You walk over to the Steam Baths.

Kayjay turns around. "Wingleader..." She nods.

D'thyn ducks his tall form low to get through the entrance, and trudges towards the pools. With a grin at Kayjay, he asks, "What, can't stand the heat?," then nods more seriously to Vitali. "'Evening. I'm D'thyn, Ranorth's rider."

Oh, look. It's an Auralia. Carrying...ooh. Plums! Lots of them, too. Odd. She stops, letting one plum drop, accidentally, into the water. Oops. "Shards. There they go again."

Kayjay wipes the sweat off her forehead the back of her hand and half smiles at the older bronzerider. She stares at Auralia. "Haven't plums caused enough damage for one day?"

Vitali says, "Pleasure to-" to D'thyn, as Auralia comes in with her plums and he bursts out laughing. "Oh dear," he abandons the shirt once more, to help gather up the rebel plums.

Vitali fetches the wet one, "Boiled plum?" he offers.

"Trouble? Plums?" D'thyn wrinkles his brow in puzzled fashion. He chuckles at the offer of the boiled one, "Leave enough of them in the pool here and you could probably make a nice compote."

Auralia throws her hands up, which obviously does no good to the plums situation. "Shards. Sorry, Kayjay. I didn't mean to. I was hungry." A snack, yes. "I thought you people might be. Iesath said some folks were heading this way." Blush, blush. "Boiled plum? Ooh, yummy."

Kayjay giggles, watching Auralia. "I suppose it would be a silly question for me to ask, but why didn't you drop those off at the kitchen?" She shrugs. "I hope the laundry workers won't be too upset at the plum jam in their pool."

Vitali settles back down to resume his washing, assuming no one will mind... that is, of course, one of the main purposes of the room.

D'thyn grins, "Shouldn't be too big of a problem now that we have so many Candidates around who can clean the pool out."

Vitali seconds Kayjay's question, "Yes, why DID you bring them down, Auralia?"

Auralia's eyes roll, as she leans down to start fishing. Plum fishing. A whole new aspect of life. "I did!" She explains, almost squeeling, and squishing her bare toes accidentaly into a plum that lies around. With a face well made, she explains, "Dropped most of 'em off at the kitchens, and with Belira, 'cause she wanted them, but I had to keep some. All that work! You're hungry, right?" Please, please. "They won't be mad. Honest." She picks up a plum, and looks at it, throwing it against the wall. "Ooh! They make pretty patterns."

Aithne walks over from the Salt Caves.

Kayjay checks the +flights list ... nope not proddy, just Auralia :)

Vitali is settled beside the laundry pool, his shirt in the water. Plums lie about the floor, one is on the wall, and there is still juice in his hair. He just smiles.

D'thyn laughs, picking up a plum and taking a bite. They -do- look rather juicy. "How is Belira, anyway? You just saw her?"

<Southern Weyr> Auralia ooohs, that's a thought. Aura could be proddy...The flight'd have to be off camera, but she could be proddy...

Kayjay shakes her head. "How could you just sit there and smile, Vitali!"

<Southern Weyr> D'thyn says, "Uh-oh."

Vitali laughs. "It's warm, I'm getting my clothes clean, you told me I have tomorrow off which means *I* don't have to clean that plum off the wall... why not smile?"

"Belira is good," decides Auralia, as she grabs up handfuls of plums, and piles them up in the corner, "Thrilled to get the plums she wanted, of course. She -made- me go. So I got Vitali." Good explanation.

Aithne slips into the caves..perching on a seat as she waches.

<Southern Weyr> Vitali laughs, I got Searched by a proddy greenrider... that's got to be good for something, if just story fodder!

Kayjay laughs out loud. "Very true, Vitali, indeed. She looks behind her. "Aithne?" She peers through the haze of the cavern. "That you? You still awake?"

<Southern Weyr> Auralia says, "Definately!"

Vitali catches a glimpse of one of those pretty girls fro mthe candidates quarters, and winks at her. "Said I'd see you again soon enough," he says.

"I thought I would take your advice."Aithne affirms, 'And come down for a soak." She grins at Vitali's words,'I can't wait to see you and vay in the same room.'

Auralia glances at the plums, and then at her hands. Without much hesitation, she grabs up a couple, and begins to...juggle. Yes! This is good! Only...They splat. All of them. Onto the floor. "Let's paint the whole baths plum!"

Kayjay quirks an eyebrow. "Umm let's not?"

