You walk over to viewing Galleries around the hatching sands.

Timor hangs half full at the horizon, shining in the hot summer skies. One blue star seems to blink like the heart of a child where the bowl meets the stem of the 'Harper's Glass' high overhead. Other stars twinkle in the distance.

Meleri smiles at Aithne and nods. "Good evening." She turns to look out at the eggs.

Maralita shrugs. "works." she chuckles. "More the merrier. Too quiet in here anyhow."

Jachin eyes all the people, and then the dragon again. "Shells....its going to be a regular concert." He notes, suddenly a wee bit nervous. "Umm....might you ask her what she would like to hear, Telinda?" is asked. "What would help soothe her?" might as well get the request straight from the dragon's mouth...or mind.

Kelli raises his hand to wave to those coming in. "You're about to see a treat." he says to them. "A Harper singing a dragon to sleep." Yes, he's probably going to tell everyone this. Poor Jachin. He silences, then, settling back with his hands behind his head to watch the trouble.

Kayjay chuckles and raises her mug of tea in a gracious acknowledgment of the harper. "A concert, that's rather nice, just a few friends and a dragon."

Brushing sand off of her breeches, Aura strides cheerfully up the stairs, two at a time, one hand raised in greeting as she slips towards a seat. Still brushing--and seemingly making no difference to the sandy particles upon her clothing, Aura tilts her head towards the present company, asking, as she overhears, "Concert? The things you see."

Telinda grins, "Anything would work, Jachin, try something and see if it works, and we'll take it from there."

Jalynia is busily double-plying her threads, and not saying much. Rather, she's just listening to what's in progress.

Maralita yawns and runs a hand through her hair, managing to get charcoal in there in the process.

Jachin nods to the Weyrwoman, uncasing his gitar and settling himself in a seat, tuning the instrument and testing out a soft chord. "Right....a lullabye, then." He clears his throat, then begins to sing, a soft, sweetly soothing song about a mother rocking her babe to sleep....

Nausika has arrived.

Kelli just swings his foot to and fro at the music, glancing up and waving casually to Nausika in greeting. "Have a seat." he murmers to her, voice low and deep so as not to disturb the great dragon down there on the sands. "You might enjoy this." He'll let the actions explain it, rather than explain it verbally.

Meleri takes a seat smiling as she listens to the song.

Aithne offers Aura a grin followed by a wave to Nausika as the assistant cook joins the party. Her attention immediately returns to Jachin as she awaits the impromptu concert.

Kayjay rocks back and forth as Jachin sings. "Oh, isn't that peaceful." She looks out to the sands to see if it is working and rolls her eyes briefly as she looks out, unseeingly, towards the entrance. "Shh, Suriath, he's only begun."

Maralita scoots over to sit with Meleri. "Heya."

Auralia's not really musically inclined, personally, but her face shows no distaste--"Iesath says she likes it, that music," she murmurs, perhaps slightly louder than might be appropriate, returning Aithne's grin. "I guess Suriath likes it, too, Kayjay?"

Meleri smiles at Mara. "Hi. Can I see what you were drawing." She says softly.

Kayjay nods to Auralia. "Well, he likes music. C'ley has the habit of whistling as he scrubs Sahath and when I was pregnant nd couldn't scrub Suriath, he got in the habit of daily recital by C'ley."

Jalynia is rolling threads together over one thigh, spooling the stronger thread onto an empty dowel. "Lovely," she murmurs in Jachin's direction, even while winding thread over thread.

Jachin continues to sing, telling the story of a young mother and her first child, the loving way she cares for the babe throughout the day, the intimate and special time they share, all said with music and words intertwining in a soothing, peaceful way, sung in a mellow tenor voice that is soothing itself.

Maralita nods and hands the wherhide over. "Just the eggs."

Kelli agrees with Jalynia. "Very soothing. You should teach that to a few of the mothers. They could use it to keep their babies restful, calm, and sleeping." He's still not talking loudly, as though afraid of breaking the stream of music. And wouldn't that just be tragic?

Meleri nods her head and looks down at it. "It's very good." She smiles at Mara. "The eggs are so wonderful." She yawns.

Nausika waves to Aithne and then sinks down beside Kelli, curling her feet up beneath her and hugging her knees. "What...?" she asks, and then trails off as things explain themselves. "Oh, that's lovely," she breathes in a bare whisper, like Kelli unwilling to break the stream of the music.

Down on the Sands, Tiarnath head tilts, listening to the song, her tail curling around her flanks as she gazes up into the galleries.

"Ah," notes Auralia intelligently towards Kayjay, tilting her head into a nod. "That could grow on a person." Outside, a humm is added to the melody--perhaps not *entirely* in tune, but certainly close, the soprano wafting through for a moment, then cut off. "Iesath! Silly green."

Aithne rests her chin on the palm of her hand, raising it one to offer a nod to Nausika before settling back down.

Maralita nods. "Yes.. they are rather beautiful."

Jachin lets the last word trail away on a soft note, strumming one last chord as the song comes to a finish, the tale ending with the mother tucking the babe up for the night.....and looks over at Telinda. "Well? Did it help?"

Jalynia glances up, still rolling her threads together. Kelli's comment gets a slight chuckle, but no other sound, as the song has ended and she'd rather not break the spell.

Kayjay grin at Auralia. "I didn't know she could sing?" She shakes her head at Jachin, disappointed. "I do hope there is an encore?" She looks out towards Suriath, then to the sands.

Meleri smiles over at Auralia then nods back to Mara. "They are."

Maralita smiles and lets her eyes flutter closed, listening to just about anything that reaches her ears and not really comprehending any of it.

Auralia, casting a curious glance towards the entrance, shrugs her shoulders in admittance, "Nor did I. She usually doesn't." Tilting her head up, she adds, more generally, "That was nice, Jachin. You make a good harper."

Telinda chuckles, nodding, "But she asks that you continue. I'm not sure if she understands the words, but it's certainly better than nothing she says."

Kelli leans over a little to look down at the gold, nodding slowly before he sits back in his seat, voice low to Jalynia. "She looks a lot more settled." Not that he knows, but she _looks_ it, at least. "I guess she likes lullabies."

