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Walladru's Search


Date:  December 5, 2007
Place:  Igen Weyr's 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:  In spite of the heat and her tendency to broil in it,
Kassima spends a fair amount of time in the Galleries while 
Lhiannonth and Gelth's clutch is on the sands.  In this case it has
unusual results both for herself and Igen resident Walladru.  Lysseth 
decides the young man needs to do more than just look at the eggs, and 
far be it from Kassi not to agree!

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The Log:

You head in through the tunnel and climb up onto the Stands.

Walladru sits five rows up, leaning his back against the front of the sixth
bleacher behind him. A slight smile on his face as he relaxes, fingers
laced and hands resting on his chest. His gaze seems to move from one egg
to the other, a look of appreciation on his face. And perhaps, just a touch
of sadness.

Zark pops out of *between* and chirps as he glides around looking for a
place to land.

Kassima trails a tall, willowy woman into the Galleries; there's some
resemblance between the two in the blue-black hair, the canted eyes, but
Kharisma glides where her mother walks, and has to be nudged towards an
open seat. The eggs have all her attention already. "You warned me to bring
purple," she says. "You didn't warn me to bring *all* my purple." Kassima
makes an amused sound: "As if'n you'll be done in one viewing anyway? When
are you ever?" The greenrider takes the spot next to her daughter. She says
to no one in particular, "They're lovely, though. Still."

Walladru watches the two women arrive, the motion getting his attention. He
then looks back to the sand again, content to let the two have their
conversation in peace. Himself just enjoying the sight.

Breged shifts as Zark takes a perch on his shoulder.

Perhaps Walladru is content to leave people in peace, but that's never been
Kassima's speciality. Besides, watching Khari draw gets kind of boring
after the first couple of minutes. "What d'you think?" the greenrider asks
the young man. "Two bronzes? Or one bronze and three browns?"

Walladru tilts his head to the side, considering. "If I were a betting man,
I'd lay mine on two bronzes." he looks to the greenrider with a smile. "But
that's just my thoughts. I'm trying to figure out how many blues there
might be."

"Three," Kassima answers promptly. "Which sounds more right t'me,
proportionally, than two bronzes--but I agree. You don't wager?" She clicks
her tongue. "I'd say, 'what's the fun of it, then,' but methinks m'dragon
would make a hat from me."

Pulling out a tiny gitar, Breged moves a bit farther from the others, so as
not to disturb. He begins to play a tune on the instrument and the little
blue 'lizard on his shoulder chirrups quietly along with it.

Several fire-lizards perch in Kassima's vicinity, all but one banded in the
gold and black of Igen with a strip of green. They notice the gitar playing
just as the rider does, and their heads turn in almost creepy unison.
"That's the smallest gitar I've ever seen," the woman marvels, though
quietly enough that she'd be easy to ignore.

With his superb ears Breged picks up what the dragonrider has said. He
pause briefly in his playing to say, "Tis a soprano...No' meant to be
played by a grown man, mind you-" He laughs a deep throated laugh and
continues in his deep voice, "-But it's all I have. Had it since a boy, I
have." Breged smiles sweetly at Kassima and resumes his playing. He hums
softly to the notes.

"That's a prize t'be having," Kassi says, nodding agreeably. "I bought
Khari here," with a tilt of her head towards her daughter, still lost in an
artistic trance, "one Turns ago, and her foster-mother another, and the
cost fair soaked me. 'Tis mostly due t'eggs like these that I could afford
it." Now her head tips the other way, her green eyes lively and curious.
"You aren't a Harper?"

Walladru stands quietly with one last saddened glance at the sands and
starts to quietly siddle his way along the bleachers, heading for the end
near the rail, keeping himself out of the way of the others.

"No' I. I don' warrant skill enough for tha'." He sighs sadly to himself.
For a moment he seems lost to himself but shortly returns to his
surroundings. He smiles warmly at Kassima and says, "Still, don' keep me
from playin' wha' I know." Breged gently pats the gitar in his lap with one
hand and with the other strokes the little blue on his shoulder. "They call
me Breged by the way. He's Zark," indicating the firelizard.