Vitali pushes his shirt entirely under the water, trying to be reasonably subtle about it. No need to get any MORE plum on it than there is already. Good thing he didn't bother washing his hair yet. He laughs at Auralia's juggling. "Looks like you need more practice, Auralia. But if you splat all the plums, you'll just have to go back for more..."

Auralia looks hideously disappointed. "Why not?" uh oh. Is that a childish note in her voice? This could mean trouble. "It'd be fun! See?" Watch plum. Watch plum move into hand. Watch plum move from hand to wall. Watch plum make mess on wall. "I can go back for more. That's no problem."

D'thyn looks between Kayjay and Auralia with something of a pained expression, finally deciding the best course is to ignore this. So he begins undressing instead, "Well I for one came to bathe, not to .. plum," and he slips down into one of the pools, disappearing a bit into the steam.

Aithne seems a little uncertain...so she decides to watch for now, "Nice aim" She tells the greenrider.

Kayjay watches Vitali with one eye, ready to pounce to protect him from incoming plum attacks if necessary. She sighs. "But Auralia, someone will just have to clean up the mess tomorrow. and it will -stink- in here, when the plums start to ferment."

Auralia has no head for reasoning. No, only for plumming. "Well, I'm going to plum," she announces towards D'thyn, unreasonably. "Because I didn't come to bathe." Aithne is absolutely beamed at. "Thank you," she says, with a loud giggle. "So? I won't have to clean it up. What does it matter?" No. She's not. She wouldn't. But she does. Yes, she jumped on the piles of plum. Squelch. Splat. Oops.

Aithne winces as she mutters,'I /really/ hope I don't have laundry duty tomorrow.'

Kayjay winces at the sound of the squelching fruit. Again, all she says is. "Oh dear."

"Actually, Auralia," D'thyn says in a surprisingly reasonable tone from the pool, "you -will- have to clean it up if you keep going at that rate. I wouldn't recommend it." The sound of splashing water as he moves about in the pool.

Vitali seems stunned at the display. Even his smile has been steamed away, and he just stares in amazement as Auralia, who seemed so NORMAL so recently, jumps into a pile of plums.

Vitali casts quick, questioning glances at Kayjay and Aithne.

Auralia stops suddenly, and sniffles. "You're all so mean." But she shuts up. And stops doing horrible things with plums. For the moment. Instead, she jumps into the water, with all her clothes on. Splash. But she still doesn't say anything.

Kayjay sighs. "So I have been told the last few days."

Aithne glances over at Vitali and shrugs slightly...just watching the greeridser in bemusement.

Auralia is proddy. No doubt about that. And she's about five turns old, no doubt about that there, either. Which is why she begins to splash, and stuff. Leaving the others to go on with their conversation. Splashing is much more fun, after all.

Kayjay watches the greenrider for a moment. She sees that Auralia is settled for the moment and looks about for a mop to clean up the worst of the plums. She mutters. "

Kayjay says "Can't have the candidates breaking a leg on plum goo, can we?"

D'thyn does his best to navigate himself out of the way of Auralia's splashing. Coming up to the edge of the pool he surveys the mess left by the plums. Speaking quietly, he comments, "And while Auralia really ought to clean this herself, I doubt we'll be able to get her to do it in this state."

A drudge wanders in, and lets out a shreik! "Ack! Wh't'mi gunna d'naw? Bl'dy gr'nies." She runs out, yelping.

Vitali lets out a breath, shaking his head. "Bad enough to scare drudges?" He lifts his shirt for careful inspection. It seems to have come clean, but he gives it a few more minutes scrubbing.

Auralia dives under the water, her leathers sticking to her muscular curves in their wet state, limbs waving about as she does a handstand. A second childhood, most certainly. Welcome to the world of greenriders, Vitali.

Kayjay nods, looking towards Aithne. "Can you help out?" She winces at the drudges tone, finally coming forward with a bucket, mop and trash container. She hardly blinks an eye at Auralia's handstand, muttering. "Good form, legs need to be together more to be perfect, though."

D'thyn twists his head to see the handstand and, grinning slightly, can't resist reaching out a few fingers and tickling one of Auralia's feet. Probably very unwise.

Vitali asks Kayjay quietly, "Are they all like that? I don't remember my mother ever acting like that," as he contents himself withteh shirt at least.

<Southern Weyr> Aithne falls over snickering at thedrudge...andlags.