Nausika's dreamy expression firms up a little into a broad grin. "That was beautiful, Jachin," she says. She gazes off into space -- or at the eggs, hard to say -- and says, at Telinda's words, "Ah, Jachin, what more can a harper ask for than a command performance for a Queen?"

Aithne chuckles softly. "I think that you may have found yourself a new duty in additiona to anything else you have been doing."

Jalynia wraps another length of double-strength thread around her second spool before speaking. "She does," the ex-seamstress murmurs, tugging on the lengths to make sure of their strength. "Which is a very good thing."

Maralita grins. "Lucky boy, on Tia's beck and call."

Jachin grins. "I'm a Harper...I'll play for an appreciative audience." He notes, echoing Nausika's words. He plays a little rill, seguing into another sweet ballad, this time about a father who builds his son a minature sailboat, and how they take it sailing on a mountain lake...

Meleri giggles after Mara's words.

Maralita grins at Meleri.

Jachin rolls his eyes at Aithne as he continues to sing...as if he hadn't already been made aware of his new 'duty'...but he seems to be enjoying himself immensely, as usually happens when he has a gitar in his arms and a song on his breath. His fingers work their magic over the strings, the melody blending beautifully with his voice.

Kelli answers Jachin with, "Well, you've got one. And not just the dragon." It's a little public concert up here, despite the heat. And Kelli's enjoying this all over, stretching back and propping his feet up just slightly to listen to the music as it rolls.

Kayjay looks mildly annoyed and clears her throat, giving her unseen conversation partner a piece of her mind, so it seems. "Lovely. I am enjoying this, Jachin."

Aithne laughs softly in delight as she spots the eyeroll, settling back in her seat. "A perfect way to spend a summer evening?" She comments to noone in particular.

Auralia cross her arms in front of her, murmuring something, attention fastened directly upon the poor harper--although his music is more heard than really appreciated, if expression is anything to go by.

Nausika closes her eyes again, mouth curving into a slight smile as she sways to the music, her braid switching metronome-like between her shoulder blades. She doesn't say anything, not in words, but her eyes open and flick toward Aithne at her comment and she half-hums, 'Mmm-hmmm...'

Jalynia tugs on her thread-spool again, winding further. After a few more minutes of work, she's got a full spool of double-strength thread that's occasionally tested with a sharp tug or a prolonged pull. And all this while listening to Jachin. Jaly's multitalented.

Meleri smiles at Mara beside her. "This is really nice." She smiles and listens.

Maralita nods absently.

Jachin continues the tale of the little sailboat's maiden voyage, and how it gets away from the boy, traveling down a stream from the lake and then into a larger river, and then finally into the ocean only to be washed up on shore, to be found by another little boy....as the happy little boy goes off to show his own father what he has found, the words trail away once again, and Jachin takes a deep breath, with a smile for Kayjay "My thanks, rider. I'm glad you are finding it pleasant."

Kelli nods in agreement with Kayjay and Jachin, foot still swaying to and fro, eyes at half-mast as he listens. He's still trying to decide if this is his type of music, or if he'd prefer something faster. Apparently, it's a toss-up... but hey. The QUeen's wishes come before the human audience's. Otherwise, Telinda'd kill them.

Kayjay chuckles. "Doublely so, Suriath is being quiet for a moment." Just as she says that however, a long, wistful croon can be heard in the galleries, emitting from the lakeside meadow. "Seems he likes your voice."

Delight fills Aithne's face as the story-song comes to a close. "That was wonderful." She notes before darting a glance sideways.

Meleri smiles at Jachin. "That was very good."

Suriath's croon is echoed by Iesath's--which is somewhat more sultry, delicate. "Iesa!" Aura makes a face, adding, "Dragons are odd creatures, aren't they?"

Jalynia glances up from where she's starting to idly finger-crochet the double strength thread into a daisy chain. "Suriath has excellent taste," she murmurs quietly, a faint chuckle glossing its way through her voice.

Maralita smirks, looking at the harper, and then the riders, and shakes her head, smiling.

Nausika lets her eyes drift open. "Mmm," she say. "THat was... really lovely. You paint beautiful word-pictues, I think I could almost see that boat floating downstream...." She pauses for a contemplative moment, and then fumbles for something in a beltpouch: a bit of bone. With a piece of charcoal, she begins to absently sketch something onto the surface of the bone.

Jachin smiles his thanks to Meleri, strumming the gitar lightly as he peers out at the queen. "Think she'd like another?" he wonders, tilting his head to listen to the croons again. "Actually...I wouldn't say they were odd. But they do have good taste in music." he chuckles "And theirs aren't bad either. Ever thought of getting up a dragon chorus? Some of those sounds the emit are truly lovely. And thank you, Nausika."

"Trust me," comments Aura with a laugh towards Jachin, "They'd all go horribly out of key the moment we tried to organize anything. They like to conspire." They're like cats.

Kayjay giggles at Auralia as Suriath makes the greenrider's point with a not so pleasant deep rumbling. The brownrider looks towards the sand. "Perhaps another song?"

Kelli wonders aloud: "If you do run out of song ideas, perhaps they'll let you repeat a song or two? You'd be able to make them go a little further, like that.' That, of course, was to Jachin, and a low rumble. Albeit not as low as the dragon's, nor as deep. Nor as menacing, probably. EHeh.

Jachin let's out a breath, and then grins. "Sure...why not?" He notes, eyeing Kelli thoughtfully "How about something a bit more upbeat?" And he swings into a merry little tune about a little barmaid and a lusty dragonrider, and the hijinks that ensue when the two get together over a bottle of Benden's best....

Jalynia makes a few more daisy chains out of her thread, absently letting her fingers form the patterns while her mind does other things, like causing her to chuckle at Jachin. "Terrible Harper."

Telinda giggles a little, leaning back against the tailing, "Oh, lord, Jachin, I didn't think you knew about those things!"

Meleri looks over at Jaching and starts to giggle.

"He is a Harper, I think its a requirement in order to apprentice." Aithne retorts, giggles underlying her words.