"Have you tried?" Kassi wants to know. "Harpers don't start out knowing all
there is of it; you don't play badly and love music, I'd be surprised if'n
they didn't take an interest. That said, I'm nay a Harper m'self. Don't
take m'word too far." Indicating herself, she says, "Kassima, green
Lysseth's rider. 'Twill name you the fire-lizards if'n you've an hour
t'hear me rattle off the list." This is good-humored, and exaggeration,
although her fair is certainly a large one. "How about you, d'you wager?
'Twas having an interesting talk of the eggs with... y'know, 'tis shameful,
but I don't know his name, but he's gone. Or, wait, nay--there he is." She
points to Walladru. She's helpful like that.

Walladru is shuffling near the end of the bleachers, looking up as he hears
more talk of wagering on the eggs. He stops when he's pointed at. He grins.
"Walladru, Ma'am. Most just call me Wall." he smiles broadly.

Walladru starts schloffing his way back across the bleachers again where
the three plus bevy of fire-lizards are. "Well met, Breged." he says,
stopping nearby.

Kassima cringes. Visibly. Exaggeratedly. "But nay anyone calls me ma'am,"
she protests, plaintive. "Unless they're sick sadists with a thing for
torture. Kassima's better. Kassi, if'n you're a familiar sort. Come back
over here, why don't you, and tell us your thoughts on greens. I'm thinking
six." Looking back to Breged, she offers a grin. "Well met t'you.
Holdless--with Thread falling again? I don't envy you. I do, though, know
what you mean about the calling."

Breged looks out quizzically at the eggs. "Only...How do you start makin'
guesses on them eggs? They all looks a same to me...Well 'ceptin their
colors."

Walladru sits down behind the greenrider, nodding to her as she requests
how to be called. "Greens? Hmm." He eyes the eggs again. "Why am I thinking
four? No. Five. That one over there, with the green spot on it'd be the
fifth." A grin at Breged. "Part of it is just gut feelings, part of it is
size, part is shape, part is luck. No way to really tell until they hatch.
If they hatch."

"'Tis all guess and hunch," Kassima readily admits. "And size, sometimes,
if'n you like, but size is deceptive. You're more safe than usual if'n you
guess green. Most should be green by right. I've only got under half, mind,
and like as nay I've guessed under rather than over," but that prospect
doesn't seem to bother her a great deal. "The one with the *eye*. D'you
know, everyone who speaks of that egg guesses a different color. I've got a
bet from Lanisa on bronze. Another bet on blue."

Looking very hard at the *eye* egg Breged slowly nods to himself. "I
say....Brown. Tis my guess." He nods again and smiles to Kassima and Walladru.

Walladru nods. "Unless someone wants to wager on Gold, I think that'd cover
it." he grins broadly. "Right. I'm not all that well off in the marks
department, but I think I can put a sixteenth-mark that it'll be a green."

Kassima's grin widens. "Brown's m'guess too. See? You've got the hang of it
already. Sixteenth, right--" A quick dig through her belt pouch produces a
piece of scrap hide and a stick of charcoal, and she scribbles at once.
"Got it. Wish I knew what 'tis about that egg," she adds, a mutter more to
herself. "D'you have a favorite? Either of you."

Walladru eyes the one that is lilac atop and a golden brown beneath. "I
think I like that on there, with the brown to it. Makes me think of the
comfort of fresh baked bread in the mornings." he smiles a little.

Breged says "I like tha' watery lookin' one there, I do."

"There's something to that," Kassima admits. "Although 'tis more that one
that makes me think of bread," with a nod to the Glistening Glob of Grape
Jam Egg. "You like the eggs, then? There's naught about 'em that would have
you feeling down?" On the subject of the infamous grey egg, "I'm thinking
that one must be the Weyrwoman's least favorite, if'n there can be an egg
of Lhiannonth's clutch she doesn't entirely love. She hasn't said so, but
'tis greyish and apparently that's bad."

Walladru grins. "Food and drink, go figure." Listening to Kassima he tilts
his head to the side yet again. "Why would that be bad? I thought eggs came
in all sorts of colors?"

"Bad egg, eh?" Breged asks quickly. "Still like it, I do."

Kassima hitches a shoulder. "They do! I don't quite understand. She doesn't
personally like grey, I guess, and naught wrong with that, although grey's
so... inoffensive. If'n you had t'pick a color t'hate, wouldn't you pick, I
don't know, liver red-brown? Or vomit green?" She gestures towards the
clutch. "Nay a single vomit green one there. We're all fortunate, really.
The Candidates moreso. If'n 'twere me, I wouldn't want t'touch an egg that
looked like Lhiannonth horked it up."

