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

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	4/8/98

Log Cast:
	(People) Sandar, Jayna, Mehlani, S'lah (NPC), Sh'roun (NPC), K'ira
(NPC), Manira, Jannie, Kassima, Kelon, Silen, Ceria, R'val, Ofira

	(Fire lizards) Arki

Log Intro:
	Mehlani's spirits have brightened considerably as of late with the
news from Igen Weyr that her brother Fahloran and his weyrmate Siara have
had their first child, Sahra. It's enough to make Mehlani start thinking of
rearranging her schedule for a day trip down to Igen, assuming that she can
find a rider who can take her, an often formidable task, especially when
most of the riders she knows are in trouble for one reason or another. But
as it happens, at least two of those riders, K'star's two wingmates and
well-meaning friends S'lah and Sh'roun, are looking for _her_....

----------
Your location's current time: 17:45 on day 16, month 6, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a summer afternoon.

You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Jayna
Sandar
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Sandar nods. "Deal." As Mehlani, arrives, he waves. "Evening, 'Lani."

Jayna clears her throat. "Speaking of talents....oh, afternoon, Mehlani!" she 
  smiles and waves.

With Arki riding her wary vigil on her shoulder, and hissing very softly at 
  the world in general, Mehlani comes quietly trekking in from outside, and 
  she bobs her behatted head earnestly to Jayna and Sandar in answer to their 
  greeting.

Jayna looks guiltily back at the basket of rags she brought in. "I probably 
  ought to put this away," she says, holding the scrap of purplish cloth, "and 
  get back to folding -those-," she grimaces.

Sandar grins. "Well, if you want, I can take a look at the full cloth later... 
  see where might be a good place to start," he shrugs.

Mehlani draws within earshot and can be heard to murmur to her 'lizard, "Hush, 
  now, Arki..." The little green rasps out a disgruntled reply and hunkers 
  lower on her shoulder, and 'Lani says earnestly to Jayna, "Do you need any 
  help?"

Jayna chuckles. "Only if you need something to do with your hands!" She stuffs 
  the violet cloth into her back pocket, none too delicately, and starts 
  pulling scraps out of the basket. "There are just rags, up from the laundry. 
  I need to fold 'em and stack 'em away."

Sandar grins. "I can help too."

Jayna nods at Sandy. "That's be great!" She smiles. "Looking at the cloth, 
  -and- doing my work for me," she adds, mischievously.

Mehlani murmurs softly, "I'm done with my chores for the day.... I would be 
  happy to help." Arki slinks around further behind 'Lani's neck, but still 
  warily eyes the other young humans.

Jayna smiles at Arki. "She's shy, eh? Or is it just that she's angry because 
  you're talking to people?" She upends the basket, takes a square of rag, 
  shakes it out, and folds it in quarters.

Carefully, Mehlani settles down into a nearby chair, and says gravely, "I 
  think that Arki is always angry about something, but she is also a very good 
  guard, so she's staying with me for now..." As Arki hisses petulantly, from 
  underneath her braid, 'Lani adds, "Besides, it keeps her from biting the 
  rest of the fair."

Jayna bites her bottom lip and tsks, sympathetically. "Bites? The others? That 
  doesn't sound good, 'Lani."

"Arki is not friendly," is the behatted girl's solemn, rueful reply, "but if 
  she is with me, I can keep her from biting anything or anyone she isn't 
  supposed to." 'Lani smiles a little, weakly, and turns her attention to 
  studying the rag pile. She adds softly, "How do you want them sorted?"

Jayna puts her hand on her head and surveys the chaos. She sighs. "I'm not 
  sure. By size, I guess, don't you think? If any are really snake-eaten, I 
  guess we oughtta pitch 'em."
Jayna keeps a wary but rather curious eye on Arki as she takes a rag and folds 
  it. "You know, I don't think I've ever actually seen an unfriendly 
  firelizard," she observes.

Mehlani nods gravely and begins carefully sorting through the rags, studying 
  the general state of each one. Arki appears to have decided to lurk 
  menacingly but quietly under 'Lani's braid for now, half-hidden in the 
  shadow of the back of the girl's hat, and Mehlani nods again. "She is the 
  first I've seen," is her succint reply.

Jayna folds another rag deftly. She glances around and retrieves her klah mug. 
  "Would you like some?" she asks Mehlani, as she makes her way to the pot. 
  "Uh...has she risen yet? Is there anything that might help her disposition?"

