April 9, 2000
Weyrfolk do the strangest things. Playing in puddles? Adults?

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You follow the path over a few dunes, black sand underfoot as you approach the beach.

The greenrider looks over her shoulder at the weeping N'ait and stands her ground between her friend and the newcomer. "What gives you the right to speak with such censure to a total stranger, a rider, no less?"

Ismaye's feet crunch through the dark sand beneath her feet, her head shaded by a huge hat totally out of place with the time of day. She looks up, glancing about, and pauses. Her quiet voice raises a little with a greeting: "Evening. Or morning. And...crying? Oh dear."

Valin remains in a squat beside the weeping bluerider, patting N'ait's shoulder a little awkwardly, but nonetheless reassuringly. The simple stablehand will hopefully be a calming influence... despite the gregarious newcomer and the gallant greenrider who are having...words.

Melasan looks helplessly at Jalani, "Nothing, I-" she searches for words, "I was just looking around, trying to find my way, I just arrived and I stumbled upon you and I wanted to see who you are and I- he seemed so- my family-" Her eyes fall to the ground, "I didn't. I'm trying to appologize. I truly didn't want to start things on the wrong foot. Sometimes I just," she takes a deep breath, "get caught up in other people's emotions." She is quite earnest in her appology, she really meant no harm and doesn't want enemies.

Jalani nods, slightly mollified. "I personally am not in the habit of going up to total strangers and lecturing them..perhaps you are?" Again, smile sweet as sweetener and cold, cold icy blue eyes look at the girl. "I see you just arrived. Our headwoman is right behind you, if you are looking for accomodations."

The Headwoman? Oh, that would be Ismaye. For a moment, she pauses, and then heads towards Jalani and the newcomer. "I don't know what you did," she begins, "But perhaps next time, you won't?"

Belena moves slowly to where N'ait and Valin are seated, she crouches behind N'ait and places a soothing hand on his shoulder. She looks up at Melasan and Jalani, not sure if she should voice her opinion of the situation or the comment.

N'ait takes in long breathes, or more like, long gasps of breath for a moment before swallowing hard. He tries to regulate his breathing, nodding slightly to Valin as he listens to the man, giving a mildly choked laugh at what he says on his own accord. Rubbing the back of his forearm along his eyes, the bluerider carefully gets to his feet, saying to Valin, "Thanks, Valin.." His blue eyes turn to Melasan and Jalani and he stands quietly, watching for a moment before deciding to step over towards Jalani, setting a hand on her shoulder lightly and looking curiously at Melasan, then the greenrider with a mild attempt at a grin, "Having fun scaring away the residents, Lani..?" He'll have an outburst perhaps every twenty years or so, but he, apparantly, tries to make them as quick and over with as possible, seemingly feeling better than before, by all means. Well.. he sure knows how to get attention.

Jalani turns her head at the light hand on her shoulder and looks with concern at the bluerider. Honoring his unspoken request, she lightly answers. "No, not at all, I leave that to you."

A horrified look comes over her face as Melasan turns to see Ismaye standing close by, "Oh no! I won't do it again! Oh please! I'm not a bad person!"

Valin sits back on his heels and remains crouched as N'ait straightens. He nods slightly to the bluerider, then rubs his hands over his face and pushes his fingers through his hair in an attempt to relieve his own stress.

N'ait smiles slightly before turning his attention to Melasan, holding up one hand and saying in his voice struck quiet, "Whoa, whoa.. Shhhh.. Calm down for a moment. We're not going to toss you out or anything.. unless you track dirt into the living caverns." That end comment is meant for Ismaye, whom he sends a nod of greeting to.

Jalani sighs, her concern for N'ait coming out as impatience to the girl. "Shards, we aren't about to eat you or feed you to the dragons."

Ismaye looks almost horrified herself. She's scaring people? Oh dear. "I certainly hope not," she comments, in a dry tone, as she regains her composure. She turns a little, glancing about the group, and then adds: "Can we trus--" Her words trail off, and she actually giggles. "He's right. That dirt is about the only thing." She conceeds to N'ait's nod with a bob.

Noooo, only Valin's unlucky charges are fed to the dragons. With a tired smile that's truly more of a grimace, he finally straightens, and he steps back from the conglomerate group of headwoman, dragonriders, and newcomer that is before him, very nearly bumping into Belena. A less-than-graceful crabstep saves him from knocking the woman down.

