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:
	4/20/98

Log Cast:
	(People) Arallia, Mehlani, Jorenan, Emlyn, Ceria, Jayna, Makear, Ursa

	(Fire lizards) Elsi, Lump, Cupric, Mica

Log Intro:
	As of late, Baker Apprentice Jorenan has managed to make Mehlani's
developing love life even more complicated -- by not only declaring his
feelings for her, but also trying to encourage her to kiss him. Mehlani has
been torn, since she cares for K'star, brown Indyth's rider... yet, she's
not without affection for Jorenan. Even when his green fire lizard is about
to rise, she can't refuse anything he asks of her....

----------
Your location's current time: 19:56 on day 6, month 8, Turn 22, of the Tenth 
  Pass. It is a summer evening.

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
Contents:
Jorenan
Arallia
Pierron
Obvious exits:
Lower Caverns  Kitchen  Bowl  

Arallia blinks in surprise as Jorenan jumps and looks at him a bit nervously, 
  "Um.. yes, you. You okay?"
Arallia looks at you for a moment.

Mehlani slips into the cavern, making a path towards the Bowl, her expression 
  plaintive and musing under the brim of her hat. Today's shoulder duty is the 
  task of green Elsi, who rides curled on 'Lani's right shoulder, preening 
  herself as the girl walks.

Jorenan takes a deep breath. "I'm -fine,-" he says, just a little too much 
  emphasis there. "Just fine." He catches sight of Mehlani, then, and his mug 
  of klah hits the table with more of a bang than he'd intended.

Emlyn comes in from the lower caverns with a bundle of fabric under an arm. 
  She flinches at the bang of Jorenan's mug and gives him a speculative look 
  as she takes a seat.

Elsi squeaks on 'Lani's shoulder, and Mehlani herself starts, blue gaze 
  flashing round. Her hand comes up lightly to her mouth, eyes wide over her 
  fingers, as she slows to an uncertain halt.

Arallia is seated at a table with a mug of klah in hand as she peers with 
  concern at Jorenan. Ara glances at the new arrivals and takes another sip 
  from her mug.

Jorenan stands up and goes to stir the stew again. "Why're you all staring at 
  me?" he growls. "Nothing wrong at all. Nothing."

Mehlani blinks a time or two, moving her hand to soothe Elsi on her shoulder, 
  coaxing a trill out of the little green. She visibly flinches at Jorenan's 
  growl, and after staring at him as if she's never seen him before -- 
  strange, she's been doing that a lot lately -- the girl hastily tears her 
  gaze away and resumes heading for the Bowl. Almost in panic.

Emlyn was not, in fact, staring at Jorenan. But now she looks up from the 
  needlework she was preparing to study the young man. The greenrider watches 
  Mehlani dart out of the cavern, then looks back at Jorenan. Huh.

Ceria walks in from the bowl.
Ceria has arrived.
Ceria walks in looking flushed and a bit disturbed. She is dressed in her 
  gather finery.

Arallia blinks at Jorenan and then turns to look at Mehlani as she heads out 
  of the cavern, her gaze finds its way back to Jorenan's form.

Ceria shakes her head slightly as she heads for the klah pot.

Jorenan calls after Mehlani, "Come back! You didn't answer!" He turns and gives 
  the stew one more swish, and then frowns. "Dnag."

Mehlani starts, just about to vanish into the Bowl, when Jorenan's voice halts 
  her. She freezes and peers unsurely over her un-occupied shoulder; Elsi 
  creels, looking rather unsure herself, eyes whirling a trifle yellow.

Ceria frowns at Jorenan and pours herself a mug of klah.

Emlyn finally notices all the staring back and forth and all the tension in 
  everybody's faces. Satisfied that she thinks she knows the cause, she nods 
  once and turns her attention back to the needlework. At that moment, her 
  brown firelizard detaches himself from the wall and drops like a sack of 
  'stone onto his human's head. Emlyn nearly cracks her nose on her knee from 
  the impact.

Jorenan nods. "There you go," he says, to Mehlani. "Have a seat." He points to 
  one. Near where he'd been sitting. "Hullo, Emlyn," he says to the rider. 
  "You need to do something about that 'lizard of yours. D'you want to sit 
  with me, too?"

Ceria remains standing as she drinks her klah. She watches Jorenan as she 
  drinks.

