The following is a log of roleplay from PernMUSH . The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on pernMUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

10/2/02

Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RDJM$)

This huge cavern is sufficiently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in preparation for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Branches of evergreens and glistening winter berries are ornaments of the season.

A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders.

Mirielle is working on finishing setting things up. there are tables laden with food, and the candidate Tables are decorated with a special, brightly colored tablecloth.

Yashira finds a server struggling with the weight of a roast wherry, and goes to help the young man take it to the serving table. "You'll get yick on your shirt, Yashira!" calls a voice from the kitchen. Yashira grimaces.

Mirielle smiles at Yashira and at Cheni, straightening out the edge of a tablecloth. "The dinner should be starting any minute."

Cheni walks into the cavern with a huge box balancing in her arms. It's not heavy but it effectively blocks her ability to see much of anything. "Zaddy told me to bring these in here. I told her you probably didn't need any more stuff but ..."

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Yashira puts down the tray, peering down at the front of her shirt for any 'yick'. She nods to Mirielle, then asks, "Any preference on where I should sit?"

Kassima is cheerful as she strides into the Cavern, red-trimmed black cloak a fit match for red-trimmed black dress leathers--but then, she can afford to be cheerful. *She's* not lugging a heavy black burlap bag into the room. No, that task falls to the Wingrider just behind her: V'dan, his own finer leathers clean but in the inevitable disarray, huffs and puffs beneath the weight of the great bulk. "Why do I always have to carry the heavy stuff?" he mutters, which Kassi doesn't dignify with a reply, busy blowing Pierron a raspberry as she is.

Mirielle shrugs at Yashira. "I was hoping we CC's could sit at the small table near the candidates, but if you've someone you'd rather sit with, it wouldn't bother me."

"See, the sitting together at the small table? That's what I meant," Yashira says. "Can I do anything to help?"

Cheni hands the box off to a server who peeks at the content and heads back into the inner cavern. The candidate huffs. "Well, I never!" Smoothing her skirts, she then dusts off her hands and takes her time looking around the transformed cavern. "Nice."

Mirielle smiles and shakes her head. "I think everything's just about done. I had the candidates on Cavern duty helping me out all day, so we got everything arranged. I think we're just waiting for people to show up now. " turning, she spies several nicely dressed Candidates walking in. She grins, and gestures them to the designated tables, where they sit, talking amongst themselves.

Kassima overhears Mirielle and Yashira speaking and adjusts her course to head over that way, V'dan and his burden trailing helplessly in her wake. She waves and smiles brightly to the familiar Candidates she passes along the way. "We finished picking up the last of the items, Mirielle, Yash," she informs the two riders once she's reached them, with a gesture back towards yon Bag of Death and Destruction. "Should we--all right, V'dan, stop glaring like that; should *I*--hang onto 'em for the nonce, or was there a place you wanted 'em set? Oh, and g'deve and such too."

"Kassima, how many wardrobes do you have tucked away in your weyr?" Yashira inquires of her Wingleader, shaking her head and smiling slightly. "Good evening. Thank you, too. And you, too, V'dan. Hello, Cheni."

Mirielle points to an empty table with no chairs, near the designated CC's table. "Right there might be good. Thanks, Kassima, for organizing the gifts. It was much appreciated."

Corwin quietly slips into the cavern. He looks around before moving over towards one of the tables.

"Only one," Kassi breezily assures her mentee, turning to take the sack from poor V'dan and lug it the rest of the distance to that table herself. "'Tis just a *large* one. At least I didn't wear m'wherry costume, hey?" V'dan would probably reply to Yash, but he's too busy getting his breath, so settles for a limp wave before making for the Thunderbolt table before Kassi can find anything else for him to do. "Quite welcome, a'course; a pleasure 'twas, and d'you know, I think most of 'em turned out well? Nay any severed wherry feet or aught in the lot."

Kassima sets down a large black bag.

Cheni smiles in appreciation and admiration of Kassima's attire as she passes through to the candidate's table. "Good evening to you too. I do hope there isn't any heads in there? It might ruin the appetites of a few?" Again, she nods this time to Yashira. "Need any help? I can help in the kitchens.." A baker apprentice passing through looks alarmed at Cheni's suggestion and suggests the girl would be much more help if she just stays -out- of the kitchens. Cheni sighs, and sits, fussing with her skirts.

"Sit, enjoy the dinner," Yashira commands Cheni, moving over to pull out a seat at the coordinator's table and plunking down. "Corwin," she greets.

Mirielle nods at Yashira's words. "Definitely. Feel free t oget some food, and start eating. As more Candidates come in, she motions them to their tables, and settles herself down at the CC's table."

Kassima gives the burlap bag a fond pat before finally abandoning it, making for her own table--though not without a smile flashed to Cheni in exchange. "Despite m'pleas, arguments, and attempts, there are nay severed heads in the bag, nay. Unless V'dan snuck one in. Which I'd nay *entirely* put past him." Giving her vest a tug, she settles into her usual chair and reaches to attempt to straighten V'dan's wayward hair. V'dan puts up with this in suffering silence. "What sorts of things will there be for dinner?" she wants to know, turning inquisitive eyes back towards Mirielle.

