Last connected Fri Jan 18 07:45:06 2002 CET from DTG-219

Living Cavern (#400)

Flawlessly carved archways highlight the uniform walls that extend upwards into the cavern's near total darkness above. The night hearth abides beside the largest egress, while along the northern span a handcarved staircase ascends into the kitchens. To the east a dais supports the long Weyrleaders' table; smaller table-boards align the walls nearby. The heart of the room is distinguished by gray flagstone flooring, whose skillfully interlocking slabs have been worn level by the passage of countless bootheels through the ages.

You see Wing Assignment Board, Adonis, and Lady here.

Narene and G'aela are here.

Obvious exits:

Bowl Lower Caverns Tunnel Kitchen Game Room

Dozing in her chair, Narene sleeps noiselessly, tired from last night's activities.

C'ra walks in.

V'ria walks in.

G'aela apparently didn't get as active as Narene last night. Of course, this is Gaby, so that isn't a surprise. She treks into the living cavern, straight for the klah as she grabs herself a mug. "Any tasks today, Taire?" she calls to her friend, hoping the question will reach her ears. As V'ria and C'ra enter, she offers them both a grin and bow of her head in greeing. "And hello to you both, and... Oh, she's asleep. Nevermind."

Taire skips into the caverns. Yes, that is right... she is skipping. With each bounce, her short-shorn hair flutters as well. Good thing her leathers are moderately tight, otherwise it would be quite the show. At G'aela's voice, the girl scampers right on up to the bluerider. "Tasks? Don't rightly know of any, really?" She nabs a mug as well, "Pour me some too?"

klah... Klah... KLAHHHHhhhhhhh.... C'ra must have klah! Grunting slihgtly with a nod in G'aela's direction, C'ra makes straight away for the klah pots, pouring herself first one mug, drinking it, then pouring another before turning around. "Someone remind me why I bothered to Impress even one flit? Please?" Blue eyes look about the room, C'ra finally giving G'aela a smile, then an eyebrow arches at Narene, before she offers a bright smile to Taire. "Hey there, Taire!" she says jovially and starts walking in the greenrider's direction. Then of course, V'ria... C'ra is still mad at the brownrider for trying to interrupt her conversation with Th'nial, so she just grunts a nod in her direction.

V'ria stands at the entrance of the caverns and peers around slowly. C'ra is given a brief, forced smile and a nod. The brownrider then flashes G'aela a smile and a wave, and heads over. "Hullo, Taire," she greets the greenrider. "Hmmm." She stops a passing drudge and murmurs something to her, and the drudge nods and hurries off. "What a wonderfully dreary day it is!" V'ria continues cheerfully, turning her attention back to her fellow riders.

G'aela blink blinks at the greenrider as she raises the klah container, pouring it in the mug, before doing a mocking imitation of her lifemate and offering a sweep of her arms and head. "Would you like anything else, m'lady?" she asks with a snicker before moving away from the strange one. Another blink goes to C'ra. "Because your life would not have been complete otherwise? Because... you're good at being in the wrong place at the right time... or vice versa?" A look goes back toward V'ria as she smirks. "One would think you're in love or something, brownrider," the former trader chides before taking a drink. "But it's good to see you are all doing well." She assumes Narene is still asleep, and if not, player apologizes for going ahead and posing.

"Dreary?" Taire questions to V'ria with an equally cheery voice. "Not at all. Its a /beautiful/ day. Simply gorgeous. To die for, really." She flashes a grin to G'aela for the klah. "Oh. I'm really sorry Sukie hasn't been over to visit with Cal lately. I tried to insist, but she said something about him being far to smarmy, grated on her nerves." Whatever that means. A shrug as she sips the steaming klah, flickering fingers in a wave to V'ria. C'ra is glanced to, that grunt directed to the brownrider blinked at most vigorously.

C'ra actually sticks her tongue out at G'aela. "No, I'm serious. That little snot, who has -NEVER- been interested before, went off and found himself a green... I think. Couldn't sharding sleep half the night!" C'ra rolls her eyes, then smiles at G'aela, before turning back to Taire. "You are in a wonderfully good mood today! Though... personally... I like warmth... and sun... and blue skies... " C'ra shrugs and drains her second mug before pouring a third. As V'ria draws closer to Taire, C'ra just slides closer as well, with a hint of a giggle. "Heh. Better than Drus trying to stand on his forlegs on the ledge showing off, I suppose, Taire... Tell Sukkie that, hmmm?" A broad grin is given all around, before Narene is looked at again. "How long has she been here? Shouldn't someone wake her?" Blue eyes dart once more back to V'ria,a nd C'ra gives a more civilized greeting this time... at least. "Hello, V'ria. You like the rain, or are you just trying to sound smarmy?" Okay, perhaps NOT quite so civil...

