April 3, 2000
Ismaye arrives at Ista Weyr.

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Saimea's cheeks would be flushed red if her skintone wasn't so dark. Both hands are firmly secured over her mouth as she tries in vain to contain loud peels of laughter. Her shoulders shake with containment, eyes glimmering brightly. She shoots N'ait a look - vaguely guilty, but mostly amused. When Menina returs, she can't contain it any longer, rolling forward and laughing loudly.

Kheri sets her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "Hey! Its not like I'm going to threaten to beat you up for pickin' on my little sister..." Eyeing her staggering sister and then the laughing N'ait. "I could probably learn a trick more or two.."

Ismaye slips in the back, obviously a new person by the bag she carries in one hand, and her pale skin. That's not Istan. She peers, thoughtfuly, at the people around, shrugs, and drops said bag. Interesting. Lightly stepping up to the serving table, the dark-haired young woman pours juice, and then tilts her head back to watch the activity.

N'ait notes Menina's return and begins it all over again, just looking too happy and chuckling silently. He makes an amused noise, biting into the side of his hand and closing his eyes as he looks away from the three and tries to contain his own merriment. Still choking a little between words, he grins at Menina, asking, "Are you.. (chortle) all.. all right?"

Menina waves a hand in Kheri's direction, jerking her head dramatically, sliding back in her chair. "Oh, go fly thread alone you smokeless weyrling!" Hooting with laughter not really directed at anything, she turns to N'ait, still redfaced. "I'm /fine/. What gave you the idea that I wasn't? I'd really like to know!" She bangs her flask on the table, waving a little drudge over to refill it for her.

Nobody blame the innocent, new travelling girl. Is Saimea safe? No anger's directed at her for the moment, so she supposes she is, though the laughter continues for long moments, wiping tears from her eyes.

Ismaye raises her eyebrows with slight...concern? as she watches the group of riders. It is, after all, kind of hard to ignore. They're loud. At least, some of them are. She hesitates a moment, and then moves towards them, wondering, "Er, none of you are--" a pause, and she looks down at a scrap of hide, "Headwoman Nejilia, or Steward Linnell? Or even one of the Weyrleaders?" A quick glance at knots. So maybe not.

"I shardin' well be smokeless, you incompetent little brat!" Kheri usually is well-tempered, but when it comes to her sister, especially when said person happens to be drunk, she'll surely say her piece when something is said against her. Of course, assuming Menina was talking to her. She takes a few strides towards her, wrinkling her nose, "Shells girl! What got spilled on you?" Could be faking that.. or maybe not. Who knows. A hand is waved at the one she doesn't know, "Nah, Wingsecond here, hon! No weyrleaders to be seen..."

Who's being loud? Certainly not Meni. Why, she's as quiet as a rock. Noisily gulping down the last of her flask, she shakes her head vigourously. "No, they're not here ri' now. Sorry." Looking sadly at Ismaye for a while, she yanks the wineskin from the drudge. She pours too slow.

Ismaye ohs. Of course, she did just realize this for herself. "Never mind then. Unless--Do you know where I'd find them?" She brushes a dark wave of hair back behind her ear, and takes a slight step back. Brave in the face of really odd people.

N'ait looks over to Ismaye, not as insane as he appears, in truth. He shakes his head, "No, sorry to disappoint you. They could show up at any time, though, so stick around." His gaze returns to Menina and he smiles, putting his hands up defensively, "Nothing, really." His hands drop and fold behind his back, looking idly near the ceiling as he says, "Of course it might've had something to do with you jumping up and running out of the hall.."

Saimea still sits, barely stifiling giggles. She casts a glance over towards Ismaye. That situation looks familiar. That was her the night before, and here she is, sucked in with the crazy people. Indeed, the initiator of the whole event. Yep, run while you can. Them's crazy persons.

Menina looks sternly at N'ait, tapping her foot quickly on the stone floor. "I /told/ you, Mamonth needed me. I /had/ to go." Not telling the whole truth isn't lying, right? "And, I . . . had to go to the bathroom." Yes, that's telling the truth. Good Menina.

Ismaye shuffles her feet, hesitating, and then taking a seat. Not at the same table as the riders: oh no! She's just a little wary of them, it might seem. No, she sits at the table -next- to them, which is pretty much empty. And close enough to listen. And gape. And all that. "Thanks," she manages to enunciate, and, "I'll do that."

N'ait takes a few steps forward before leaning over to pick up the bowl of warm water. He looks into it, not turning his head up as he looks to Menina, grinning impishly, "You don't say.."

Saimea's expression tinges with guilt as N'ait picks up the bowl. Slowly, she raises her hand, unable to be dishonest and hide any longer. "My idea.." she admits, nearly inaudibly.

Menina, not coordinated at all, tries to stand and drops her wine flask on the floor with a shatter, instantly looking at her sister with a guilty expression, like a child who knows she's going to get in trouble. Smiling sheepishly, she picks up the tiny shards and tosses them in a wastebasket.

