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: 1/23/98 Log Cast: Willow, V'dan (NPC), Maylia, Jaeleka, Ro, K'tyn, Pierron (NPC), Tinya, Mehlani, E'rian (NPC), Kindre, W'kar (NPC), Jayna, Silen, R'val Log Intro: As if having assorted young lads bestowing presents upon her isn't enough to unnerve Mehlani, there's been a new development in what has become the apparent ongoing trend of male attention directed her way -- someone has commissioned visiting Journeyman Harper Jena to sing Mehlani a song. And in the meantime, Mehlani has realized that young Jaeleka, fosterling of Master Ofira, has noticed the attention 'Lani's been getting as of late -- and she doesn't seem to care for it, which upsets 'Lani deeply, for she has no idea how to soothe Jaeleka's bruised sentiments. In the meantime, the best solution she's managed to find is to try to keep to herself as much as possible, but sometimes, she just has to cross through the living caverns... even if, at the time, there's a discussion about boys going on, and a proddy green rider present.... ---------- Your location's current time: 17:40 on day 26, month 7, Turn 21, of the Tenth Pass. It is a summer afternoon. Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$) This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for mealtimes: currently for the evening meal. Drudges are always present, either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. Dark summer blooms of vivid hue decorate the tables. A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders. Willow says "You both seem so certain it's not what I want. I don't know. I've never really got to meet a boy, so I don't know if I will not like it. Maybe I'll find a real nice boy, nothing wrong with that." Shuffling in from the bowl, then, comes a rider -- or at least, he must be a rider, given that he's wearing a flight jacket and wherhide breeches and boots. But his clothes are askew, the laces of his jacket mistied so that they don't evenly line up, and his flight goggles are dangling backwards off his neck, bumping against his shoulderblades as he goes. V'dan, rider of green Chymeth, looks positively crestfallen, and as he surveys the lower caverns, apparently failing to espy someone present, he sighs woefully and shuffles towards a table. Maylia hides a slight smirk towards Jae by sipping her klah again. In response, she shrugs. "You don't sound like it's what you want. You say it's what your mother thinks." She nods, slowly. "Perhaps it is what you want. Not a bad life. Food on the table, bearing child after child, a husband who..." A bob of her head towards V'dan, "Who comes in, dirty and mucky and just wanting food and sleep... I've seen it." Willow says "Well I don't know what I want. So it's not going to hurt to take my mom's suggestion and atleast try to meet a nice boy." Jaeleka says "It is too! What if you get stuck with rotten littles and hate it!" Chymeth's rider notes Maylia's nod, and turns to nod back at her, only to promptly trip across the chair on which he'd been intending to sit. He crashes over on top of the chair, reddens, scrambles to set it up again, and babbles, "Ah, hello, Maylia, hello... Rierth" -- No, that's not right. "Er, uh, Tierth fares well?" Maylia shrugs, stifling a giggle at Jae. "Nothing wrong with it, I s'pose." She peers at V'dan. "Careful of that chair, there... Tierth's well, thank you. And Chymeth?" Willow looks over to see V'den setting up the chair, missing him fall over it. She nods at Maylia. "Exactly." V'dan, it would seem, is terribly clumsy today. He manages to make it into the chair nevertheless, and he fixes a hangdog gaze over on Maylia, proclaiming, "Oh, she's, ah... well... you know." He pauses a beat, and then adds tragically, "Weyrbound!" Maylia, her attention now on the greenrider, shakes her head, giving him a sympathetic look. "Is she faring any better?" Ro walks here from the Inner Cavern. Ro has arrived. Willow says "Why is Chymeth weyr bound?" Ro gives Maylia a warm smile as she walks into the room. V'dan blinks guileless dark hazel eyes, fidgeting restlessly with one of his jacket laces, and seems to not quite comprehend Maylia's question. "Oh, she's alright, I suppose, but she could go up at any time, and she's just very cross with me, we argued, you know, about her timing..." He blinks again, turning to Willow, and telling her miserably, "Oh, she's proddy, and we're weyrbound, and so she