Auralia can't put her legs together, see, because she's laughing insanely. Nonono, the correct word would probably be giggling. Underwater. Sending lots of bubbles floating up to the surface. Cough, cough, splutter. Even moreso, when foot is tickled. Perfect, animated feet though she might have, it sends her flying. "D'thyn!" She wails, as she comes out of the water, hair dripping, "It was you? You're a meany poopy bronzer, just like Katty."

Aithne nods as she slowly picks up up a mop and eases closer to Kayjay...no sudden movements and she may be alright.

Kayjay shakes her head. "Actually, no.. Auralia is in a class all of her own." She continues picking up plum goo, wrinkling her nose. " Grab the dustpan, over there, Aithne and see if you can scoop some of this up.

D'thyn chuckles and shakes his head. "Certainly not, Auralia. I just wanted to make sure you came up in time so you didn't run out of air down there." He looks over at Kayjay and Aithne, and reluctantly starts clambering out of the water to help in the cleanup.

Vitali inches toward the one unoccupied pool, and just dunks his head in for a quick scrubbing with the soapsand. He scrubscrubscrubs, and comes up dripping and tousled, black hair in wild arcs sending a light spray of water back behind him. "I... um... I'd better go get some dry clothes," he says, moving toward the exit.

Aithne moves very carefully towards the dustpan,'It will soon be over.' She assure Vitali....we hope.' she adds softly.

Auralia's cute little nose sticks in the air, "I c'n look after m'self, thank you. I'm perfectly able to look after myself." Hmph. She watches the cleaning with wide eyes, "Watcha doin'? Is it fun? I don't think it's fun."

Kayjay giggles. "Umm, I hate to burst your hopeful bubble there, Aithne but it is probably days until her green rises." She blinks at Auralia. "Cleaning up your mess is what we are doing."

Vitali nods, "Okay, then, I'll see you all around." He pauses in the doorway, and with a mischievous grin, waggles his fingertips at Auralia. "B'bye, Auralia... Have plummy fun!"

Auralia ohs. And ohs again. "Is it fun?" She frowns, waving at Vitali, "ByeByeBye! Have fun! Be like me!" Splash, splash. The horror.

Kayjay grins. "Nice meeting you, Vitali, and don't forget to report for chores day after tomorrow. And drink lots of water, and don't forget your sunhat and .. oh sunblock!"

D'thyn flashes Vitali a smirk and a wave. "Well met, Vitali. We're not -all- like this, I assure you. Not always, at least."

Aithne holds the dustpan so that Kayjay can sweep some of the goo into it, '/Days/ of this?' She asks as she watches Auralia in bemusement.

Kayjay mutters to Aithne.

<Southern Weyr> Aithne snugs Vitali...Congrats again...Not a bad welcome?

Vitali grins at Aurelia, "Will do!" To Kayjay he nods smartly, "Thank you, ma'am," and to D'thyn, he winks and says, "Good thing!" With that, before anyone else can catch him, he slips out.

Vitali strides over to the Salt Caves.

Auralia wades through the water to the very edge, shirt sticking right close to her wet body, and peers at the plums. "Ooh. Plums. I like plums." She reaches out, grabbing at a squashed on. The one she stepped in earlier, it looks like. "Days of what?" But no, she's far more interested in peering at the plum in her hand, and squishing at it.

<Southern Weyr> Vitali says, "GREAT welcome!! Oh, man, I LOVE this Weyr!!"

Kayjay nods, standing up to use the mop. She mutters to Aithne, "... yellow dresses ... old hags... if... what... good for... and don't... if... is..."

[What was that mutter? I nabbed it off Kayjay: Kayjay nods, standing up to use the mop. "Don't mention yellow dresses or old hags though if you know what is good for you. OH and don't ask if she is dead. "]

Aithne frowns thoughtfully as she repeats the forbidden words to herself.

OK, D'thyn isn't quite so seasoned and impervious as to be completely unmoved by the sight of Auralia's.. damp clothes. But her childish manner does rather ruin the effect. "Days of you acting..." He sighs, "Nothing, Auralia. Days of nothing. Here," he holds out a hand for the mop, "I'll take the rest."

Auralia peers at the mop, curious. "What is that? What do I do with it? Can I ride it?" Fear. Fear now. She grabs the mop, tucking it under her, and begins to run around the room, not quite slipping on the floor. "C'mon, Iesath! You can fly, you don't have to just run. And since when did you run? You lumber!" That's odd. The mop is brown. Iesath is green. Somewhere, that green is getting very upset. You can count on it.