Kassima says after a moment, "But mayhaps I'm odd--would either of you
touch such an egg? If'n 'twere Candidates?"

Blushing slightly, Breged looks out onto the Sands. "I'd be happy with any
egg...Tis the dragon inside tha' really matters, eh? No' its shell. Any
dragon is better than none."

Walladru is torn between the urge to recoil and bust out laughing. Finally,
the laughter wins out. Hearty and deep with a twinkle to eye. "You'd be
amazed the color of some things in the stores, Kassi." he says, taking the
informal. As he is quizzed he eyes the eggs. "I really don't know. I might,
if it was okay with the parents, of course. I mean, even an egg of that
sort of color has potential in it. Okay, I'm starting to sound like V'lien
now. Everything is about potential." he chuckles.

"That's true." Kassima smiles to hear it. "Truth, I've a friend, V'dan,
whose *dragon* looks... well, horked, honestly, just in color. He doesn't
mind at all. Nor should he, because she's a fine lady, an *excellent*
Threadfighter." She bobs her head vigorously to emphasize the point. "--Oh,
I've been in Stores. Looking for a new hat. The colors on cloth alone could
send me into seizures, I sometimes think. Tell me...." There's a pause, her
eyes becoming vague for perhaps half a minute. "Huh," she murmurs, and
fresh amusement brings a fresh grin. "Tell me, then. You'd be fine with
touching any of those eggs out there? If'n, y'know. You needed to."

Walladru nods. "I think so. I imagine they've probably hardened enough to
be touched gently by now. Not that I'd try to sneak out there, mind you."
he gives the greenrider a curious look. "Hat you say? What style and color?
I can see what I can find for you."

Looking to see what Walladru has to say to about the subject of touching
the eggs, Breged says,"I certainly would. Tha' is...I would very much like
to."

"You won't have to," Kassi breezily assures Walladru. "Candidates don't.
Oh, but we haven't done the formal ask-and-reply thing, have we? I can't
think what's become of m'mind." Nothing: it's in full working order, as
that dancing light in her eyes proves. "Straw hat, sunhat, plain would be
fine but a green ribbon around the band would be a sort of bonus. I'd nay
say nay t'blue or purple." Her attention swings back to Breged. "I can't
promise you a chance as I can him," she says after an abashed moment, not
without rue. "I'm sorry for that. 'Tis possible, though, that sometime in
your life you will."

Nods knowingly. "I don' expect to touch this clutch...It's just seein' 'em
righ' there. Can' help wantin' to get closer." He laughs and turns to
Walladru. "Are you a candidate then?"

Walladru seems more to latch onto the hat description than anything else.
Looking thoughtful for a moment. "I know where there are a few straw hats,
we've used a number of them recently." he scratches the side of his head,
pulled from this thoughts... "What, me? Oh, no. Though I am lucky enough to
have lived here nearly all my turns." back to thinking. "I think there
might be one with a blue ribbon. Sometimes we use colored ribbons on the
hats for follow the leader when the littles get to come outside to play."

Relieved, Kassi nods to Breged, smiling. "They're something else. I won't
get t'touch 'em either, I don't think... it's been long and long since I
had the chance. Longer than I care t'be admitting." She cheerfully corrects
Walladru, "You are so. Either that, or you get t'be going out there and
telling Lysseth you aren't. Good luck with that." More serious for a
moment, the rider says, "Lysseth's of the opinion that you should be out
there on Hatching day. So, formally: would you, Walladru, do us the honor
of Standing for Lhiannonth and Gelth's clutch? And help me find this hat
with a blue ribbon? Nay a connected idea, mind, you can still be a
Candidate if'n you say nay about the hat."

Walladru freezes a moment. Then raises an eyebrow. "Me?" his eyes move, his
head stays still, eyes moving towards the sands. "Out there?" he turns his
eyes front again, focusing on Kassima. "I'd sound a bit ungrateful if I
said anything but 'yes' wouldn't I? It would be a great experience, not to
mention honor." he raises his head a little. If possible, that smile that
seems to always be there gets even wider. "And last thing I'd want is a
dragon upset with me. So yes. To both. Might be a day before I can get you
that hat, though." he shakes his head. "Wait until I tell Ma and Pa about
this!"

