The World of Pern(tm) is copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

This is a log of roleplay on PernMUSH, available online by permission of
Anne McCaffrey, author of the Pern novels, and recorded by A.S. Korra'ti
(piper@murkworks.net), player of Mehlani of Telgar Weyr on PernMUSH.
This log may be distributed freely as long as this header remains intact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log Date:
	Late December 1997/Early January 1998; when exactly this took place, I 
haven't been able to narrow down more closely. I do know it's between when 
Mehlani got Rianet from E'rian, and before E'rian kissed her under the 
influence of his dragon's first rising. Like several other logs of mine, this 
one has been generously contributed to my archive by Kassima's player.

Log Cast:
	(People) Jorenan, Kassima, K'tyn, Mehlani, Nimiriel, Aphrael, V'leo 
(NPC rider), Kiani (NPC emitted by Nimiriel?), Sandar, K'star (NPC emitted by 
Kassima)

	(Dragons) Indyth

	(Fire lizards) Holl, Rianet, Vachon

Log Intro:
	Mehlani of Telgar Weyr has never been a particularly outspoken girl, 
taking after her father F'hlan in shyness and then some. Though she found the 
bravery to move to a brand new Weyr, her shy demeanor has found itself mightily 
challenged since practically the first day she set foot in Telgar. Particularly 
by the young men of Telgar Weyr -- who are beginning to show an alarming 
tendency to want to shower her with gifts. 
	And the matter only escalates when Jorenan presents her with a belt 
knife, all unknowing that someone else in the Weyr is about to have a very 
similar idea....

----------
Jorenan stares after the heavyset man, though it doesn't appear he really 
wanted an answer. He turns back in time to hear Mehlani's answer, and a slight 
smile crosses his face. Maybe all of this will work out all right after all. Of 
course, he'll have to be seen talking to Mehlani, but he won't mind that a bit. 
And maybe that will be enugh to satisfy Ofira. As for what would satisfy 
Jorenan, well, probably he doesn't know the answer to that himself.

Kassima's curly-toed pink wherry shoes, with their little wings, can be heard 
slapping against the Cavern floor just a moment before the greenrider herself 
arrives--hair still wet, rather hastily dressed, and with her satchel in hand. 
"Evening, all," she says, with a sharp salute to K'tyn. "Chymeth informed 
Lysseth that you were in here, sir; might I borrow a moment of your time, when 
you have it free?"

K'tyn grins at Mehlani, then at Jorenan, blinking a little in confusion as the 
older man passes through. "Busy place this afternoon, hm? and aye, Kassi, You've 
all my attention now, if you wish it. Need we go to a more private place?" He 
looks at the greenrider inquisitively.

Kassima shakes her head, pulling a package out of her hide-stuffed satchel. As 
usual, it's brightly colored: loudly bronze cloth vies for the flamboyantly 
green ribbon that ties it closed for color, with the splotches of black, red, 
and white all over it making it look almost diseased somehow. "Nay unless you'd 
rather nay open your Turnday gift in front of people, sir," she replies, tossing 
him the parcel.

Jorenan sits back in his chair, relaxing. Perhaps he thinks he's out of hot 
water for the moment, anyway. Mehlani never answered the crucial question of 
when, of course. But she's likely not forgotten, and will get to it eventually.

Mehlani blinks, straightening in her chair and staring at K'tyn in startlement. 
"Turnday?" she breathes.

K'tyn looks a little flustered. "Kassima, you really needn't go to all this 
trouble," he says as he takes the gift. "I do appreciate the effort to which 
you've gone, that's certain." He turns faintly red-tinged cheeks to Mehlani. 
"Ah, yes. It was."

"Several days ago, actually," Kassi says somewhat apologetically, flicking her 
wet bangs out of her face rather absently. "Trouble, schmouble. 'Tis nay 
trouble--and a'fore you get all red with horror, try opening it. I promise, 
'twill nay be half so bad as m'gift from Aunt Simerva." She points in the 
general direction of her shoes, sticking one pink wherry-clad foot out for 
emphasis.

Mehlani murmurs softly, "I forgot. Happy Turnday...!" She gets shyly to her 
feet, and steps to K'tyn, suddenly and impulsively hugging him.

The Young weyrleader's cheeks brighten a bit further as he's hugged by Mehlani. 
"I...Thank you," he says rather lamely, returning the hug before tackling the 
brightly wrapped gift. Slowly, he unwraps it, not quite able to hide the boyish 
curiosity peeping from his expression. "Still, Kassi, should not have done it," 
he mutters.

