kayjay

'The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967, 2000. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on SouCon MUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

It is currently 11:45 a.m. on day 24 of month 5 in Turn 28 of the 10th Pass. The season is currently winter. (Remember we are in the southern hemisphere!)

You walk toward the bustling Weyrhall.

Kinoa strolls in, a sack bulging wiith all sorts of odd protuberances slung over her shoulder. "Evening," she says cheerfully.

Kayjay raises her head from the hide on the table, and yawns, stretching. She blushes when she realizes she dosed off, reading.

Auralia strides into the room, humming loudly to herself. Alright, humming to the whole room in general. Arms swing, hair swings, in fact, she looks to be in rather a good mood. Perhaps, anyway. "Greetings, salutations, etc." She came in just after Kinoa, really.

Kinoa dumps the sack onto the table and stares at Kayjay for a long moment. "Who're you?" she asks, not unkindly, as a few stray tubers roll out and onto the table. Auralia gets a grin and a wave. "You look well today," she teases.

Sipping her klah, now stone cold, Kayjay grimaces, and shoves it away fmom her. She smiles apologetically to those in the room.

Well? Yes, well, thats possible. Auralia simply smiles back at Kinoa, giving Kayjay a quirky grin, and sits down, with a fresh redfruit from the basket, swinging her legs down from the table. Since she sat on the table top, rather than the bench. As usual. "I'm well, I'm well. And yourself? And you...Kayjay?"

Kayjay says "I am Kayjay, working out in the gardens, so you probably haven't noticed me before. I have been here awhile." she shrugs, "I usually am not in here this time of day.""

Kinoa ahs, nodding. "Kayjay, then," she says, gesturing to the growing pile of tubers. "I believe these are for you, then, since Tarrin's not in the gardens any more." She waves her hand ambiguously. "See what you can do with them." Scraping a chair out from the table, she plops herself into it and sighs contentedly, giving Auralia the eye. "You look suspiciously well," she says, and leaves it at that.

Kayjay looks dismayed at the Tubers, but realizes she has extra help with all the candidates around. "Umm Thank you."

Legs swing some more, and Auri simply grins, holding herself steady with two hands that grip on the wood of the table. "I'm always well." Wrinkling her nose, she comments wryly, "I feel sorry for anyone who has to do all that tuber peeling. Thats the most boring thing I can think of to have to do."

Kayjay nods in total agreement with Auri.

Kinoa explains as she props her feet up on a chair, "I've been bringing them back from further south, hoping they'll fare better than the ones we have left." Boots get unlaces and she wriggles her feet happily, quirking an eyebrow at the other two. "For planting, not for peeling."

Kayjay folds up the hide she was studying and stretches. "I can't imagine sitting that still, that long, to peel those things, day in day out":w

Auralia ohs, and then starts to giggle, rocking back and forth even more than before, "Oh! Of course. I know that, really I did. Good. If they do better we'll have more tubers to eat!" And that, it would seem, is a verygoodthing.

Kayjay grins, understanding, now that the fog from napping clears fron her brain. "Thanks!" "I was just looking at a list of ingredients that the vinters said helped nourish the soil for their grubs, we got most of the stuff around here."

Kinoa nods politely, letting the gardener's words flit in one ear and right out the other. "Right, right," she says, nudging a rolling tuber back into place with her elbow just before it heads off the edge of the table. "So, hmm, are you new here? I'm sorry," and she smiles in a charmingly apologetic way, "I'm horrible with names."

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth's thoughts are faint, wispy tendrils of emerald, almost tentative. <> She sounds unconvinced, so far.

Kayjay shrugs, and just looks at the tuber. "Thats ok, I am /just/ a gardener after all.

Kayjay gets up, ignoring the tubers, and pours out the cold klah and grabs a fresh mug.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath's sultry tones filter back, completely wise and comfortable with this <> She's completely convinced. She knows all, after all.

Auralia rolls her eyes, and shakes her head, leaning back a little further, "You're not 'just a gardener'. Thats silly," scoffeth she, lifting her hands to run fingers through her hair for a moment, "Don't demean yourself like that."