IGEN-> Kassima congratulates Walladru, Lysseth's latest Search victim. :)

IGEN-> Walladru holds up a sign that reads "Victim"

IGEN-> Raykini says, "Congrats ^^"

Breged beams at Walladru. "Well now. Tha' is somethin' though, ain' it?
Congratulations mate!" He claps a hand onto Wall's shoulder.

"Nay so ungrateful if'n you really didn't want t'do it; some don't, and we
understand," Kassima says, but she looks pleased that it doesn't seem to be
an issue this time. "*Thankee*--I don't think you've met Lyss, t'know why
I'm so grateful. She'd grouse about it for days. Sevendays. Months. Turns.
You get the gist. You know where the Barracks are? Nay question of having
t'get your things and bundle you off, at least, that's always a bonus.
Z'nal and I are the Candidate Coordinators, by the by." Breged's reaction
pleases her further; she leans back in her seat, looking altogether content
with the state of the world.

Walladru chuckles. "I think so, if that's where we moved the cots around
and changed linens for near an entire day last sevenday. As I said, I've no
mind for having a dragon upset or put off by me." he chuckles again. "How
is Z'nal getting along? Last time I saw him he was still wearing half the
bandages in the Weyr. Then again, that was quite awhile ago."

Kassima laughs under her breath. "Very likely. There'll be knots available
there, a'fore I forget t'mention. Plenty of cots still free; you may well
escape bunking next to a snorer." She holds up a finger. "May. I make nay
promises. Y'know the Dragonhealers think Uralth will be fine given time? I
don't think he's flying again yet, but eventually he will, and that has
t'be a relief." To Breged she confides, "Z'nal acted as Weyrleader a'fore
Gelth won Lhiannonth, but he and his Uralth were hit in a Fall."

Breged lets out a gasp of shock at hearing of Z'nal and his Uralth. "You
say they will be fine then? Though I don' know him personally, I would like
to know." His eyes show his genuine concern for the dragon and rider.

Walladru nods. "It wasn't a pretty sight, and I've lived here enough to see
some weird things. I'm glad both Z'nal and Uralth are going to be well.
I'll try to go easy on him for now." he chuckles. "Speaking of going, I'd
best get moving. I'll get settled in tonight. I promised to help move
around a few wine casks right after evening meal. Thank you again, Kassi."
he puts a beefy paw on Breged's shoulder. "I don't think anyone'd mind one
extra person eating tonight. You could always sing for it." he smiles and
returns to his full six-foot-five height. "Take care you three!" he gives a
smiling nod to the daughter as well before making his way again for the exit.

Breged waves a cheerful farewell to Walladru. "I may take tha' offer up,
mate. I jus' may."

"Oh, aye. Scarred," Kassi amends. "Uralth's wing--the joint--and Z'nal's
face and upper body somewhat, and 'twill take time t'be healing from that.
Heal they will, though. He's a good man as best I can tell. Worth the
meeting, if'n you ever get the chance." She nods agreeably to Walladru.
"Shells, thankee for sparing me the Wrath of Lysseth. Good luck! Don't
forget t'come find one of us if'n you've questions or aught!" Kharisma
looks up, blinking vaguely, and waves her purple colored pencil to Walladru
with a distracted smile.

Walladru heads out to the Bowl.

Lysseth> Walladru emerges from the hatching grounds, looking slightly
distracted. Okay, very distracted. One palm is laid flat before him, the
other's forefinger is ticking off things on the palm. He mumbles as he counts.

Lysseth> Lysseth has positioned herself rather near the Hatching Grounds
entrance, in a purposefully indolent lounge. Her eyes gleam brightly and
smugly blue. As Walladru emerges she aims a nudge of her muzzle towards his
shoulder, not terribly firm--not aiming, at least at the present time, to
knock him from his feet--but certainly noticeable. Her Candidate. The
rumble she gives is decidedly self-satisfied.

Breged glances over Kharisma and then to Kassima. "Does she draw or write?
Or talk much for tha' matter?"