Nausika seems about to slip back into musical reverie when the lyrics start. She chokes, gives Jachin a startled glance, and then begins to giggle. "Not exactly lullabye music, Jachin," she says, dryly. And then, mischief tinting her words, "But I *like* it."

Kayjay blushes but looks amused. "Oh so that's where he got that ide.." She blushes even more and sits back to listen.

Kelli's low murmering whisper turns instead to a bubbling chuckle, and frmo there to a hearty laugh as the song continues, hand coming up to try and stifle the worst of it. 'I don't know if that's going to caml the dragon." he says, though there's no doubt that it's a song that he's quite enjoying, the laughter occasionally ringing from behind the quashing fingers.

Jalynia snickers under her breath, forming another link on her daisy chain. "Oh, it is. You should've heard some of the stuff Aislynn brought with her. At least one terribly embarrassing song about B'gron down at Honshu, among other naughty things."

Auralia raises an eyebrow towards Jaly, "Not to mention the ones she created herself--about N'all, and a few other people I know." The greenrider reclines slightly within her seat, resting with almost a superior smirk upon her face.

Jachin just winks at the many comments and sings a rollicking little chorus about flipping skirts and wandering hands before moving to the second chorus - the bottle is empty now but a bed upstairs no longer is, and the imagery of all the clothing flung about, not to mention the gitar's way of imitating a girlish giggle and a masculine, leering chuckle just adds to the flavor of the song...

Meleri giggles harder blushing a bit.

Kayjay blushes beet red and hides her face as Jachin continues. "Oh my, I wonder if C'ley is home yet?" She clears her throat and looks anywhere but Jachin's way.

Maralita peers over at Jachin, an eyebrow raises, and then laughs.

Kelli continues the chuckles, catching sight of Kayjay out of the corner of his eye. My! They're right! She _does_ blush red, doesn't she? Fortunately, Kelli's not a blusher, and is quite happy to start a half-stomp against the stone, keepnig up with the rhythm and the wording of the song. Perhaps it'd be harder if he weren't right over top of a rather unhappy gold dragon, but the big boots leave a *thud*ing sound against the stone, nonetheless, as he contines to laugh.

Jachin finishes the song with a verse about nine months down the line, a very moral little finish to such a bawdy song, and strums a last note with a flourish, grinning at the blushes he can see. "Heh...I don't think Masterharper Selene would approve of my knowing that one.." He admits, looking to Kelli "Was that bawdy enough for you?"

Jalynia pauses in her daisy chaining. Why? She's got one hand clapped over her mouth, in an attempt not to roar with laughter.

Aithne is caught, trying not to giggle so loud and miss any of the lyrics. Once he finishes, she gives way as her chuckles fill the air.

Kelli stomps his foot a couple more times, in a proper 'applause' to a song like that. "Quite." he chuckles merrily, grin nearly splitting his face with the brilliance. "I heartily approve of _that_ one."

Nausika is still shaking with giggles as she works at the bone, sweeping a stroke here and there of the charcoal. "I guess it *is* an appropriate lullabye," she says, mostly to herself, amid her own chuckles. "Ends with a baby and everything...."

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath projects an image of people, completely nude, running about around the eggs. Delight tinges her tone: << I like that. It's funny. >>

Telinda giggles, "Very nicely put, Jachin, Tiarnath approved of that one too. She says babies are good for the weyr."

Meleri looks over at Nausika and changes from a giggle to a laugh.

Maralita laughs at Telinda's comment.

Jalynia lets the giggles come out unmuffled after Telinda's rather choice line. "Depends on whose babies," she quips, before adopting the patented innocent expression.

Telinda wrinkles her nose, "There's always the nannies if you don't like them!"

Jachin chuckles, rolling his eyes "I'm not sure the two in the tale would agree, Weyrwoman...but tell her thank you." He notes, nodding towards the queen - not that she can see it, but still. "So...another one?"

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath rumbles assent. Perhaps. << I still like it. >> Them?

Kayjay mutters to Telinda, "sighs,... leans... whisper... would... to... a... the... him... for... She... Jachin... a... her..."

Telinda nods, "Just bring him back Kayjay, he's rather a valuable commodity it seems."

Jachin strums his gitar as he waits for Telinda's suggestion as to another song for her queen, grinning over at Jalynia. "I haven't been around too many babies, myself." He notes. "Rather lucky I've been, don't you think?"

Meleri yawns. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

Aithne slants a glance towards Jalynia, not commenting as her gaze moves out to the eggs as if considering something. Finally she shrugs slightly to herself, attention moving between Kayjay and Telinda.

Kayjay quirks a finger at Jachin and walks down the steps towards the harper. "Umm, I know this is very silly but Suriath wants to see if you think he has a good voice up close, or something. Could you, would you just do this for me?"

Jalynia eyes Kayjay, before chuckling wryly. "I like babies, you know," she comments. "But only if I can give 'em back when they get messy." Kayjay's question draws a chuckle.

Kelli calls out to Meleri, "Rest well! And have ood dreams!" After a song like that? She probably won't be able to help but have good dreams. "Another dragon's enjoying your little act, it seems?" he says to Jachin. "Pick a good tune out for her.'

Nausika laughs. "Another draconic command performance, Jachin, you're on a roll tonight!"

Auralia's glance follows that of Aithne's--a raised eyebrow motion coming as a follow up to that. Eyes trail back towards the entrance, then, slowly, she murmurs, "Nonono, you just like the bawdiness." That doesn't stop her eyes from falling towards Kelli, and blinking hard. "Hey, Kelli, you interested in joining in on the next song?" Whether he can sing or not.

Aithne offers Meleri a smile. "Sleep well" She offers quietly before giggling agains. "What Suriath wants, he gets?"

Maralita laughs. "Poor boy'll be hoarse!"

Jachin grins at Jalynia again, about to say something, but is distracted by Kayjay. "Now? Well...if Tiarnath won't be upset, Telinda?" After all, he didn't sing all those songs so she could get all fidgety again. "Otherwise, I'd love to hear his voice....its got a lovely sound."

Meleri laughs and nods to everyone before walking out.

Meleri walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Telinda smiles, "That's why I said for you to come straight back, Jachin, no upsetting Tiarnath."