The serving tables seem to be a focus of life in the living caverns. Kept neat and clean by the kitchen staff, the white tablecloths are almost always pristine and the food presented in mouthwatering ways. At both ends of the string of tables are silverware, plates, bowls, and glasses. For the mid-day meal, packtail and porcine are on platters at the left end of the table, large serving forks ready for use. Steam rises from a large bowl of baked tubers, a bowl of broccoli stands with a slotted spoon in it, and completing the vegetable lineup is a bowl of brown rivergrains, cooked not too soft and not too hard. Today, the cooks have baked white bread and sweet herb bread, and the desserts are a fruit tray with caramel dip and baklava. Over the hearth, a kettle of kidney bean with porcine soup is hot and ready to eat. Always present on a smaller table next to the long serving tables are beverages, meatrolls, and fruit. Klah, cider, wine, ale, and fruit juice are in often-replenished pitchers, and along with redfruit, citronfruits, and grapes, another more exotic fresh fruit is usually available.

"What, wherry feet are bad, but severed heads are good?" Yashira demands of Kassima with a snicker.

Mirielle looks toward the Serving tables. "Well, since we had tithes coming in a while ago, we've got things from all over, and we tried to get enough for one dish that's local to most of the areas our Candidates are from. It should be interesting, and hopefully we didn't overlook anything."

Corwin seems lost in thought for a moment, but the sound of his name breaks him out of it. "Hello, Yashira," he calls over to the brownrider. At the invitation for food, he rises and moves over to the serving table.

Cheni giggles as Yashira dares to speak what was passing through her own thoughts. She jumps up, heading to the meal table at the same time Corwin does. "Looks like a good meal, better than the food we had at the camp out, huh? That cheese carried a punch." She helps herself to vegetables and tubers and a few slices of wherry, her usual fare.

Caral ambles in, grinning and carrying a battered violin case.

Yashira stands up again, heading for the serving tables and beginning to spear some wherry meat, guiding it to a plate she takes. She waves the spearing thing at Caral, calling, "Caral! Entertainment for the Candidate Dinner? Great." Drafting people is fun.

Corwin quietly fills a bowl with stew. He eyes the cider for a moment, but pours himself a glass of juice. "Are there going to be more stories and such tonight?" he asks Cheni.

Caral blinks. Yashira pointing a sharp object at you is enough to give anyone pause. He grins at her after he's absorbed her expression, though, and replies, laughing, "If you insist, and I'm not stepping on any Harper’s toes. Evening."

Kassima watches the gathering melee at the food table a moment before abandoning her seat to join those flocking over. "Then hopefully that means there'll be--ooh!" Yes, she's spotted something. Eventually, with as little jostling as possible, she manages to get a plate loaded down with food: stuffed mushrooms and rivergrains, peppers and ribs, berries and pasta and spicy wherry, oh my. "I adore feasts," she confides to no one in particular as she carries away her loot and a glass of redfruit juice for good measure. "--Harper's toes? Are there Harpers too? Oh, Caral, g'day."

"Mashed tuber, Kassi?" Yashira inquires in overly bright tones, wielding a big spoon piled high with the stuff. She extends it in Kassima's direction. She grins at Caral. "I insist."

Cheni shrugs, looking over her shoulder to the Candidate Coordinators and then back to the serving table. Taking some herbed bread and making sure it balances on the edge of her plate, she grins at Corwin. "Ask them, I was told to bathe, wear something nice, and as I have two outfits, I didn't have too much of a decision there, work clothes or this, and now I've been told to eat. Other than that, I don't have a clue, beyond the fact a trader has just walked in carrying what looks like an instrument of some sort." Helpful information dispensed, she returns to the candidate's table.

Mirielle sits at the table, nibbling on a roll for a bit, avoiding the onrush of people at the serving tables.

Caral grins, replying to Kassima, "I don't know. I hadn't heard about any of it." He turns his easy smile to Yashira and says, "I am at your service, then." He winks at that, "Though I'd thought just to play for Decarath."

Corwin give Cheni a little nod. "I wonder what they're planning." He carries his bowl and glass over to a table and sits, placing the items before him.

Kassima lowers the forkful of mushroom she was holding to make a face at Yashira's tuber that's brimming with disgust. You'd think she was a two-Turn-old asked to eat her spinach. "Ugh, Yash, put that *away*. That's disgusting!" And just in case the brownrider should get any ideas about *stuffing* the tuber into her mouth, she fills said mouth with mushroom quickly. Hah! "I hadn't heard aught about Harpers," she confesses to Caral, post-swallow, "but that may nay mean aught. Is there going t'be dancing, too?"

Caral laughs, warm rich merry laughter that's sweet on his chocolaty baritone. He replies to Kassima, "Well, I'm not going anywhere tonight. So if there are feet to dance, I'll give them a beat to dance to." A teasing wink to her, now, "Unless you haven't got the energy."

Pierron gives a respectful nod to the Weyrsecond.

Yashira snickers, plopping mashed tuber onto her plate before scamming some stuffed mushrooms. She finds a few stuffed peppers as well, then heads back to the coordinator's table. "Ha! You're better off playing for the Candidates - Decarath won't appreciate it."