Mehlani edges towards Jorenan, looking rather edgy, still. "I was going to go 
  outside," she murmurs, approaching the chair he offers.

Jorenan pats the seat gently. If it were padded, it wouldn't raise -too- much 
  dust. "No, no," he says. "have a seat here with me."

Emlyn mutters in response to Jorenan, "I'd like you to cook him, I think." She 
  shifts, then asks, "Sit with you -too-?" Her pale gaze takes in Mehlani 
  first, then Ceria. "Er, I don't think so, no offense."

Well, alright, for a few minutes, if her friend Jorenan asks it of her. 'Lani 
  settles gingerly down into the seat, one hand still lightly touching the 
  little green on her shoulder. Elsi peers at Jorenan, and croons tentatively.

Arallia watches everything with a sort of confused curiousity. . o 0 ( I 
  wonder what's going on? ). She takes a sip of her almost forgotten klah.

Cupric glides in from the bowl.
Cupric has arrived.
Cupric flitters around the room in a wild arc, then swoops right back out the 
  door again.
Cupric flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Cupric has left.

Mica flits through the cavern and Ceria gives him an irritible glance.
Mica flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Mica has left.

Emlyn winces as Lump jumps off her head and darts out toward the bowl.

Ceria gets an odd look on her face for a moment.

Elsi chirrups again, as the males in the room seem to all suddenly be inclined 
  to flee outside; the little creature sounds quite disappointed. Mehlani 
  frowns, however, her brows knitting together, and her gaze travels outside.

Ceria flinches suddenly.

Jorenan seems to completely lose track of what's going on in the living cavern 
  for a moment. His entire body slows to stillness, and his shoulders hunch.

Mehlani's blue gaze then travels from the Bowl exit to Ceria and finally back 
  to Jorenan; the girl's frown deepens, and she rises off the seat she'd 
  claimed, her green trilling in a high, shrilly anxious sort of tone. "Hush, 
  Elsi... Jorenan?" She reaches an uncertain hand towards the young man.

Ceria stiffens suddenly and her eyes seem to glaze over.

He focuses on Mehlani, and shakes his head, trying to clear it. "Oh. No. Not 
  now." Jorenan clearly isn't having much success.

"Oh dear..." Mehlani waves her hand slightly in front of Jorenan's face, and 
  then breathes again, "Oh dear... wine..." She skitters back from him, then, 
  and hastens off to the wine stores, Elsi fluttering agitatedly as she 
  strives to keep her perch on her human's shoulder.

Emlyn lifts her nose from her needlework. "Well," she announces, "there goes 
  that air-brained Lump of mine after your green, Jorenan. If he catches her, 
  don't try any funny stuff." She points the needle at him. "I'm armed." Then 
  she winks with a quick grin.

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

Arallia's gaze flits from face to face and then after hearing Emlyn she 
  realizes what's happening. A faint blush spreads across her features and she 
  stays seated, not exactly sure how to help in this type of situation.

Ceria gasps suddenly.

The Baker just stares at Emlyn. "You?" he squeaks. Then he falls into a chair. 
  "Oh no." Then he blanches further and looks around the rest of the room. "Oh 
  -no-."

Mehlani comes back after a moment with a wine skin and a couple of empty mugs, 
  as much as she could comfortably carry in her two slender hands. Emlyn's 
  comment makes her eye the green rider askance, then Lani decides she'd best 
  have the wine most ready for Ceria and Jorenan himself. _Stay away, Holl,_ 
  she mentally urges her distant bronze, and then she pours up a mug of the 
  wine, offering it to Jorenan gravely. "You... might want... to get to your 
  cot," she advises.

Ceria stumbles over to a chair and collapses into it.

Emlyn waves off the looks of horror and assertions that Jorenan should leave. 
  "He's a strong-minded young man. He can stay. Besides, this is a weyr, after 
  all." She sits back, grinning.

Ceria moans as she realizes what is happening.

Strong minded. Sure, that's Jorenan. He nods, and takes a deep breath. Those 
  he knows how to do. Then he jerks. "What?" he says. "No! Don't!"

Ceria stiffens and cries out. "Stop!" she calls as she stands up.

Jayna smiles, a bit distractedly, pouring herself a mug of klah. "My blue 
  Shadow's outside, agitated. Any idea who's rising?" she asks, absently 
  sinking to a chair.