        Whoever heard of a knife made of solid bronze? Perhaps you never have... 
but there can be no doubt that you see one before you now. A slim, tapered blade 
roughly a handspan long spears out from a black leather-wrapped hilt stitched 
with spiralling sisal cords of heart's-blood red and lightning-bright white, 
with silver quillions that are shaped like two gracefully branching, curving Ys. 
Sharpened to a fare-thee-well and engraved with a blood groove down the length 
of the blade, *this* ornamental weapon is one that would suffice to defend 
yourself with in a fight for all that it's not as strong as one made of steel. 
That's all right, though, because it's primary purpose is meant to be symbolic. 
It is a lovely and unusual trinket... yet it is also deadly, which goes to show 
that one should never be deceived by appearances. You might realize that it is a 
perfect match to Kindre's knife of solid gold--another flash of whimsical 
symbolitry, perhaps?
        Wrapped around the hilt of the knife is a note, scripted in Kassima's 
florid, flourish-filled handwriting: 'For Telgar's Weyrleader true: fighting may 
be forbidden to you, but this blade will suffice if you should want to slice up 
a piece of roast wherry or two! (Please don't use the knife on me just for that 
rhyme; if I'm going to get stabbed by someone one of these days, I'd like to 
deserve it more than that!) With many wishes for a fine Turnday with many 
marvelous Turns to follow, Kassima.'

Kassima snorts cheerfully, folding her arms and watching the Weyrleader open his 
gift. "You should've learned by now that only rarely can you escape getting a 
gift from me, sir. Really, you may as well give up all hope here and now."

Jorenan looks from Kassima's pink... footwear to K'tyn's flamboyantly wrapped 
present. He quirks an eyebrow thoughtfully, and glances towards the serving 
tables. A few unusual sweets and treats reside there, though he'll never mention 
them aloud.

K'tyn blinks at the gift, revealing to all the solid bronze blade. "Speaking of 
knives...Kassi! I cannot help but protest this extravagance--but you may be sure 
tis a gift I'll use often."

Mehlani steps back from K'tyn, letting him open the gift unhindered, and she 
smiles a little -- knives, indeed. She blushes again, and softly shakes her head 
for a moment, wonderingly.

Kassima laughs, resting a hand for a moment on the hilt of her own favorite 
knife--favorite besides the wherry-skewer, that is. "Oh, I'm certain you shall--
and if'n naught else, well, it can serve as an ornament. 'Tis what Kin's was 
for, but bronze is a bit less soft than gold and more fitting to a knife's 
actual purpose. You do like it, then?"

K'tyn admires the darkly gleaming blade, laughing at the inscription. "Tis 
lovely, and aye, I do like it," he says softly, admiring the clean lines of the 
blade.

Kassima smiles, nodding in satisfaction. "Good. Now, that gives me a full Turn 
a'fore I have t'think of something *else*. But a'fore that, there're Aph, 
K'nan... Kin, in just two months... gah." She grins ruefully. "Somehow, I will 
find the perfect present! Anyway, didn't mean to interrupt; I just wanted t'give 
you that ere 'twas any more belated."

K'tyn laughs, and slips the new dagger into the sheath of his old--the other 
blade, worn thin with whet and wear, is on the table. "Tis the season for 
turndays, it seems. Today's Kiani's own turnday. I hope she likes the small toy 
I have for her."

Nimiriel walks in from the bowl.
Nimiriel has arrived.

"A merry Turnday to her, then," Kassi says, smiling. "How old is she now? Three 
Turns?" The wings on her wherry shoes seem to flap as their wearer shuffles to 
the food displays, taking a peek at the sweets and whatnot. "Is there any hot 
sauce about?" she wonders. "Or cucumbers? Or both?"

Jorenan hides a small smile. "Hot sauce on the table next to the roast 
herdbeast, Kassi, and cucumber in the salad." Perhaps he looks mildly surprised 
that the request is so normal.

Mehlani steps back out of the way, slipping back to her hidework, falling quite 
silent now that the room is filling with more adults.

Kassima smiles sweetly at Jorenan, picking up a cup of custard. Several slices 
of cucumber go into this, along with a dash of hot-sauce; the entire is mixed 
together swiftly and topped by a dash of salt. "This will go quite well with all 
of the fruit Nie brought me. Duties to Igen and her queens, weyrwoman," she adds 
to Nimiriel, with a respectful nod.

Nimiriel walks in from the outside, rubbing at her cheeks. "Igen's duties," she 
calls out cheerfully, skimming the cavern for two familiar and beloved faces.