Aithne just watches, her mouth agape..."How can she mistake a broom for a dragon?"

Kayjay continues to mop, mop, mop like a good Assistant Candidate Coordinator, until that mop is grabbed out of her hands. "Auralia! Give that back!" She reaches for the mop, brownrider chasing after the greenrider, hopping over plum goo as she goes.

That drudge from before? Well, she came back. And she stands there. Shocked. I mean, it is rather horrifying, after all.

D'thyn spins, watching the chase wide-eyed, and calls out, "You know, Kayjay, you'd be much better off just letting her run around with it until she gets bored. We can always clean this mess up later."

Auralia can do it quite easily, apparently. Bounce, bounce. FL-y? No, she doesn't quite fly. But she jumps, and lands flat on her cute little tush. "WAHHHHHHH!" You can have the mop back, Auralia's got other things on her mind. "Iesath! You shouldn't do that! WAHHHHHHHHHH"

Kayjay stops in her tracks, the voice of reason getting into her head at least. "Umm, I suppose you are right." She glances over to see if Aithne noticed her flying after the greenrider. As Auralia lands, one hand reaches. "Aha! Mop, safe and sound!"

"Do what?" Aithne asks,her curousity getting the better of ber judgement.

Auralia sits and bawls. Not only did she fall on her rump, but they took Iesath away. "But Iesath. You love me. I love you. We're always together. You didn't have to leave me. I'll be better. Honest! I won't leave you out in the lake, and I won't cover you with plum. Just come back!" Bawl, bawl.

D'thyn buries his face in his hands. "Why can't they all just start.. dressing funny and hitting on people? That, at least, one can deal with." He walks over to Auralia and squats next to her, putting a comforting arm around here. "Auralia, that wasn't really Iesath. She'd never do that to you -- that was just a mop."

Kayjay looks to D'thyn, he is older, he is wiser.

"She would," Auralia announces, sniffling loudly, "She's like that. She thinks its amusing." IEsath, somewhere, is fast asleep. "She says she's never going to come back. And I want her to come back!" Her little -- okay, big -- fists screw up, and wipe at her eyes. "I'm so ALLLOOOOONNNE."

Kayjay crouches nearby, now that most of the goo is taken care of and she won't get messy."Auralia, dear." She explains patiently. "Iesath is fine, and is waiting for you outside the baths. She can't fit in here, she is to big. "

<Southern Weyr> Kayjay says, "Oh yeah sure, KJ, try logic with a proddy greenriderr. Uh huh."

Auralia looks at Kayjay through the wholes made in her fists, with an almost hopeful expression. "No she's not. Why would she be? She said she was leaving. And she was taken away. You used her!

Dragon> Iesath senses that Ranorth gently nudges the sleeping green's mind. << Iesath? >>

You say "You used her for plums!"

Iesath> Ranorth senses that Iesath sleeps, for a moment more, her thoughts sending out patternings of sharp, metallic green. << Ranorth. >> Hisss. Waking a green up.

Aithne had been tracking that...until Auri started talking about plums. "How could you use a green for plums...she is the wrong colour for that."

Auralia is all confused see. "I don't know!" She wails, snuffling, while tears drip down her face, and she curls herself up. "I don't understand! But they took her away, and I don't like it. Iesath! Iesath!"

D'thyn strokes Auralia gently across the back, trying to sound as soothing as he can through good doses of irritation. "You're not alone, Auralia. We're all here, with you, and Iesath is nearby, too."

Kayjay shakes her hand, holding the mop within easy sight but not easy reach of Auralia. "See dear.. This has hair." She points to the mop head. "Iesath doesn't have hair." She gestures. "And it is brown handle. "She isn't brown, riiiiigggght?"

Dragon> Iesath senses that Ranorth projects the image of the despairing Auralia. As if Iesath didn't already know about it, but maybe a little emphasis will drive the point home.

Auralia stiffens, and stares away from everyone, eyes shiny with tears. "I am alone. I'm always alone." Wail, wail, sob. She turns, glancing at Kayjay, "That's a mop, Aunty Kayjay. That's not Iesath. Iesath is green. She's not here. She's gone."

Kayjay shakes her head. "That's right dear, this is a mop." Kayjay talks to Auralia exactly like she would talk to one of her 30 odd nephews and neices. "And Iesath is outside, waiting for you. She can't fit in here. Remember?"