Caral looks at Yashira, "Really? Dragons are never really interested in me, but they usually appreciate the fiddle."

K'ran drifts in, arrayed in Gather-best, and pauses at the cavern's threshold to cast a look around the place.

Cheni says a little dreamily. "Dancing would be nice, so would music." She plays with the mashed tubers she had served herself, creating a little dam to stop the flow of the wherry gravy. "No idea what they got planned, if anything, but it's sort of nice to see people cleaned up somewhat." She gives Yashira an odd look at her last comment. Was that an insult? She shrugs it off and continues dam building.

Mirielle smiles. "If you all want to dance, I certainly won't object. It's a feast to welcome you all, and to say 'thanks for being a part of Telgar', so enjoy it."

Kassima snorts with amusement, shaking her head to Caral. "Ah, nay, nay me; I can't dance. I stay a spectator when the music starts. Just wanted t'know if'n I should be ready t'get m'chair away from pounding feet. Have you anyone in mind t'dance with, Cheni?" She flicks a speculative glance at several of the male Candidates, including Corwin. "Or is it just dancing in general 'twere thinking of." Catching sight of K'ran in yon threshold--hard not to do, with the finery, devoid of sequins and possessed of seat though it might be--she waves a fork topped with a slice of pepper at him, ostensibly in greeting.

Shawnah sneaks into the living cavern, quite late, it seems. At hearing the mention of dancing, though, she makes a face, and slips toward the Candidate table, trying to blend in with the crowd.

"Decarath's just a snot," Yashira informs Caral, plunking down and beginning to eat.

Corwin is busy eating and doesn't notice Kassima's look. He does say to Cheni, "Somewhat? It's not like a lot of us are all that bad. Although, I think some cots in the barracks have things growing inside the presses."

Caral just grins at Kassima and makes his way to the serving table, which is doubtless where the skinny man belongs. He replies to Yashira, "Is he?" He laughs, "To you, maybe. To me, he is a most honoured defender. But I'll spare him the music. But as you said, I owe him one. And what else have I got that would interest a brown dragon?"

Cheni scans the candidate's table, appraising all the males and shrugs. "Dancing is fun, with anyone as long as they don't step on your feet or trip you up or flip you when it's not the toss dance." In between bites, she nods to the various people entering. Hungry from chores, she concentrates on her meal but does grin at Corwin. "Exactly, that's just utterly disgusting, if you ask me."

K'ran proffers a more easygoing greeting back to Thunderbolt's Wingleader, and then ambles closer to the gathering. "Evening," he offers up, pleasantly, and adds, "Telgar's duties," to Caral. "I hear Mirielle's quite a good dancer."

Mirielle grins at the conversation and sits back, watching the people enter. Hearing her name mentioned, she perks up and eyes K'ran. "and who told you that? I haven't danced in a long time."

Caral nods to K'ran as he serves himself, replying, "And mine to Telgar and her queens."

"Or yell and fuss when you crush *their* feet," Kassi retorts to Cheni, with a grin, "which they do all too oft for m'taste. They should have t'suffer in silence and try nay t'get the blood on m'slippers!" Uh-huh. "What's Decarath snotting over this time," she wants to know of Yashira, before popping a berry into her mouth.

"Musical appreciation," Yashira informs Kassima. She grins at Caral. "You could help me wash and oil him sometime, you know. He won't complain about that."

Cheni smirks across the tables at Kassima. "You did say that you don't dance much? I'll try to keep my groans of agony down to a dull roar, so not to distract from the music." She cracks into the dam and rich brown gravy floods over her wherry slices and she begins to eat in earnest.

Caral grins at Yashira, "I'll do that, then, if you can stand my conversation." He finds an empty chair and sets the violin case down to eat. Which he does, enormously and rapidly.

Shawnah stands there a moment, chatting with a nearby candidate, until at last hunger seems to overcome, and she pushes her way back out of the group toward the food. After grabbing herself a plateful, she returns to the group, but this time give a proper greeting. "Evenin' guys! Enjoying stuff so far?" and with that, she grabs herself a seat.

Corwin chuckles at Cheni and teases. "Are you sure your press wasn't one of them?" He takes a few more spoonfuls before adding. "If you want to dance, I hear that Makran is a good dancer."

"Schmitt's duck," K'ran deadpans, back to Mirielle - but his expression dissolves back into a smile in an instant, and he's headed to the serving tables where he begins to slather a slice of bread with soft cheese.

Kassima confirms with a wave of a saucy rib--a cautious wave; sauce and finery don't, after all, mix--"Don't dance at all if'n I can be helping it, nay, but I meant the men groaning in agony... you can groan in agony if'n you want to." Generous, neh? "Though it disturbs me if'n you *want* to. What, Yash, he has any?" That same rib gets waved at Shawnah in salutation.

Yashira nods to Caral; she glances K'ran's way, but doesn't greet him. Shawnah does get a nod, however, and she shoves more mushrooms into her mouth. "Who has any, Kassima?"