V'ria raises a brow at G'aela and chuckles. "Shards, no! Now /that/," and she shudders, "would be awful." She flashes Taire a grin. "No, no. It's depressing. Awful. Wretched." Which explains why she's so cheery? Not at all. C'ra is given a strained smile. "It's good to see you, too," she mutters, expression tightening at the memory of the bluerider talking to Th'nial. Not welcome. Not at all. Nope.

"Or perhaps you are the one who seems in love," G'aela continues with a raised eyebrow to the cheery Taire. "So, don't hold back. Who is he? What's he like?" She raises an eyebrow before gasping. "Cal's not... /smarmy/! He's just... easily confused." She looks quickly toward C'ra at the bluerider's words, eyes wide with pity. "Oh, I'm so sorry for you, C'ra! That would be... annoying..." A good-natured snicker goes to C'ra's next words. "Your lifemate will hurt himself one day, in my opinion. In Calevath's he wants to include him in his next 'adventure.' Says he has the makings of a brave compatriot." Her forehead furrows as she shakes her head. "Who, that smarmy girl over there?" G'aela asks, looking toward Narene. "I dunno. I just got here, too." A light giggle goes to V'ria as she nods before looking between the two bickering riders and sighing. "Can't we all just get along?" she questions as she leans against a chair. She's silent for a moment, tilts her head to the side, and then something reaches her head from her lifemate. Eyes widen at Taire, as she gasps and CRASH! there goes her klah

Taire is surrounded? Meep. That just impedes the arm movements. She doesn't mind being close, really. She smiles to C'ra, "Oh, Dru is cute in his own way... but Sukie simply isn't impressed with his contortions. Unless he practiced them with her." *shrug* Well, if nobody is going to mention Nial's name out loud, she is. "C'ra, you have been such a wonderful friend to me... I think maybe you should be one to Nial." Her voice drops into a not so quiet whisper, "He could sure use a talk." She blinks back to G'aela, and here comes that sloppy grin. "Awww, nobody."

Narene jerks awake with a yelp. The sudden movement coupled with the confusion of just waking up causes her to lose her balance and *THUD* she falls off her chair onto the floor.

C'ra blinks at the dropping of G'aela's mug and looks at her in a confused manner. Then, she turns back to Taire, blue eyes darting around before C'ra reaches out and tries to protectively put an arm around Taire's shoulders. The poor girl is getting surrounded! However... C'ra laughs and shakes her head. "Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't mind that. He's gotta train her first. And, even -I- am impressed with how well he can pull off some of those contortions while he's flying... " There is a pause as C'ra blinks at Narene then winces. "Shards, girl. Don't go falling asleep in the living caverns like that!" she comments witha half smiel before turning back to the rest of the group. "Now leave the poor girl alone, G'aela. If she doesn't want to announce it, she won't."

Narene groans painfully and climbs to her feet, wincing. "Well, it's not /my/ fault..." she mutters as she signals for a drudge. "Bring me some klah and clean up this mess, please?" she asks, indicating the spilled klah and remains of the mug. (OOC: It did break, right? I find it hard to believe it wouldn't...)

V'ria frowns at G'aela, then wipes away the expression. "Don't worry," she says sweetly, shooting C'ra an undecipherable look, "I've already planned on having a talk with Th'nial, myself..." She trails off with a sweet smile, then suddenly blinks at the fallen mug. "Errr, you dropped your klah," she says, stating the rather obvious. Suddenly, the drudge she had talked to before hurries up and hands over a wine bottle and a goblet. V'ria smiles happily as she takes it, and hurries to pour herself a glass of the red liquid.

G'aela grins toward Taire's denial, not pushing because... well, she's not one to do that. Instead she chuckles, shaking her head. But that was before the mug was dropped, and now she and drudges scurry around the floor, picking up the shards and wiping up the mess. A quick look goes toward Narene. "Oh... my apologizes... for waking you..." Her still-stuttering mouth replies to C'ra then, "Well, I'm sure he'll bother Drus sometime for a tour of the lake or what-have-you. He always has something planned, like searching for treasure that doesn't really exists." Time to ignore the tart replies in her cerebral area before nodding. "And of course, C'ra." She looks quickly toward V'ria, wondering exactly what /she/ did before sighing. "What happened with 'Nial? Oh... I suppose it's none of my business."

Taire blinks after Narene, and then blinks again. "That'll hurt in the morning." Gave flickers away and back to C'ra, her grin growing at the draped arm, "No, really though, C'ra. You much talk to Nial. He needs a friend. I made him awfully mad last night. I've got his clothes, you could like them them up to him and have a talk maybe?" And then she glances back to V'ria, "Really? I'm afraid he rushed out so fast last night, he clean forgot them." She dimples a grin to G'aela, just to do it.