left without us!" Willow says "Who is us?" Willow seems very curious now. Maylia flashes a grin towards Ro, before returning her solemn attention to the cluttered, bedragled V'dan. "Ah!" She says, clueing in. "I was afraid she'd been injured and I'd not heard. Proddy?" Despite herself she casts a wary glance out towards the bowl. Catching his last comment, she frowns. "and which She is that?" "Oh, Chymeth and me, of course," explains the green rider to Willow, and to Maylia, he turns a gaze that turns absolutely liquid. He heaves a sigh, releases it, and breathes, "_Kassima_." Jaeleka audibly gags. K'tyn walks in from the bowl. K'tyn has arrived. Pierron waves his arms expansively, driving the cavern's girls before him like a flock of avians, as he orders them to straighten up for the weyrleader. Maylia is curious, but also concerned. And confused. And any other C word that would apply. She blinks, leaning back and casting a dubious look on V'dan. "Kassi? Well, yes." With the air of someone asking a question they really don't wish the answer to, she asks: "And this upsets you?" K'tyn offers salutes to those to salute first, and waves to everyone else. "Heya." Ro smiles at the weyrleader "Evenin', sir. V'dan nodnodnods to Maylia, making unruly chestnut strands falling across his brow bounce up and down with the force of his head-bobs. "Oh, I'll manage, she was quite right to take the others to the Festival, but--SIR!" Chymeth's rider promptly startles at K'tyn's voice, jerking in his chair, and trying to toss off a salute at the same time. He manages to knock his chair over in the process. Maylia is so stunned, that it takes a moment before she processes the idea of Pierron shooing the cavern's girls. That means... "Evening, sir!" She calls out, with a snappy salute. Maylia tries her best not to chuckle at V'dan. Really. K'tyn blinks at V'dan, grinning. "Take it easy, lad..." He looks at the person nearest him--it happens to be Ro. "Is the klah strong today?" Ro says softly "I can' tell you for certain, because I haven' had any since the time with Flirk's Klah, but from what the others have said it's a little stronger than average today." Never mind that the Weyrleader is only about three Turns his senior; V'dan is certainly doing an excellent impersonation of a gawky teenager. The young green rider glances sheepishly about, sets his chair upright again, and creeps back into it. K'tyn nods at Ro sagaciously before proceeding to find said 'strong' klah. "I hope so. Twoud be nice to have a decent mug of klag for a change," he mutters, then waves tiredly at everyone. "Pay no mind to me, please. I did not mean to halt the conversation." "Thank you, sir!" V'dan gushes at Prometh's rider. "I was just telling Maylia, how I'll certainly manage with Kassima gone to the Festival, but I shall certainly be counting the days until she returns..." He heaves another sigh, his expression turning positively dreamy. Maylia tries to catch K'tyn's eye, nodding gravely in V'dan's direction. The look she gives the other greenrider is one that's been interpreted since time immortal as 'LOONEY' but she mouths the word, "Proddy". Jaelekahaving reached her mooning quotient for one day gets up and heads off. Shaking her head sadly.. Jaeleka walks towards the inner cavern. Jaeleka has left. K'tyn blinks. Just blinks at V'dan. "Ah. I see," he says quietly. "I am sure she will be happy to return, too." The gestalt of what is happening rings clear as Maylia silently informs him of V'dan's condition. He swallows a laugh with a large sip of klah. Tinya walks in from the bowl. Tinya has arrived. Willow seems abit lost in the conversation. She stands from her chair with a shrug, heading on her way. Maylia hides her chuckle behind her own klah mug, eyes squinting in an attempt to stop the giggles. V'dan, at the best of times, is somewhat entertaining, but this? Tinya waves as she walks in, nodding to folks, calling, "Evening!" K'tyn gets a reasonably crisp salute as she passes him, on her way to the food table. Willow walks off towards the kitchen. Willow has left. From the kitchen, Willow enters the kitchen from the living cavern. Chymeth's rider nodnodnods enthusiastically to K'tyn. "Of _course_ she will! She told me so herself, just as she was taking off, and my only regret... my deep, abiding regret... is that Lysseth is _green_... not that she's not perfect as she is! She's Kassima's dragon, of course, so