Kayjay sticks her tongue out at Aithne."Oh, don't tell me you don't spoil your lifemate any." She sighs as a rustling is heard outside the entrance. "He's going to come here and give a concert if I don't go out there, Jachin. And he wants you out there too, so you can see his talents to their fullest extent."

Jalynia has fallen quiet, and is simply content to daisy-chain and chuckle at the turns of events.

Kelli blinks at Auralia, his own eyebrows coming up. "I can't." he rumbles, though... well, hey. "I suppose I can give it a try. If she's another one of these that gets what she wants. But I'll warn you: I'd make canines howl." Though admittedly, it'd be worth the hearing, if nothing else.

Jachin laughs "Of course...what was I thinking?" he teases, standing up. "Shall I bring my gitar, Kayjay? So he can have some accompaniment?" Kayjay's warning hastens his movements to the stairs, however. "On second thought, I'll just bring it. I don't think a brown dragon would fit in here...."

"Oh, good," begins Aura--curious visage showing itself. "Why don't you keep us entertained, whilst Jachin is away? Make it bawdy. Make it up, if you can. I always liked the sound of canines howling, anyway."

Kayjay shrugs. "Sure, you can see if he can follow your lead.

Kayjay walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Jachin gives one last shrugging look to those in the galleries and follows Kayjay out...he isn't going to question the vagaries of dragons. Not now.

Jachin walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Kelli blinks again. "In _here_?" he asks Aura, looking down at the sands where the gold is, then to the woman. Like, in front of all these people? _Him_ sing? "In here?" he repeats, as though maybe... just maybe.. he mis-heard.

Nausika puts down her bone bit to look at Kelli. "Yeah. This I have got to hear." Her expression turns coaxing. "Please? Now our harper's gone to please Suriath?"

Iesath> Kayjay looks at her lifemate and sternly admonishes him. "Move a bit you big brown lump of conceit. Jachin can't get out with you plastered against the entrance like that." She smiles at the harper as he makes his way out then back to Suriath. "Well? We are waiting?"

"Nope." Aithne notes to Kayjay's back, "Poor poor Araneth is sorely neglected indeed" She adds her plea to the others as she smiles at Kelli, "For Tiarnath's sake."

Maralita shakes her head at Kelli. "You'll find out."

Auralia glances about, waving her arms, "And who is here that you couldn't stand singing in front of? I'd let you come outside to do it, but it might be embarrassing, in front of a Harper, don't you think?"

Iesath> Iesath whuffs quietly towards the Harper and the brownrider, her head inclining towards the hatching grounds--fascinated.

Iesath> Jachin trails behind you, carrying his gitar, approaching the brown cautiously but with a smile, not to mention curiously. "Yes...please do." he notes, whether the dragon acknowledges it or not. He looks over at Iesath, too. "Hey...perhaps we could get a chorus going after all..or at least a duet."

Kelli nosd. "That's true enough." he agrees with ura. "Particularly one who knows the songs properly." In other words: he's going to do some song-stealing. Sorta. A throat-clearing that sounds like rocks running together, and the big man starts to sing in a heavy, bass voice. Ok, so it's not _quite_ canines howling, but he's certainly not had any real training. And being that the only songs he's ever bothered to learn were bawdy ones and drinking songs... well, the dragon down below is now hearing, in a rough and grating voice, the joys of drinking a heavy Tillek, and what it will do to you. All the way from head-spinning to toe-stubbing, and everything in between. _Everything_.

Iesath> Iesath looks rather less than interested in singing--in fact, her haunches have raised ever since an almost excruciating sound has begun to emerge from the hatching caverns. Boldly, she emits a rumble--adding a bass note to the chorus of some hopeless song. Oh dear.

Iesath> Suriath waits until he sees that Jachin's attention is given to him fully, then settles back on his massive haunches and lets out quite a pleasant, low bass croon that changes in tone as he goes up a semi-scale. He ends his impromptu concert with an ear shattering bugle as his eyes whirl, intense, as he gazes upon the harper apprentice.

Jalynia has stopped daisy-chaining again. It's very hard to daisy-chain while one is laughing one's head off, and that's precisely what Jaly's doing right about now. Laughing.

Auralia looks almost as if she regrets this, and gulps, giving Kelli a long glance. "Okay, stop, stop. Please." Tact is perhaps not her strongest point. "Er, Iesath says that she very much likes your singing, but she'd rather have you naked on the sands. Or was that close to naked? I think she means that she thinks you'd make a good candidate. Will you?" Enough torment. She's laughing. Oh yes, she's laughing.

Nausika bursts into laughter, first at the song, and then at Aura's response. Her laughter turns into a huge grin at the end of her statement. "Oh, wow, Kelli, congratulations!" The congratulations is rather washed with laughter, however.

Iesath> Jachin smiles at the beginning of that lovely draconic sound, real pleasure in his expression "Oh, that is lovely.." is murmured - until he gets to that ear shattering bugle - at that point a thanks must be said for gitar straps as both hands clap to his ears and he grimaces "I think we need to work on volume...."

Maralita looks around at the word 'congratulations'. "What did I miss?"

Kelli nearly snaps his tongue off as he cuts the song off at the words. Ouch. That'll sting. But Kelli doesn't even notice the sting, as he looks at Jalynia for a moment, then over at Auralia. "She... likes my singing?" No, wait. That's not what the important part was. Rewind. Replay the comment. "SHe wants me to be on the _Sands_?" Those eyebrows vanish beneath his bangs once moer, hand coming up to nervously scratch his beard. He's making sure she doesn't mean someone else, here.

Aithne has tears running down her cheeks from laughing so hard, hopefully its from laughter and not pain. It takes her a few minutes for Aura's words to sink in as she struggles to regain her breath.

Jalynia promptly cracks up completely, daisy chain dropping while she holds her sides, laughing hysterically. "Hey, where are the grapes?" she wheezes out, in between giggles. "I have company!"

Nausika grins at Maralita. "Well, *I* think being asked to Stand is worthy of congratulations, but I could be wrong...." Kelli's bewilderment earns more giggling.