Melasan , not sure quite what to make of all the jokes suddenly being made finds herself looking at N'ait, "Then, you don't think I'm horrible? I'm so sorry, really I am." Her big blue pools stare right into N'ait's.

N'ait waves a hand dismissively, shaking his head before he drops it, "No, you're not horrible.." A light smile at the idea, "And there's no need to be sorry, you were just trying to help.. but you're going to have to learn to contain yourself." The bluerider blushes lightly, noting that he did that perfectly a moment ago.

Melasan blushes herself and she laughs a little, "Yes, I'm afraid that I will. My only intention tonight was to meet new people. I suppose I may have gone about it the wrong way."

Belena hardly notices Valin until he is practically on top of her. She is completely wrapped up in the ordeal with the newcomer. "Whoa!" She says as Valin sidesteps around her.

Jalani turns to N'ait with a relieved look on her face. "And about time you let some of that out.." She chuckles. "Told you the winds and on coming storms bring out much within us."

"It worked," Ismaye says, disagreeing, "Perhaps not perfectly, but I doubt you'll be forgotten now. What an introduction to Ista."

Melasan turns, wide eyed to Ismaye, "I'm afraid I've made a terrible impression for one who was looking for a position as an Assistant Headwoman!"

Valin heaves a sigh and mumbles an apology to Belena, turning away and letting the general hubbub as well as the darkness cover his faint blush. Having no need (or wish) to be the center of attention, he's content to look out to the sea. And... hold on a second. He holds out a hand, palm up, then brings it close to his face to peer at it. Hmf. His skin is wet.

Now, see, Ismaye's attention is raised, "You were? Well, I suppose it can be fixed. The impression you made, I mean." Crypticly, she crosses her hands behind her back, eyes glinting slightly beneath their hatted shade.

N'ait smiles at Jalani and shrugs lightly, "Well, it was either that or wait until Peruth bit someone's head off.." He looks ponderous all of a sudden, although one can highly doubt that Peruth would do that. As the bluerider turns around, he notes Valin's current predicament, but doesn't head over to -make- him the center of attention, just standing there quietly for a second, unsure.

Melasan smiles, gratefully, "Thankyou Lady, uh-" Melasan realizes that she either didn't catch the headwoman's name or was never told...

Jalani takes another deep breath. "Now, would he do that?" She bats her lashes at the blue dragon. "Peruth? The sweetie? You do you lifemate the greatest diservice.." She winks at N'ait, almost back to normal.

"Peruth is far, far too nice for that," Ismaye agrees, as an aside to the rest of the conversation. "Lady? Shards, is Lady Ista here?"

Rubbing his hand upon his trous to dry it off, Valin wisely heads over to the canopy to stand beneath it, in preparation for the coming storm. Purely coincidence, the skies rumble with distant thunder even as he moves. "Rain's comin'," he murmurs, though he's unsure as to who's paying attention to him, since he rarely wants attention on him.

Belena 's eyes light up, the storm! She turns and makes a dash for the waters edge, wanting the best view! She turns her head upwards and sticks out her tongue to catch the first misty raindrops as they begin to fall!

Melasan smiles and holds out her hand to Ismaye, "My name is Melasan, I'm sorry, I didn't hear your name, Headwoman." She is extremely polite.

N'ait grins towards Jalani mischieviously and winks to her, "Dragons work in mysterious ways.." Hearing Valin's words, the bluerider turns to look off at the horizon before skirting over towards Peruth, "Hey, Perry! It's coming!" The blue, after giving a merry little whuffle towards both Jalani and Valin, in that order, trumpets lightly, happily, following his rider along to the edge of the water as well.

Valin is, apparently, the only sane one...

Ismaye takes Melasan's hand, shaking it firmly, and then pushes her hat further down on her head with her other hand, "Ismaye. Well met, Melasan." She glances towards the water, raising her eyes, "Rain. Bah."

Jalani takes a deep breath of the sweet cool breezes and spins once again on the sand. "Oh just breathe it in, it is wonderful." She runs to catch up with N'ait and reaches to squeeze his arm impulsively. "Makes you want to ..well, I told you that already, didn't I?"

A single droplet splooshes against Ismaye's hand, another on Melasan's. Before Belena catches a drop on her tongue, one lands in her eye. How annoying. The quiet whisper of a steady drizzle stirs, water falling on water first, then sweeping onto land, gently showering those not under cover.