she is flawless..." K'tyn nods, quietly amused by V'dan's gushing if the turned up corners of his mouth are any indication. "Ah ha. Of course." Mehlani comes hastening in from outside, then, dripping wet, water running off the brim of her hat; 'Lani's holding the hat itself by both her hands. Maylia nods a greeting to Tinya, and then Mehlani, hardly taking her eyes from V'dan. K'tyn smiles warmly at Mehlani as he sips his klah. "Heya, little one," he says to her as she passes, though he notes her careful handling of her hat. "You are well?" V'dan, apparently delighted to have gotten an audience for the current preoccupation of his mind, beams at K'tyn and Maylia. "The thought of her return is my solace," he rhapsodizes, "while Chymeth and I must stay weyrbound. Chymeth can argue with Milleniuth all she likes... she's very cross with me, you know... but >I< will ponder... _Kassima_." And he heaves another enormous, lovestruck sigh. Mehlani bobbobs her head to K'tyn, as she pauses near the entryway, tilting her hat to shake the water off it. K'tyn lifts the mug to his lips, turning away just in time to hide a very BIG smile at V'dan's latest rapture. To Maylia, he mutters, "Has he been doing this all day?" Tinya comes over to the tables with a plate of food and sits down to eat, then pauses abruptly in mid-bite as she finally picks up on what V'dan is going on about. She begins to laugh, then starts coughing and has to lunge for a mug of klah to clear her throat. Maylia manages her best, and most convincing, sympathetic and understanding nod V'danwards, before hiding her snickers in a sip at her klah mug. The mug might be empty, but it serves its purpose well. She discreetly shakes her head at K'tyn, shrugging as she lowers her mug, back under controll. "He's just been in here a short time before you came in." is her quiet answer. Ro stifles a giggle behind her hand. V'dan seems blissfully unaware of Maylia's and K'tyn's exchanges, as he gets a little distant-eyed -- well, okay, a little _more_ distant-eyed -- while muttering into the air, "I am _not_ being silly, Chymeth, they _asked_...!" To Tinya and Mehlani both, he waves a bony hand, adding, "Hello! Tinya, please don't mind Chymeth, she's just being grumpy because Millenuith won't share that brown with her." As though one proddy greenrider per Living Cavern weren't enough, the rider of the aforementioned Milleniuth--one E'rian, by name--sashays in with a roguish smile that could probably make the most hard-hearted LCG swoon. Said smile is barely visible over the huge bouquet of exotic flowers he carries in one hand, to say nothing of the wrapped parcel in the other. "My lady!" he cries upon espying Mehlani, his hazel eyes brightening and turning downright limpid. Sorta like V'dan's, really. "Dearest lady who provides the only light to fall upon my shadowed existance, at last I have found you!" Uh-oh. K'tyn nods his head in an exaggerated affirmation. "Ah. I see," he says dryly, then beams at Tinya, trying not to cough his klah all over his shirt. "Tinya. You look well." Maylia shakes from head to toe with suppressed giggles, and quickly rises to replenish her klah. A handy excuse, as she starts to softly chuckle on her way. Returning, with the giggles just barely under control, she resumes her seat. And sits back to watch. Water shaken off her hat, Mehlani, noticing Ro, starts to traverse the cavern to greet the younger girl, glancing at V'dan as she goes -- the word 'Milleniuth' pinging her attention. However, the ecstatic voice of E'rian behind her is an even louder ping on her attention, and the girl immediately freezes. Then, slowly, she peers over her shoulder. V'dan blinks, and then beams at E'rian upon the younger rider's entry, startled and then delighted. "That's Kassima's cousin," he remarks to Maylia, when she comes back. Which means, of course, that E'rian is therefore Perfect. Tinya manages to get over her coughing fit in time to hear V'dan's comment to his dragon, so his greeting to her gets a slight smirk and the reply, "Oh, we don't mind her. She's a clever thing, isn't she? Liath likes her." She smiles back at K'tyn and says, "Thanks. I _am_ well, these days." Indeed, she looks happier and more relaxed than she has in ages. "How are you?" she inquires. Kindre walks in from the bowl. Kindre has arrived. Pierron nods thoughtfully as he eyes the junior Queenrider. Ro says gravely to Mehlani "I believe