"Please," says Mehlani politely, regarding klah. She shakes her behatted head 
  to the question, though. "She is not old enough." 'Lani proceeds to calmly 
  fold a few rags into a neat pile.

Across the way, a pair of riders quietly slip into the cavern -- solidly 
  built, curly-haired and ruddy-skinned S'lah, with small and slender and 
  black-haired Sh'roun beside him. The pair of them look rather sheepish, as 
  they scan the living cavern.

Jayna fills her own mug and a second, which she cautiously passes to Mehlani. 
  She smiles at the riders as they enter. "Afternoon," she says, affably.

Mehlani accepts the mug, murmuring a grave thank you, and then turns her head 
  around to see who Jayna is addressing.

The riders approach, the taller of the pair proclaiming in his rolling tones, 
  "Ah, good afternoon, young misses... Miss Mehlani, just the person we were 
  looking for, if we could have but a moment of your time...?" Just under his 
  gregarious bearing is lingering that slight sheepishness, though. And while 
  his companion appears to be pretending to be calm, the shorter Sh'roun just 
  pipes ruefully, "We've come to apologize, Miss Lani!"

Jayna bites her bottom lip and takes a seat, watching events play out and 
  quietly continuing to fold the laundry.

As Arki issues a low-pitched warble of annoyance at this new interruption, 
  Mehlani can be seen to blink. "Apologize...?" she echoes. Then, as 
  comprhension seems to dawn in her eyes, S'lah, clasping his big capable 
  hands before him, mutters embarrassedly, "For, ah, the incident the night of 
  the flight, young miss..." And Sh'roun chimes in, "For leaving Kes on your 
  cot!"

Jayna clears her throat lightly, keeping an eye on Mehlani and careful not to 
  intrude on the apology.

Mehlani glances at Jayna, and is beginning to blush. But now that the two 
  riders have stated their business, it appears to have opened the gates for 
  the two of them to stumble over one another's words in their haste to 
  explain. S'lah continues, "We truly meant no harm, young miss..." And 
  Sh'roun agrees, "We just wanted to help!" "Because K'star really _is_ fond 
  of you..." "He talks about you all the time...!" "And the flight, well, I'm 
  sure you know how things get during a flight, yes, young miss...?"

Jayna chuckles, very, very softly. She looks encouragingly at 'Lani. "Well, 
  they've come to apologize," she whispers. "Are you going to accept?" She 
  smiles at the riders.

Finally, although she's blushing, Mehlani smiles a little and blurts out, 
  "Wait!" -- making both the brown rider and the blue cut off in mid-sentence. 
  When she's sure she has their attention, 'Lani glances sidelong at Jayna, 
  and then up to the two young men, who she assures gently, "It's alright... 
  truly...!"

Both S'lah's round ruddy face and Sh'roun's slim bronzed one brighten in 
  palpable relief. "You're not angry?" Sh'roun pipes, while S'lah settles into 
  a beam, clapping the smaller rider on the back and proclaiming, "See, I TOLD 
  you she would understand! Kes has chosen well, in courting this one, as I 
  have said time and again--" S'lah cuts off, though, as Sh'roun promptly jabs 
  him with an elbow, and in a much more restrained tone the brown rider adds 
  to Mehlani, "We're most grateful, young miss."

Jayna grins, and quickly takes a swallow of her klah.

"It's quite alright," Mehlani repeats, as earnestly as she possibly can. Under 
  the full force of her solemn young expression Sh'roun smiles widely, and 
  impulsively salutes the lass while piping, "We really felt bad about getting 
  you in trouble! We gotta go, now, though, the Wingleader is waiting for us!" 
  And indeed, K'ira's figure might be espied near the Bowl entrance. The 
  woman's arms are crossed and she's watching her two riders expectantly. 
  S'lah booms on to 'Lani, "But we thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, 
  truly we do." And he bows fulsomely. Mehlani gives the two a small but 
  clearly touched smile, and S'lah and Sh'roun take their leave, returning to 
  their Wingleader. As they depart, Sh'roun can be heard to mutter to his 
  taller companion, "Don't _TELL_ her those things, Kes will kill us for 
  sure!" "I need not tell her what she already knows, the lass has _eyes_, 
  does she not..." The pair of them argue until K'ira briskly escorts them out 
  into the Bowl.