Accepting a mug of klah from one of the drudges, she sips it and wonders over to another table, not knowing any of the others well enough to participate in the conversation. 'Oh, it's no problem," she says to the rider who had awoken her. "I should have been waking up then anyway..." She pulls out another chair and sits down, staring into her klah drowsily as she tries to wake up completely.

C'ra blinks at Taire and starts laughing. "Oh, Shards, clean forgot his clothes? Oh my!" C'ra shakes her head, despite the growing blush at the thought. "All right... all right, you've talked me into it! I'll go talk to Nial, as soon as he'll let me!" That said, C'ra raises a brow at Narene... wait, weren't the drudges suppose to clean up stuff like that? NOT riders? Okay... that's a bit confusing right now... so C'ra moves to look back at G'aela. "Oh, I think Drustanth would love to do that, G'aela. You tell your lifemate that any time he wants to head out with Drus, he just needs to ask, hmmm?" A frown is then given to V'ria sideways, since C'ra doesn't want to really look completely at the woman. "Oh? Planning on making matters worse with the poor boy, V'ria? Or just planning on seducing him while he's worried about Riaeth going proddy?" A slight sniff, and C'ra stands there, keeping her arm around Taire. "Either way is downright cruel if you ask me. The man needs a friend right now, not to be seduced..." Not that Nial would probably mind it... but it's just not the way C'ra's mind works.

V'ria frowns irritably at C'ra. "Shells, no. I'm not planning on seducing him!" Not yet, at any rate. "I won't have to. Nidheith will fly Riaeth." Arrogant confidence oozes from every word, and she takes a sip of her wine, a small smile creeping across her expression at the taste. Suddenly remembering where she is, she frowns again, this time at Taire. "He left without... his clothes? What the shards happened?" she demanded, whirling to face the greenrider. Th'nial without his clothes, and she misses it? Not fair!

G'aela quirks an eyebrow as she pours herself another mug, muttering something sounding like, "Greenriders have all the luck" as she sighs and slips into a seat. A soft smile goes toward Narene. "I should be less clumsy next time. G'aela's the name, and I'm Calevath's. Do you know these other riders?" She smiles and nods at C'ra. "Calevath is quite excited right now... I'm sure he will sometime," she completes before her eyes go wide. "That's not nice, V'ria, to take advantage of a proddy greenrider, even if said greenrider does attempt to do more than a fair bout of seducing on his own!" At V'ria's defense, she quiets again, recognizing her place in the converssation.

Taire rests her head back on C'ra's shoulder, speaking clearly and almost conversationally, "It was truly horrible, C'ra. And I thought that /I/ was going to cry, 'cause of the stuff Nial said... But then Fyne came, and then they nearly got into a big fight. But Fyne was /so/ nice and Nial left looking absolutely wretched. He needs a friend now. I'd talk to him, but I don't think Nial ever wants to see me again." She flickers a glance to V'ria, "Seduce him? That might help." And they are all game to try, it seems.

Narene smiles. "Well met, G'aela. I'm Narene, and no, I haven't met the others yet..." She warms her hands on the steam rising from her hot klah.

C'ra nods towards Narene, "C'ra, Drustanth's..." THen she blinnks and starts blushing at G'aela... "I dont' know. Depends on what you want to call luck... I don't think N'cion was all that lucky..." she murmurs, blushing even more. Perhaps she should just make more trips South... avoid flights all together.... but then, V'ria speaks up, and C'ra frowns even more. "You sound so confident for something that is completely beyond your control, V'ria. It is Riaeth's choice, and she'll make the -RIGHT- decision!" Drustanth... Drustanth ADORES Riaeth... but C'ra isn't about to say that. Then, quickly, her attention is turned back to Taire as she speaks... V'ria being ignored. "Oh dear... And hush, dear. If you want me to talk to Nial, don't go giving V'ria ideas that will hurt my efforts to talk to the man." C'ra sighs deeply, squeezing Taire's shoulder. "I'll talk to Nial, don't you worry... and I'm sorry you had to go through something like that, Taire. Especially right now... don't you worry a thing," C'ra says, her voice trailing off to a soft, comforting murmur. "I'll take care of everything and protect you both..."

Narene nods acknowledgement to C'ra.

V'ria flashes C'ra a smirk. "What, C'ra, are you so terrified of competition? Because any competition would mean your loss?" She's certainly not pulling any punches today. "You're right, Riaeth will make the right decision." Of course, V'ria refers to Nid rather than Drus. "Just don't be... too disappointed when Riaeth chooses." She quaffs the rest of her wine and pours another, taking a deep swallow of that.