Auralia's giggles prolong her response to Kelli for a few moments, and gasping, she simply nods. "She likes your singing, too. I never said she was particularly musical, or had good taste." Nodding again, the Weyrsecond adds, "Kelli, will you accept the honor of being a candidate for Tiarnath and Brielth's clutch, dubious honor though it is?"

Iesath> Kayjay blanches white. "Must you -do- that, every time, Suriath? I'm not totally dense you know." She sighs and look at Jachin with something akin to a smug smirk on her face. "Seems Suriath decided to add a variant to his melody at the last moment. His last note were with a hint of triumph enclosed within a question. Quite dramatic, don't you think?"

Maralita blinks. "Oh, him? Why would they want *him*? Really.. I don't see what's so special."

"He hasn't accepted yet, Jaly" Aithne notes in amusement, her attention focused on Kelli as she awaits his decision.

Iesath> Jachin uncovers his ears tentatively, looking at Kayjay with a bit of confusion. "Huh?" He eyes the dragon and then the rider, trying to figure out what that meant. "What question? Oh...and it was dramatic, alright." Yes, indeed. It's dramatically altered his hearing.

Kelli passes Maralita a killing glare at that. However, he still has to answer, befoer he lets his temper flare. And if he lets his temper flare... he _can't_ answer how he'd like to. Gotta hate when you're torn that way. "Yes." he says, tipping his chin at Mara, almost growling the word out, before he looks back at Aura once more. "Yes, I'd be honored to."

Maralita smiles sweetly at Kelli. "He can grow a beard, I know that.. but that's not too special.. so what is it?"

Jalynia grins, and points at Aithne. "Now he has," she says proudly, beaming all over the place. "I have company!" Jaly is very nearly bouncing in delight, she's so pleased to not have the barracks all to herself.

Iesath> Kayjay coughs. "Jachin, would you do Southern Weyr the honour of standing on the sands for this latest clutch as a candidate?"

"That's not nice, Maralita," comments Aura, flashing a glance towards the young woman. "Let's all be a big, happy family." Sarcasm goes a long way--"Oh, excellent! Don't worry, Iesath's searching abilities are pretty good. Jaly, dear, there's been several more today, as it is. I promise, it's not going to be that empty tonight."

Maralita shakes her head and laughs. "But Aura, he's so funny when he glares at me like that.."

"He has manners, for one thing." Aithne comments dryly before her grin widens. "Congratulations, Kelli."

Iesath> Jachins' response to the question is to thunk toe heel of his hand against the side of his head. He must not be hearing right, because he thought Kayjay said..."I think that must have affected my hearing.....did you just ask me to stand for Tiarnath's eggs? I mean, did he?" Really...it must be his hearing.

Maralita beams at Aithne. "What good are manners?"

Kelli flexes his fingers a moment, slowly curling it into a near-fist, then smoothing it out just as fast. The knuckles almost pop at the abruptness of the gesture, as though he suddenly realized again what went on. Oh, right! Searched! "Thank you." he rumbles, to the various congratulations, turning well away from Maralita and thus dispelling her from his attention for the moment. There was a lot more to hold onto it.

Iesath> Suriath looks about ready to repeat his question until his lifemate shoots a warning look his way and quickly repeats herself. "Yes, would you do us the honour of standing for Tiarnath's clutch?"

Telinda blinks. "He got searched too? Oh good grief, Tiri and I are going to have no sharding staff left again! Shards and shells, it's simply not fair."

Nausika looks rather startled at Maralita's comment, but says nothing. Not her place after all. Instead, she just grins to Kelli. "Betcha never thought *that* would happen when you sang an, erm, interesting song?"

Iesath emits one last rumble, and quiets, whilst Aura merely grins at Kelli. "Oh, you're quite welcome." With a glance towards Maralita, she shrugs. "It's still not nice. I'd prefer if you didn't." She gives Telinda a glance, more cheerful, "If you'd rather have a bunch of eggs with no candidates..."

Jalynia holds out her hands toward Telinda. "I'm sorry?" she proffers, knowing full well she was the first one snatched. "But I have company." Happy is a Jaly who has company. "I'll help you with your robe," she proffers to Kelli, grinning.

Aithne nods her head quickly in agreement. "Kenla brought in several as well." If she heard Mara's comment, she gives no sign of it.

Maralita is joking. Nobody ever gets that. "Aw.. wreck my fun.. I'm sorry, Kelli.. but you still look funny with that beard." once a Mara, always a Mara.

Kelli shakes his head at Nausika. "Not in the least." he agrees. "I'll have to remember to sing more often." Hopefully, he's just joking. Hopefully, anyhow. Hopefully.

Telinda wrinkles her nose and gets out a note pad from her pocket, "Better.. Kelli.. green.. break.. back.." she mumbles writing something down.

Iesath> Jachin can see Suriath getting a nice deep breath and waggles his hand hastily, despite Kayjay's obvious warning to the brown "If he won't do that again, then yes!!" Is said emphatically, gaining enough control and losing enough of the ringing in his ears to grin up at the brown "I'd be honored. Well, actually. On one condition." He looks hesitantly at Kayjay. "I will if he'll do that bit he did first...I liked that, and I want to commit it to memory. Might work in a song."

Maralita peers at the Weyrwoman and laughs softly.

Aithne eyes Telinda as she overhears a bit of her mutterings, her gaze dropping to the pad.

Telinda grins and shows it to Aithne, glancing at her junior with a wry smile.

Kelli also looks over at Maralita, reaching up to scratch his fingers through his beard. "Funny?" he rumbles at her, brow lowering, though more puzzled than angry, now. "I've always had it. How would you know?" He figures he looks funny _without_ it, truthfully. Mutterings are heard, but only barely proccessed.

Auralia, having returned to settled-down mode, only gives Telinda an odd glance, before returning to her egg musing. "That one, perhaps--my candidates only deserve the best..."

Aithne takes a moment to reread, her gaze moving to Kelli before she nods quickly yto Telinda. "A very good point."

Iesath> Kayjay giggles and beams. "Oh well done, and just the right answer!" She looks back at Suriath as he settles down to a steady, sonorous croon. "We truly are honoured, both of us and yes, he will do it again."