K'tyn is placing his turnday gift into its sheath at his belt as he answers 
Kassima, "Oh, not three turns, I hope. Two, I think?" A waft of cold air from 
the bowl entrance catches his attention. "Nimiriel! You've come. Kiani's been 
asking for you."

Jorenan's look of surprise fades into an amused look instead. He nods to the 
newcomer, though he doesn't know her. He, too, falls quiet now that so many 
others are in the room. There's a stack of Baker hides to be read, after all, 
and only so many hours in the day to read them.

Nimiriel smiles, making her way to K'tyn's side. "Surely the little scamp knows 
that I wouldn't miss her turnday."

Kassima hrms at Kiat. "Is it two? I'd thought for some reason that she was older 
than Kaylira... I could easily be wrong, though, I'll confess it." Kassi tosses 
on a couple of grapes to the bizarre custard conglomeration, before heading back 
to the 'Springs with a spoon, a cheerful wave, and the requisite salute to Kiat.

K'tyn laughs, looking about for the black tousled mop of hair that is the 
hallmark of this feisty one. "She was just here--shall I get her for you-and 
perhaps you might answer Kassima..." He shakes his head as the greenrider 
leaves. "Or not--Kiani--she's but two turns, is she not? And Kyris, my eldest. 
He's nearly four turns. Mayhap that is what was so confusing."

Nimiriel looks around the cavern, too, smiling in anticipation. "She's just two, 
but..." She glances up to K'tyn as Kassima leaves. "Where is she? I can go 
myself, I might like to surprise her."

[OOC Note: Aphrael must have come into the Living Cavern at this point; 
Kassima's log doesn't show it, unfortunately.]

Mehlani blinkblinks at the clearly ailing Aphrael, and nods bemusedly to her. 
Evening not only of adults, it would seem, but also of hides.

Nimiriel smiles at Aphrael, offering a quiet, "Igen's duty." She rests a hand on 
K'tyn's shoulder and shakes her head, "I'll go look. Here's someone meant to see 
you." That said, she disappears into the inner caverns and stays gone for a few 
minutes.

K'tyn accepts the reports almost absently, tucking them under his arm. "My 
thanks on your promptness, Aph, but...what are you doing looking so ill, and 
wandering about?" He asks, his voice concerned. "You need to go to your w--" 
Sighing, he frowns slightly as the Igen Goldrider leaves. "Goodness," he 
mutters. "I can't seem to keep them in the same room with me for more than a 
minute."

Jorenan looks up at the sneeze. His quiet reaction is to put a mug of hot broth 
near the woman's hand and then disappear back into the study of sauces used to 
flavor game.

Aphrael turns away abruptly to sneeze twice, sighing. "Sharding spring colds.. 
oh, Telgar's duties to Igen too, weyrwoman," She belatedly answers Nimiriel. "I 
didn't mean to interrupt, I was just--" She pauses as Nimiriel leaves, and 
offers a rueful grin to K'tyn. "Nothing else to do while cooped up in my weyr, 
sir. Healer's order's, y'see. I had to get out, though, I hate being cooped up 
worse than anything." Absently, she picks up the mug of broth, smiling 
gratefully to Jorenan.

A native Telgar greenrider laughs at something overheard and says to his 
companion, "I heard that's not the only thing he can keep for more than a 
minute."

Mehlani settles into trying to do her copying work, though the lass is clearly 
distracted by... something. Her brow is furrowed under hat brim, and she retains 
a bit of a blush as she forces herself to concentrate on the work at hand.

K'tyn eyes the Telgar Greenrider, and then laughs. "Wouldn't you like to know, 
V'leo, hm?"

A cheerful pair of squeals, one very young, and one not quite so young, herald 
the Igen junior's return to the cavern, with her daughter in her arms. "--missed 
you so much, dearling," is heard as she walks fully back into the cavern, 
smiling widely. "You knew I'd be here, I promised."

Aphrael takes a sip, eyes fading as she peers towards the inner caverns. "Thank 
you for the broth," She says gratefully to Jorenan, "If you would all excuse me, 
there's someone I need to talk to." She offers a wave, a sneeze, and trots off 
towards the inner caverns.

V'leo looks up, clearly surprised by the Weyrleader's words. He stammers out an 
apology, "Oh, suh-sorry, sir. I was tuh-talking with M'lorn about, uh..." he 
scrambles for a suitable something, then shrugs as he can't think of anything. 
"Uhm, something."