G'aela sighs softly, shaking her head toward Taire. "Maybe greenriders /don't/ have all the luck" comes her mumble before she takes a drink of her klah. "Well," she continues in Narene's direction. "This is Taire, Sullaketh's. That there is..." C'ra takes care of the introduction. "And the one with the tinge of brown on her shoulder is V'ria, and her lifemate is Nidheith." Good luck keeping track of all those names, Narene. A grimace goes to the other bluerider as she shudders. "N'i. Ew" is her reply before she sighs. "Since it is the green's choice, maybe I should be glad Sukie thinks Cal is 'smarmy' and that he doesn't really know Riaeth. Maybe I won't have to worry as much about flights." She continues after hearing V'ria's words. "So competitive... losing would be better than winning, I think, because... that would be.. awkward..." Blush. Cough.

Taire flashes a glance from V'ria to C'ra and back again. Well, with these two fighting over him and Riaeth, he should be greatly consoled at the 'loss' of this here greenrider. "Does Nial know you two are fighting over him? If not, you really should tell him. I think he might like it." She flickers a smile to G'aela, "Ohhh, Sukie truly does like Cal, just not right now. And Dru is nice too... just... not right now. She is kind of proddy at the moment. You know, fickle." Yes, she has finally come to terms with the situation. Thank Faranth. Maybe she won't be dissolving into sobs anymore.

C'ra blinks outright at Taire. "I'm... fighting over him?" she asks, looking a bit confused, before shaking herhead. "I'll just go talk to him, try and be a friend and all that. I'll need to come get his clothes from you, of course," she comments. V'ria's not here... remember? A gaze is flicked to G'aela and she giggles, with a blush. "We'll deal with it when we need to deal wtih it, G'aela... I mean, what if I -HAD- been around and Drus won N'cion's flight..." C'ra shivers.. then smiles. "And you never know, Cal might win Sukkie's or Riaeth's... " Taire's shoulder gets another squeeze, "You're a good girl, Taire. It's nice to see that you are worried about Nial, too..."

Narene inspects the bits of stone in the Weyr walls as she usually does when the conversation confuses her. There's some black..and a bit of red...a couple flecks of tan...is that green there?

V'ria empties her goblet once again and scowls at C'ra, then pours herself yet another cup. "Suuure, and you're telling me not to seduce him? /You'll/ probably seduce him the minute I turn my back, hypocrite..." she growls in a low voice, then hmphs, sipping her drink.

"Oh. She does?" G'aela gulps. "Well... I'm sure... he feels special." Silent for a moment, she then turns to the other bluerider. "Hey, wanna go to Southern for a sevenday, C'ra, relax on the beach?" Stay away from rising clutchsiblings... No offense. A small grin goes toward the bluerider as she listens to her words. "Then again, maybe we should stay for 'Nial's flight." To aid with some pent-up soemthing or other going on within C'ra. "And... yeah... he could... win..." Skeered shudder. Then she laughs toward V'ria at the thought of C'ra trying to seduce someone. "You don't know her very well, do you? No offense..." Considering tempers nowadays...

Taire continues to lean up against C'ra. "You didn't see how he looked last night, C'ra. Nial got all kinds of mad over hearing 'bout me and..." Her gaze flickers to the side at the others. Well, if Nial heard the rumors, what's to say that the rest haven't. "Me and Fyne being together. Very, very mad. Hopefully you can make him better then." And she does sound so very concerned, at that.

Blue eyes narrow at nothing in particular, then C'ra leans over, and kisses Taire on the forehead. "Hush now, dear. Stand behind me. I don't want you getting hurt," she murmurs, before turning that steely gaze to V'ria. "Me? Seduce Nial?!" C'ra sniffs and puts her hands on her hips in an offensive manner. "I readily admit this fact": I am a 32 turn old virgin, who wouldn't have the slightest clue on how to seduce someone! And I do -NOT- like your tone, V'ria! I take extreme offense to it. I demand an apology to your words, as I've refrained from saying the nastier comments that have come to my mind about you!"

Narene glances over her shoulder nervously as the conversation heats up. It seems unlikely that they would really want someone they don't even know to be listening in...Narene sidles around the outside of the Cavern and slips out one of the doorways. She doesn't want to eavesdrop, but is overcome with curiosity and so, her conscience and childish mind conflicting, she sits silently out of sight, listening carefully.

V'ria hiccups lightly, then scowls at C'ra. "Well, believe me, I've avoided saying the nastier comments that have come to my mind about you, too." She takes a swallow of wine. "And there is no way on Pern that I'll apologize...." She suddenly blinks. "You're a thirty-two year old virgin?" she blurts, eyes wide.