Melasan is grateful for the Headwoman's kindness. She notices N'ait and Peruth from the corner of her eye and smiles. "Oh rain! Beautiful!" She reaches back and takes down her long blond curls, letting them fall from their pins. She sweaps around, enjoying the cool of the water after that cheekburning introduction to the people of Ista Weyr.

N'ait smiles at Jalani, not seeming bothered by the treatment of his defenseless arm as he shakes his head, "No, no you didn't." He grins slightly, then feels the rain begin to come down. He smiles once more, tilting his head backwards as he reaches the water's edge and just standing there for a moment.

Ismaye's getting all wet. This is all very well and good, but...Thank goodness for her hat, apparently, since her face is dry. She watches Melasan, with a faint smile, and glances back around the other people. "Insane, you must be. It's -wet-!"

Valin mumbles, over there beneath the protective canopy, "Y'all need t'see a Mindhealer." Nonetheless, he watches the supposedly addled ones curiously.

Jalani tilts her head back as well, letting the rain fall as a mist on her face. She lets loose with a deep belly laugh and spreads her arms out. "Oh come on, Valin, you must admit, you feel better, now it started to rain?"

The thunder rumbles again, louder this time, much closer. As grey clouds race across the sky, high above, the rain takes on a greater driving force. Within seconds, the gentle drizzle turns to a steady, heavy rain. Suddenly, a single bright zig-zag lights the sky and the scene below. Brilliant. Beautiful. Thunder sounds just a second later, the loudest clap yet, crackling through the heavens. It heralds a downpour, water abruptly and positively sheeting down in torrents. Welcome to the tropics.

The party-crasher and stablehand known as Valin spreads his arms. "I'm feelin' jus' fine." Sure, sure. He's not soaking wet.

N'ait calls over to Ismaye with a grin, pushing his hair out of his eyes, "Well, I never claimed sanity!" He says to Valin, for one, "It's been hot all day.." In a dramatic tone, he says, "Rejoice in the cooling rejuvination of nature, my friend.." His grin returns, then, and he watches the lightning snap the sky, pausing and watching it curiously. Then, the rain increases. He laughs, walking over to Jalani and nudging her, "Hey.. lovely.. I think I'm a little damp.." He lifts one eyebrow, raindrops rolling off his skin.

Belena wheeeeee's!!!! She dashes towards Melasand, a wicked look in her eyes, and grabs her by the arm, dragging her towards the sea! "Come and play Melasan! You want to make friends? Now's your chance!"

"It -is-, thankfuly, cooler," Ismaye muses, wrapping her arms around herself. "But now it's getting cold." She snorts towards N'ait, chuckling quietly, "It'd be a lie, certainly."

Jalani grins and twirls again in the rain, heedless of the fact she is getting drenched. She giggles and gives herself a hug. She shouts back to Valin. "You don't know what you are missin.." She nods, deadpan at N'ait. "Yes, I would say you are.. behind the ears, dear N'ait."

Melasan taken completely by surprise, at first resists Belena's tuggings, but then, with the mention of making friends, she gives in and dashes towards the ocean edge.

Valin allows a faint smile, but doesn't join in the watery revelry. He instead reaches for his hat, which had been draped against his back, and he sets it upon his head firmly. There's animals to see to -- he /did/ recently say water on the back /and/ belly isn't good for the 'beasts, so he's off to check them, leaving the others to their wet midnight party.

N'ait lifts his hand and brushes the water out from behind his ears, as he takes it. He pauses, then smiles, "Ah, that's much better, thankyou, lovely." The bluerider then decides to cause mischief, pinching the greenrider lightly, "Catch me if you can, lovely.." And the man decides to trot along beach in the rain. Hey, it's great fun.

Ismaye's hat begins to droop a little, and then, a little more, as it gets soaked. Concequently, Ismaye gets more and more wet herself. "You're going to -play- in it?" Surprise is evident on her still-pale features. "Shards."

Jalani heys and kicks her sandals off her feet to chase after N'ait. "Oh.. if I catch you dear bluerider.. you will pay for that pinch."

Stirred by the energy of the storm, higher waves crash onto the beach, foam rushing up even to the berm. Winds whip, surprisingly chilly considering the latitude, and the rain falls sideways from time to time, not just falling but flying.

