outpaced me there."

Nyneve's nose wrinkles. "You might spend your marks more wisely and bet
that I do *not* end up betting."

"I was going to shove dragonets at you one by one until you Impressed,"
Kichevio assures Alessi with a wink. "Fortunately, Kiyoth kept me from
having to exhaust myself so." She smiles at Nyneve, spreading her hands.
"We might, at that. But it's _fun_. If we have the marks to spare, may as
well use them as we please." She wisely does not enter into any discussion
of K'nan being old, merely tickles the man's ribs.

Kassima splits a glance between her mentor and her Wingmate. "Oh," she
says, brightly, "that's right; K'nan taught you t'kiss, didn't he, Alessi?
Or was that Tali? Faranth. You're positively shameless, mentor-mine. But I
suppose that's true enough; I'm ahead of you by one if'n I remember the
tally, six t'seven... and I'sai, well. He's outpaced us all. Save mayhaps
J'lyn. Say, I don't suppose you'd care t'join m'pool on Is, would you? I'm
currently saying at least twelve children for him." With a glance flickered
to Nyneve, she tells Alessandra, "'Twill take that bet on her betting if'n
you do want t'make it. Since 'tis sounding as if'n 'twould win. How much
and when do we declare it ended, given that she's likely t'outlive us both?"

At that, K'nan gets a tongue stuck out at him -- "Me liking ancient men,
indeed, whatever gave you that idea? Be grateful I've not claimed you as
little more than crackdust yet, K'nan." -- and then Kassima has to go and
make Alessandra's cheeks flame. "T'wasn't K'nan. T'was J'var. Or was it
Jenni? Not Talisha, I'm certain I taught her. As for this candidate here --
may I have your name? 'This candidate is horribly impersonal -- shall we go
with, oh, say, her fortieth Turn?"

Kichevio adds, just to see what color Alessi will turn, "And then you
taught Lee to kiss. Because he told me about it, and I was extremely put
out that you didn't invite me along."

Nyneve sighs faintly, looking back to Alessandra. "Nyneve. From Healer
Hall, resident."

K'nan casts a sidelong glance back towards Alessi at that, one brow
crooking upwards.. and then falling, as with a slow shake of his head he
settles down at last to sit. Silence falls over the greenrider, leaning
forwards and resting his arms against his knees, fingers lacing together.

Color? Let's say 'tomato'. Does tomato work? Tomato, with a bit of purple
from the fierceness of the color. "Did not," returns Alessi, tossing her
head a bit to get her hair out of her face. "Lee knew how to kiss before
ever I met him. Though, now, A'deth, now /there/ is a man that knows how to
kiss. I wouldn't have minded him teaching me."

"*J'var*. Now that's one I hadn't heard. And Tali from *you*... my, my,
there's one t'whisper in Pierron's ear some evening. Well, but then I can
avoid being all put-out that *my* mentor taught *you* lot something so
important and left *my* education t'random flight riders." And Kassima
follows Alessi's lead in blowing K'nan a raspberry. After which she turns a
bit red. "Shells, I've forgotten politesse entirely again. M'name's
Kassima, or Kassi, as one pleases. Green Lysseth's rider. Pleasure t'make
your acquaintance and hopefully t'make money on you, Nyneve." She turns
slightly widened eyes on Alessi. "A'deth? Truly? I thought he firmly
preferred men. Though I've only met him a few times, so 'twouldn't really
know."

Kichevio grins. Just grins. It is an Evil grin. "A'deth can, when in a good
mood, be lured over to the female side of things," she saus blandly. "At
which point, things get fun. It's just that he's so rarely _in_ a good mood."

Nyneve murmurs, "Do keep me appraised of the wagers I collect, would you?"

"K'nan," offers, well, K'nan by way of introduction over towards Nyneve
along with a slight smile, "Green Veyath's.. don't mind them, they're jus'
catty." His fingers slide back to the stone bench to either side of him to
push himself up, then, before moving out to step along over towards the
stairs back bowl-wards.

Alessandra waves a hand, just as bland as Kichevio is, though her smile is
of the serene sort. "Aye, but when he /is/ in a good mood..." She shoots an
Evil Grin of her own at Kichevio -- shared memories, there -- before
nodding to Nyneve. "Of course. I'm Kiyoth's Alessandra. Well met, Nyneve,
and I do wish you the best of luck at the Hatching."