G'aela looks upon Taire with a sigh and sympathetic shake of her head as she sets her klah mug upon the table. She looks toward C'ra, eyes wide. "Perhaps you should sit, C'ra? And V'ria, there's no reason to harbor these sentiments toward C'ra because of those you have toward Th'nial. And you can deny it, but I'm just stating the truth. That truth is that we all have to work and live together. C'ra is not going to seduce 'nial. They're friends. The green chooses her own catcher-- Shells! It could be neither of you! And if you want to talk to Th'nial, both of you talk to Th'nial. Just bring your unbiased words for one another, and be open, and he will be more appreciative and honest, surely. That will be better than hissing and throwing words that will just disturb the running of a well-oiled weyr! And I don't care to hear my friends insulting people! So Taire had his clothes. That is /her/ business, and for all you sharding know, she was /washing/ them. Stop jumping into conclusions, and stop attacking other riders!" Klah mug is quickly taken with a gulp. And that's the loudest and most emphatic G'aela's usually-whispering voice has gotten since... well, she Impressed to Calevath.

Taire settles behind C'ra, smiling beatifically, almost innocently. She is currently on her 'high' right now. Give her a couple of candlemarks, or just the right statement and she'll be sniffling and sobbing for no reason whatsoever. So, she stands and drinks and almost vacantly watches the others, in her own little proddy world. G'aela's words register, "Oh, I wasn't washing them. We were in the bath together. He was watching me." Doesn't make matters any better, does it? "But he left 'cause I'm with Fyne, even though he said he liked me back during graduation. Remember that, C'ra? When I tossed that drink in your face. Fyne...." Yeah, there is that dreamy slack-jawed look.

C'ra balls up a fist as she removes it from her hip, then stops with a cold sniff. "It doesn't matter, V'ria... you're too drunk to be talking sense anyway. Keep this up, and you'll be too drunk for Nid to fly Riaeth like you claim he will." Blue eyes slowly turn on G'aela. "G'aela, you're my friend, but I am -NOT- going to have people going around insulting my honor. That is the end of that. And I have refrained quite nicely, until now, thankyouverymuch." C'ra is -TRYING- not to go around slugging people. Honest. With a shake of her head and a growl in the back of her throat, "No, Drus, let it go," she turns back to Taire and her expression softens dramatically... "Now look at you, Taire... moon-eyed and slack jawed... Didn't you once tell me to slap you or something like that if you ever got that way over a man?" she comments with a large grin, before moving to stand at the side of the greenrider. "I'm glad to see you happy, you know."

V'ria stiffens indignatly. "I am /not/ drunk!" she retorts hotly. Well, maybe a bit... tipsy... and emotional... But not /that/ bad. Really! Of course, instigating even a slightly drunk V'ria might not be the wisest course, considering she carries around five to ten pounds of blades hidden about her person. "And Nidheith, you shut up!" she growls angrily, taking yet another swallow of wine.

G'aela sighs at Taire's words, nearly facepalming. "Well, congratulations to you for that, greenrider. And I give up. Remind me to never find a man who is a rider, because this stuff is more trouble than it's worth. And of course not, C'ra," she replies as she sighs and sits down, wondering if perhaps the riders of the males aren't the ones proddy...

Taire flashes a smile to C'ra, "It is nice to be happy, isn't it? Especially with someone as wonderful and delightful and so swoonworthy as Fyne." Please! Oh please! Let this proddy thing end quick. If she keeps this up, she'll be doodling his name on the walls. She'll prolly die of mortification at half the stuff she has been blathering on and on about as well. She glances to V'ria, "You aren't? You sure sound like it, V'ria." A smile for G'ae... a smile for everyone. Just keep arguing around her.

C'ra reaches out to try and ruffles Taire's hair. "Heh. Taire, sometimes you are so cute when you're happy. You know that?" she says with a wink. V'ria is being ignored again, of course, and C'ra gives G'aela a nod. "Sorry... I"ll try to keep my temper in check..." After all... Taire's here! Gotta be the good example for Taire!

V'ria glares at Taire. "I. Am. Not. Drunk." Each word is enunciated clearly, though... Was 'drunk' slurred a bit? Anyway, V'ria downs her wine again to spite them all, pouring her... fourth? Or fifth? "You people wouldn't know a *hiccup* drunk woman if she slapped you in the face." Of course, doing so to... certain riders /is/ tempting.