Belena lets go of Melasan's arms and skips along the waters edge, her feet splashing in the ocean water. She observes the little game of tag and cheers for her favorite person..."Get 'im Jalani!" (*grin*)

Melasan laughs at the play of those before her. She makes her way to the water and splashes a little, she turns her face to the sky and brushes the water through her now soaking blond locks. Refreshing! She spins and spins!

N'ait laughs, almost tripping over the wet sand, but the bluerider uses his hand to steady himself and dart off again, making sure to get some sand in his hand. Now armed, he tosses it towards Jalani, "Ha! A pinch by any other name deserves revenge, lovely.. but what are you going to do for that?!"

Ismaye moves closer to the others, her tunic sticking closer to her pale form, absolutely saturated with the flying water. "Brr. Almost like home." She does kick off her shoes, and place them neatly side by side, upside down to keep them dry, and continues towards the group. Not much use going back inside, now.

Valin hikes over the dunes and disappears behind them. Though he might be called a loner, in truth he's in relatively good spirits; he goes to work with that faint smile still on his face, despite the fact that he too is soaking wet and droopy-hatted.

Jalani snorts and reaches, stretching, just about to her goal when he heads off again. She darts, zigzagging in the sand, dodging the flying missile. "Ha! Try to out manuever a greenrider!" She runs backwards and then forwards again. "Oh.. just you wait, just you wait!" She flexes her long fingers. "Tickling comes to mind.. or perhaps.." She laughs. "Even worse!"

Again, blue-white lightning rends the sky, illuminating dark green waters, bright flecks of glossy and glassy sand, and turning the side-sheeting rain into a field of diamond droplets for just a brief second. As the clouds roll, so does the thunder, loud laughter sounding as the heavens view the dancers and players below.

N'ait turns his head to grin back at Jalani, running as fast as he can. He turns his head to look ahead of him, blinking suddenly. Uh.. isn't that Belena? The bluerider tries to skid to a stop, and skid he does, right onto his back into the water and almost right into Belena.

Belena shrieks and jumps out of the way, managing to trip and fall flat into the water herself! She sputters for a moment and pulls her soaking red hair from her face, Ah! oxygen!

Jalani laughs out loud. "You are mine, bluerider, you are mine!" She pounces on the sand beside him, fingers outstretched to do her worse. She stops as the lightning renders the sands into a magical place for an instant, awestruck. Then she remembers. Ah, pinching bluerider. Right!

Ismaye is still there, just shivering and standing all still. (Every party has a pooper, and that's why, well, you know.) "Go Jalani!"

Melasan takes in a breath as she sees the sky and the diamond droplets. She is completely enchanted by the beauty of the storm.

N'ait sits up, half covered by the ocean water and blinking. He suddenly notices the greenrider and tries to scramble away from her. He manages, getting a few feet. He tugs off his shirt, sandy from where he took it off the beach earlier. Twirling it between his hands, he snaps it at Jalani lightly, not trying to hurt her, but snapping it. Snap snap, lovely.

The wind whips up with a sudden gust and a queer whistle. Jungle foliage flaps, rustling loudly, and a few leaves and fronds are even blown away. Any with unbound, long hair suddenly find the strands like stinging projectiles from time to time. One can even lean slightly into the wind, and it might buoy a body...but only for an instant.

Jalani reaches for that shirt. "Oh.. come now, you aren't afraid of a little old greenrider, are you?" She flies after the bluerider, her short black curls bouncing every which way in the wind. She seems to almost have a hold at the corner, a tip, of that cloth.

Ismaye's hair, of course, isn't that long, but it's long enough to tangle itself out from under her hat -- which blows away into the ocean, lost forever -- and all around her face like a head-glove. Oh dear.

Belena stands and does just that, leans her little body into the wind. She is small enough that it really does hold her up, for more than an instant! "Wheee!!!" She cries again! "I'm flying!" Then to Peruth, "Is this what it feels like?"

Melasan pulls her hair up in her hands and somehow manages to get the whipping blond locks into a knot. There! She looks over at Belena and is amused by the girl's trick.

The ocean seems as though it has extended as many puddles form, some shallow, some deep, all pitch black -- dark sand underneath, dark skies above. From time to time they shine, reflecting the eldritch brilliant blue-white glow of lightning streaks. The wind begins to die down, and with one final gust it makes a proud banner of N'ait's shirt, foiling snapping attempts for a few seconds. Then the rain falls normally, huge, fat globules of water that smack upon the skin.