K'laarn strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Maralita shrugs. "I like your face.. what I can see of it. All that hair makes you look like you've got no lips."

Jalynia doesn't even want to know what Telinda was muttering about. Nope. Kelli gets a broad grin, oh yes. "I've never seen you without a beard so I don't think you look funny at all," she notes to her new partner-in-chores. "Hey, K'laarn."

Iesath> Iesath whuffles her own comment, whatsoever that comment would be, nudging her head into her forelimbs. Mmm.

K'laarn swaggers up into the galleries, grinning widely. He plunges into the midst of other egg gazers and says "Now I finally get a chance to take in that entire clutch."

Iesath> Jachin smiles too, relaxing now that his ears are safe from that other horrible noise. "Well, then. That's okay." He sighs as he tilts his head to listen to the song, intent on memorizing it, though he has to grin at Iesath. Dragons are odd. Kayjay was right.

Iesath> Iesath is not odd. She's Iesath. There's a difference.

Maralita blinks at K'l and smiles. "Heya, bronzy."

Telinda smiles as K'laarn enters, lifting a hand to wave at the bronzerider as she shoves a hide back in her pockets.

Aithne glances up to see K'laarn and offers him a smile. "What has kept you so busy?"

Nausika grins at K'laarn. "I can't believe how many of them there are," she says. Her gaze darts back occasionally to Kelli, her smile still lighting her expression.

Kelli's jaws are going to split, if he smiles much harder. It's startnig to hurt.... though he's enjoying every minute of it. "I suppose you'll get to show me the ropes." he rumbles to Jalynia, before he asks Auralia, "I suppose I'm going to have to spend time singing _your_ dragon to sleep, now?"

K'laarn's smile fades as he hears the word 'bronzy' and in reference to him. He picks out Maralita, it was her voice after all and after giving her a stern look says "If you can't be polite, its Wingleader K'laarn, to you, Maralita." Then after a pause ," It is definitely not ever 'bronzy'." That said, he spots Telinda's wave and the quick hiding of her hide. He waves back to her, grin reappearing as he bellows "Tel! I saw that!"

Iesath> Kayjay grins. "We will get you settled in the barracks eventually but I think your first duty as a candidate is to amuse Tiarnath. Oh, and just to be clear, V'tali is the candidate coordinator, you can ask him just about anything. But for now. No doing anything that might get someone else pregnant or even close to pregnant, no drinking and no leaving the weyr and you'll have chores." She grins.

Auralia allows a smile to creep back onto her face, agreeing, "That's about right. Iesath would probably appreciate some fish, too. She's very partial to them. Fish, and horrible music, and you might make it as far as the sands."

Jalynia chuckles under her breath at K'laarn's reaction. "Greetings, Wingleader," she corrects herself formally, before giggling at Kelli. "Oh, yeah. There's lots of chores involved but I don't think that'll stress you any, hm?"

Maralita frowns. "Why is everyone getting on my case tonight?" she asks. ""It's like I can't even joke any more." she snorts. "Oh wait, I forgot. Nobody cares if I'm joking or not, so long as it results in me leaving the room."

Telinda grins, "Then come over here so you can see it again" she remarks to K'laarn, "Wingleader K'laarn" she adds formally, trying not to laugh.

Auralia gives Maralita a glance, one eyebrow raising. "That's not true, and you know it." Affronted, the greenrider crosses her arms in front of her, tilting her nose into the air. "K'laarn, evening."

Iesath> Jachin sighs as Suriath's song ends and he listens to Kayjay, bursting out in laughter at her warning. "Shells...I think I've just traded apprenticeship for something just as restricted." He grins. "I guess I've had a lot of practice, hmm? Should be a model candidate."

Maralita shrugs. "Just seems like it." she murmurs softly, "It's always, "Mara, you're stupid." or "Mara, you need a mind healer." or "Mara, you're impolite." "Mara, you have no feelings."" she shakes her head. "I'm just poor Mara too everyone. Poor Mara with a bad sense of humor that no one gets."

K'laarn proceeds to ignore the whining of Maralita's complaints at his rebuke. He nods at Nausika and grins, greeting others as he passes them. Stopping beside Telinda he says "Hold your runners, Tel! I'm here." He grins "Tiarnath really outdid herself this time. I think it must of been that she was trying so hard to get away from Rnayth that she flew her longest ever, and thus this enourmous clutch." He teases the Weyrwoman. "Nah, no one who is polite has to call me by that huge title thing. Good ole Ky, or K'laarn'll suffice, but definitely not 'bronzy'. Even bronzerider would be perferable!"

Kelli has reconnected.

Iesath> Kayjay chuckles. "Lets go get your gitar at least? And well, yes, you should do well. No fighting either. We want you in one piece and besides, you can't bruise those talented fingers of yours."

Iesath> Kayjay walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Grounds.

Iesath> Kayjay has left.

Kayjay walks over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Kayjay has arrived.

Kayjay walks in with a huge smirk on her face and giggles at Telinda.

Jalynia proceeds to crack up laughing at K'laarn, one hand quickly clamped over her mouth to muzzle the uproarious laughter. "Oh, my shells," she mutters, grinning. "K'laarn, you're great, you know that?"

Telinda nudges K'laarn with her elbow, grinning, "I think it was the lack of anything for two years, like she was saving it up or something" she adds with a smile.

Maralita sighs and remains silent for a moment.

Aithne slowly rises, addressing Telinda once she has done so. "I'll have those hides ready for you in the morning, not much left to go over now." She pauses to offer the others a warm smile. "If you will excuse me, should head back to my cottage." She eyes Kayjay and asks. "You look like the feline that swallowed the avian."

Iesath> Jachin smile at Suriath "A beautiful voice...sing often.." He instructs, before nodding to Kayjay. "Actually, that's the reason I don't fight. Sharding hard on the knuckles." He's not into that kind of pain, nope.

Iesath> Jachin walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Grounds.

Iesath> Jachin has left.

Jachin strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Auralia adds, tilting her head towards Kelli, "Whenever you want me to show you the barracks, let me know, and I'll take you over." A glance is given towards Kayjay, then Jachin. "Iesath told me. Congratulations, Jachin."