Iesath> Ranorth senses that Iesath peers at that image with the air of one who is almost amused at the downright silliness of it all. With a lazy, moonlit drawl, she replies << I see, Ranorth. She -is- my lifemate. >> Hissss, hissss. << Why wouldn't I be able to see? Do you want to make something of this? I'm quite certain you don't. >> Yes, the inevitable. Hissss.

Auralia has -explained- and -explained- this, over and over again. "No, she's not, Aunty Kayjay. I looked. She's gone. I think she," sniffle, "Went off with a Fort blue. I don't like it when she does that. She makes me lonely. She wouldn't come in here even if she could. She's mean to me."

Dragon> Suriath bespoke Iesath with << Can you speak to your rider and tell her she is safe and you are there? I know you probably are already.. I hope this isn't an intrusion. >>

Dragon> Iesath senses that Ranorth rumbles with clear annoyance at the green. << She is causing a great deal of trouble. It would not be difficult for you to help, even if you are in a state. >>

Kayjay shakes her head, sadly. "Oh, Auralia. She loves you. She would feel hurt if she heard you say that."

Iesath> Suriath senses that Iesath has an air of weariness about her tone, but an edge of cold, hard steel. << So Ranorth said. >> So dry, so dry. << I know what to do. I know far better than you. She's fine. Do you want to make an issue of it? >> The clang of talons, the edge of a battle. And a faint hissss.

Iesath> I bespoke Ranorth with << Why should I help? >> She is clearly confused. << She's able to handle herself. >>

D'thyn, meanwhile, though still resting one arm around Auralia, has gotten that characteristic riderly distant look. He returns briefly to the present to mutter, "Don't be too sure of it, Kayjay," in an irritated tone.

Aithne hrrms softly, 'Could Suriath talk to Isesath?' She blinks at D'thyn before falling silent.

"I don't think she would." Auralia's voice sounds far away, lost amid the pleasures of the world. Or, perhaps, the nightmares.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Ranorth returns with an equally confused rejoinder. << She is saying you have left her, >> as if this is enough explanation.

Kayjay hmms. "He tried. Didn't get too far."

Iesath> Ranorth senses that Iesath fights, with every word she says. The battle roars loud, and in the mad crowd, Iesath fights away. << Did you think I would leave her crying, if there's a way to make her see? >> Hissss.

[Iesath's pose comes from 'Did you think I would leave you crying', which is a book, and a poem/song.]

Dragon> Iesath senses that Suriath 's voice becomes distant and cold. << Fine. We will leave you be. >>

Iesath> Suriath senses that Iesath is confused, worried, even. << Did you think I would leave her crying, if there was a way to make her see? >> For a moment, even through the battles noise, even she can make sense.

D'thyn's face returns to the present place and time, and he sighs heavily. "Auralia?" He looks intently at the rider, "Auralia, why don't we take you back to your weyr? You could cry there in a lot more comfort."

Dragon> Suriath bespoke Iesath with << You know your rider best. My rider asked me to bespeak you for help. If you feel she does not need our help, we will back away. >>

Kayjay takes a step back from the greenrider, looking confused.

Iesath> Suriath senses that Iesath thanks you, silently, for your concern, fading into a glorious fight of freedom and determination -- in her thoughts, anyway.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Ranorth rumbles again, still annoyed, but this time the annoyance is not directed at the green. << Of course. Pardon me. >> He does his best to send sympathy before his mind pulls away.

Auralia holds back sniffles, glancing up at D'thyn. "Maybe." Sniffle. "But Iesath won't be there." Still sniffles. "Yes," she decides, finally. "I wanna go home."

Aithne just watches the various faces, as if trying for find some sort of clue there.

Kayjay smiles softly at Auralia. "I can walk you back if you like."

D'thyn nods, offering his arm to Auralia to help her up. "We all could, that way you won't have to be alone at all. C'mon."

Auralia takes a deep breath, and nods, pulling herself up with the help of D'thyn's arm. "Thank you, Kayjay. Thank you, all." Yes, all come. Put her to bed.

Kayjay drops the mop on the ground and carries the bucket full of plum goo in front of her at arms distance.

"Will you need help?" Aithne asks D'thyn.

Kayjay walks toward the Salt Caves.

D'thyn shakes his head, "I think we'll be alright from here, Aithne. Sorry about all this," he adds, with a rueful smile. "All part of the fun of the Weyr."

You walk over to the Salt Caves.

[So D'thyn and Kayjay take Auralia back to her Weyr, where she somehow misses seeing Iesath. Odd. And the greenrider cries herself to sleep. On three: awwwwwww]