The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. The dragons riders of Pern is a registered copyright.

This is a log of an online roleplay on PernMUSH. This is not fanfiction, and the characters are copyright their respective players.

SeaCraft Hall - The Rusted Hulk
Tilted to one side, this large and comfortable room has been 'evened out' by the addition of a warm wooden floor. Various tall tables with mismatched tall stools are scattered around the room. Glowbaskets line the walls, their subtle lighting casts comfortable shadows throughout the interior of this old vessel. Along the back wall is a small bar with three stools sitting in front of it. Bottles of wine have been placed in deep, dusty cubbieholes behind it.

Dess sits back for awhile as her would-be companions talk amongst themselves, chattering brightly with a drudge who comes along and placing her order for a glass of Tillek's best red. When the lad departs to fetch her drink, she leans forward gracefully and taps lightly on the tabletop to gain the headwoman's attention. "Excuse me, dear.. but one thing I'll quite forget after this long day if I don't do it now.. Your darling Master Benrak graciously invited me to stay with him in his cabin, after realizing my distress over my present quarters." she smiles sweetly at Rhi and cocks her head to one side, patty patting the air in a reassuring manner. "Not that I don't appreciate them, of course. But.. there's -hardly- enough room for my vanity, much less my portable bathing tub in that tiny space. And he did offer so very nicely." she gives another little pause before sitting back again and waving a hand airily."After all - a girl does need her privacy! And all sorts would just come -barging- in on me to call me to this or that task. It was just impossible to get any beauty rest!" The look she gives shows Rhi should clearly understand her plight. "Anywhoo.. I need a few sunny sheets for dividers, and maybe some nice flowers or some such to freshen things up a bit. Do you think you'd be able to help me with that, dear?"

Rhi looks as the woman in disbelief, a habit that she's starting to pick up. "Our darling -who-?" She sits quietly for a moment, for surely she can't be speaking of Seacraft's Master Benrak.. the fish-head leaver,... the numbweed torturer."You must have the wrong name, there's so many faces, that it would be difficult to remember exactly what face went with who." She smiles the closest to a friendly smile that she has hitherto offered Dess. "I'll find out exactly who it is for you though, and of course I'll arrange some fabrics and things from the stores for you to brighten up whoever's boat it is."

With a merry laugh, Dess again flops a hand at Rhi, "Oh you! Dear me, but you're a funny girl - I'm not surprised at all you've been scooped up by someone, goodness love their little heart." She gives another glance to the ruined skirt, and she clearly thinks perhaps there's some redemption for a man who would buy his wife a /wool/ skirt just after their handfasting, yet. She pulls herself back to the present situation and crosses one leg easily over the other, readjusting her skirts about her thighs with well placed little tugs of the fabric, her green eyes examining her work. "Of course you aren't serious.. why.. forgetting a name is as good as writing off a sale, as my dearling Sire would say. Of course this is your own Master Benrak I speak of. A true jewel of a man.. big burley fellow with a warm cast to his eyes? Ruggedly handsome?" The woman actually breaths a deep sigh, as if the grizzled Master is some sort of hero, and gives Rhi a wistful look. "Now if Daddy had sent a man like /that/ for me to consider.. I might not be here at all!"

Ker-splaaaat. Rhi's jaw just about hits the table as she listens to the glowing description of someone who must be impersonating Benrak. She quickly makes a mental note to find out if there's a punishment for doing that.... just for future reference. "A jewel of a man? A warm cast to his eyes? Ruggedly -handsome-???" Shifting in her chair and shaking her head she hmms 'Surely it can't be the same man.. You'll have to show me this boat that you are moving in on and I'll work it out who it is from there. In the meantime.." she rises and leans against the table. "I'll show you exactly what we've got in stores at the moment, and see if anything is suitable."

"Oh I know the boats name, if that helps! I glanced at one of the log books on his desk and saw it there.. I /know/ it's the same man, but .. " Dess obviously realizes the headwoman is not about to believe her without some proof, so she searches her memory hard, screwing up her features a moment in thought. "Twilights.. Dance? Dream? It started with a D." she finally states, nodding her head as if confirming it to herself. With a shrug, she gives Rhi another brilliant smile, one cheek dimpling and her green eyes squinting just a bit with the wide spread of her mouth. "But I can still show you, if you insist. I just do so hate what this sea wind does to my hair!" It's with easy grace that she rises, plucking again at the still damp front of her dress, making an unpleasant humming sound. "And, I'd rather prefer not to go out until your..uh.. bestowment dries. I think the stores are a good idea, yes. Shall we then?" And in a flurry of movement, she's caught up the chair by it's back and raises it above her head, a solid stamp of her foot connecting with the floor. "Any of you fishy men touch me or trap me this time, and I'm letting you have it!" she hollers - much to the amazement of most of the men in the joint, accompanied by amused snickers, encouraging hoots, and catcalls.

