All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

27-10-01: Sisterly Love
Celira stretches lightly as she walks into the cavern...and her lips curl into her usual mischievous grin upon seeing Relian....

Celira stretches lightly as she walks into the cavern...and her lips curl into her usual mischievous grin upon seeing Relian. "Blush boy! Good to see you again." She winks at him, then disappears briefly into the kitchen, only to return with a mug of klah and a plate of...veggie rolls? Hmm...don't ask. Sliding into a seat, she nods at him. "How goes it with your search for your uncle?"

Here rests Relian: unofficial historian, half asleep with his head drooping down in front of him. Celira's entrance, and words, accord a rapid jumping up movement of his head; he flings himself into wakefulness, avoiding blinking -- although he doesn't quite make it. "Er - Lady Trouble! Same with you. It's--" he hesitates, glancing down at the hide in front of him, which, moments previously, was in danger of being imprinted with his head, "Not really getting anywhere."

Startled herself, Celira jumps slightly at his sudden movement. "Good Faranth, Rel, I didn't mean to scare you!" A sly grin tugs at the corner of her lips, and with a shake of her head she gets up to disappear into the kitchens again. Returning with a mug of klah, she sets it near Relian. "Looks like you could use this as much as I could." Smirk.

Relian's cover never really existed, and now that it's blown completely. the young man accepts the klah with a rueful grin. "Thanks." Caerfully tidying up his hide, he notes, "You didn't *really* scare me. It just looked that way. How're you, Cel?"

Celira sneaks a sip of her klah before replying. "Quite well...and..." she pulls aside a bit of her tunic to reveal a blissfully snoring little green head "...newly Impressed to a green, if I may add." Her eyes sparkle rather brightly as she gazes down at the little hatchling. "Unexpected, to be sure!"

"Oh, meatroll!" As full of cheerful expletives of the positive kind, Relian beams for his friend. "Congratulations, I think. That's three you've got now, huh? What do you mean unexpected? Where'd you get her from?" His fingers grasp for the klah mug placed down next to him, wrapping about it as he draws it closer.

Xarideta walks in from the Northeastern Caverns.

N'ano walks nonchalantly in from the Southeastern Bowl.

Celira's eyes widen at the unexpected stream of questions. "Whoa whoa whoa!! Maybe you -shouldn't- have any klah.." She says this laughingly as she makes a grab for the mug. "Well, I caught a lift over to Paradise looking for a friend, and stumbled upon the hatching. A large one at that." Head turns as she nods to Xarideta, and N'ano as well.

Celira hums softly as she walks to the Kitchens.

Serafa slinks in from the Southeastern Bowl.

"Annalysa... Annalysa, if I were Annalysa, where would I be?" Yes, the words seem to be coming from the stranger of the baker, entering stange left into the living caverns, and they're meant for anyone within earshot.

Relian's lips twitch ruefully, his expression almost repentent. "Maybe I shouldn't. But I'm in a good mood." Now that he's woken up, and all. "Very cool," he adds, "Congratulations, again." Following her movement, he offers a nod to those arriving; the cavern is far from empty, but his seat is close enough to the entrance for it to be reasonable.

Zaphyr tweeps and looks at Zephyr upon Xarideta's shoulder. Name almost same!!

Serafa stumbles into the cavern her eyes lighting up as she see's all her favourite people all in the one place. "Reli! Celi! Noccy!" She squeals, it wasnt as if she hasnt seen them recently but well she liked to make people feel important. Weaving her way through the throng she settles a seat, Convienantly inviting herself to the impromptu gathering.

N'ano eyes the others almost cautious as he enters, taking a seat at his normal table, nearto the others. All familiars are offered a half wave before he props his head into his hands, idly waiting for the line at the food table to die down some before a plate is retrieved for himself. As his name is squealed, he jumps up, quirking his neck towards the source, being the healer "Hey!" Bout time she got the grudge off her back.