there's someone here to see you." Off in a corner, W'kar, now full rider of blue Murth, and untactful as ever, breaks into loud guffaws. With a poke to his buddy, he draws his friends attention to the scene. With a quick nod to the Weyrleader in lieu of a salute, since his hands are full, E'rian crosses quickly over to Mehlani and falls to one knee at her feet. "Fairest of the fair," he breathes, eyes gazing raptly up at her in the sort of way that makes one wonder whether anyone's home inside his skull, "please pardon the intrusion of my presence upon your gracious self, but I had a most pressing desire to lessen the unworthiness of my soul by bringing you gifts--yea, the very tokens of my esteem...!" He holds both the flowers and parcel out to her, shining eyes at once mesmerized and entreating. Maylia raises her eyebrows and nods to V'dan, as though with thanks for having enlightened her. After all, she was only in his weyrling class, she'd have no clue who he is. Really. Snicker. Kindre regards Pierron as she usually does once on the receiving end of his looks. A slightly suffered sigh escapes her lips before she moves to procure herself a glass of wine. Catching the flickering bits of laugher seems to tug at the corners of her mouth. Smiling, she offers, "Good eve all, Weyrleader," before sidling up to the latter. "How was your day? Prometh is well from what Herath felt the need to tell me." E'rian's near-proposal causes her to giggle. Someone to see her, indeed! Uh oh. Mehlani, flabbergasted, forgets that it's bad manners to gape; she gapes at E'rian, the gape growing more pronounced as she marks first the flowers, then the parcel, and _then_ the young rider's kneeling. "Uh... thank you?" she squeaks. K'tyn returns E'rian's salute, a bemused expression on his face that sharpens as Kindre comes in. He beams at the goldrider, dropping his mug to the table and moving to her side with an interest and rapidity that may surprise some. V'dan, watching E'rian, stares in wonder and awe, and then babbles out, "A hide! I need a hide!" He grabs Maylia's shoulder, and blurts at her, "Do you have a hide? And a pen? I need a pen, too!" "That is simply too sweet," Kindre remarks quietly to K'tyn while pulling her eyes from the younger pair to stare up at the Weyrleader, "Don't you think?" Tinya stares at E'rian's little performance with frank amusement, then glances around at Kindre's greeting. She waves, calling, "Evening, Kindre!" then turns back to tonight's episode of Greenriders On Parade. Maylia finds her attention quickly pulle from the Weyrleader's interest in Kindre, to V'dan. Forcibly pulled. "A hide? A pen?" Looking at him like he's lost his mind, she produces a wrinkled message hide, well scraped, and a charcoal stick. E'rian is by far too enthralled by the auburn-haired Presence that he so adores to notice pithy things like V'dan's glowing description of him. He heaves a blissful sigh at 'Lani's thanks, delight enscripted on his every feature. "Oh, thank me not, dearest one! Thank me not! It is the least one such as I can do--a humble offering, and not one, alas, that so much as approaches being worthy of your beauty. However, there is one thing more I have to offer you...." E'rian hastens to add, "Apart from my undying devotion, of course." Ro looks from V'dan to E'rian and carefully fades into a dark corner. Kindre turns at the sound of her name and smiles wide in the bluerider's direction. "Tinya! How fares with you? Liath is well, I hope," she remarks before E'rian's silver-painted words reverberate back to her. "I think mayhaps he's been hanging around Jh'rin a bit too much..." K'tyn ducks his head to pass his lips in what should be the barest touch of a kiss to Kindre's own lips. "Indeed. It reminds me that I have been remiss in my attentions to you, sweet one." He winks at the goldrider, then looks with some concern at the rapturous E'rian and shy Mehlani. Chymeth's rider lights up as Maylia passes him the hide and charcoal. He promptly huddles over in his chair, scribbling frantic notes, breaking off chips of the stick in his haste. And Mehlani, her eyes round as saucers, with flowers and parcel thrust into her hands, stares down at E'rian and blurts, "But... this is... quite marvelous enough, E'rian.... truly...." Kindre's eyes shut for the briefest moments when K'tyn kisses her. Smiling a bit more broadly after it's through, she grins. "That is truly all