Mirielle makes a face at K'ran, and winks. "Well, perhaps you should verify your information before passing it on?"

Cheni sniffs at the mention of her press and then sniffs once again at the mention of Makran. "He can dance his way back to Bitra as far as I care. The little suck-up." Miffed, she slices through her meat with more force than necessary and metal meets pottery with the usual grating results. She does offer Shawnah a more companionable smile. "Well the food is good." She puzzles through Kassima's comment and say quietly to others at her table. "She's a bit rough on men, isn't she?"

"Many people ha--oh. I meant Decarath," Kassima clarifies, poking through rivergrains with her fork. By this point much of the food on her plate has gotten mixed into a great surreal melee. "For some reason I never thought of him as the music appreciation type, is all."

Corwin just laughs at Cheni's comment. He finishes off his stew before pushing the bowl away. A wave is given to Shawnah before he takes a drink of juice.

Odytte strides distractedly out of the kitchen, wiping her hands meticulously on a cloth. Seeing the group at a table, she smiles and shuffles up behind them. "So how's the food today?"

Yashira shakes her head, chuckling a little. "He doesn't, really. Not much, anyway, Kassi."

Shawnah grins at Cheni as she begins to dig in, glancing back at Kassima and giving a little shrug before turning back to Cheni. Uh, emasculator, remember? She doesn't say anything though about /that/ subject. "Eh.. it's not /always/ bad to be a suck up. Just a little boring, I'd imagine." she does makes a bit of a face though, and starts eating again. At Odytte's question, she stops again, and grins. "Wonderful." she says, and then tilts her head curiously.

K'ran half-turns, back toward Mirielle -- he's still tending to that bread -- and, wide-eyed, tries to clarify, "You mean, you're offering?" And then, then he finds his way to a chair, while sharing a pleasant smile with Odytte. "S'pretty good. Try the stew. Yashira's mum makes it."

Mirielle winks again at K'ran. "If you think you can keep up with me."

Cheni looks up from her chair of the candidate's table at the kitchen worker. "Good, you were all smart enough not to let me in there, I suppose." She frowns. "Just because of the 'Incident' of the Bubblies. It could have happened to anyone. And the stains did eventually get out of the baker's shirts." She turns quietly to Shawnah. "Well, If he wasn't so obvious about it.."

Kassima repeats, "Nay much," in a curious tone. "Does he have some, then? What sort of music does he appreciate?" She stuffs rivergrain and peppers into her mouth with a crunch; with her mouth full, her greeting to Odytte across the way is an amiable nod. Well, a nod and an, "Mmmph." Clearing her throat, she turns her head in time to overhear K'ran and Mirielle; "Hey, Caral," she lifts her voice to call across the way, "there may be dancers for you i'truth!"

Caral smiles at Kassima and swallows some great mouthful of the meal he's wolfing before he replies: "Good, I'd hate to have to do the whole thing by myself."

K'ran admits, quite readily, "I probably can't, Mirielle. I've gotten old and decrepit -- just a few short Turns and I'll be *thirty*, the horror of it all. But if you lead, and don't scream too loud when I step on your toes? I'll give it a whirl."

Caral laughs at K'ran's words. "Thirty is barely getting started, sir-my-lad!"

Mirielle makes a face at K'ran. "Then I'm just as old as you are, so we can be old together then. Better make sure I don't step on your toes!"

Kassima makes a rude sound at the very *idea* of thirty being old; but her work there is now done, such as it was, and she can attend her food with a cheerful heart. Or at least a cheerful stomach.

Odytte raises an eyebrow curiously at Cheni's comment, having only arrived at the Weyr fairly recently. "A...bubbly incident?" Catching sight of a tempting pitcher of redfruit juice, she quickly pours herself a glass and returns quickly. She opens her mouth to responds to K'ran's statement but smiles as the effort is made for her.

Yashira points her knife at a young Candidate. "Brunai! No flicking mushrooms at Jillis!"

Shawnah pauses mid-bite, giving Cheni an odd look, and slight grin. "I hadn't heard about the bubblies.." she says, a note in her voice saying she will probably be asking about that later. On the subject of age, she says nothing - safer that way. Instead, she goes on eating, watching and listening with interest.

Corwin leans back in his chair a bit. "I think the incident was that she didn't get to eat as many as she helped make." He chuckles before downing his juice. "How was your day, Shawnah?"

Caral snaps up mushrooms without flicking them at anybody. By his smirk he might like to flick one at Yashira, though.

Cheni smiles innocently and offers sage advice to Odytte. "You know when the bakers tell you to poke the pastry with a fork when you place bubblies in the oven to bake? They really mean it." She giggles to Shawnah. "Didn't you wonder when I was stuck cleaning the ovens?"

Kassima lifts her voice to call in the direction of the food-fighting Candidates and Yashira this time, "Y'know, Yash, mushrooms are *said* t'be aphrodisiacs. Mayhaps Brunai's trying t'tell Jillis something." Oh, now there's a thought. "Mayhaps they should dance along with K'ran and Mirielle? And... huh. Who else. Mayhaps you should dance with Corwin, Shawnah? And Cheni could dance with... oh, shells, what's that lad's name? Ranly. Then if'n she crushed his feet nay anyone would mind." Teasing, yes, and she grins unrepentantly at poor Shawnah before ducking her attention back to her plate.