Rhi frowns at that, getting herself even more confuse. "We'll go via the docks then, so that you can show me." Eager to put her mind at rest, she picks up the mug from the table, none to eager to part with that at the moment, and heads out towards the door, chuckling at the calls as she goes. She pauses by a table that holds Dess's belongings as she catches a glimpse of a scarf that has moved out as the luggage was so unceremoniously dumped. "Here" she says as she pulls it free and tosses it to the woman, Cover your head .. I mean hair with this then." Chuckling more, she pushes her way out the door.

Dess bustles after the other woman, giving well rounded glares to any of the sailors who step too close her way. Apparently, her little earlier 'episode' with them has given her a somewhat edgy idea of what men in fishy taverns are like. "Well! I certainly am glad I met a /decent/ fellow to stay with while I'm here rather than one of these.. -these- types! I'm sure Master Benrak doesn't approve of such activities!" The last is said on a loud voice, and she's forced to drop the chair and cover her ears at the roar of laughter that suddenly rises all about her from the seamen. "Well!" she gasps, blinking rapidly at all those gathered. It's been a confusing day.. this is the fourth person to act oddly at her mention of the kind Master! Ah well.. look at the company they keep! It's really no wonder. Shaking her head sadly, she misses the scarf tossed her, and is forced to bend down to pluck it from the ground. Searing pain shoots through her, and it's flat on her face that she tumbles after Rhi, red scarf fluttering in her grasp - as an unexpected smack to the bottom catches her offguard and sends her sprawling. "Aiiieee!"

....outside in the Courtyard, Rhi waits not so patiently.

Rhi just frowns as Dess flies out of the doorway screaming and starts off to the docks rolling her eyes. Oblivious to the fact that the woman has must been manhandled and apparently unconcerned as to the reason for the shriek in the first place. "Now which of those ones down there was it?" she calls over her shoulder as she continues on her way.

It's an unfortunate Dess that climbs slowly to her knees, having fallen smack into a puddle collected from all the wet feet that enter the tavern. Her hair is tangled in a mass about her face, bits of grime gathered in the wet locks, and her face peers out from the mess - crumpled and about in tears it would appear. She's wet completely now, her skirts sticking uncomfortably, and some pigment that'd been dabbed on her eyelids now smears down across her cheeks. She lets out a quiet little half-sob, clenches her teeth, then drags herself up to her feet and stumbles after the other woman, letting her scarf, the only thing /not/ wet, flutter, forgotten, to the ground. Wiping at her eyes and shoving back her tangles, she tilts her chin stubbornly, and repeats quietly to herself. "I will not cry I will not cry.. I am 35 turns old, I've come this far, I will... not.. cry.." And, choking back the blubbers that rise to her lips, she mutely points at Benrak's ship as she stops alongside Rhi.

They head west, to the main docks of MasterSea Hold. SeaCraft Hall - Docks(#2328RDJM) The spacious, busy docks outside the Sea Hold offer plenty of room for crafters, merchants and other sailors to moor their ships. The Sea Craft itself makes good use of the ample space, moving completed vessels out from the Building Area as soon as convenient. But even when crowded with ships, the docks still have plenty of room to lounge around and watch all the bustling activity-- if, that is, you're not on duty! Harvest time night thickens 'neath a sky unencumbered by cloud. The building area lies to the east, a popular beach follows the peninsula to the northwest, and a path to the courtyard stretches up to the northeast.

Rhi casts her gaze to the ship in question and, shaking her head starts to turn back to question the woman. "Are you sure that that's the..." It's is about now that she hears the dying sobs and notices that Dess is now tear-streaked, muddied and unable apparently to speak. "Are you sure that you're alright?" Her tone has softened, and she gives a smile. "Of course you're sure aren't you. And if that's the one that you're moving to then so be it." She leans against a crate that has been conveniently left there as a plan starts to form. "I'll help you find as many bright and cheery things as you want to help give that ship the feminine touch. Faranth knows that he's in need of that himself, you know. But lets move up to the stores, we've had a few bolts of brighter, fabrics arrive lately. I'll show them to you."

Dess nods and sniffles, wiping a hand over her face to clear away the water droplets that still stream from the wet hair plastered about her face. "Thank you." she manages, gulping and taking a minute to breath. Clearing her throat quietly, she brightens slowly but steadily as Rhi continues on, assuring her of the items she desires, and eventually she's smiling warmly, despite her current condition. Slender hands clasp together delightedly, and the older woman fairly bounces on her toes like a youngling. "Oh wonderful! I do so appreciate it! You should see in there.. Dirty clothes in his clothing drawers - dark colors abounding - oh and it's so /stuffy/! No wonder the poor man is known to be a bit grouchy.. goodness! Who wouldn't in such a state of living?!" And here, she begins to pace, her slippered feet squelching rhythmically against the docks, and her chatter spilling brightly from her as she waves her hands expansively. "Yes yes! He'll feel /much/ better with some fresh flowers in there.. perhaps some sunny yellow sheets.. or maybe sky blue? What do you think, dear? Perhaps some lovely little pictures.. I've some in my trunks if we can get those in there. Oh, and I have that lovely bathing tub with scented oils ! Get some of that fishy smell out of his hair... Yes, I do believe it's for the very best that I've come along! The poor man.. "

..... With Dess still chattering away, she follows Rhi to the storage caverns.