Mehlani turns rather pink, as she returns her attention to Jayna and the pile 
  of rags between them.

Jayna doesn't say a word. She simply pushes some of the rags closer to 'Lani 
  and continues to fold. Her eyes are twinkling, though. After a long moment, 
  she comments, simply, "Nice apology."

Pursing her lips together, Mehlani bobs her head rapidly, her only response to 
  the other young woman's sage observation.

Manira has arrived.
Manira walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Manira has left.

Jannie walks in from the bowl.
Jannie has arrived.
Jannie looks at you for a moment.

Jannie
An average looking woman, about twenty four years old. She wears dark blue 
  work clothes, with well worn boots. Reddish hair is tied back with a ribbon. 
  Greenblue eyes and dimpled cheeks adorn her face.

Jayna smiles at the newcomer. She's quietly folding scraps of cloth--rags? 
  "Heya," she says, "welcome."

Jannie brushes off the road dirt and lets her eyes get used to the darker 
  light. "Hello."

Jayna nods, affably. "Telgar's duties," she offers with a grin. "I'm Jayna."

Jannie grins a little and walks in a bit farther. "Got a bite to eat for a put 
  upon messenger?"

Mehlani glances up; she, too, is sorting through the cloth scraps, sitting 
  there quietly in a chair by the pile of rags as she works. Lurking under the 
  back of her hat can be spotted the pale form of what's probably a green fire 
  lizard, though little besides a tail and a pale of wrathfully whirling eyes 
  are in easy view. 'Lani bobs her head in solemn greeting to the woman, and 
  offers softly, "I can get you a plate of something..."

Jayna chuckles. "Funny, I've never met a messenger who wasn't put upon." She 
  deftly folds another rag and drops it into the bottom of her basket. She 
  takes a swallow of klah. "The klah's good too," she says, pointing to the 
  pot and mugs.

Jannie nods back to Jayna. "Jannie, from a cot ouside Benden Hold. Thanks much 
  for your hospitality."

From the kitchen, Kelon walks out of the passageway that leads down to the 
  storerooms.

Kassima walks in from the bowl.
Kassima has arrived.

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

From the kitchen, Kelon walks into the Living Cavern.
Kelon walks in from the kitchen.
Kelon has arrived.
Kelon walks towards the inner cavern.
Kelon has left.

"I can get you bread and cheese," the girl with the hat and the fire lizard 
  can be heard to murmur softly, to Jannie. "If that would be alright..." The 
  green lurking behind her neck eyes the woman balefully, but makes no noise, 
  just.... watches.

Jayna beams. "From Benden? Truly?" She smiles at Kassima. "Evening, Kassi," 
  she waves, from her seat at what looks like a laundry-folding party.

Jannie moves toward the klah pot, her eyes taking in Kassima's entrance. 
  Hurriedly, she smiles. "Thank you very much. It would be perfect."

Kelon walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Kelon has arrived.
Kelon walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Kelon has left.

Jayna frowns into her klah. Another cup gone cold? She sighs and takes a 
  swallow anyway, and turns her attention back toward Jannie. "So, you're from 
  Benden? What part?" she asks, a bit wistfully.

Jannie comments, "Lots of people, here. They said it'd be busier in the weyr 
  but Benden Hold being as it is I didn't quite believe it."

Mehlani nodnods silently, and slips off towards the kitchen to assemble a 
  small plate of bread and cheese, as promised.

"Look, San," Kassi is saying to a young greenrider with dark hair who walks 
  beside her into the room, not looking all that pleased, "I'd love it if'n it 
  mattered whether you like it or nay. Truly, I would. But the fact is, 
  *someone's* got t'look after that man, and I'm nay about t'send Miryenne out 
  with him. Ylysse *might* do, but with Alymbrith's wing...." She breaks off 
  the debate with a sigh, and a rueful chuckle. "Anyway, that's your duty. 
  Cheer up; at least you won't be bored." Clapping S'cot on the shoulder, she 
  strolls over to where the three women are, flashing a smile to them. 
  "Evening, Jayna, 'Lani, person I don't know. Duties t'you and yours, by the 
  way." That would be to the stranger in their midst, most likely.

Mehlani returns after a few moments with the plate, which she offers to the 
  visitor gravely. Equally gravely, 'Lani bobs her head to Kassima upon the 
  woman's arrival.