Lysseth> Walladru feels the warm breath more than anything else, causing a
stagger to the side. He catches himself readily enough, having been victim
of more than one prank in his time. He stops and eyes the perp this time.
Green and seemingly pleased with herself. He stands there a moment, finger
still on palm. Yep, he smiles! "Guess I ought to thank you, too. From that
look you have to be Lysseth." he scoots aside a pace and resumes his walk,
glancing back one last time. Talking a little louder he picks up his pace.
"Now they want the red in the far corner..." as he continues off towards
the Caverns.

Lysseth> Walladru strides towards the center of the Bowl.

"I draw," Kharisma answers for herself, absent but amused. "Draw and paint,
but it's sketching today. The eggs." She switches pencils, darker for
lighter, and seems to feel the question is answered.

Kassima however is her mother, and so has more to say on the subject.
"She's the finest portrait artist in the east," the greenrider proudly
claims. "You should see her dragonpoker cards! Oh, shells. I didn't
introduce--I'm awful. She's Kharisma, drawing the eggs for me."

IGEN-> Walladru has been thoroughly candied and must now rest for a few
hours before he can be wrapped in a celophane wrapper and placed in a box
with the other nuts. :) G'night, Igen!

"Well met Kharisma." Breged smiles widely at the girl before turning to her
mother. "You say she can do portraits? I myself am somewha' proficient at
sketchin' faces. No' much for the paintin' but I'd love to see some ifin'
you have some with you miss." This last sentence he directs back to Kharisma.

IGEN-> Raykini says, "See ya wall ^^"

IGEN-> Walladru takes one of Ray's cookies and starts munching on his way.

IGEN-> Raykini giggles.

Kharisma shakes her head regretfully. Talk of her art can get her attention
when so little else can, in the drawing trance. "Not with me, nay, but
mayhaps another time? I only came prepared for eggs today." She holds up
one of her colored sketches as evidence: the infamous egg with an eye,
half-rendered, but half-rendered very well.

"I don't know where she gets it from," Kassi says wryly. "Certes I can't
draw. Mayhaps her father could; I never asked him."

Breged admires the sketching greatly. "Well done miss Kharisma. Well done
indeed. You do have the gift then don' you?"

Kharisma makes an agreeable mmm sound, but she's back at the drawing, and
whether she registered the question is up for debate. Although her
murmured, "Thanks," suggests she probably did. Kassi chuckles softly at her
daughter's foibles. "I'm thinking--mayhaps--of doing something I did long
ago, finding a set of rocks, small ones, and painting 'em to look like a
miniature of the clutch. 'Tis why I asked for the sketches."

Breged says "Say now! Tha' is a lovely thought. Make sure to keep the
clutch so everyone sees it even after theys hatched!"

"Aye," Kassima agrees, "mayhaps t'keep for m'self, mayhaps t'give away to
Yaz or Josilina if'n they'd want it. The clutchparents' riders," she
clarifies. A nod towards the bronze and gold out on the Sands. "Yaz,
A'zric, Gelth's rider and Weyrleader. That's Josilina's Lhiannonth out
there, our senior pair."

Glancing at each of the aforementioned dragons Breged softly whispers the
riders name to match to dragon. Outloud he says, "They'd probably like tha'
I suppose." He unknowingly begins to strum his little gitar as he stares
down at the clutch again.

Kassima tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "'Tis a shame in a way 'tis
Josilina's clutch, else I might ask her if'n she could make dragon figures
t'go with it. I recall that she sculpts clay a bit." A fleeting smile at
his resumption of play; she gets to her feet, two of the fire-lizards
abandoning their perches to land on her shoulders. "'Twas a pleasure t'meet
you, Breged--take up Walladru's invitation, heya? You'd be welcome t'stay
on a night at least. The food's good, too, as you'd expect with one of the
Masterbakers living here."

Breged smiles up at Kassima. "Indeed you would Dragonrider. Indeed you
would. And aye, twas a pleasure a meetin' you as well. I wish you luck on
your eggs. And I wish you luck in all your drawin's miss." He nods to
Kharisma and her mother. Still strumming his gitar he smiles kindly at both
of them.

Kassima chuckles softly. "Ach, that's a sentiment better sent to
Lhiannonth, proud though I'd be if'n the eggs were mine." Pause. "Sore. But
proud. G'deve t'you. Khari, love?" The younger woman considers the clutch,
considers her sketch, and rises too, returning Breged's smile as the pair
depart.

You head out to the Bowl.