So Xari's an outcast. So be it. Comes with being a stranger to the Weyr. She's a crafter, by the first egg! A baker who can make up a heck of a redfruit crisp. As greetings pass between the others, Xari uncermoniously makes her way towards them. Stranger to the unknown? Hardly! She'll just squeeze her way in there...

Celira's eyes brighten upon seeing Serafa enter the cavern. "Seffy! Hi there!" She turns to N'ano, who seems his usual, grudgy self, and grins at him. "G'day to you as well, bronzerider." Completing the rounds, she turns to Xarideta and nods, her eyes reflecting the hearthfire rather brightly. "Hello there...I'm Celira. Just a simple Istan resident. And you are?"

Relian sneaks another sip from his klah, the hide formerly in front of him slipped down by his feet, held carefully in a position of safety. "'lo," is his echoed comment, to basically everyone in general, attention flicked after Celira's introduction to the baker. "I'm Relian," he adds, piping up.

"I'm me... sometimes I go by I... and I often here people calling me 'you'." How's that for a greeting? Eventually, Xari offers a wide beam and a hand to shake "Xari--I'm just a baker. Looking for Annly... I'm supposed to get something from her," she replies, motioning towards the kitchen "Is she in there?" Relian's greeting is noted with an even wider grin as she sidles over towards him "Hel/lo/ there... you're cute, you know that, Relian?" Could she be more discrete?

N'ano isn't quite like the social bunny over there, so rather than running over to meet up with everyone else, he simple takes his stance in line, awaiting the tasteful morsel of dry herdbeast. Gotta love leftovers.

Serafa simpers at Relian for a moment before turning to grin at N'ano. "Hows that big bronze belly of yours?" Small talk is always good no? "Oh and how are the children?" Not so small talk now but she hasnt seen them in a while. Her gaze is directed to the stranger and she narrows her eyes, her memory obviously tickled by something, watching the baker make moves on Relian she hisses "Oh no you dont you little brat" Mentally minusing four turns from the baker before her she continues. "Wait til tell Mum you are here. Dont you know she's worried sick about you Xarideta"

"Well met Xari." Celira nearly chokes as she watches Xari smoothly steps towards Relian and unabashadly tells him he's cute. Shards, he'll prolly explode with this blush. An amused glance is given towards Relian as she simply leans back in her chair, mug cradled in one hand. "Looks like you've another member of your fan club, Rel." Grin.

Relian's nickname was given for a reason; he blushes. And, right now, he blushes brilliantly. "Er, thank you," he murmurs, scarlet in face. "I think. You're--pretty." Serafa's simpering earns a further woebegone expression, as he attempts to turn his head away completely. The girl's movement towards Xarideta, however, earns a frown, and he sinks--rather thankfully, into Celira's company. "Oh Faranth's polished pout - please tell me you're not a member, too?"

Xarideta wrinkles her nose and quirks a brow in challenge towards the healer before purposely sidling even closer to the boy "Oh? No I don't /what/?" She knows very well, of course. Oh, and with every long lost person she knows, Serafa is greeted with a pounce, feline-like. "Seraaaaaaaafa!!!!! How do you know she's sick about me?" she asks moments later after backing off some, though keeping her hands cupped around her sister's shoulders. Ooh, but you see, that comment of Relian's is /quite/ significant, 'cause now Xari's beaming "See? He thinks I'm /pretty/, so nah!"

"Uhm... go--" N'ano starts out, eyeing the confrontation between the two crafters before shuffling his way closer towards the food, eventually getting himself a hefty plateful. And then he eyes them again, raising a brow "And that must be one of your sisters, eh?" As if it weren't too obvious.

Celira simply arches one eyebrow at Relian, a sardonic grin on her face. "You wish I was a member." A tsk tsk is directed towards him. "Sorry to disappoint you, Blush Boy, but it takes more than a handsome face to win this girl's heart." She taps her head gently. "I need to know there's somethin' worthwhile up here, you know?" Leaning forward a bit, she touches his arm gently. "But don't lose hope, y'might still win me over." Tcha...she is one to tease, isn't she!