G'aela smiles back at Taire as she rocks in her seat, curving her feet around the chair legs to help prevent her toppling to the floor. She can't help but grin at the greenrider's cheerful 'tude. A nod goes to C'ra as she smiles. "Thanks... And everything will work out fine, I'm sure." After a moments pause, while eyeing V'ria's wine, she stands, peering down at the glass. "What the... can I see your glass real quick, V'ria? Something's..." She shakes her head. When the brownrider sets down the glass, G'aela offers a polite nod, smile, and thank you, as she swigs the rest in one quick gulp and tells the drudge, "No more wine for V'ria-- her lifemate's request. Thanks."

Taire has ruffleable hair. Its short and pixie-like. Good thing she doesn't have those beaded braids from before, otherwise someone could have gotten hurt. "Oh, I'm always cute." Ayep, the dimpled smile is next. A few absent blinks are directed to V'ria, "If you say so... But don't be slapping me. I might get ornery or something, and that wouldn't do at all." She peeps after G'ae, head quirking to the side, smile flashing. She could just smile all day long -or until her current 'high' ends.

"Oh, dont' worry about V'ria, Taire... she wont' get near enough to you to try and slap you," comments C'ra gazing over her shoulder at V'ria and G'aela. "I'm not entirely certain she could walk this far, anyway..." Then C'ra is again ignoring V'ria as she turns back to Taire. "And yes, you are always cute. Heh. No wonder why you've got guys all over you!"

V'ria glares angrily at G'aela. "No more wine? Pah!" Muttering about interfering dragons and riders, she takes a long gulp straight from the bottle. It's only a third of the way full, but still... "I could walk from here to Xanadu if I wanted to!" she then snaps at C'ra. "I could climb to the top of the most dangerous, biggest mountain on Pern, too! I think I will, too!" She's careful to watch G'aela this time, holding her bottle in the hand farthest away from the bluerider.

G'aela grins toward Taire, not being able to help but giggle. "Hey!" she replies to V'ria. "Blame Nidheith, not me. Someone get that bottle from her, before we have to bring in some big drudges to wrestle her to the ground?" She looks back at the brownrider. "You're upsetting our lifemate, and that's just inexcusable. But... I have to go. I'm sorry, Nidheith."

Taire's head quirks to the side as she watches V'ria. That sounds awfully exciting, "Can I come with you? That sounds like so much fun. I'd really like to do it. Climbing mountains and such." Again, looking most sweet and darling, and a touch vacant. A noisy slurp from her klah. Her head shakes from side to side at C'ra's words, "No, I don't. I mean... I did, for some silly reason or another. But, now I don't -have guys all over me. Except for..." There she goes again. Sappy.

C'ra flicks her eyebrow up at Taire, glancing again over her shoulder at V'ria, before wrinkling her nose in a smile at the greenrider. "Hey now... don't you have a picnic to plan? If you want to go climbing mountains... shouldn't you invite Fyne along with you? Hmmmm?" See... C'ra is protective... not jealous! Honest! C'ra shakes her head, and tries to wrap her arm around Taire's shoulder again, trying to divert her attention from the brownrider. "And not right now, Taire... she's drunk. I don't trust her to be safe, I'm sorry... wait, if for nothing else because I asked you too? Hmmmm?"

>> Nidheith bespeaks Sullaketh with: Nidheith thinks, << My dear Lady... would you please be so kind as to request from your rider to confiscate my lifemate's wine? If you don't mind, and it's not too much trouble, of course, Lovely One. >> <<

>> I bespoke Nidheith with: Sullaketh thinks, << finds the crashing of waves against hard, jagged, cold rocks fitting right about now. And her mindvoice reflects this << Must I? >> An idle moment of numbing silence << Very well. Done. Next time, take better care of your rider. >> A rumble, and she is back to sleep. Zzzzzzzz. >> <<

V'ria glowers at C'ra. "I am /not/ drunk, and I am /perfectly/ safe. I can juggle four or five knives right now, just to prove it, if you like." From the look on her face, she's serious. Which could make things turn out rather... dangerous. "Well? Would that be enough to prove my soberness?" she demands angrily.

Taire's dark eyrbrows dash to her hairline at V'ria's statement. "Really? Canni see? I'd like to see." Obviously, Taire isn't improving matters any. "I'll just hold your drink right there while you do it. Okay?" She flickers a smile to C'ra, "Well, sure... but still..." V'ria seems to terrible exciting right now.

C'ra frowns her blue eyes at V'ria, before turning back to Taire, attempting to rest a finger against her lips. "Now, now, Taire... I don't trust her right now... and I don't want you getting hurt." That alone will probably not stop V'ria... so C'ra looks around, and tries to move Taire over further to the side. "I'll bring you her drink, you just stand here out of harms way, hmmm?"