K'tyn nods at Aphrael, directing her to the warmer part of the hearth. His spot. 
"Sit, then, and keep yourself warm. Twill help you ward that cold off. Ah!" he 
turns to the squealing Kiani. "There she is!"

Aphrael walks towards the inner cavern.
Aphrael has left.

Jorenan glances up at the sound of the squeals. A slight grin crosses his face. 
When his eyes happen on Mehlani, a slight matching flush returns to his face, as 
well. He nods after Aphrael, a quiet, "You're welcome" following her as she 
leaves.

K'tyn grins at V'leo. "I am sure that you were," he says lightly, clearly not 
taking offense, for he is in far too good a mood. "Nim--something warm to drink, 
hm?"

Nimiriel and Kiani return to K'tyn's side, the goldrider bouncing the child on 
her lap when she sits. "Please," she murmurs, at K'tyn's question. "It's gearing 
up to get really hot at Igen, as usual, and I'm not used to this cold." She dips 
her head, blonde hair mingling with her daughter's dark curls, and asks, "How do 
you like Telgar, little one?"

Sandar walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Sandar has arrived.

K'tyn watchs mother and daughter for a long moment before remembering his quest-
-to fing a warm drink for Nimiriel--serving up a small mug of mulled cider for 
Kiani and a larger one for her mother. He nods a greeting at Sandar, "Heya."

Sandar bows politely to the Weyrleader and the Igen goldrider. "Good evening."
Sandar also waves to Jorenan and Mehlani. As he passes by on his way to a bench, 
he slaps Pierron a high-five.

Jorenan takes a sip of his klah, nods to Sandar, and then looks back down at his 
hides. He's still aware of the caverns and its occupants, but at a slight 
distance. Not so close that he'd have to flee out into the cold.

Nimiriel bounces her daughter on one knee, curling her fingers around the mug of 
cider brought by K'tyn. Smiling gratefully up at him, she murmurs quiet thanks, 
while still listening to Kiani talk about Prometh.

Mehlani looks up briefly at Sandar's arrival and nods to him, timidly, before 
hastily ducking her gaze once more. The lass is busily scribing away at a hide 
now, recopying the old and ragged one before her.

Sandar waves to Mehlani, "oh... Mehlani, I have something for you," he says.

Nimiriel smiles, too, at Sandar, pausing to take a sip of the cider. "Mmm. We 
don't have anything like this at Igen. Not warmed, anyway."

Mehlani blinks, her head lifting. What?

Jorenan looks up at Sandar speaks to Mehlani. Anything but a knife. He'll 
survive anything but someone else giving her a belt knife, after all of this.

K'tyn hooks a chair with his foot and takes a seat. Almost idly he blinks at 
Sandar, as the lad states he's got something for the Benden Bronzerider's young 
daughter. He looks back at Nimiriel. "Tis good to warm one up," he agrees 
quietly, pulling a small cloth wrapped object from his pocket. "Kiani," he says 
quietly, hopin to gain the little one's attention.

Sandar reaches under his bench and pulls out the basket he's been working on for 
the past several days. It's been woven with strands of thin wood and wicker, 
multicolored, with great precision; indeed, the basket looks very pretty. Inside 
are a bunch of glows of different sizes. "I know you like to work late into the 
evening, so I figured you could use this glowbasket. Here," he says as he walks 
over and hands it to her.

Mehlani blinks. Seven or eight times. She had in fact noticed Sandar working on 
the basket the other day -- but she'd had no idea.... "I... th... thank you," 
she murmurs blankly, staring at the lad in what seems to be shock.

Sandar nods to Mehlani. "No problem," he replies, as though it's no big thing. 
However, you do know that he's been putting quite a lot of time into giving the 
basket quality craftsmanship, with what Weaver skills he picked up from his 
father in his youth.

Jorenan looks relieved. A basket is fine. Just fine. "Nice basket," he says to 
Sandar. "Looks like it was a lot of work."

Sandar beams proudly at Jorenan's compliment. "Eh, not that hard," he grins.

Kiani looks away from her mother, that endless stream of babble pausing, at 
least for the time being. "What?"

K'tyn smiles just a little as he observes the interactions nearby. He bites his 
lip, to refrain from comment.

Sandar pauses, "oh! Mehlani, there are some loose ends there." He hands her a 
shiny beltknife. "Just in case you need to cut stray ends, hold onto that," the 
boy says.

K'tyn looks at his little girl, and grins. "You open it, and find out," he says 
with and impish grin. "I think you might like it." Indeed she might, for it is, 
as those who are looking at this small tableau, a wooden doll, carved and 
painted to look like Kiani herself.