Kelli is stunned. He's got to sing for a dragon, _and_ get fish? "So... do I have to catch them? Or just feed them to her?" he finally manages to Aura, before looking over at the others, nodding at Auralia's comments. Another congratulations? "Yuo too, Jachin?" he rumbles.

K'laarn sits down comfortably beside Telinda and gently elbows her back, "That's probably it. She flew a good flight." He tells the Weyrwoman, once Jalynia finishes laughing, he turns sideways to give her a pointed look. "I'm great? Why thank you. I love hearing flattery of my dubious self."

Kayjay chuckles at Auralia. "You guessed it. Suriath ended his impromptu concert with asking Jachin to stand." She giggles. "You too, Kelli?"

Jachin grins at Auralia "Thanks..I think." He taps his head again - ears are still ringing a bit. "It isn't much of a change from what I'm used to, at any rate." Rule-wise. Then he laughs "Seems I wasn't the only one who dragons liked to sing, then? Good on you, Kelli!"

Aithne shakes her head as she heads out of the galleries, her chuckles trailing after her.

Aithne strides over to the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Auralia considers, shrugging her shoulders towards Kelli, "That's up to you." Perfectly serious a moment, and then--she bursts into giggles. "Or perhaps not. But if you visit her, once, she might be inclined to happiness, or something." Jachin earns another grin, "Oh, without a doubt."

Nausika looks startled and then pleased again at the words. "Oh, Jachin. Congratulations to you, too. Though I have to admit I'm sorry to see us loose such a promising posted harper."

Jalynia grins broadly at Jachin. "Welcome to the barracks, fellow pea in a pod," she greets, grinning. "And you're quite welcome, K'laarn. I have to find my dubious idols in the strangest of places, being a strange person myself." Firm nod there, oh yes.

Telinda grins, "And now they're more N'all's problem than mine, well, except for seeing them hatched, which suits me just dandy" she explaims, grinning back to Kayjay before that smile fades, "You *stole* my Harper!? How dare you!"

Kelli nods, then nods again, this time over to Kayjay and Jachin. "Apparently, her dragon likes my singing." he says. His vioce dropping a little, he adds, "Appaerntly, her dragon has no taste in music." Hopefully, her dragon didn't hear that. "She didn't steal him." he tells Telinda. '"Just... gave him permanent chores.'

Auralia didn't hear the comment, and Iesath, evidently, didn't either. Her head turns, glance towards Telinda. "Erm...It does happen, I believe?"

Maralita frowns slightly and gets to her feet. Like a small child she walks over and makes to tap K'laarn's arm purposefully.

Telinda waggles her finger at Kelli, "You're not helping" she warns, "but wait.." Everyone run, Telinda has an idea. "He can sleep up here. Kayjay, if you have a cot brought to the galleries, you're forgiven. Jachin can just sleep up here."

Jalynia had managed to contain herself. Really. She had, even. And then Telinda's audacious solution promptly produces another helpless giggling fit. She'd say something but it would involve stopping the giggles and at the moment she can't.

Jachin chuckles at Kelli, then looks at Telinda with surprise. "Hey now....I'm still a Harper. You can take the title away, but that doesn't mean I'll stop singing." He reassures. "I couldn't if I tried, anyway." He then blinks. "I have to sleep here?" What???

Kayjay giggles at Telinda."Now isn't that a bit too much, the poor lad. We'll have to ice down his arms and his fingers. "

Telinda pouts, "But Kayjay, he was keeping her occupied, which means I don't have to. Isn't the sanity of your Weyrwoman worth *something*?" A wink is thrown to Jachin, as she nudges K'laarn a little more.

Kelli slides his glance over at Auralia. "I hope," he rumbles to her, "that Iesath doesn't think having her own Candidate is a good idea too?" Might be interesting.. but at the same time it'd be pretty intimidating, somehow.

K'laarn pokes at Telinda's arm. "Be nice Telinda. Its not his fault, though I suppose he could reject the honor and offend the weyr." He grins.

Auralia holds back mirth with the semblance of a straight face, attempting, "Oh, that's a good idea. Especially during the middle of summer." She raises a thoughtful eyelid towards Kelli, "You know, I think she could go for that, but--somehow, I don't think it'd work for me. You're off the hook. For now."

Jachin is still staring at the Weyrwoman. "I'll sing for her, honest I will. But..I can't sleep here. It's...it's..." So public.

Nausika is snickering slightly at Telinda's suggestion, but that snicker is disrupted by a huge yawn. "Mmph. I think that's a sign that I'm due for bed." She gets up, stashing her bit of scrim. "G'night."

Faizah wanders in, a little shy when she sees how many people there are, but wanders in nonetheless, and even offers a little wave to anyone who might be looking in her direction.

Maralita sighs and tries to tap K'laarn again.

Kayjay grins. "We could put up a privacy curtain for you, if you like?" She notices Faizah and nods before grinning at Telinda."See? He'll still sing,if not, Suriath will. Ask Jachin. He does quite a performance."

K'laarn finally gives in to Maralita's insistant tapping with a long, drawn out groan of annoyance, followed by a snapping, "What is it Maralita?" He gives her his best big bad bronzerider glower.

Auralia tilts her head towards Nausika, offering, "Good night," whilst in the motion of waving is issued towards Faizah.

Kelli lets out a long breath, nodding at Auralia. "I'll make sure to keep the visits coming. And... er... you can make sure to have earplugs ready when I do." he tells her. is eye still twinkle with almost unhidden delight, however, as he looks to Jalynia. "Looks as though you've got a Barracks-mate."

Nausika strides over to the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Maralita flinches and says softly. "I'm sorry for calling you 'bronzy', wingleader K'laarn." and then moves to go back to her seat and her careful sketches.

Telinda wrinkles her nose at Kayjay, "Well, alright, if you both promise not to abandon her so I can sleep, I'll let you sleep in the barracks" she mentions, snuggling under K'laarn's arm as she talks. There, that's better. "It's hard to sleep when she's complaining so."

Auralia laughs. "I hope you don't snore, Kelli, else Jalynia might not *want* you as a barracks mate, and then you'll be stick with Iesath's wallow."