Kheri isn't going to say anything at all. That still doesn't stop her from looking at Menina with that all-knowing, 'I told you so' look. Besides, saying something might keep her from piecing this whole thing together.

Ismaye watches Menina go, from her vantagepoint at the table, and stiffles a grin. "Oops," she murmurs to herself, hiding a chuckle, and ducking her head back down to her juice. A moment later, her attention moves back to the table beside her, and she -listens-. Oh so interesting.

Menina looks at everyone in the room with an odd look plastered to her face, mixed with irritation and confusion. Soon she seems to shut down, her head slowly dropping onto the surface of the table with a sleepy sigh.

N'ait sets the bowl on a table near him, lifting a brow at Menina and shaking his head sadly. He notes to Kheri, "Maybe she should get dragged to her weyr before she ends up sleeping in here.." Brilliant deduction, N'ait. He smiles towards Saimea, patting her on the shoulder lightly, "Don't worry.. she'll be fine."

Saimea glances over at Ismaye. She waves to her. "Come over here, promise we won't make you pee your pants too." not unless she gets drunk too, and passes out. Then it's irresistable. Besides, she needs the support of another non-rider in this mad, mad, mad, mad rider world. She shoots N'ait a grin, still guilty, but not feeling so bad as Menina doesn't seem overly angry or embarrassed.

Ismaye? Pee her pants? Oh, look at that. She blushed. Poor thing. "Excuse me?" Her lightly clipped, cultured voice quavers slightly, and she adds, "Did I hear you right? Goodness." It's worse than she thought. Nonetheless, she shrugs, pulls herself to her feet, and moves over to the next table, sitting warily. "All right."

Kheri immediately steps back from Menina, whatever support she was offering going way with her. Shaking her head at N'ait, she outright refuses, "I ain't dragging her! No way!"

N'ait lifts a brow at Kheri, stating, sarcastically, but with a grin, "Loving family.." He walks over to Menina, bending slightly to help the bluerider to her feet, "Menina, come on. Wake up for a second." If she won't, the young 'rider apparantly plans to hold her up, regardless.

And Saimea is the proper one, holder girl with morals and things. See how quickly she was corrupted? Fear the power of the Weyrside. She looks embarrassed in turn. "Oh, I'm sorry." she returns to Ismaye. "Just caught up in a little practical joke."

Menina still snores on, sniffling slightly and getting louder by the second.

Ismaye winces involuntarily at Menina's snores. "Is she...always so loud? When she's drunk?" She nods her head sagely at Saimea's explanation, offering a single word of wisdom: "Ah."

Kheri rolls her eyes at N'ait, even as she puts her hand over her heart. Effecting the sweetest voice she can muster, "I feel for her. I really do." Now why can't she keep a serious look. Oh right. Her sister is snoring at the top of her lungs.

Menina disappears through the narrow tunnel to the bowl.

Saimea shrugs, her more constrained demeanor slowly creeping back, proper posture returning, where once she was relaxed. "I wouldn't know, I just came here yesterday."

N'ait is, fortunately, taken from the brilliant task of saving Menina by another rider who actually knows where the bluerider's weyr is. He folds his arms, watching the two leave before looking to Saimea, "Note the power of warm water." Oh yeah, like he's every really serious.

Ismaye ohs. "I see. I guess I'll find out, huh? And you, too." She looks about to add something, her mouth half-open, when she stops. "The power of warm water," she repeats, after N'ait. "I will remember that."

Saimea stifles a giggle. "Oh, yes. It could have actually been worse, though. She could have slept right through it, and woken..." she trails off, the giggles breaking loose. She shakes her head, bunches of dark braids bouncing.

"And woken?" Ismaye, curiously, wonders quietly. "What would happen then? Please excuse me, I don't have much experience with this."

Jalani comes in through the narrow tunnel from the bowl.

Jalani casually waves to all as she walks into the cavern. "Hello all."

Kheri mmhmms softly as she drifts away from the small group, rolling her eyes cellingward. Yep, much more interesting up there.

N'ait turns his darkly mirthful blue eyes towards Ismaye and then grins slightly, shaking his head, "Trust me, you'll feel better not knowing. As Jalani enters, he gives her a nod, "'Allo.." He moves near Saimea and nudges her lightly, grinning and chuckling at what she says.

Without another word, Kheri briskly strides out of the cavern.

Kheri disappears through the narrow tunnel to the bowl.

Ismaye, the new person whose bag is sitting right at the doorway, nods her head towards Jalani, and then glances back at N'ait, eyes slightly wide. "Oh? Oh. All right, then. I'll stay safe, then."

The short time spent at the Weyr seems to have brought about changes in Saimea, who's usually always attempting to be cultured, and proper, despite her hands-on life. Even the night before, she would have /never/ suggested putting a passed out rider's hand in lukewarm water. "Watch out for me, I can be sneaky." she giggles to N'ait. It all depends on environment. In a place like this, no one expects her to be proper, so she isn't. She chameleons.