Serafa holds her sister at arms length. "Went back about a turn ago, and Mum told me you'd left but she didnt know where" She grins, an over-enthusiastic greeting was just what she wanted right now. With a wink at N'ano she continues "Yeah This is Xari, havent seen her since she was about this high" She holds her hand half way tween shoulder and elbow.

"Tunnelsnakes," retorts Relian with mock disappointment, "And there I was, hoping you were, like, Craftmaster! I'll have to work on you, I will, show my innate genius." His wink towards Celira is cut slightly short, as more interesting matters come to play, and he watches. "Faranth, this is one of Serafa's little sisters?"

Xarideta jumps up and down, all girly-like, probably since she -is- one, but still, you get the image "Oh Faranth!" she squeals with happiness of some sort before releasing the grip on her sister and making her way to her side now, tugging on Serafa's sleeve and pointing towards the rider "And who's /that/?" Eyebrow raised, she glances over at her sister, grinning widely again.

N'ano takes note of the staring, and diverts his attention to more important matters, aka, his dinner. Plate set upon the table, he pulls out the chair, placing himself upon it before literally diving into the grub. There's a rule about not disturbing a man during his feasting, isn't there?

Echoing Relian, Celira's eyes widen. "Sister? Serafa's sister?" Rising from her chair, she makes her way over to the Sr. Healer Apprentice, grinning warmly. "Shards...well why didn't you say so!" Eyes twinkle as she nods once again to Xarideta. "How long have you been here at Ista, Xari?" Chani cheeps awake, poking her little green head out from Celi's tunic to stare at the going-ons. What's the commotion?

Serafa blushes "Er thats N'ano, a friend" A little awkwardly spoken, it seems that Serafa's usual glibness does not apply to her family. "He eats like everything" She giggles motioning to his intense focus on his meal. Running her fingers through her hair she grins at Xari's knot. "Bakers Xari? I thought you hated cooking?"

"Since I got off that gorgeous green about a candlemark back?" Xari replies, offering a wink in Celira's direction before returning her attention towards Serafa "Baker? Oh yeah--well, it's fun now. I just don't like getting my hands dirty--so I either use a spoon, or make the others do the dirty work." Again, her gaze is brought back towards the rider, with whom she offers a finger waggle to "You're cute tooo!" cupped hands call out towards him.

Relian grasps his hands about the edge of his mug, watching intently the reintroduction of the sisters. "An emotional family reunion, hmm?" he murmurs, mostly to Celira, closest to him. "A handful. Worse, even, than *my* youngest sister -- although she's even older than I am."

Celira resumes her seat near Relian, reclaiming her mug. "Older than you...why, eggshells, Rel...you're practically the same age that I am, no?" Her blue eyes gaze inquiringly into his own. "I'd guess...oh...18 Turns, perhaps?"

Serafa blinks and grins some more. "I bet you get the boys to do all the dirty work huh?" She teases, crossing her ankles. "Mum should see you cook, she'd have a heart failure or something" The euphoria of finding her wayward baby sister momentarily blinding her to the shocking flirtations her sister was trying to conduct with both gentlemen.

"Less," asserts Relian, cracking a smile, as he drains his mug. "I shan't be eighteen until early next au--er, spring, I suppose. Autumn down south, spring here. That's right." Winking, he notes, "She's old, though, my sister. Well, all of them, really. Lysela is nineteen, or thereabouts."

Xarideta nods her head, covering a yawn with the palm of her hand before giving a final waggle towards the men of the group, and a wink towards her sister "Yeah, wouldn't that be /funny!/ Well, I should probably go seek out Annly then. I'll be back afterwards! Until I have to leave anyway. By handsomes!" the latter towards Relian and N'ano as she trots off towards the kitchens.