Faizah smiles and looks around. "Hi" she offers to anyone who might listen. "I'm Faizah"

Jalynia bounces, quite contented with her lot in life. "The more the merrier so long as they're not fourteen and obnoxious," she says firmly, before sneaking a glance and a grin at Telinda and K'laarn. Oh, all is good with the world right now. Aura's comment draws a chuckle. "Heh. I'm quite positive that I've dealt with much, much worse," she notes, dryly.

Jachin shoots Kayjay a 'you are not helping' look, then turns back to Telinda. "I could sing all the time, except when I need sleep?" He suggests hopefully "Or when I need to eat or use the...necessary?" He breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you, Weyrwoman. I would appreciate it." Wait. He stares at Kelli suspiciously "You snore? How loud?" On second thought....

Telinda smiles upwards at Faizah, "Hello there" she calls out, "Welcome to insanity."

Kayjay hrumphs. "He's a good singer, really he is." She notices Faizah again and nods. "Well met, Faizah." Rising to her feet, the brownrider makes her way down the steps. "If you'll all excuse me? I have a weyrmate to find."

K'laarn's annoyed glower softens as he gazes at Maralia as Telinda snuggles under his arm. He squeezes Tel closer and says "Well I suppose its not that bad. At least you didn't call me an ugly wherry or something Maralita." Then he grins, "Lets just put it all behind us." He suggests helpfully.

Kelli shrugs his shoulders. "I've never had anyone complain that I snored." he answers Jachin. Then again... when you're as big as he is, do you think people complain? "Good day." he says, noticing the new arrival as well, finally down from Cloud-9... or wherever it is you go with the Pern equivilent.

Maralita smiles at K'laarn and nods, then selects another egg to sketch.

"Well met, Faizah," notes Aura, with a smile. "Insanity is about right." Laughing, she considers Jaly, "You mean, like L'mir?" With a grin, she watches Kelli, murmuring, "Lucky for the candidates."

Faizah isn't quite sure where to look, and, finally, decides to look towards the sands at the eggs, not having had an oppurtunity to see them yet, she's been very busy.

Kayjay walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Telinda murmurs happily now that she has K'laarn's arm around her, and grins upwards at Faizah, "New here?" she asks curiously.

Faizah smiles, "Yeah, new here"

Jachin thinks maybe just dropping the subject would be good...but he can't help but add "She's right. He has a lovely voice." In defense of Suriath, then flops into a chair, exhausted for some reason. He spots Faizah for the first time and smiles. "Hey....welcome, then." And insanity is right.

Jalynia grins quasi-innocently. "Have you -heard- him when he's drunk?" she asks Aura, chuckling. "There is nobody in this Weyr who can possibly snore worse than that. I'm well-prepared for the worst Candidacy can dish out." She winks broadly, before glancing up at Faizah. "Hi there."

Faizah laughs quietly. "Insanity huh?"

K'laarn sees that Maralita's sketching over there and says, excitedly. "I hope you'll make those sketches accessible after you're done Maralita, and maybe even available for our archives." Glancing around, his dark lashed violet eyes take in Faizah as she shyly walks over. Smiling welcomingly at her he says "Don't be put off by our boistrous behavior. We're all just very excited by the eggs." Meanwhile, the hand that's snugging around Telinda strays up to touch her shoulder, fingers stroking almost absently, as if by afterthought, though perhaps, from the errant quick glance at Telinda, it were more purposeful. Back to Faizah he says "I imagine thats what drew you, the eggs." He tilts his chin in the sands direction.

Maralita smiles and wipes her fingers on her pants, scowling at the black smear. "Uh.. laundry tonight."

Kelli is finally getting the energy sucked out of him. All that high is giving way to a good-sized low. "I think I'd better get shown the barracks, so I can get set up, and get shown where to set up. I'll have to tell Murielle about it! ...tomorrow."

Auralia wrinkles her nose, admitting, "I haven't. And he didn't snore *too* bad that time he shared my bed. As far as I remember." She pauses, as if considering this, rolling her eyes. "You'll be fine, definitely." She nods towards Kelli, offering, "If you've any questions, come poke at me. Er, just grab me. You know where the barracks are?"

Telinda grins at Faizah, "Most certainly" she replies, moving her shoulder so that K'laarn can get the back of her neck instead, "Feel free to look at the eggs all you like, there's refreshments on the table over there" she says, nodding that way.

Kelli shakes his head. "Not yet." he admits in a rumble, "but I'm sure I can find them." In other words: does someone want to come along, before the poor man gets himself totally lost for not asking directions?

Faizah smiles, looking towards the eggs, "You'll have to excuse my staring at them, I"ve been in a tiny little hold all my life" something flashes over her face, but Faiz quickly composes her self and smiles.

V'tali trots up the steps into the Gallery, seeming not in the least surprised by the crowd he finds there. He waves in general, then nods to Telinda and K'laarn, "Weyrwoman, Wingleader," with a grin.

Auralia wrinkles her nose--"Kelli, I'll show you. I'd rather not have you wandering around lost for riders to torment." She moves to her feet, adding, "I know men. You never ask for directions, anyway."

K'laarn's fingers creap secretively toward Telinda's neck, almost as if the bronzerider somehow senses just what the Weyrwoman'd like. Perhaps he does, or perhaps he's just good at reading this particular person's body language. His hand firms, massaging shoulder and neck, gentle but strong at the same time. V'tali is seen and the bronzerider lifts his free hand. "Hey there V'tali." Then overhearing Auralia, he glances 'round at her briefly and says "Snore?" He chortles a deep chuckling laugh and waggles his eyebrows.

Jalynia grins broadly at Kelli. "It's just off the meadow," she says, pointing. "You can tell the girls' side, it's all frilly." V'tali gets a sharp salute and a smile. "Wingsecond, sir," she greets, before winking at Aura again.

Kelli actually manages to look sheepish beneath that shaggy beard, somehow. He doesn' deny it, either... though he doesn't confirm. "Thank you." he answers, nodding, heading down the stairs to follow along.

Kelli walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

Auralia returns Jalynia's wink, the toddles off after Kelli. "This way..."

<Southern Weyr> Telinda hee :)

You walk toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.