"Lot of good aphrodisiacs will do Candidates," Yashira says with a snort, munching on a stuffed pepper. "Don't taunt them, it makes their skin spotty."

K'ran answers Mirielle's remark with a cheshire smile, though he's quick to slide a look toward the mushroom war, such as it is, the better to sidestep any friendly-fire accidents -- at least, 'til Kassima contributes the bit about the aphrodisiac properties of fungus, and he's left to looking from the mushrooms on the serving table, to Yashira, speculatively.

Caral laughs, "And dancing isn't an aphrodisiac? If no one is to taunt them with -that-, then I certainly can't play now." He looks to the candidate's table, calls, "It's a cold swim in the lake for the lot of you!"

Jillis, in the meantime, blushes bright red. Brunai promptly begins to expound upon Jillis' unattractive features to his comrades. A blonde girl near Jillis immediately starts verbally sparring on her friend's behalf.

Mirielle makes a face at Caral. "Party poooper."

Caral looks at Mirielle, "Me? Never! We can dance while they shiver."

Corwin's face scrunches up a bit as he looks in Kassima's direction. "If you dance with V'dan," is Corwin's comment. Then he looks over to Shawnah. Did she hear?

Shawnah beams at Corwin, "It was great. I got to work in my element today. So much less exhausting than usual." Cheni is giving another odd look, and then she just shakes her head, chuckling, before Kassima's words cut her short. "Are they, really?" she asks, giving the mushrooms a thoughtful look. She snorts then, eying Corwin sideways. "I'm afraid he'd end up flat on his face. I've got two left feet, I swear!"

Cheni scowls in Yashira's direction and sniffs to the candidate next to her. "Don't you just hate when people talk about you as if you weren't there? Most of the time it's not very good what they are saying, ever notice that." Peering down the table to the squabbling candidates, she chuckles. "I don't know, I don't have any experience on the subject mind you but I hear that what Aphrodisiac's are for is good for stress relief." She smirks Kassima's way. "Ranly, and he's not coming near me until I see he's gotten rid of his dead trundlebug collection."

Kassima points her fork tines towards Caral. "Depends on how you do it! That dancing Tarlo tried t'teach, that might be, but the plain variety? Pshh. Besides, between the mushrooms and the peppers 'tisn't as though they aren't swimming in lust-stimulators already." What a thought. "Oh, but *Yash*," she wheedles then, apparently oblivious to the war she's incited among some of the Candidates. "What's the fun in life if'n you can't taunt? They *are*, Shawnah, and you're surely better'n you think; dead *trundlebug* collection, Cheni?" She turns to Corwin to say something, but whatever response she might have made is forestalled by V'dan's disbelieving look and plaintive wail: "What'd I ever do to *you*?"

Odytte blinks at the explanation before an amused smile breaks out on her face, quickly hidden as she downs half the glass. "I just hope you didn't renovate the kitchen with bubbly-covered walls?" The cook taps the side of her jaw thoughtfully. "Now I remember the aunties saying something about trundle bugs and their aphorismatic properties..." She comments innocently, though her cheeks turn red in an effort to hold in a giggle.

"I really don't want to have to put you in a headlock for the sake of the Candidates," Yashira says solemnly to Kassima. Her tone is a little light for her to be serious, though... right? If she catches the look K'ran gives her and the mushrooms, she doesn't let on; nor does she seem to acknowledge Cheni's remark.

Corwin doesn't say anything to V'dan. Besides, it's only fair that the one trying to setup dances dance too. He turns to look at Cheni. "If you don't want to dance with Makran or Ranly, who do you want to dance with?"

Caral grins at Kassima, "I myself prefer the sweaty kind of dancing." He goes back to shoveling food down his throat, apparently bottomless.

Mirielle smiles at the conversation of the candidates. "Cheni, I've got a thought. how about you get to dance with K'ran, and I'll dance with Corwin, if he's willing. That way, you'll each get an easy time of it."

"I am not," K'ran announces, generally, "going to eat trundlebugs, just for the sake of getting amorous. I can get plenty amorous without the need to add anything that scuttles to my diet." He's found a seat, now, with bread and stew at hand, and -- stops, when he's volunteered to dance with Cheni. "Um."

Kassima disengages from her dinner long enough to give V'dan's shoulder a consoling pat. "Don't worry, even I'm nay that cruel." V'dan looks relieved. Surprised, and a little disbelieving, but relieved. "Nay after you hauled that sack around for me. Oh, but Yash, that might be fun. We could have another fight right here, right now, in front of 'em all, t'determine supreme champion until rematch or whatever you want t'call it. Much better'n dancing, and enough sweat t'make Caral happy I'm sure." Looking up towards K'ran, she blinks wide eyes at him. "But K'ran, imagine how many women you'd have swooning over you if'n you had bug legs sticking out of your teeth. They'd just fall over you in *droves*."