Mehlani's eyes turn round, and she blinks first at the knife, then at Sandar, 
then at Jorenan, and finally back at Sandar again. Her mouth opens and closes 
again, but not a sound emerges from her.

Jorenan's eyes fairly drop out of his head. He gathers his hides silently, says, 
very, very quietly, "I think I'd best find somewhere else to work." His face has 
turned a dreadful shade of red.
Jorenan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Jorenan has left.

Kiani opens the package, squealing with delight as she finally gets a good look 
at the doll now in her hands. "Oooh, it's me!" Nim smiles, running her fingers 
through her daughter's hair, as she looks at K'tyn. "It's lovely."

Sandar watches Jorenan go. "Bye..." he says cluelessly.

Mehlani rises to her feet, glancing after Jorenan in more than a little dismay, 
now. A sound that might be a gasp if it were louder escapes her, and her hand 
lifts to her mouth.

K'tyn blinks as Jorenan leaves, noting the other lad's dark face. He looks 
quickly at Nimiriel, murmuring to her.

Sandar didn't notice Jorenan's sullen reaction to his giving Mehlani a 
beltknife, which was more as an afterthought than anything else. In fact, as 
Sandar heads back to his bench, he's thinking of taking a crack at making his 
own seabeachplum wine, or at least, he's licking his lips as though he had a 
glass.

"I can't... I can't let this happen... oh no...." Words finally escape Mehlani, 
and tears start to well up in her eyes. She fumbles to gather her own hides, as 
well as the pen and ink she'd had on the table. The basket and Sandar's 
guilelessly offered knife are considered for a moment, before Mehlani blurts to 
him, "Th-thank you, but... I-I can't... I just can't...!" And the girl promptly 
flees, out into the Bowl.

[And out Mehlani goes, from the Bowl to her inevitable refuge of the Records 
Room...]

A brown dragon nose appears at the entrance to the Records Room, whuffling 
curiously.

The nose goes unnoticed. Within the Records Room, a hat and a vest and a silver 
and opal pendant on the floor before her, Mehlani just sobs.

A brown dragon nose appears at the entrance to the Records Room, whuffling 
curiously. It is replaced after a moment by a curious, swirling blue eye tinged 
with a hint of concerned yellow. The rumble from Indyth's throat is quiet, but 
still loud enough to be heard in the mostly-silent room. After a moment, eye 
*and* nose are both pushed aside to allow a concerned and somewhat harried-
looking young man to pass through. "Mehlani?" the baritone voice of the brown's 
rider can be heard to softly call.

Still no answer. Mehlani is sitting on the floor, her arms curled around her 
knees, her face buried against them, and she weeps brokenly.

K'star flips open a glow basket, sprinting over to where the huddled shape of 
Mehlani sits. He sets it down on the stone floor as he crouches beside her. 
"Mehlani, Mehlani," he murmurs, concern for her pain written on every handsome 
feature of his face beneath his fedora's brim. "Whatever's upset you so?" He 
starts to put an arm around her, but pauses mid-motion, perhaps realizing that 
this might not be the wisest course of action.

Holl, Rianet, and brown Vachon have, unsurprisingly, already found the girl. The 
fire lizards are curled around Mehlani's left side, each trying to comfort her 
with tiny croons and nuzzlings, but the girl barely seems to notice them. Only 
when K'star kneels before her does she lift her head a little, and at the sight 
of him, she only sobs all the harder.

Propriety be sharded. Kes can't stand the sight of Mehlani so upset, and does 
indeed put his arm around her--though lightly, so that she can shake it off if 
she wants to. Gingerly, he tugs a kerchief from his pocket to offer to her. 
"Hey, hey... 'sallright, 'Lani, 'sallright. 'Tis just me, Kes--here, dry your 
eyes. You look for all the world as though your very heart was broken!"

Holl trills lowly, trying to encourage the young brown rider in his efforts; 
Mehlani, in the meantime, as that arm curls gently around her, can be felt to be 
trembling as well as crying hysterically. She doesn't try to shake off Kes's 
grasp, but a fresh wave of tears rolls down her face, as she wails, "I-I can't 
any more, I just can't, it's not ri-i-i-ight..."

"Nay anyone will make y'do aught y'don't want to," K'star states quite firmly, 
his brogue becoming more noticeable in his own distress on 'Lani's behalf. "Nay 
anyone will force you so long as I might prevent it, I promise you that. 'Lani, 
you're shaking as though 'twere caught out in the ice! Relax, lass, relax... and 
tell me what's wrong. We'll see about setting it to rights."