Celira hmphs slightly. "Well, you best not consider myself as old, since I'm still 17, though going on 18. Your less than a year behind me, you know!" A finger is waggled in his direction. "And if you do, well I'll just have to start callin' you Lil' Blush Boy." A wave is given towards the departing Xari. Turning back to Relian, she whispers very softly "By the way...-thank- you for helpin' me to get home the other night...I'm forever in your debt. To a point, that is."

Relian flicks his glance after Xari, and shudders - almost invisibly. "All right, all right. Lyss isn't old. It's the older ones that are really old. -- Oh, Faranth, will I have to call you Old Lady Trouble, then? Ancient One." He gives her a slow nod, almost invisible, in response to Celira, as he notes, "I think I won the bet."

Celira huffs in defiance at Relian, a look of inherent mock disgust upon her face. "Just you wait till your my age, oh Blushin' Babe Who's Still in Linens. THEN we'll see who has the last laugh." Crossing her arms (mindful of the green, however), she raises her nose slightly. Muttering out of the side of her mouth, however, she winks. "I know. Don't tell anyone I got wickedly drunk at the dance, yes?"

"Blushin' Babe Who's Still in Linens," repeats Relian, very slowly. "Does that mean you think I'm a babe? As in, cute?" He winks, pushing his empty mug away with easy pokes of his hand. "Yes, yes, we'll be old together. I promise." He responds to her wink with one of his own, nodding, "'course not." Whispered -- of course. Loudly.

Serafa watches her sister go with a speculative glance. "Hey N'ano could I ask you a huge favour?" She enlarges her klah-brown eyes. "Could you possibly take me back home for a bit?" The bickering tween the other two ignored for the moment. "I think Mum should know bout this"

N'ano lifts his head from the deep concentration held upon the plate, quirking a brow towards Serafa "Eh? Where--Keroon?" he questions, pushing the plate aside for the moment "I 'ppose... is she in trouble or somethin'?"

Huffing slighlty, Celira fixes her mock glare upon Relian once more. "You'd better not...I've a reputation to maintain!" Her glare suddenly melts into a sugary sweet smile, and she leans in close...VERY close...her eyes meeting his. In a husky voice, she says "Of course I think you're cute. Beyond that? Well...let's not get our hopes up, shall we?" With a wink and a smile, she rises from her chair. "Night folks...I'm heading off to bed!" A flick of her hair and she turns, sashaying towards the exit.

Celira hums softly as she walks to the Southern Caverns.

Serafa shakes her head. "Naw my parents are kinda good like that they'll just be glad to know she's okay and well doing something respectable." She rubs her arms. "That and the fact well, We could take the kids for a ride as well" She looks at him intently.

Relian stares after Celira, his jaw drapping. Yes, that's very sweet. He's touched. Twisting about in his seat, he glances at Serafa, interrupting her with his question--"Are you actually *glad* to have your sister around here?"

N'ano dips his head into a nod as he stands, motioning towards the bowl "Right now then?" he asks, pausing to allow her to answer Relian's question, first.

Serafa peers at Relian. "Considering we havent had any idea where she has been for the last three turns well yeah" With a wicked grin she continues. "You are perfectly welcome to come with us and browse through my other siblings, I'm sure we could find one you like" While her words are venomous the invitation is genuine. "You still got one of my jackets up at your weyr dontcha?"

Relian, for the briefest of moments, looks absolutely petrified. "Er, no, thanks. I'll be fine, of my own accord." If they're anything like Xari, he'll prefer to stay right away -- apparently. "Have fun!"

N'ano nods after a long pause "I do--should be up there, anyway, 'cause I ain't touched it from where ya left it," he replies, grinning. "Can go get it? 'less you wanna borrow one of my spares... probably too big, but well, it suits its purpose." After Relian's comment, he chuckles, shaking his head "'lieve me, I've seen worse--not that she was bad or anythin'! Kinda cute, actually..." But he has a woman, so he'll just leave it at that.

Relian raises an eyebrow at N'ano, although he notes, "Me, too, but I'd rather not tempt fates. Good luck, both."