Jannie grins, trying to answer and be greeted at the same time. She pours 
  herself some klah and manages to thank Mehlani for the food effusively 
  enough. "Jannie, wingleader, from Benden Hold. Northern edges. My family's 
  herders."

Mehlani simply offers a small solemn smile by way of "you're welcome". Food 
  delivered to the messenger, the young girl returns to her seat near the rag 
  pile, and the task of sorting the scraps, while the fire lizard lurking 
  underneath the back of her hat curls up more in that small patch of shadow 
  beneath the brim.

Jayna grabs another rag and starts to fold it. She stops, though, looks at it 
  critically, and holds it up. "'Lani, what do you think? Is this worth 
  keeping, even as a rag? Or is it a goner?"

Jannie says "I'm on messenger duty today, though, wingleader. Heard of a blue 
  rider named T'lan?"

Blue eyes survey the rag in question. "Stuff a 'lizard toy with it," is 
  Mehlani's soft succint recommendation. 'Lani then glances around to the 
  messenger, then, curiosity piqued, though the girl says nothing else.

Kassima inclines her head, grinning again even as she follows the path of the 
  klah pot. "The name's Kassima, Jannie--or Kassi, if'n you'd prefer. I don't 
  tend t'stand that highly on formality when 'tis me the formalities are 
  directed to. Well met, and be welcomed to Telgar." Though she starts to turn 
  towards the pitcher of cider abandoned by someone on a nearby table, she 
  pauses at the question. "T'lan? The name's familiar, aye, but he's nay one 
  of mine. I couldn't be saying where he is right now; I could have Lyss ask 
  his blue, though, if'n 'tis a matter of urgency."

Jannie sits down, feeling more comfortable in the presence of the wingleader 
  now that she knows her name, and starts in on the meal and klah. "I'd 
  appreciate that." One hand begins to fiddle with the pouch on her left hip.

Silen walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Silen has arrived.

Jayna nods at Mehlani's advice and pushes clear a corner of the table. "Lizard 
  toys," she says, designating the corner, and dropping the bit of threadbare 
  rag there. She smiles again at Jannie. "So, you're from the Hold, proper?"

Silen wanders in, hands stuck firmly in his pockets.

Jayna smiles at Silen. "Heya, Silen, how are you?" she asks companionably.

Ceria walks in from the bowl.
Ceria has arrived.

Silen grins at Jayna. "Good. How're you?"

Ceria walks in with a smile and wave for those she knows. She also gives 
  Kassima a respectful nod as she heads for the klah pot.

Jannie answers Jayna, "No, miss, from the Northern part. They use us for 
  messengers and the odd job, plus we take care of the herds. My family's got 
  a right good group, if I may say so myself."

Silen gives Jannie a curious look and a nod as he finds a seat neat Jayna.

Jayna smiles at Ceria. "Ceria!" she greets, brightly. "Oh, I'm well, Silen," 
  she answers, folding another rag and reducing the pile by one.

Mehlani is a quiet and efficient sorter, dividng up the cloth scraps into 
  small, medium, and large piles. Apparently content to let conversation flow 
  around her, the quiet girl in the hat works at her task, her blue gaze 
  turning slightly distracted. Slightly dreamy, truth be told, along with the 
  small slight smile curving her lips.

Kassima pours herself a glass of cider and settles down at her Thunderbolt 
  table seat before acceding to the request; her dark green eyes go glassy for 
  a moment, but soon clear again. "Lysseth says that he's on sweeps over Hold 
  Balan right now. He should be back in an hour or so, if'n you're willing to 
  wait." Wiggling her fingers in a greeting gesture to Ceria, the rider picks 
  up her mug and takes a gulp of the chilled liquid. "Oh, that's good. Remind 
  me t'bless whoever left that pitcher there."

Silen picks up a handful of rags and asks, "What're we doing with these?"

Jannie gets an idea she is really missing something. All these people asking 
  about Benden and...oh yes, Search! Right. She returns Silan's nod. "Jannie, 
  here."

Silen smiles at Jannie. "Silen. Pleased to meet you."

Jayna laughs. "Well, we're sorting them to see which ones are too threadbare 
  for anything useful. The bad ones go over there." She points to a corner of 
  the table. "The good ones get folded and put in the basket. Or a cabinet," 
  she says. "But you don't have to help if you don't want to, Silen." She 
  smiles.