Jalani pours herself a klah and dumps in sweetener enough to make even the bravest shudder. She takes a large gulp then turns around to scan the room. "Evening N'ait." She loks over at the new person. "Hmm, don't think I have seen you around.. I am Jalani,greenrider to Meriath. And underling tormentor of weyrlings."

Ismaye pulls her body back. Tormentor? Ohdear. She eyes Jalani warily a moment, and then, seeing no obvious threat (or something along those lines), nods her head. "Er, Ismaye. From Icy Ridge Hold. I'm new." As if this isn't painfully obvious already.

Jalani smiles sweetly, catching the look in Ismaye's eyes."Oh, don't worry, I am off duty now, and I don't think you came with your own hatchling dragon did you?" She chuckles. "Well met and all that." She wanders over and folds herself into a chair. "Enjoying your stay so far?" She peers over at N'ait. "What is with him?"

N'ait leans idly against a table, folding his arms and looking in feigned confusion towards Jalani, "Only of weyrlings, Jalani? I thought you'd moved on to greater things by now." Impish grin is turned on Saimea, although he takes on a serious expression, "Oh, I'll remember that.." He blinks innocently at Jalani, then, "What?"

Ismaye? With a dragon? She manages a grin, "Well, there is that small problem. I suppose I...missplaced it." Is adds, lightly, "Oh, I only just got here. But it's nice enough. I think." The girl settles back into her chair, resting her arms on the table. "I wouldn't have a clue. They're all being strange."

Jalani blinks innocently, crossing her shapely legs at the knee and bats her eyelashes at N'ait. "Oh, if you get them young, they are more pliable, don't you think?" She shrugs. "Nothing.. really, nothing."

Saimea glances over at Jalani. "Saimea." she introduces with a grin. "Just arrived here yesterday. Had a baggage problem." That's her new explanation. Stick with that one for awhile.

Jalani chuckles. "Then you are safe enough around me, unless you are an arrogant bronzerider or something. Really, I am sweet as a bubbly, right?" She smiles at N'ait. "Tell her."

N'ait grins slightly at Jalani, turning his eyes to Saimea and saying, "She's as sweet as a bubbly.. after the berries go sour." He grins at Jalani again, looking innocently at her.

Ismaye takes a gulp of her juice, and wipes her pale lips with an equally pale hand. "As sweet as a bubbly," she repeats, nodding her head, "I'll remember that." A pause, and she laughs, "Oh, I see. I better be careful, then."

Saimea stands, sweeping her dress out in front of her. With a newly contained incline of her head, control returning to her words, she says, "Good evening to you all. I think it's time I go to sleep." she gives N'ait a grin, her partner in crime, nearly laughing out loud at his description of the greenrider. "Oh, that was clever, you have to admit." she grins at Jalani. "Nice to meet you. Good eve." and with a sweep of her dress, she's gone.

Saimea heads down the stairs, deeper into the Weyr.

Jalani sticks out her tongue. "You are just sour.. period." Sipping at her klah she frowns. "Not quite sweet enough, it will have to do, I am too lazy to get up and get more." She shakes her head. "You really are getting sour in your old age, N'ait."

Ismaye ohs! "I could get you some sweetener, Ma'am?" Is watches Jalani, offering with a tilt of her brow. "I mean, I'm not doing anything." She adds, thoughtfuly, "I don't think either of you seem all that sour. You're nice." If odd, but that remains unspoken.

N'ait grins at Jalani playfully, "Oh, come now, Jalani. I'm the sweetest bluerider in this Weyr, and you know it." He winks conspiratorially to Saimea, his 'boysih' grin still holding to his expression. He then chuckles as Ismaye speaks, nodding towards her, "No.. -that- was clever.."

Jalani shakes her head. "No, no, you just got here. Sit, rest. I have to watch my figure anyhow. and the healers get after me when I keep awake via sweetener and klah for days on end." She looks thoughtful. "Any idea if you are going to stay on?"

Ismaye's brows raise, "Was it?" Her dimples show as she smiles, and adds, "Thank you." Towards Jalani, she shrugs, "If you insist. It's too hot, really, to do anything, I suppose." She wipes her brow, as if trying to emphasize, and adds, with a shrug, "I'm not sure. My family thought it would be good for me to have some time in a different climate and atmosphere. I suppose it depends how I like it."

Jalani nods. "I grew up near here, don't know much different. Except when I head up north for a vacation. Lovely to go skating up at the Reaches, even lovelier cuddling by the hearth.."

N'ait nods at Ismaye in a very serious attitude before he breaks into his persistent grin, lifting a brow at Jalani as he leans his palms against the tabletop, "With who, Jalani?" He never misses an opportunity for teasing.

Ismaye smiles, bobbing her head, and then stiffles a yawn. "I'm sorry. It's been an eventful day. I should remove myself to bed. If," she adds, brow crinkling, "I can find one." She tilts her head again, and moves to her feet, retrieving her bag, and heading for the lower caverns.

You follow a flight of stairs deeper into the Weyr caverns.

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