Cheni reassures Odytte. "No, those who were nearby when they began to pop got a light spray but that was about it. Aprons caught most of it." As she takes another bite of the mashed tubers, she looks Kassima's way. "Trundlebugs, I think that's what they are, in his press. Hard to know exactly, he can be a tad on the secretive side of things." She only shrugs at Corwin. "I don't know, someone who isn't a creep." She stops full stop at Mirielle's suggestion. "Dance, with no one else dancing? That's just asking for a disaster. Other bodies on the floor keep you upright if you trip."

Yashira tilts her head to the left. "That's right... we could actually finish that sparring match anytime now. I'm not a Candidate or a Weyrling or pregnant..."

Cheni wrinkles her nose in disgust. "I'd be swooning alright, but not over his prowess more of the stench."

Corwin murmurs. "It's also easier to hide in the middle of several people out there than if you're the only pair." He doesn't comment on Mirielle's suggestion, just sits and listens to those around him.

"Droves," K'ran echoes, as he's nodding dubiously. "I mean, who can resist the, er. *Allure*. Of a man who eats bugs." And he fills his mouth with stew, instead.

Kassima agrees brightly, "And I'm nay a Candidate or Weyrling or pregnant either, what a fortunate coincidence. D'you think there'd be wagers running? D'you think we could get in on 'em?" Natch. Then, to K'ran, "Absolutely *nay* anyone, which Ranly surely knows; that's why the dead trundlebugs. Either that, or he's planning on making a gift t'you as clutchsire of 'em. Sort of... err... a symbolic gift, t'celebrate virility, as is probably appropriate in some way." Sage nod. Right, that made sense. She contentedly crunches into another pepper.

Dakota slips into the living caverns quietly and slides into an empty seat with some other candidates.

Ranly absolutely beams. It's great when people do all your thinking for you.

Cheni sticks her tongue out at Ranly. "I just dare you to do it." Her expression returns to a pleasant one as she grins as Dakota finally arrives. "Late chores?"

Odytte mock-swoons. "Oh yes, I just wish I had my very own bug-man. Can you imagine our first outing? Wondering alone in down the beach on a clear balmy evening searching for...bugs."

Marten slips out of the inner caverns quietly, rubbing a hand across his face as he moves in and sits.

K'ran continues to eye Kassima dubiously, and after swallowing that mouthful of stew, deliberately confuses her words. "Clutchsire of trundlebugs? I, um. I'll treasure such a gift always. It'll provide endless days of amusement as I, you know. Slip them into various folks' shoes and beds."

Dakota nods with a grimace towards Cheni. "Started on them early, had them done but...someone made a mess in there and I had to go clean it up." her nose wrinkles up in slight disgust. "So then I took a bath afterwards." which would explain her slightly damp hair. "I miss anything?" she inquires of Cheni.

Ranly fairly squirms in his seat with glee. Brunai and Jillis, in the meantime, are not speaking to each other.

Mirielle stands and claps her hands together once, to get everyone's attention. "Candidates. On behalf of Telgar, I want to say welcome, and thanks for joining us here. To show our appreciation, we've got a bag here with gifts for you. Please, come up, reach in, and take a gift. You are free to keep or trade it as you wish."

Cheni shifts on the bench to make more room for Marten. "Well, at least you made it before dessert and I notice the table is laden tonight and you didn't miss anything beyond juveniles at the end of the table trying to start a food fight."

"Mayhaps K'ran can be your bug-man!" Kassi suggests oh-so-brightly to Odytte. "He can be bug-man to us all! He's capable of it, I'm sure of that--*K'ran*. That's nay what I mean. He's a Candidate; you're clutchsire to the eggs; he might want t'be giving you a gifting that symbolizes virility and whatnay as is fitting for your post. So: trundlebugs! But you don't put 'em in *shoes*. You eat 'em and then seduce your way across the continent. Honestly, 'twould nay think I'd have t'tell *you* that."

Corwin quietens down and listens to the announcement. He looks down the table to see who's going to be first.

Dakota snickers, rolling her eyes upwards. "Just a waste of food, really." she remarks on the food fight before falling silent to try to hear what it is Mirielle is saying. She does hear, but glances around at the candidates around her. Apparently she doesn't want to be the first to stand up and go up there in front of everyone.

"In time for presents, too," Marten tells Cheni with a broad grin. "Almost glad I slept in." He looks over to Mirielle with interest.

Caral finally finishes his heaping plateful, or perhaps its his third. In any case, he sets the scraped-clean plate aside and opens his battered violin case. The fiddle within is just as scarred and scratched as the hide case, but it's whole.

Yashira shoves her plate aside to look on the present-getting approvingly.

Cheni isn't going to be the first one, nope, not her. She politely pushes her plate away. "Presents?" She says with practiced innocence. "Gifts? Why how nice." Her eyes zero in on the sack.

Mirielle smiles. "Well, whoever wants to be first, feel free. You'll get your pick out of all the presents if ytou go first."

With a roll of her eyes and a sigh, one red haired candidate from Bitra hops up and goes up to the bag, reaching in. What he gets though he doesn't share as he strides back to his table, smirking at the others.