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth gives a delicate snort. <> A fuzzy sort of aura of the gardener girl. << The other one was a dirt-worker too, perhaps it is something they share. >>

Kinoa blinks several times. "That's not what I meant. Gardeners are very important, after all, I'm likely to kill anything I try to grow, and then how would the weyr survive?" She smiles. "But to each her own strengths." So wise, the young greenrider.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath isn't silly! She knew that << Of course >> she sounds almost bored, although she quickly adds << Who else could it be? Auralia can't see anyone else right now. Perhaps it is someone not in her view. >> As for the last comment, she adds, simply << They probably just smell the same. We should find out. >>

Kayjay gives Auralia a level look. "I know that." turning to Kinoa. "I have been at Southern Weyr for several turns, but you probably didn't notice me, as I was mostly in the kitche, the classroom, or in my Aunt's cotroom. I have been working in the gardens for the past few months, now that I am no longer fostered by Aunt Noggen."

"Of course you do," Auralia shrugs nonplussedly, pausing to scamper from her spot towards the scrap bins, where she eats the last pieces of redfruit, careful not to drip anywhere. Fingers are licked quickly, and she returns, wiping those now partially clean onto her breeches to get rid of the stickyness as she hops back up.

Kinoa ahs, clapping her hands together in sudden recognition. "Of course!" she says brightly. "I do know her, um, lovely woman, right." A momentary glance towards the doorway and then back at Kayjay, and she squints. "Hmm," she says again. "Do you enjoy weeding, then?"

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth rumbles an agreement. << We should. Kinoa likes itvery much when I find them. >> With an affected modesty, <>

Kayjay grins at Kinoa, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, her hair growing out her chin usually turns off most people from Aunt Naggen" she shrugs, "I don't enjoy weeding, that much, but the candidates have been helping me out that way, I would much rather grow things than pull things."

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath's agreement is completely clear even before she forms it into words << We should. The dirty one and anyone else in there. >> Is that a hint of just-in-case? No, perhaps not. << Yes, we will have to have them bring them out. Now. >>

Kayjay sips her klah, adds some sweetener and heads back to her table, stopping first to place the tubers back in the sack.

"So would I," comments Auralia, although she's quick to add, "I like harvesting better, though. I guess." Scrunching her nose, she adds, "Not that I've done that for turns, and turns."

Kinoa watches Kayjay fiddle with the tubers for another moment and then glances at Auralia. "Ah. Would you mind giving me a hand with those? I need to take them outside, put them with the rest that're with Luiseth." Letting her eyes roam over thehall, she points to a few other young residents. "And you, and you, and, well, all of you. Come with me."

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth isn't willing to commit to anything until she sees it up close, preferring to remain detached. << Now, >> she agrees. <>

Kinoa said that to Kayjay, though Auralia's more than welcome to sack tubers.

Auralia hides the face that is obviously wanting to show itself, and instead nods, pulling herself off the table and ambling over to Kinoa. Almost slowly, as if the longer she takes the less likely she's actually going to have to do work. When the obvious happens, and she reaches her wingleader, she grabs at a pile of the tubers, and lugs them into her arms.

Kinoa grins as she doles out tubers to the annoyed-looking young'uns. "Ahh, the perks of rank," she says with a giggle, but manages to take her fair share.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath -almost- snorts. << Dirt isn't so bad. >> Is she chiding? Nah. << If it is, and I know it is, then it can't be bad. >> Whatever.

Kayjay looks at Kinoa, a bit confused, as this usually isn't her duty, but shrugs and follows.

Temari walks in, carrying a load of clean plates, which she places on a side table.

Kinoa spies Temari just as she walks in. "Hey, you," she says, with an armful of tubers. "You can help too." Then she leads the procession outside.

Kayjay places the hide she was working on, carefully into her pocket, to protect it from being smudged, and heads to the tuber sacks.

Kinoa walks toward the Courtyard.

You walk over to the Courtyard.

Temari shifts her armload of tubers, staggering slightly.

Kayjay walks and ties her hair back at the same time, so it is out of her way.

Luiseth rumbles softly as her rider approaches, her eyes whirling a slow blue-green. Kinoa grins and marches right over to the green, then dumps the tubers uncerimoniously onto the ground. "They don't bruise, right?" she asks the others, then unfastens a buckle on a conveniently placed strap-bag.