N'ait laughs as Jalani gets a hold of his shirt and tugs on it half-heartedly, shaking his head at her question, "No, but I'm afraid of you!" He grins at the greenrider innocently, giving the shirt a hard tug in an attempt to pull her into the water.

Ismaye ducks her head, attempting to pull her hair back, but her ribbon, too, is gone, and it isn't working. "Just go ahead, kiss already," she murmurs to herself, glancing at N'ait and Jalani. So much for being a prude.

Jalani giggles, low in her throat as the turns of firestone sack toss drills with countless weyrlings pay off. She tugs hard once again, hoping to pull N'ait in the water with her, what is a little more wet when you are already drenched? "Afraid of me?"

Belena nearly falls over with the sudden drop of the wind. She stumbles a bit before regaining her balance.

Peruth just warbles at Belena, whuffling at her lightly to give her a bit of wind back and helping to catch her so she doesn't fall over with his tail. Then, he happily returns to a blue-shaded ball on the beach's sands.

Melasan smiles at the group near the water and then makes her way up to the Headwoman. She motions to the playful bunch, "Quite close, aren't they?" She sighs, a bit of sorrow could be detected there? Longing maybe?

N'ait lets go of the shirt at Jalani's hard tug, hoping to send the greenrider into the water of her own accord, "Of you? Always.." He grins teasingly towards her, obviously not worried over the loss of a shirt.

Ismaye attempts to push her hair out of the way, and bobs her head slowly, "They've known each other a while, I'd imagine. I'm still fairly new here, myself. And I don't play in the rain. But you seemed to be doing pretty well." She adds, quietly, "Now, about that assistant headwoman issue..."

Melasan perks up at this, "Yes?"

Jalani is caught off guard, an exclamation of suprise cut short as she lands with a splash into the water. She reaches with her foot as she goes down, in hopes of tripping N'ait up.

Ismaye waves her hands around a little, and then pulls out a knot, "On probation. If you work well, we'll keep you. Welcome aboard." She smiles, handing the knot over.

N'ait lets out a light yelp as he suddenly becomes intimate - once more - with the ocean waters. Sputtering, he sits up and sends Jalani a mocking of a deadly look, the water coming up to his shoulders and bent knees.

Ismaye bobs her head, adding, "You're welcome. Report to my office tomorrow morning, and we'll get you all ready to work."

Jalani scrambles to her feet, giggling. She reaches out with her hand to help her fellow bluerider up. "That will teach you to dunk a poor defenseless lady like myself in to the sea."

Melasan nods her head earnestly, "I will!"

Ismaye smiles, wiping a stickily wet strand of hair from her face, and turning her head towards the green and blueriders. "Groan. Look at them. Aie."

N'ait takes Jalani's hand and immediately tries to yank her back into the sea, chuckling as he says, "Defenseless, my right foot.."

Belena is just dancing in the rain. Dancing in a puddle to be exact. She is sending up lovely splashes everywhere! She is the splashing master, after all...

Jalani lands with another plunk in the water and pouts. "Look at me, you got me all wet." She shakes her head -hard- in N'ait's direction and like a poodle, her tight curls send water flying every which way. "I am .. I am.." She slips her hand away after a moment "Truly I am."

N'ait holds up one arm and laughs, looking very apologetic, "I'm dreadfully sorry, Jalani." He picks up his shirt before it floats away, handing it to the greenrider, "Here. Use this to dry off." It twitches at the corner of his mouth, then causes him to grin once more, "And you are, by no means, defenseless.. Meriath could beat both Peruth and I easily."

Ismaye continues to wring out her things, no matter how little good it appears to do, She's shivering, too, and watching N'ait and Jalani with a faintly amused smile on her face.

Belena sings, "Puddles, puddles, puddles..." emphasizing each note with a good 'splash!'

Jalani giggles and takes the shirt, pretending to dab away at her face. "Ever the gentleman you are." She winks."Remember that, next time she rises.. " She once again lifts her self from the shallows and smiles down at the bluerider, tossing the shirt back at him. "Do sleep well.. and thank you for the a most.. err refreshing experience."

Ismaye raises a hand, and waves it after Melasan, and then again after Jalani. She, too, is shivering, and promptly sighs, "I'm for bed, too. Or, at least, the bathing caverns. Night!"

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