"Fort's duties, an' all that," L'nan calls out up on entering. Best to get formalities out of the way quick. He glances around and seems to realize he's busted in on a gathering of sorts. He waves to a few familiar faces and heads towards one in particular. As he passes Mirielle, he pauses. "I get a present? But my turnday's not for two sevenday!"

K'ran advises the candidates, "Avoid the bugs, at the bottom," as they almost uniformly look to the gift-sack. To Kassima, though, he demurs, "Alas, I think the women of Pern wouldn't be able to *take* it, if I were to be made that much more appealing through the use of trundlebug aphrodisiacs. Think of the mayhem and heartache that would follow in my wake! Think of the *children*, Kassima!"



This large bag--both tall and wide, and so stuffed with items that it bulges--has been woven of burlap, dyed black; no chance of peeking through the cloth to see what's inside! If you are a Candidate and have not already done so, you may type 'draw prize' to get your memento of tonight's occasion.

"There would be lots of them," Kassi brightly agrees with K'ran, "and they all might be given K-names, given yours! Now d'you see, d'you understand m'great master plan? Eat the bugs, lure in the women, and we shall yet ensure that Ks shall conquer all Pern!" Yeeeeeeeeah. Okay. She abandons--for the moment--this Great and Glorious Plot to turn towards L'nan at his entrance, Lysseth evidently having warned her; "Duties t'Fort and her queens!" she calls over, grinning. "And the presents are for the Candidates! Is your Turnday what you're so excited about?"

Corwin isn't shy. He knows everyone in here, so he rises and moves towards Mirielle and the bag. He looks down at it for a moment before looking back up and saying to L'nan. "Telgar's duty to Fort and her queens." That done, he reaches down into the bag.

Marten leans over to Cheni, asking in a slightly lowered voice as he watches Kassi, "Has she been drinking?"

Dakota's head swivels around suddenly to the entrance, distracting her from the grab bag for the moment. "Did someone say Fort's Duties?" she inquires, standing to try to see. But the entrance way is empty and she misses seeing L'nan. Since she's up, she goes a head and heads for the bag, since someone else has already gone up there.

Corwin cups the small item he draws out in both hands. He looks at it for a moment before covering it and returning to his seat.

Cheni nods politely to the Fort Rider, then jumps, yelping more in surprise than in pain from a well placed elbow in her ribs. Already standing, she attempts to sit down when she is shoved towards the bag. She demurs. "I am sure someone else wants to go now?" She doesn't quite hear Marten as she seems chosen by her nearest tablemates to go forward. To a whispered questioning candidate, she shakes her head and laughs. "I'm sure she wouldn't put any heads or legs in there and I am sure that he'd not think of that, it's illegal for candidates to think of such things."

You draw your hand out of the bag and find yourself holding this prize:

This small misshapen cloth item bears some embroidery work along one face. It's nothing special, probably an apprentice's work. A simple thong unthreads so that the pouch opens out and reveals a petite sewing kit. Tucked away in this one are several fine needles, a pair of smith-crafted scissors, and several skeins of thread. (This item was contributed by Ryklin.

"Duties, L'nan, duties," sing-songs K'ran as he gets to his feet, somewhere on the way to weighing the merits of Kassima's master plan. "But," he protests, weakly, "neither of my children has a K-name, so far."

L'nan makes it to Kassima's side, watching the bag-grab closely. "For the Candidates, eh? Is Dakota in here, then?" He searches the crowd and spots the Fort girl as she goes up for her present. He waves, though he's probably not seen. This done, he leans over and places a firm, sound kiss on Kassima's lips. Thus pleased with himself, he straightens and returns to K'ran, "Evenin', K'ran."

Cheni's eyes widen in dismay as she opens up the little embroidered cloth pouch. She wails "A sewing kit?" As she realizes her rudeness she mutters. "How ..thoughtful."

"Telgar's Duties to Fort and her queens," Yashira says in greeting.

Caral smiles, watching the candidates select their gifts. He turns the pegs on his violin and finger-picks the strings, tuning it.

Marten takes a deep breath as he rises, moving to the bag and reaching in. He sorts through for a moment or two before pulling out... a palm-sized piece of jasper. "Oh," he remarks, turning over the prettily colored stone. "This is nice."

Dakota holds up a small handkerchief, the Telgar emblem sewn into one corner. "Oh, how wonderful!" she says, sounding delighted. Stepping to the side, well more like jostled to the side as more candidates arrive now to grab inside, she looks up again to look for the Fort rider. And she's just in time this time to see L'nan and his wave. Beaming she waves her present at him in greeting before making her way towards food. Since she was late, she hasn't eaten yet. The present gets tucked into a pocket and a plate filled up with food and Dakota makes her way back to the table, all smiles.

Corwin places his little dragon statuette on the table before him. "Ohhh. What'd you get?" He asks the candidate beside him.

Kassima turns oh-so-sympathetic eyes on poor K'ran. "I know, I know," she consoles, "but these children will be different. You can do better. There's still time! You--" Whatever else she might have said is broken off by being kissed, and needing to return the kiss as firmly as it's given. Even without trundlebugs being involved. "Heyla t'you, too," she remarks when it ends, with a near-silent laugh. "And aye, for the Candidates, and methinks she is. Is *she* who you came t'see? I'm wounded!" Though she certainly doesn't look it, as she watches the prize-drawing with a warm and interested gaze.