Jorenan strides in from the bowl.
Jorenan has arrived.
Jorenan steps in quietly and looks around for a long moment.

"I... I..." Mehlani risks a mournful look up at K'star, her face and eyes wet, 
her gaze indeed heartbroken. "It's not r-right for me to be t-taking things... 
not when p-people are getting hurt..." As Jorenan slips in, she can be seen to 
be huddled on the floor, K'star crouched before her; the young brown rider has a 
gentle arm about the girl. On the floor, in an untidy pile, are the hat Kes had 
given Mehlani, as well as the black vest from E'rian... and glimmering against 
the vest is the silver and opal pendant the green rider had also given her. 
Mehlani's fire lizard fair is huddled up against her, and uttering small anxious 
warbles in punctuation of her hoarsely wailed words.

K'star, the young, fedora-wearing rider of brown Indyth, is sitting next to 
Mehlani, who is sitting on the floor and crying. His arm is around her, and he 
seems to be bent on murmuring comforting nonsense. At Jorenan's arrival, he 
looks up and nods once to the man--rather absently. His attention is pretty much 
focused on 'Lani.

Jorenan nods back at K'star; he looks unsurprised to see the rider here. He 
takes a deep breath. "Mehlani," he says, his voice as quiet it ever is. "I'm 
sorry I upset you. I'm no good at this. I didn't mean to. You should take the 
belt knife Sandar gave you." His face is pale, now, rather than flushed. "I'll 
leave you alone from now on. I'm... I'm sorry." And his head drops; he didn't 
want to say that. But he seems to think it was right.

"Oh, Mehlani..." K'star sighs, letting his glance travel over the abandoned 
gifts. "So we started this, did Eyr and I? Faranth--the Weyrleader said we'd 
hurt you without meaning to, but... I guess I didn't credit it. 'Lani, please 
don't cry. None of us would want to see you cry over this, I think I can safely 
be saying." He looks up as Jorenan speaks, going silent to let him get in a 
word.

Mehlani's head shoots up at the sound of Jorenan's voice, and yet another wave 
of tears streams down the lass's cheeks as she shoots a stricken glance from him 
to K'star and back again. Rianet, the one animate gift Mehlani has received as 
of late, starts trying to wriggle into the girl's lap, determined to comfort 
her, and the green creels pipingly.

Jorenan swallows hard, and nods at K'star's words. He didn't want to be part of 
this either. He shifts a little, not sure whether he should flee again or not. 
"I'm sorry," he repeats, his voice a strangle of repressed emotion. "I'll... 
I'll leave you alone." The sight of Mehlani's tears decides him. He's just 
causing her hurt, so he'd best disappear. "G-good-bye."
Jorenan slips out of the records cavern.
Jorenan has left.

Mehlani's face crumples up, and she starts sobbing again. Even crying 
hysterically, she barely makes a sound.

K'star sighs, tipping his fedora up as he considers what ways there might be of 
solving this muddle. He watches Jorenan go without a word, though he does gnaw 
his lip--until, of course, Mehlani starts crying again. "'Lani, 'Lani, don't 
cry! He's only upset because it's hurting *you*, don't you see? He doesn't want 
to hurt you--none of us do. That was *never* the intention, and it breaks 
m'heart to see you crying like this. Please...." He trails off, awkwardly. His 
experience at comforting crying maidens is rather limited, you see.

"B-but nobody should be getting so... so upset over me, it's not right, I'm not 
worth... I'm not... I'm not....!" Mehlani sniffles, and tries to curl up in a 
ball where she's sitting, never mind that she'd squish Rianet if she curled up 
too far. This doesn't seem to faze Rianet, though, who clambers her way up 
'Lani's shirt to her shoulder, cooing tinily.

K'star hugs 'Lani more tightly for a moment, declaring forcefully, "You *are* 
worth it, 'Lani. You *are*. You're sweet, nice, intelligent, thoughtful, 
beautiful, all-around wonderful--how could you *not be worth it? Don't you even 
think such a thing! Shhhh, now... just because you've charmed half the men of 
the weyr is no need to cry," he adds more softly, and with a slight smile. "Most 
lasses would be rather proud, I'm told."

Mehlani peeks tearily up at Kes at his string of compliments; she's already 
blushing violently, in addition to her reddened eyes and nose, but if anything, 
the praise of her intelligence seems to startle her even more than the praise of 
her beauty and sweetness. Tears are still streaking her face and welling across 
her eyes, but at least for an instant, Indyth's rider appears to break through 
her despondency... and once that instant has occurred, she keeps looking up, 
doleful though her gaze remains. "I don't want Jorenan to be hurt because of 
me," she mumbles sadly.