>> Nidheith bespeaks Sullaketh with: Nidheith thinks, << Agh! Err... M'lady, could you request your rider to... please prevent my rider from juggling sharp objects?! Please? >> <<

>> I bespoke Nidheith with: Sullaketh is unamsed. Those sharp, pointy rocks are now accompanied by a long drop upon a arctic shore, a very cold and dreary arctic shore at that. << I will show you some sharp pointy objects... Fine. Done! Now leave me be. >> *sniff* <<

V'ria stares suspiciously at Taire for a moment, then nods. "But I'll only give my wine to Taire!" she growls, glaring at C'ra. "So she'll have to come and take it herself. And I am /PERFECTLY/ safe, okay?!" She glares angrily. "I'll juggle six knives just to prove it, then!"

Narene blinks to herself. Is V'ria really considering this? Rene'd rather not reveal her eavesdropping, but she can't let V'ria try this. Juggling knives is difficult and unsafe at the best of times, but V'ria is angry and quite definitely drunk...

Taire would really like to see V'ria do that. She really, really, really would. "I'll keep it good and safe for you, V'ria." And so, she moves to take a step closer to the brownrider, leaving C'ra's rather protective presence. "Canni see what your knives look like? Remember way back when... when you gave me that knife once for a bit when I was a candidate. You were like, my hero." Soulful eyes again. Beatific expression.

C'ra watches Taire closely for a moment, then her blue eyes darken slightly and she is again right behind the greenrider. "Taire, dear, just take the wine and move out of the way. I"m sure V'ria is more than willing to show you her knives when she is -DONE- juggling to prove she's sober..." Blue eyes flash at V'ria with a frown, as C'ra reaches out for Taire's shoulders, to steer her back against the wall where C'ra wants her.

Narene walks back into view, trying to appear nonchalant as if she has not been listening to every word. She has to keep an eye on what goes on in here...if only as a witness.

Uneven footsteps tap lightly against the floor as a young woman enters the Living Cavern, favoring one leg, as usual. Tanvienna glances around with large eyes, taking in the crowd of people, all strangers.

V'ria frowns slightly at Taire, then shrugs, and sets her bottle of wine on the table and pushes it towards the greenrider. She then smirks, and flicks a knife from her sleeve. Very not gracefully. In fact, she nicks her finger, but manages to catch it. A tiny bead of blood appears, but all V'ria spares it is a momentarily annoyed glance. "Six knives," she repeats arrogantly. "I can juggle 'em like no one else!" Another knife is flicked from her other sleeve, and the rider very nearly slashes her wrist open and she half-clumsily catches it.

Narene glances over at the new arrival to the Cavern and barely manages the slightest of waves. She feels too nervous to manage a proper greeting, and the level of tension in her is rising rapidly.

Narene winces.

Nyali blinks a few times. Last time /she/ ever falls asleep in the main cavern!! Erp. People! Smoothing her hair down and making sure there is /no/ drool-mark on her lips, she smiles at the others. "G'day folks. Ah...don't mind me." Drudge is snagged, and klah ordered, before Nya finally sits back and kicks her feet up on a nearby chair.

Taire darts a hand out to snap up the wine, only to clutch it so very close to her chest. At the flashes from the knives, the young woman flutters her lashes with a flurry of blinks. "That's... That's just... /dangerous/," she murmur, dripping with awe. She slips out of C'ra's grasp to approach very close to the brownrider. "Can I see those?"

Tanvienna catches sight of a wave and turns her light gaze towards the young woman who looks to be a bit older than her. She gives a small wave and short nod in greeting as she hesitantly makes her way over, suddenly self-conscious about her limp, her plain wrinkled outfit...

Eyes nearly pop out of C'ra's head in panic, as she scuffles after the greenrider. "Now, Taire..." she says with a hint of urgancy in her tone, "Over here... she'll show you -AFTER- she is done..." C'ra licks her lips, then looks at V'ria's hands. This is -NOT- good! NO! Not good at all! Looking between brownrider and greenrider, C'ra seems indecisive, before reaching out for Taire's shoulders again, this time trying to hold on more tightly. "Over here, please, Taire... please!" she says almost desperately.

Narene glances nervously at C'ra. "What about V'ria? Don't let her get hurt either!" She runs over closer, not even noticing as she spills her klah, and pauses indecisively a few feet away from the obviously drunk rider. What to do, what to do?

V'ria hesitates, tilting her head at Taire in consideration, then nods, tossing one of the knives in the greenrider's general direction. Lightly. The other one is tossed even more carelessly, a little harder, and ends up stuck in the wood of the table, quivering.

Narene quickly reaches for the knife in the table, intending to get it away from V'ria and Taire.