Cheni peers over at Marten's stone. "Lovely, indeed. But not overly practical." She sidles up beside the lad, a cagey expression on her face. "Not as practical as say.. a sewing kit, you know, for sewing? Sewing .. things."

Yashira starts to snicker into her hand as she watches Cheni and Marten.

K'ran's brows jump halfway to his hairline when L'nan leans over and plants a kiss on the Thunderbolt Wingleader, but it's a pleasant kind of surprise for all that it fades, rapidly, into disappointment. "Jays," he mutters under his breath, and without another word, hastens for the exit back out to the bowl.

Marten nods to Cheni, passing his tone from hand to hand. "Right, because I do so terribly much sewing."

L'nan grins at Yashira and then grins widely at Cheni's efforts to trade away her gift. "She come from a trading family, by chance? Oh, there's Dakota..." and he waves again before chuckling. "Well, partially to see her, part for you, and part for the Telgari meatrolls I knew'd be served t'night." K'ran's abrupt departure gets a confused, slightly worried look, but he stifles it. "How long's the grab-bag been going on?"

Cheni asks casually, in a tone loud enough that people who might be interested, oh, say people like candidate coordinators, could here. “Well, there are the robes you know.. Have you started on yours? And think of all the pleasure and fun, and joy, and satisfaction you get every time you thread a needle." She exaggeratedly shivers with excitement. "Oooh!"

Kassima watches after the departing bronzerider with distinctly puzzled eyes. "D'you think the idea of naming his future children K-things disturbed him *that* much?" she mutters, the concern behind it sincere even if the question's likely facetious. "How odd... oh, well, *part* for me. I'm pleased for that, at least! 'Tis more feast than meatrolls, but there might be a few lurking in there somewhere--and methinks they've just begun t'pick out their things."

Mirielle winces, looks down, and makes a hasty apology to Yashira, before heading out to the Bowl.

Marten lifts an eyebrow as he watches Cheni. "Do you need to get some air? How about this: I'll let you play with my stone if you sew my robe."

Yashira blinks at Mirielle, then peers about. "Shards," she murmurs, eyes widening. "I'm in charge of a... dinner." She pales. How did this happen?

Cheni scowls. "You can play with your own rocks thank you very much and sew your robe while you are at it." She spins on her heel and heads back to her bench. So much for trader charm. The Southern Boll girl sits with a flump and peers at the sewing kit. "Mother followed me all the way up here, I'm positive of it."

Corwin gives Yashira a little clap. "You can handle it, I'm sure. Just shows that you're moving up." He grins at the brownrider for a moment before once again listening to Cheni and Marten.

Yashira wrinkles her nose in Corwin's direction.

L'nan shakes his head and then muses, "Actually, one other reason I came, I'm supposta talk to a record keeper.. uh, Frild? Somethin' like that. So, I'll be back quicker'n a dragon wing-flap, 'k? Duty first..." And he's retreating into the inner caverns to find *ugh* records.

Marten tosses his rock up into the air a few times as he returns to his own bench.

Kassima chokes quietly at Cheni's overheard suggestion, narrowly avoiding inhaling a blueberry. "Oh, *dear*, the phrasing... Yash, Yash! You can be handling it! Just threaten t'dump hot klah down the pants of anyone who gets into trouble. Works like a charm. See you later--" she calls after L'nan, but he's gone already; she shakes her head in wry wonder. "This is shaping into a sharding surreal evening."

Caral leans back in his chair and finishes his tuning. Now he finger-picks a little song, making the violin ring quietly and merrily.

Cheni smiles sweetly over in Kassima's direction. She did indeed carefully consider each word before she spoke it." She studies the case of the kit. "It's nice to look at, I have to admit." Smiling to Yashira, she offers. "We'll be good."

Yashira smirks at Kassima a moment, then nods to Cheni. "You can threaten people with the needles," she suggests. "Nobody likes to think about needles being jabbed into their eyes."

Marten points out to Yashira, "Nobody likes to be hit in the head by pretty rocks, either."

Kassima makes a face at Yash before volunteering, "I've slew of wee little stilettos hidden in m'normal clothing for just that purpose, the stabbing into eyes. Or picking teeth. But *primarily* stabbing into eyes."

Cheni sniffs at Marten. "You can keep that pretty rock of yours, I've got something you can actually use for something."

"No, not with pretty rocks. Or any rocks, really," Yashira says, shaking her head.

Marten shrugs, still handling his rock. "Some things good enough just being pretty."

Corwin leans over and suggests to Cheni. "You know how they some people have rocks in their head? Maybe he wants to add it to his collection." He's grinning as he straightens back up. He looks over in Marten's direction to see if he heard.

Cheni giggles at Corwin's comment. As she hears her name called by a younger candidate she grins. "Oh he's not that bad, at least he's not got wherry breath or thinks he is the answer to all the female population of Pern. I gotta go, I promised to help out on something."

*** Disconnected from PernMUSH ***

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