Mehlani, still standing there holding Jorenan's mug of wine for him, starts. 
  And blinks. What? Her gaze flashes to Jayna, and rather worriedly, not 
  liking the tone of Jorenan and Ceria's cries, the girl bobs her head towards 
  the Baker youth. "His green..."

Arallia glances around the room and decides to make a discreet exit to othe 
  inner caverns.
Arallia walks towards the inner cavern.
Arallia has left.

Ceria winces and holds up her hands. "No!" she cries.

Emlyn frowns. "Er, his green AND a second green."

Mehlani gasps sharply, her gaze flashing round to Emlyn now. "What?!" she 
  cries, rather louder than is usual for her. "Can... can Pleiath separate 
  them?"

Emlyn blushes and shakes her head at Mehlani. "Er, no. She's .. um.." How to 
  tell the girl that her dragon has given a mental shrug at the request?

Ceria whimpers. "Stop!" she pleads. "Stop!"

Jorenan just stands, his hands rising a little as if he might be trying to 
  ward something off. His face is twisted into a grimace of pain. "No, no, 
  no," he says quietly, over and over again.

Jayna suddenly puts her klah on the table. "Excuse me," she says, absently.
Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.
Jayna has left.

Shy though she might be, Mehlani _is_ Weyrbred, and she understands what's 
  liable to happen if two dragons try to rise at the same time. Granted, it's 
  rather less worrisome if the rising winged creatures are fire lizards, but 
  still. Elsi, picking up on her human's mood, creels softly, eyes turning a 
  deeper shade of yellow now. "Hush, Elsi!" Mehlani commands the little 
  creature, setting down the wine mug, and glancing concernedly at Emlyn. "Are 
  the greens fighting?" she pipes.

Emlyn nods distractedly at Mehlani. "They are, yes." She frowns as she looks 
  over at Jorenan.

"Oh no," the girl in the battered brown hat murmurs, turning back to the young 
  Baker, her eyes gone round. Elsi flutters, creeling again, though much more 
  softly now. Mehlani has kept a vigil over her 'lizard-proddy father enough 
  times that she has an idea of how long this _should_ last -- but then again, 
  F'hlan'd always had Tzornth separate his greens when they rose, too. 
  "Jorenan?" she whispers, watching the young man for a cue.

Ceria claps a hand over her mouth, stifling an anguished cry.

Emlyn swallows in a dry throat. "Oh, my. Oh, my." She looks over at the baker.

Jorenan's hands go to his head, and he sinks into a chair. "No," is all he 
  says. "Oh no."

Ceria collapses into a chair sobbing. "I'm sorry," she repeats over and over.

Mehlani blinks. Twice. Between Ceria's reactions and Jorenan's behavior, she 
  can fathom what must have just happened. Slowly, her eyes begin to turn 
  liquid. She reaches for the mug she'd set down, then settles down on the 
  chair she'd had before, reaching for Jorenan's nearer hand with her free one.

Some callous soul somewhere in the cavern just nods at the loss of the green. 
  The firelizards have become so common that the loss of one is not always 
  regarded universally as a tragedy.

Jorenan's hand is taken, though what anyone would do with it while it's still 
  holding up is head isn't entirely clear. "Not again," he says. His voice is 
  a little dead. "Why again? Sharding stupid green."

Ceria looks over at Jorenan. "I'm sorry," she repeats tearfully. "I should 
  have stopped her."

Perhaps not a tragedy, but nevertheless, Mehlani watches Jorenan quietly, 
  drawing that hand she's taken down to wrap it around the mug with the wine 
  in it. Her eyes shimmering a little, limpidly, she murmurs, "Here... drink 
  this..."

Makear walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Makear has arrived.
Makear stumbles into the cavern dazed and blury eyed. She looks at everyone 
  sitting in the cavern, hurriedly taking in the situation. She moans softly 
  before heading to get something to clear her head.

There's a skin of wine out, on a table near where Mehlani sits trying to press 
  a mug into Jorenan's hand. One empty mug can be spotted near the skin, as 
  well.

Jorenan takes the mug and drinks a good half of it without looking. "Aye, 
  thank you, Mehlani." To Ceria, he just says, "It's not your fault." He 
  shakes his head. "I never paid much attention, so I didn't even know she was 
  proddy. I'm sorry. I should've."