K'star meets Mehlani's gaze calmly, some of his concern fading as her tears 
slow. "Mehlani... I know you wouldn't. No one worth knowing likes seeing people 
hurt because of them. But there are times... there're times when you can't help 
it. This isn't your fault, though it seems so to you--it's the fault of us. The 
boys, I mean. We're idiots sometimes, you know," he tells her with a crooked 
smile. "You can't blame yourself though, 'Lani, because your pain only hurts him 
more. *He* doesn't want to hurt *you* any more than you want to hurt him."

"It _is_ my fault," Mehlani whimpers. "Master Ofira _told_ him to get me 
something, a-an-and I don't know why, but it must be my..." She trails off into 
another sniffle.

"No it mustn't," K'star repeats gently. "I know you're a compassionate girl, 
'Lani, but you're too smart not to see that Ofira's pushing him at you is 
probably what started all of this. You're *not* at fault for being the sort of 
girl that Ofira wants to see her apprentice with. Unless you really think 
there's something blameworthy about being who you are?"

Mehlani blinks a few times, and sniffles again, her attention held by that hazel 
gaze resting on her. As Holl trills again, putting in his own eighth-marks' 
worth, the lass furrows her brow, and then shakes her head, tinily.

"Good," K'star states. "Because if you tried to change who you were, you 
wouldn't be Mehlani anymore, and I'd miss her terribly. Sometimes, people do get 
hurt through no fault of your own. You can't kick yourself for it. It's like... 
oh... when I Impressed Indyth, and some of my friends were left Standing, it 
hurt to see *their* pain--but I knew it wouldn't do them any good to kick myself 
for my good fortune. That's a horrible analogy, but it's the only one I can 
think of."

'Lani, as Rianet deliberately nuzzles at her wet cheek, simply gazes damply up 
at Kes, and when he finally finishes, she nods, just as tinily as the shaking of 
her head had been. She says nothing, though; her features crumple once or twice, 
as she struggles to regain her composure, and to stop crying. She's not entirely 
successful.

Kes hesitates a moment before reaching out with his kerchiefed hand to wipe some 
of 'Lani's tears. "Perhaps," he suggests quietly, "you should talk to Jorenan 
about this sometime, and get it straightened out, so that you won't be hurting 
each other anymore."

Mehlani sniffles a little, and once more tinily bobs her head.

K'star smiles, giving 'Lani's shoulders another squeeze before he nods in turn. 
"Think you'll be all right now?"

"I don't... I don't know," Mehlani whispers, around another sniffle.

"Anything I can do to help?" K'star asks softly, hazel eyes still locked on the 
girl.

Mehlani considers a moment or two. Then, startling Rianet with the suddenness of 
her movement, and provoking little cheeps out of Holl and Vachon, the lass 
abruptly moves to hug the young rider.

K'star is surprised to be hugged, of course, since this *is* Mehlani--but he's 
not displeased. Oh, no. After a moment, he hugs her back tightly, beaming like 
an idiot--which, fortunately, 'Lani probably can't see.

Indeed not; Mehlani's face is pointed in that instant at Kes's shoulder, though 
she doesn't quite rest her head there. An instant later, she's pulling back, 
looking down shyly, still sniffling a little. "Th-thank you," she whispers 
shakily.

K'star manages to tone down his grin somewhat by the time 'Lani pulls away, 
though his smile is still warm as he looks down at her. "You don't need to thank 
me, 'Lani. 'Tis what I'm here for."

Mehlani lifts a hand to scrub its back across her eyes, regaining enough of her 
composure to begin to be deeply embarrassed by sobbing so in front of K'star. 
"F-for making me feel better?" she mumbles timidly.

"For being here for you, aye," K'star agrees, still smiling. "'Tis what friends 
do... and we are friends, aren't we, 'Lani?"

This time, her nod is more sure, as Mehlani peeks again up at Kes. "Yes," she 
whispers. Her face is still damp and splotched with red... but her tears have 
stopped.

"Good," K'star says again. And again, he hesitates for a moment before leaning 
down just enough to kiss 'Lani lightly on the cheek, if she doesn't pull away. 
"I'm glad. I can't think of a friend I'd rather have than you, 'Lani." He smiles 
ruefully as honesty forces him to admit, "Save Indyth, of course."

She doesn't pull away, but she does gasp a bit, and immediately, shyly, down 
goes her still teary gaze. A fresh blush pinkens her cheeks.