Silen shrugs. "Might as well, if I'm going to be sitting here." He frowns 
  thoughtfully at the ones in his hands, and holds one up. "Is this one too 
  bad, d'you think?"

Jannie says "Thanks, wingle....Kassima. I'll be glad to wait."

Ceria pours herself a mug of klah and calls over her shoulder. "Does anybody 
  want anything while I'm up?

Jayna grins. "I don't know, Silen. Hold it over your nose. Can you see through 
  it?"
Jayna shakes her head at Ceria's offer. "No, thanks Ceria," she starts, then 
  takes a peek at her mug. "On second thought, yes, I do need a refill." She 
  drains the cold stuff with a grimace.

Silen checks. "A little. I can see you, but I can't _see_ you, if you know 
  what I mean."

Jayna considers, seriously. "Hmm. You can kind of see, but not see any 
  details?"

Silen nods. "Yeah."

Jannie munches on her impromtu sandwich, peering at Silen, who is peering 
  through rags. Interesting picture. Little crumbs dribble, unnoticed, onto 
  the stone floor of the cavern.

Kassima asks over of the sorters, "If'n you see aught that's too bad t'be 
  used, but just whole enough t'be pieced together and painted as 
  package-wrapping, let me know? Nay, Ceria, but thankee. This cider should 
  suit me until m'stomach decides what it wants t'be given for dinner. You're 
  quite welcome, also, messenger." She swirls the cider idly about in her mug. 
  "By the by... did S'lah and Sh'roun drop in, perchance? Lyss mentioned 
  seeing their dragons. I'm amazed they managed to escape being on sweeps the 
  entire day."

Ceria nods and pours another mug of klah. She carries both mugs over to Jayna 
  and takes a seat. "Need a hand?" she offers, peering at the rags.

Mehlani blinkblinks, looking up at Kassima, to whom she then gravely nods.

Silen waves the rag at Kassi. "I think this one's bad but it might hold up..."

Jayna nods. "Well, I personally'd keep it for a rag. But I guess we could get 
  a second opinion. 'Lani, Ceria? Would you keep a rag that you could -almost- 
  see through? Or would you put it in the lizard toy pile?" She smiles at 
  Ceria's offer. "Up to you!" she says, eyes twinkling. How convenient. Yet 
  another person to do her chores.

Ceria takes a sip of her klah and then she sets the mug down. She looks at the 
  rag Silen's holding. "I think it could still be used," she offers her 
  opinion.

Silen nods thoughtfully at Ceria, and peers at the rag again.

"Toy pile," murmurs Mehlani, probably unsurprisingly. After all, the lass has 
  eight fire lizards and can use all the 'lizard toys she can get.

Jayna looks at Silen. "Well, what's your vote, Silen? We've got two for rags, 
  and one for lizard-toy."

R'val has arrived.
R'val enters from the Bowl.
R'val ambles into the cavern. He waves, and heads towards the klah pot.

"Interesting," Kassi muses. "Wonder what they were up to... oh, a word to the 
  wise, if'n you're looking for 'lizard toys. *Don't* give 'lizards any 
  rattles t'be playing with. Kyril's had one for the better part of nine 
  Turns, and he never ceases trying t'drive me from m'wits with it." Grimacing 
  a bit at the memory, she takes another sip of her cider. "So, messenger... 
  or Jannie, I should say. How fare things at Benden these days?"

Jannie takes a long gulp of her klah, and coughs slightly, murmuring, "You're 
  right, it's cold. Serves me right to wait."

Silen holds the rag up again. "Well, it'll be bad pretty soon if it's that 
  close, right? So we might as well get rid of it now so someone else doesn't 
  have to sort it again in a sevenday."

Jayna smiles and waves at R'val. "Evening," she says, cheerfully, from the 
  mound of rags she's sorting and folding with 'Lani, Silen, and Ceria.

When Kassi seems to be looking in her direction, Mehlani murmurs to the 
  Wingleader, "They were, um... coming to talk to me." She pinkens briefly, 
  and then ducks her head back to her work.

Ceria nods to Silen. "I guess that makes sense," she says.

Jayna glances at Silen. "Makes sense to me," she concedes, affably, with a 
  grin to Ceria. "Wonder who's going to get to -sew- these into lizard toys," 
  she adds, idly.

Jannie looks up at Kassi's question. "Not bad. Herds are prospering. I don't 
  usually take to the other things. Animals make the most sense. Can't seem to 
  hear dragons as well.