Ceria sniffs. "I didn't think she was ready to rise yet," she says. "I didn't 
  think she would do something like that."

Makear spots the skin and pours the empty mug halfway full, with a mumbled 
  thanks to whoever had left it out. Jorenan and Ceria words clear up who's 
  green had been the fatality but she doesn't say anything, just simply gulps 
  some of the wine.

Once the mug is taken, 'Lani rises, intending to turn and see if Ceria's 
  reaching for the skin and the remaining mug; this lets her see Makear in the 
  meantime, and Mehlani blinks. Alright, not that plan, then. She turns back, 
  intending to go off and fetch Ceria some more wine from the stores; on her 
  shoulder, Elsi creels, eyes deeply yellow.

Emlyn listens to Jorenan and Ceria. She speaks up. "Both of you, have a full 
  glass of the wine. Drink it down." Her voice is imperious with the authority 
  leant by her experience as a weyrlingmaster and wingsecond.

Here the Baker is, gone from having a perfectly normal evening, to a hormone 
  rush Jorenan didn't expect, to an entirely different set of hormones, to 
  getting the ghost feelings of having one's throat ripped out. His hands have 
  begun to shake, and he takes another gulp of his wine. He nods to Emlyn; 
  he's working at it.

Ursa walks in from the bowl.
Ursa has arrived.

Pierron glances up as the weyrsecond enters.

Ursa steps in, scowling slightly. She glances uneasily at the baker, then 
  takes her seat by Emlyn.

Ceria mindlessly obeys Emlyn, her face dead white.

Mehlani has fetched another skin and a mug for Ceria, by now. Her eyes have 
  gotten rather more liquid, although she hasn't actually wept yet. Once her 
  hands are free, she lifts one to stroke Elsi's head, and lingers for a 
  moment, unsure what to do next.

Ceria wipes her eyes with the back of her hand, making her look very 
  childlike. She gulps down some wine and a bit of color is restored to her 
  face.

Emlyn greets Ursa with the same uneasy expression. Her dragon has already 
  relayed to the brownrider's what has transpired. She looks back at Ceria and 
  Jorenan. "And another, when you finish that one. Then some hot food, if you 
  can stand it."

Jorenan finishes off the wine. The edge of the cup rattles against the table 
  as he tries to set it down. He says, "More?" He shakes his head, not wanting 
  any more, but then grimaces. "Aye, you're the trained one." He turns to look 
  for wine, and his eyes come to rest on Mehlani. "Please," he says quietly, 
  "Could I have another cup?"

Ceria downs another mug of wine and then stands up rather unsteadily. "I have 
  to go," she says, her eyes fixed on the exit to the bowl.

Mehlani nods silently, taking up the new skin and pouring out another mugful 
  for Jorenan, her hands much steadier than his.

Ursa drawls to Emlyn, "Seems I showed up at an uncomfortable time. How are 
  you?"

Emlyn has a tunic in her lap. Her needle dangles from the thread she was 
  embroidering into a floral panel. As she retrieves it, she says to Ursa, 
  "I'm well. Lump is ..." At that moment, the brown appears from between and 
  lands on her shoulder. He buries his face in her ear.

"I'll talk to you later, Ceria," says Jorenan. "Tomorrow. After... after I 
  sleep. And you sleep. We'll feel better then, I'm sure." He's babbling. And 
  he knows it, for he stops suddenly. To Mehlani, he says a quiet "Thank you."

Mehlani only bobs her head by way of reply, watching Jorenan with those liquid 
  eyes of hers.

Ceria waves in Jorenan's general direction, whispering "Sorry," one final 
  time. Then she stumbles out of the cavern, almost tripping on the hem of her 
  Gather dress.
Ceria walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Ceria has left.

Ursa reaches up and actually pats the little brown. "I think I know how he 
  feels," she comments.

Makear drains the last of her own wine, setting down, her head feeling 
  somewhat better. She then moves to the bowl exit herself, not feeling very 
  comfertable in the uneasy air of the cavern, maybe the night air will 
  relieve some of her own tension.
Makear walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Makear has left.

Lump hums at Ursa. Emlyn nods. She watches Ceria depart, then watches Jorenan 
  for a moment longer. Satisfied he'll be able to sleep, she takes a breath 
  and relaxes fractionally.

Jorenan just stares at his wine, rather than actually drinking it. "Stupid," 
  he says. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." He rubs his forehead and then shudders.