"Well met, Alessandra," Nyneve replies automatically. "Thank you, I think."

Kassima throws a somewhat dismayed look after K'nan. "Catty," she repeats
to herself, sounding somewhat puzzled and maybe a bit hurt. Shaking her
head, she lifts her voice a fraction to call after him, "Clear skies on
your way home; m'regards t'Veyath." Turning back to the others, she agrees,
"A'course, if'n you wish. 'Twas Healer Hall you said you're from? You'll be
there after the Hatching if'n you don't Impress?"

Kichevio lets her Evil grin go in order to merely smile at Nyneve.
"Kichevio, green Saulith's and Weyrsecond. I think I met you once
before--when Jayneth was proddy, and you and Haille were having a fi...a
discussion in the living cavern here. I am in no way catty, K'nan. Feel
guilt and shame." Like that'll work.

"Well met, K'nan, and well met, Kichevio. Ah, yes. You're right, we have
met before," Nyneve says. To Kassima, she says, "Yes, I'll be at Healer Hall."

K'nan just shakes his head with a whisper of brown and grey against the
nape of his neck as he heads down the stairs and back towards the bowl; one
hand absently continuing to sort out his hair as he leaves the conversation
behind, most habit than anything else.

K'nan goes down the stairs to the Bowl.

Lysseth> K'nan's boots carry him across the bowl and over towards where
Veyath's rising up to her feet, as he emerges from the hatching grounds;
the green's head drops down with a soft, concerned croon, eyes slowly
whirling as she watches her rider. A smile's offered back to her, one hand
raising to rub along over her muzzle before he steps over to clamber up
onto her back.

Lysseth> K'nan pulls himself up onto Veyath's neck using the flight straps
and her extended foreleg.

Kassima nods at this information. "'Twill seek you out there, then, should
there be need, and let you know what I've collected. Mind, you might do
better t'be asking one of the local wager-makers. I'm nay so apt t'see the
bets for a Fort clutch as they would be." Much of the playfulness and
amusement have left her tone; while amiable, she's also all quiet business,
and lets herself fall into a gaze towards the eggs after she's spoken.

Lysseth> Above the northeastern area, Veyath launches into the sky from the
northeastern corner of the Bowl.

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles an impassive goodbye to the pair, her wings
rustling restlessly and claw-tips having sunk, ever so slightly, into the
ground despite herself.

"I don't know of any," Neve says, glancing toward the exit and raising an
eyebrow.

Kichevio is smiling as she stands up, flicking at Alessi's hair
affectionately. "It's late, and I've been ignoring hidework. Thanks for
letting me join you, Alessi and Kassi. Nyneve, I promise not to bet _too_
much. That's fair." Before anyone can eke out the last word, she slips out.

Kichevio goes down the stairs to the Bowl.

"'Tis bound there are t'be one or more, 'twould warrant," Kassi murmurs,
eyes still on the eggs, "though I'm sadly out of the loop on who it might
be. Aeriste might be one t'ask. Faranth knows, he's been knocking around
enough Turns that he might've found out... g'night t'you, Kich! Clear
skies!" she calls after the other greenrider, too late or no.

Nyneve nods to Kich as well as she leaves, then looks to Kassi once more.
"Aeriste? Oh, I suppose you're right about that."

Kassima's voice takes on a bit of dryness as she adds, "And I'd be stunned
if'n he hasn't lain any marks on any Candidates, ever. Shells, *he* might
be a wager-taker. I probably should've asked him a'fore he got all
distracted by showing off his udders."

Nyneve blinks. "His what?"

"Aeriste? That sort?" Alessandra pauses, a pensive expression flickering
briefly over her features; moments later she shakes her head, dismissing
whatever thought had almost taken root. Her good-eves called from Kiyoth to
Saulith, she's free to eye Nyneve with a grin. "Nananthia's gift to him. A
stuffed bovine with udders."

"His udders," Kassi repeats helpfully, as if this will make it make sense.
"Nananthia put some udders in his bed for... was it for him t'wash, Alessi,
d'you remember?" Wryly, but with a touch of humor too, "And do tell me more
of this 'sort' that wager-makers are?"