Silen grins at Ceria. "Sure it does," he says, suddenly confident, and tosses 
  the rag onto the 'bad' pile."

Jayna takes another rag and holds it over her face, close enought that her 
  nose sticks out. She looks at Silen through the 'mask'. "Well? Good pile? Or 
  bad pile?" she asks.

Jannie pops the last bite into her mouth with relish. "Tastes like Benden 
  cheese, too. I should have brought some, maybe."

Silen squints. "I can only see your nose because it's poking out," he says, 
  "so I guess that's for the 'good' pile."

Jayna laughs, and chucks the rag into the good pile. She takes another, 
  clearly alright, and folds it, dropping it neatly into the basket.

Ceria takes another drink of klah and watches the rag sorting proceed.

Jannie talked over whatever reaction her dragon joke might have started, 
  surprised at herself for letting that one pop out.

Kassima laces her fingers together, looping her arms loosely around her huge 
  cider mug on the table. "To apologize, I'm guessing," she surmises easily 
  enough. "As to hearing dragons, most people don't, so that's hardly 
  surprising. Are you an apprentice to the Craft? Herder craft, that is." Her 
  expression is curious as she waits for Jannie's answer.

Jannie shakes her head. 'No, ma'am. A bit too old for that. I married young."

Mehlani blushes again, but gets in a quick nod to Kassima, apparently trying 
  not to intrude on the rest of the woman's conversation.

Jayna picks up a bit of rag. It's got too many...-things- sticking out of it. 
  Whatever could it have been? Some kind of infant's coverall? But it's a 
  garish purple. She chuckles, trying to decide which end's up.

Silen quickly says, "That one's bad. Whether it is or not."

From the kitchen, Ofira walks into the Living Cavern.
Ofira walks in from the kitchen.
Ofira has arrived.

Ceria nods respectfully to Ofira as she enters.

Ofira comes into the crowded cavern with some after dinner sweets that she 
  lays on the table.

Jannie grins as someone takes away her dirty dishes.

Silen waves to Ofira with a soft pink rag, and tosses it onto the 'bad' pile.

"Kassima, Kassi, or Kass, if'n you please--but *nay* ma'am," Kassi says with 
  affable firmness. "If'n it comes to that, I'd rather hear 'Wingleader' than 
  ma'am. It doesn't sound so... old. Feh." Freeing her fingers to tap one idly 
  against the table's surface, she nods. "You don't look like an apprentice, 
  but I once ran across one who was quite a few Turns m'senior... so I wager 
  that you never can tell, visible knot or nay visible knot."

R'val grins, "Ofira!"

Jayna grins. "You think?" she asks Silen, waving the garish purple scrap like 
  a scarf. "Oh, evening, Master," she smiles from the rag pile she's sorting 
  with Silen.

Ofira waves to everyone, "'Evening all." She looks around for a seat.

Silen nods. "It's a scary color. Ooh, dessert."

Ofira glances at Silen, "If you've had dinner already," she reminds him.

Silen droops. "Not yet, ma'am. Just one? 'Cause I'm helping?"

Ceria grins at Ofira's admonition.

Jayna eyes the sweets, surreptitiously, but intently.

Jannie nods solemnly. "True. I thought maybe I'd get one, but...it's difficult 
  now." She changes the subject. "And you don't look old."

R'val smiles and pulls a chair out for Ofira, "Join me if you like?"

Ofira shakes her head firmly, "/After/ dinner Silen. What would your mother 
  say?" She smiles at R'val and takes the offered chair. "I'd love to."

Silen's shoulders droop a bit more. "She'd yell." But then he brightens at a 
  thought. "What's for dinner?"

Jannie nearly chokes with laughter at Silen's comment, hearing it pop out of 
  the general conversation. "You sound like my youngest boy."

Ofira smiles, "Oh, there's a savory pie of cheese and baby whiteroots and 
  preserved freshwater fish, and a salad of noodles and cheese and vegetables, 
  and some nice crisp greens in a vinaigrette. Among the usual dishes."

Jayna leans over toward Ceria. "How's Adaria, Ceria? I'm sorry, I should've 
  asked earlier," she apologizes, tsking at her bad manners. She stops her 
  folding for another swallow of klah.

Having sorted her share of the rags by size, Mehlani starts inspecting them 
  again for condition, remaining silent in the midst of the lively chatter, 
  though she occasionally glances from face to face from her spot on the floor.