Mehlani leans forward to drop both of her small hands on Jorenan's shoulders, 
  and she murmurs to him, "You should drink that now."

Ursa gives the little brown another pat, then her eyes fall to the needlework 
  in Emlyn's lap. She flushes slightly, "Oh, you're working on that again..." 
  with a bit of a lopsided grin. She rises, inspecting the food. She spurns 
  the stew, coming back with one of those cold-salad concoctions the bakers 
  come up with in warmer weathers.

Emlyn has most of her attention on Jorenan and Mehlani, but turns to grin at 
  Ursa. "Yes, I am. Like I said, this one, one other, then some smaller 
  things." The greenrider inspects her weyrmate's dinner.

He pauses, looking up at Mehlani, and then Jorenan does as she suggested. He 
  manages to drink about half of it again, and then has to stop. He's turned a 
  bit pale himself. He says, "Shards, Mehlani. It's hard to act like I know 
  what's going on when things like this happen." Hmmm. That was perhaps more 
  honest than he'll be happy with later.

"That doesn't mean you're stupid," the girl murmurs simply. She considers, 
  then adds, "Do you want food?"

Ursa turns to watch the baker and the young girl, since Emlyn seems to be. 
  "Oh, he'll be okay," she says to Emlyn, unecessarily. MOstly for lack of 
  anything more original to comment on the situation.

Jorenan shudders again, and swallows carefully. "I think," he says, "that's a 
  -really- bad idea." At Ursa's words, he nods. "Aye. I'll be okay. I've done 
  this before. Not so surprising last time, but that's all right. She was just 
  sick from when she hatched, last time. I wonder how she'll die next time." 
  He's getting a little disjointed.

Emlyn looks a last time over Jorenan and frowns. He lost a 'lizard before? She 
  decides not to ask and turns back to Ursa, "Did you talk to D'ton?"

Mehlani frowns gently at Jorenan's words, and then reaches over to take the 
  mug from him. "You should lie down now," she murmurs, oddly authoritatively.

Mehlani's little green seems to agree, watching Jorenan with solemnly whirling 
  eyes, a less violent shade of yellow now.

Ursa shakes her head. "No, he escaped me at the last moment. He said he'd be 
  back, though."

Jorenan considers a last sip of his wine, and then sets the mug aside. In that 
  careful manner people have when they're headed down into drunkenness. "Yes. 
  That's what I did before, too. I'll lie down and then in the morning it'll 
  all be all right. That's what they said." It appears it wasn't entirely 
  true, the last time. One hand goes up to his throat, and then he shudders 
  again. He stands up slowly.

"Come on," says Mehlani quietly, reaching out a hand for the young man's arm. 
  "Elsi and I will walk you to your cot." The fire lizard on her shoulder coos 
  tinily.

Emlyn nods at Ursa's answer. "Too bad. I think we can spare him from the wing 
  to fill our requirement for the search detachment."

Ursa sighs heavily suddenly. "I didn't get to tell you..."

Jorenan nods and lets Mehlani take his arm. He gives Elsi a thoughtful look, 
  but doesn't say anything. "Thanks," is all he says. Manners, always manners, 
  with him. Like a blanket against the cold.
Jorenan walks towards the inner cavern.
Jorenan has left.

You walk towards the inner cavern.
Inner Cavern(#1272RJL$)
Contents:
Jorenan
Manira
Obvious exits:
Steam Baths  INFirmary  Candidate Barracks  Corridor  Weyrfolk Quarters  
  Living Cavern  

Telgar-LC> Emlyn gives Lump another consoling rub as she nods to Ursa. She 
  knows Jorenan's in good hands with Mehlani, so attends the brownrider's tale.

"You're welcome," is all that Mehlani says in soft reply.

You head towards the corridor to the weyrfolk quarters.
Dormitories(#1277RA$)
Contents:
Lost and Found Cabinet (OOC)
Obvious exits:
Inner Cavern  

Jorenan walks in from the inner cavern.
Jorenan has arrived.

Mehlani, with that, gravely escorts the young man through the corridors and 
  off into the dormitories, Elsi uncharacteristically subdued as she rides on 
  her shoulder. Once in the Weyrfolk quarters, she pauses, then proceeds to 
  walk Jorenan to his cot, as promised.

[End log.]