"Udders," Neve repeats, blinking some more. "Right. A stuffed bovine.
That's... less disturbing than I thought it would be. Alright."

Alessandra looks blandly back at her wingleader, head cocking to the side
before she offers a sweet smile. "Oh, you know. Sarcastic. Bossy. Bit on
the snide side. Usually good with knives."

Kassima repeats, softly, "Sarcastic. Bossy. Snide." The last flickers of
amusement go; her eyes are left dark. "Well. That goes with 'catty,' sure
enough." Still quietly, she tells Nyneve, "It had a bit of lye tied around
its neck. The udders were very clear on it. Clever work, though seeing
teats on a stuffed animal did disturb me for a moment."

Nyneve blinks again, glancing between the two Telgari greenriders. She
looks uncomfortable, shifting in her seat.

Alessandra blinks and eyes Kassima sidelong, then turns to face her fully,
eyebrows furrowing. "Kassi... I was teasing. I'm sorry. I went too far."

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Kiyoth offers tendrils of worry -- mist of
purple, ribbons of red -- towards Lysseth, a fretful undertone woven
throughout in grey. << Mine worries. >>

Kassima shakes her head--maybe at the sidelong eyeing; maybe at Nyneve's
discomfort. Maybe both. "Don't think aught of it," she murmurs, starting to
get to her feet. "You didn't say aught others haven't surely thought a'fore
you; that's nay been thought already tonight, even... I should go, hey?
Leave you both t'your egg-watching."

Nyneve's lips press together; she looks pensive, but she's also keeping her
mouth shut and staying still.

Lysseth> Kiyoth senses that Lysseth's mind-signature is currently flashing
red, orange, fire-and-brimstone, ash from above and light from the
blood-river that always runs under her mindtone below--<< She is not 
happy, >> the green says, carefully, anger rumbling beneath her voice. 
<< Veyath's distressed her. She does not like what is being said. *She* 
thinks it might be true. >> Scorn, from Lysseth: no ill word about her 
rider could be true in her eyes, and any word that was true wouldn't be 
deemed ill.

Dragon> Kiyoth bespoke Lysseth with << Veyath has distressed her? >> The
younger green offers a glimpse into her own brief conversation with Veyath
-- mostly a touch from green to green -- then continues. << Mine says it is
not true. Mine says yours is nothing like that. That she is good. Fun. And
she worries. >> A pause, then, delicately, << Though she maintains yours is
good with knives. >>

"I think," Alessi murmurs, sinking down onto a bench, "That when I go back
to Telgar, t'would be best not to come back for a few days. I thought
Kiyoth was starting to look a bit more green than normal... Nyneve, my
apologies. You shouldn't have had to see such things."

Lysseth> Kiyoth senses that Lysseth clarifies in a flicker of charry black,
<< Veyath's, not Veyath--her rider. >> Some of the roiling flame subsides
into a smolder; still, she's scarcely content. << That is well, and your
rider wise, >> because of course Lyss would think so, << but Veyath's has
known her longer, so she does not listen... I will speak with her. >> A
thin candleflame of green amusement appears briefly amidst the embers. 
<< *That* much is certainly truth. Another time, she'd appreciate it. >>

"If'n she's proddy, you should be staying in until she's risen," Kassima
agrees on her way out. "'Twill take you off outside duties so long as she
seems so, t'be safe. G'deve t'you both. Duties t'Fort and her queens, and
all that." A final, flickered smile for the Candidate, and she ducks out of
the cavern.

You walk down the stairs to the Bowl.

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 spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with
a rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air.

You spring upwards, away from the beginning heat of the sands.

[Editor's Note:  Normally, I'd end the log here, but for the sake of
closure I'll include the last bits of the dragon-convo: ]

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Kiyoth adds in an irritable whine, though she
does her best to tone it down, << Mine is making me go home now. And I
cannot leave again for a while. >> Then, more quietly, << Thank you. I want
mine to stop fretting. >>

Lysseth> Kiyoth senses that Lysseth agrees in a low, implacable
thunder-rumble, << If you are near rising, it must be so. >> Again the
storminess eases afterwards: << You are welcome, for what it is worth. It
is not truly your rider's fault. >>