Iesath is stretched out in the sun, outer eyelids closed -- although they open slightly when her lifemate strides across, still holding her share of the tubers -- as her tail flicks, softly. Auralia strides across to Luiseth, dropping the tubers in a heap, snickering, "I hope not." Bit late if they do.

Temari chuckles at Kinoa, then crouches down and lets hers slide into the same pile.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth finally sounds convinced. << There it is, >> she rumbles happily, then blinks. << Wait. Which one is it? That one, >> looks at Kayjay, << Or that one? >> Temari. << This is too much work. >>

Kayjay says in a quiet, controlled sort of voice "Actually, they do bruise if they are dropped from too high a height."

Temari's eyes sparkle as she imagines dropping tubers off a dragon in the air.

Kinoa frowns down at the jumble of tubers around her feet. "Oh, shards," she curses cheerfully, then shrugs,. "We'll have mashed tubers then, for a sevenday." Arms now free, she gives her dragon a fond slap on the flank, to which Luiseth responds with a low croon. She ignores Kinoa in favor of Temari and Kayjay.

Kayjay a bit cranky from her interupted nap, just looks at Temari and shrugs. She waits to see what the DragonRider wants them to do.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath may sound just a little bit I-told-you-so-ish, but then, she might not. Her presence moves away for a moment, and then returns << That other one *Temari* looks...taken. >> Clarifying herself, << There is...something already on it. Its the other one. >> She's perfectly certain.

Kayjay smiles at the Dragon, nodding in respect at the same time, foul mood quickly dissolving.

Temari smiles. "Do you want those tubers in that sack then?" she asks.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth haughtily reminds you that she's done this before, you young whipper-snapper. Well, not in so many words, but the thought is there. <>

Auralia snickers, and then frowns, as she strides back to Iesath, who's head has lifted, her eyelids opened completely, blinking smoothly across to the nonriders. "Hey..." Comments Auralia, pausing, and then turning back, shrugging it off obviously.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath ignores that bit of it. Not her fault she's mature for her age. Or something like that. <>

The rest of the young residents shift restlessly and rather boredly. "Um, ma'am?" one of them asks. "C'n we go now?"

Kayjay looks at the tubers on the ground with a bit of dismay, but heads towards them, to put them into a sack at least. "I can check for bruises tomorrow, and that's a lot of tubers." Kayjay smiles, "Should help the gardens a lot."

Luiseth nudges a young man right out of the way, though not roughly, obviously looking for something. Kinoa darts a frown at the young man, then crosses her arms over her chest. "No. You can't. Get back in your line." Another glance at Luiseth, "Is that easier?" she asks, rolling her eyes.

Iesath moves her head forward slightly, eyes blinking again towards the assembled persons, ignoring Auralia again. The greenrider just standing there, comprehension dawning.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth's thoughts focus in on Kayjay. << Her. Yes. >> Finally. Then, somewhat irritatedly, << Move, you silly boy thing. I want -her-. >>

Kayjay ,crouching down on her haunches, starts to methodically pick up tubers, and shoves them into the sack nearby.

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath would roll her eyes, but...<< Like this! >> Taking control, as usual. <<Y ou just have to push. >>

Braplin rolls his eyes when he thinks Kinoa's not looking but moves back into the line. The wingleader ignores him, keeping an eye on Luiseth, who ignores the line in favor of the girl crouching down by her feet. Waaaay down there. She lets out a slightly louder rumble, to get the girl's attention.

Iesath pushes her head past Temari, and past the others, looking towards Kayjay firmly, before tilting her head back to Luiseth with almost a look of agreement. Looking back to Auralia, and Kinoa, she lets out a soft rumble. Come on, move.

Kayjay mutters to herself, "This has to be the strangest evening I have had in a long time, Grown-ups, who can figure them out?" and continues to shove the tubers in the sacks.

Temari steps back, smiling at the scene.

Kinoa laughs, stepping back and out of the way. "Don't scare them, you two," she says, watching all of this with a smile on her face. "Yes, you're so smart, both of you," she assures the greens, then, in a louder and more commanding voice, "LKayjay, gardener. Stand up and stop scrabbling in the dirt. I need to talk to you."

Kayjay stands up, dropping several tubers in the process, looking a bit stunned, trying to figure out what she did to annoy the Dragonrider.