Ceria beams at the mention of her daughter. "She's doing fine," she says. "I 
  still haven't found anywone to foster her though and I haven't had a chance 
  to speak with Richenda."

Kassima smiles wistfully at the after-dinner sweets. "Faranth, those look 
  tempting. I'm trying nay to eat until I make up m'mind about whether to go 
  out for dinner or nay, though." She turns and wrinkles her nose at Jannie. 
  "I should hope nay; if'n twenty and six is old, Faranth help most of the 
  world! How many children have you, if'n you don't mind m'nosiness?"

Silen looks askance at the pile of rags. "Can I eat and sort, d'you think?" he 
  asks Jayna and Mehlani.

Jannie grins fondly. "I've three, all boys. They're with their grandmair for 
  this trip, although the youngest's a fine hand by himself at four."

Ceria grins at Silen. "You might want to eat first and then finish sorting," 
  she says.

Ofira looks over at Kassima, waving, "Going out for dinner?" she asks 
  curiously, having caught that much of the conversation.

Jannie adds, "Or thinks he is."

Silen nods. "Would you guys mind? I wouldn't take long. I promise."

Jayna laughs, nodding agreement with Ceria. "Wouldn't want to wash these 
  twice," she says. "Go eat!"

Mehlani flicks a small smile to Silen, her only reply, before returning to 
  what's left of her work. As many hands as have tackled the task, there 
  doesn't appear to be too much left to do. And as 'Lani does her share, bit 
  by bit, her gaze turns gently distracted again, her thoughts apparently 
  elsewhere, pleasantly so.

Ceria sets down her klah and goes back to helping with the sorting.

"Cheese and whiteroot pie," Kassima repeats, looking markedly tempted. "That 
  *does* sound exquisi--aye, Ofira, tonight's the night of one of those 
  dinners they have at High Reaches. I go on occasion, since Mart's usually 
  there and 'tis as good a chance as any t'work in m'required minimum amount 
  of brownie-teasing for the month." Casting a glance at Jannie, her own smile 
  takes on an aspect of fondness. "I've two girls m'self; the youngest isn't 
  quite one yet, and the eldest is already a true hellion at three." There's a 
  pause, and then, "Lysseth says T'lan is back from sweeps, if'n you want 
  t'catch him ere he takes his blue off to the Springs for a soaking or some 
  such."

Silen tosses one last rag onto the 'bad' pile and goes to get some food. He 
  piles the plate high, and winks to Ofira on his way back to his seat.

Jayna holds up the purple...thing. "Well, this one's left." She turns it 
  around again. "I can't imagine, truly. I don't even think a lizard would 
  play with it, do you?" she asks Ceria and 'Lani.

Jannie jumps up. "Many thanks...Kassi." she says, with a shy smile. She nods 
  to everyone in the room. "An' it was good to meet you. Be seeing you for 
  dinner maybe?" she asks, and runs.

Silen says arund a mouthful of food, "Sure. Why not?"

Jannie walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Jannie has left.

Ofira nods thoughtfully, "Oh, the dinner at High Reaches. Well, that's sure to 
  be nice. " She nods approvingly at Silen, and then looks at the rags. "What 
  do you plan for those?"

Ceria wrinkles her nose at the rag Jayna holds out. "Now that is definitely 
  interesting," she comments.

Kassima waves after the messenger-woman, as belatedly as usual. "I could 
  likely use it for wrapping," she mentions.

Jayna nods, grinning. "I don't think I've ever seen anything quite 
  this...purple. Outside of a grape. Dredged in oil."

Ceria nods. "I wonder how they managed to get that color," she says as she 
  tosses another rag into the correct pile.

Jayna bleatedly hears Ofira's comment. "Oh, they're just rags, Master. They're 
  from the laundry. We're figuring out which ones are 
  stilll...uh...ragworthy," she smiles, "and which ones are more trash-worthy. 
  Or worthy to be stuffed into lizard toys, anyway."

Ofira nods, "Oh, I see. A useful evening's work," she smiles. "If not terribly 
  exciting."

"These are mostly alright," Mehlani finally murmurs, indicating the small need 
  piles she's made to Jayna. She gets to her feet and politely excuses 
  herself, then, slipping off into the inner caverns. As she goes, that dreamy 
  little look lingers in her expression; 'Lani, it seems, is in a good mood 
  indeed.

[End log.]