Taire manages to remove one arm from about the wine skin, extended to take that knife tossed to her. And it is a very good thing that C'ra grabbed her just then, or she would have grabbed that thing blade first, and had quite a gaping slash for her efforts. "Ohh, watch it, C'ra. That was a close one." She is naturally meaning the fact that the knife bounced harmlessly to the floor. "Nearly had it." She moves as if to bend over and take it, except that she is being steered away by the bluerider. "Well, I suppose if you say so, C'ra. I'll just stand here."

C'ra yelps. Yes, C'ra yelps! as V'ria tosses the knife at Taire, and she tries to clutch the greenrider close, protectively. "Taire! That thing was coming blade first... you'd have been hurt!" she exclaims worriedly at the greenrider as she looks at her. Gulping, C'ra shakes her head, and tries to hug Taire tightly. "You need to be more careful! I've got to protect you, remember?" she comments, before trying to help Taire over to the wall, where it is safe, before turning around and shooting a downright nasty glare at V'ria. How -DARE- that woman throw a knife a poor little Taire!

Narene grasps the knife in the table and tugs it out. When it comes free, she stumbles back and almost trips over the one on the floor. She quickly squats down and grabs that one, too, before backing away again.

Realizing that is grasping the knives like weapons, Narene hastily corrects her grip on them and switches them both into her left hand. Now what?

Nyali eyes the knives warily...not to mention the riders. "Umm..yeah. Right." Rising from her chair, she smoothes down her skirt hautily and gives a half-salute to everyone. "Excuse me, but I need to go unpack." Wink, smile, turn on heel. Off she goes!

The wound on V'ria's hand is bleeding quite steadily now, and it doesn't help when she earns herself a small gash on the back of her arm when she jerks another knife from her boot and into the air and fails to catch it. The knife clatters to the ground. Scowling, the rider sways just a bit. She mutters and inelegantly draws the knife at her waist. "Scorch it all, where did I put all my other knives...?" she ponders out loud in frustration, then shakes her head slightly, as though to clear it. With a sudden sigh, she drops the knife and turns and drops into a chair, holding her head and cursing. "I'll be... okay in a minute..." The combination of alcohol and blood loss seems to get to her, and she sighs and lays her head on the table. Movement ceases, other than breathing. It seems she's unconscious.

Narene runs forward, placing all the dropped knives onto the table. She looks about and spots only C'ra and Taire. No help there...

Narene mutters to herself, "Shards! Best place for her would be in her weyr...and I can't get her there..." Noticing V'ria still losing blood, she yells at some drudges to get some bandages and warm water. When they return with them, she begins to clean and bandage the wounds.

Taire blinks as now she is being hugged. Sure, it isn't as nice as hugs from a certain bronzer, but still... its a very nice and protective hug. "Sure. I could have caught it." She still apparently doesn't get that there was any danger involved. "You're going to protect me? Awwww, C'ra, that's awfully nice." Another flashing smile, 'til she notes V'ria's slump. "Whatever is wrong with her?"

C'ra starts to smile back at Taire, then blinks and looks over at V'ria. C'ra stares at the brownrider for a moment, then blinks again. "I didn't think she was -that- drunk... " C'ra frowns, releasing Tiare to step lightly towards the woman... "Shard it all, V'ria you idiot!" she complains and looks around. "Of, forget it. Just get her off to the Weyrhealer! They'll need to dw some sewing... or whatever -they- call it."

Narene glares at C'ra. "And just how am I supposed to get her there?" She finishes tying the last bandage and steps back.

Taire quirks her head to the side as she watches whoever tend to V'ria, "Weryhealer? I'm sure she'll be perfectly all right." But the girl does covetously eye that knife over there. And she still has the wine firmly in her grasp. "Sewing. That'll hurt." But she has never been sewed upon before, so it is only a guess. A pregnant pause as Taire wrestles with the voice in her head... "Ohhh, fardles. I've got to go, C'ra."

C'ra blinks at Narene. "What are you glaring at -ME- for? She was the idiot who was playing with knives!" Looking around, C'ra sighs, and shakes her head. "Fine... just give me some help. It's not like we've got far to walk or anything," grumbles the blue rider. Blue eyes flick to Taire, as C'ra shakes her head. "You do? Oh..." C'ra seems to pout for a moment, before nodding. "Well, all right. Just... please, be careful?"

Taire sets down the wine as she starts for the door, a backward glance to C'ra, "Oh, certainly. Sukie needs me, and she'll watch me and... and do talk to Nial. He really does need someone. And you are so very nice, and I'm sure he would..." She is still blathering on as she exits into the bowl, her voice trailing to nothing 'til she is gone.