"Now there I've gone and made you blush again," Kes observes, a touch ruefully--
though not without a crooked smile. 'Lani's rather becoming when she blushes, 
after all. "Forgive me, but I wanted to beat Eyr to doing that. He thinks you 
could use a good kiss." He refrains from mentioning his retaliating remark of 
how Eyr could use a good fist--preferrably, in the jaw.

At the mention of E'rian, Mehlani pinkens even further, but Rianet croons and 
nuzzles at her cheek again. "O-oh," is the lass's intelligent reply.

K'star grins, and starts to get to his feet. "I should really get going now... 
Indyth's been complaining about how much he'd *rather* be sleeping in his couch 
than out in the Bowl, thank you. Is that offer of yours to help with him still 
good, perchance?"

Mehlani blinkblinks, and slowly stands as well, slowly enough to allow Rianet to 
keep her perch on her shoulder. "Y-yes... of course," she murmurs. She glances 
out towards where the dragon must be waiting, takes a step, and then suddenly 
glances bemusedly down to the floor, where the hat, vest, and pendant still lie.

Holl has, in fact, fluttered over to the hat, and beside it, he looks up at 
Mehlani with quietly whirling eyes. Vachon flits up to claim her other shoulder, 
however.

"His Highness likes to be thoroughly oiled in the morning, you see," K'star 
explains. "If you're willing, I'd love to have a hand with the task. Perhaps you 
could let me hear you sing?" He smiles whimsically, then glances down to the 
abandoned items. His eyebrows quirk up a bit. "Want me to get those for you?" he 
inquires, his tone quiet.

She stares down at the gifts, and at her little bronze, who warbles once, almost 
in pleading. Then, not quite looking up at the tall young brown rider, she 
murmurs, "Please..."

The flicker of relief across Kes's face is almost too fast to be seen as he 
stoops to gather the items, flashing Holl a quick grin and a wink. Turning, he 
straightens and holds the things out to 'Lani, proffering them to her with a 
slight bow. "Your accoutrements, m'lady."

Holl croons warmly, fluttering there on the floor, and Mehlani looks up shyly at 
Kes as she gravely accepts vest and hat and pendant; the vest she drapes over 
her arm, and she catches the pendant in one hand before it slips to the floor. 
The hat she holds in the other, and she looks bemusedly at it for a moment, too.

K'star looks down at the hat for a moment too, before noting with a chuckle, "I 
was right, you know... when I said that hat looked good on you. But you don't 
have to wear it if you don't want to."

Mehlani ponders this; her only reply, then, is to duck her head slightly and to 
rest the hat there upon it. And when she looks up again with those limpid blue 
eyes, each corner of her mouth flicks upward, for just a moment.

K'star grins, and gallantly offers Mehlani his elbow. "May I escort you out?"

The lass bobs her head, shifting her free hand to slip it around that proferred 
arm.

And Vachon and Rianet both croon, pleased to see Mehlani's spirits lifting; Holl 
wings into the air as the two young people step outside, trailing after them on 
gleaming red-tinged wings.

[And, outside...]

As she emerges on K'star's arm into the Bowl, Mehlani casts a decidedly nervous 
glance towards the living cavern, before glancing round for brown Indyth.

K'star smiles with fond exasperation up at Indyth as the large brown lowers his 
head to whuffle each of the pair, looking pleased--and even rather smug, for a 
dragon. "Aye, Indyth, I'll finally take you up to the weyr. You won't have to 
nag me." Turning to Mehlani, he doffs his hat and bows as elegantly as he can to 
her. "Shall I see you in the morning, fair maid?"

"Yes," says Mehlani softly, after she offers Indyth a timid little smile. The 
two fire lizards claiming her shoulders flutter up at the gust of dragon breath, 
pressing against her neck under the dubious shelter of her own hat. A pause, and 
then she adds, "Good night... Kes."

The corners of K'star's mouth lift in a slow smile. "Good night, 'Lani. Sleep 
well... and sweet dreams." With that, he climbs aboard Indyth. The brown rumbles 
to Mehlani even as Kes lifts his hand to wave, and then both the brown and his 
rider are flying off to their ledge.

Mehlani watches the pair ascend, and only when they're clearly gone and out of 
sight does she turn to face the entryway of the living caverns. Well, she could, 
she supposes, cut through the Infirmary to sneak into the dormitories... but she 
has to do this sooner or later.... Squaring the shoulders on which Vachon and 
Ria are perching, the girl creeps into the cavern.

[End log.]