Iesath backs away a slight bit, while Auralia moves forward to meet her, rubbing her lifemate's neck, and watching with some amusement. "They don't want you all dirty, y'hear?"

Kayjay says "Yes, Ma'am?""

Kayjay looks at the dragon and the rider, comprehension slowly coming to her face.

Temari stands with a wide grin on her face. Oh, she rememebrs a sceen like this!

Luiseth croons at Temari briefly, but she's already taken. Insistently she lowers her head and whuffs Kayjay, and Kinoa nods. "You've made your point," she says drily, then turns back to the gardener. "You've found favor with Luiseth and Iesath, it seems. Will you Stand for Jeuneth and Muinyth's clutch?" Her foot taptaps on the ground as she waits for the answer, though she's smiling.

Kayjay her jaw drops slightly. "Oh!!"

Temari looks at Kayjay dleightedly.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Luiseth knew all along, really. << Something about the dirty ones... >>

Auralia chuckles, while Iesath rumbles her agreement, "You will, won't you? Come on! You'll get to learn lots more about dragons now."

Kayjay says "Me, but I am just a gardener?" Kayjay looks a bit confused, but answers quickly before the dragons change their mind." Yes!"

Iesath> Luiseth senses that Iesath wouldn't believe you on that one, but yeah. She knew it. She always knows it << As I said - dirty isn't so bad. >>

Kayjay looks at Luiseth, a little stunned, and her face almost splits in two with a grin.

Temari runs up to Kayjay and hugs her. "You're a candidate now!" she says, then steps back, still grinning widely.

Kayjay says "I am?" she croaks, looking a bit stunned, wondering if she is still asleep at the weyrhall table."Thank you ma'am," She babbles to the dragon. "Thank you.""

"Congratulations," offers the younger of the two greenriders, her own grin almost matching the newest candidates. Turning to Kinoa, she grimaces, "Now we've lost *two* gardeners. We really need to dig out some more."

Kayjay giggles inanely and realizing her jaw is still open, she shuts it.

Temari grins at the rider. "Three gardeners actually. Tarrin got searched too."

Auralia rubs her eyes, shaking her head at the same time as she flings her arms towards the skies, "What next? The rest of 'em going to follow suit? What is it with...I bet the dragons are just attracted to dirt. Something like that." Theres a glint in her eyes, showing that she's not quite serious about it, "Never mind. I'll go out and dig up some more...or something like that."

Kinoa nods her head. "Good," she says, looking sorrowfully at the poor abused pile of tubers on the ground. Luiseth is more enthusiastic, her tailtip twitching with pleasure at her discovery. "Go and get whataver you'll absolutely need, and meet me in the barracks. They're over there," she gestures through the meadow. Now that the offer's been accepted, she grins, formality dropped. "I'll help you settle in."

Kayjay grins, "Well, we almost got the grub situation figured out anyhow.... " she says with a voice that says she could care less about grubs right now.

Kayjay says "I will be right back, May Temari come and help me? I" Kayjay explains, "I really don'"

Kayjay says "I really don'"

Kinoa adds, "Luiseth says it's definitely not the dirt. If Tiarnath had clutched, I'd believe the eggs wanted muddy candidates, but Jeuneth," she shrugs, implying quite a bit.

Kayjay says "I rally don't have that much stuff."

Temari giggles at Kayjay. "You'll still be gardening." she says. "It's one of the /chores/. we do". She grimaces. "Sure I'll help you get your stuff"

Kayjay looks bemused. "Oh I don't mind gardening, its fun!"

Iesath settles down a lot now, curling back up in the morning sunlight, while Auralia snickers gently, "Mmmm, probably right there. Who knows -what- they see in all the gardeners. Never mind, its good luck for them!"

Kayjay grins at Temari, shrugging towards the Garden Cottages. "Lets go!"

Temari grins, and follows Kayjay

Kinoa flicks her fingers dismissively. "You're welcome togarden all you like, if it's part of your chores. But that's a speech for me to give in a moment." She grins at Auralia, then heads off to the barracks.

Kinoa strides over to the Lakeside Meadow.Kinoa has left.

Temari strides over to the Western Courtyard.Temari has left.

Kayjay strides over to the Western Courtyard.