the attention on need, dearheart. Though a few less evenings alone certainly would plaster a smile to my face for a sevenday or three." Reluctantly her attentions focus back on the younger couple and the insistant V'dan. "I wonder what he's up to...then again," she shakes her head, "I also half don't even want to know..." "*Nothing* could be marvelous enough for you, sweet Mehlani," E'rian avows with every evidence of sincerity. It's funny what proddiness can do to a mind. "You are the epitome of beauty, wisdom, and grace, and little on this world could be worth the notice of you--certainly not I. But perhaps I may, for a moment, elevate myself in your sight--for I have," he explains, clasping his hands over his heart and staring up at her with awe, "written you... a song. Would you consider spending a moment of your immeasurably precious time listening to it, light of my life?" Tinya turns her head to reply to the goldrider, and discovers that her attention is otherwise occupied. She smiles at the pair, murmuring, "Something _else_ is new," and then when Kindre's attention returns to the rest of the room, says, "Liath's fine and I'm even better," with a grin as she adds, "Looks like you're doing well too." "Dearest... lady... who," V'dan mumbles as he frenetically scribbles, nibbling at his lower lip and looking back and forth between his hide and the action of Kassima's Perfect Cousin. "... casts... light... shadowed... existence..." Maylia finds herself torn, between watching the scene unfolding between the shy, reclusive girl and a proddy greenrider fascinated with her, and trying to read whateverit is that V'dan so urgently -must- write. "I am, I truly am," Kindre affirms to Tinya with a nod and smile. "I'm glad Liath is well. Richenda mentioned how well he had done and such. Heading to the Reaches sometime this eve for the festivities?" Mehlani started blushing at E'rian's original greeting; now, she's turned a vivid rose, and she stares down with thunderstruck eyes at the green rider kneeling at her feet. The only reply she can manage is a breathless, "_Song_?!" K'tyn grins at Kindre, muttering to her as he watches Mehlani. "I...." He blinks at V'dan,half overhearing the greenrider-- He cannot hide the laugh that escapes him this time, for it fairly bursts from him with a spluttering explosion that he tries, in vain, to control. It would seem that V'dan is desperately trying to write down every word E'rian gushes forth. He's not exactly hiding this, and thus, Maylia can easily get a glimpse of his scribblings -- as well as the fact that half his words aren't very legible, no doubt to the breathless speed at which he's trying to scribe them out across the hide. His fingers are managing to smear half his letters as he goes, as well. E'rian nods vigorously, without once taking his eyes from the vivid pools of blue (set oh-so-becomingly in her rose-tinted face!) that are Mehlani's eyes. His own are growing increasingly liquid and entreating. Rather like those, it might be said, of a newborn canine pup. "I have not the songwriting talents of my Harper father, joy of my heart, but... what humble gifts I possess, I can only dedicate to you in the hope and dream that you might choose to brighten my spirit with your shining regard for so much as a minute more." Are those *tears* brimming in his eyes? If so, from his expression, they could only be tears of joy at the very thought. Tinya nods to the goldrider. "When R'val gets back from sweeps," she says. "I promised to wait for him." Kindre's head tilts slightly at Tinya. "You did? But I thought you two...well, weren't..." Widened eyes and a shrug seem to be the finish to her curious inquiry. Maylia resists correcting a spelling error on the hide, as well, too, as it gets promptly smudged anyways. She just finally gives up reading, as it's much more fun to watch. K'tyn turns to Tinya, trying to converse--or at least listen to Kindre and Tinya's sane conversation--when a mad light starts to gleam in his eye. "Kindre--have I told you how lovely you are, lately? That you shine more brightly in my eyes than the sun on the sea at midday?" A grin splits his face, and copying E'rian, he sinks to one knee. "I should be forever grateful if you might--you might bestow upon this poor man," K'tyn places both hands on his heart as he gazes upward, trying to keep a straight face. "A token of your esteem." A _song_? A _SONG_?! V'dan, transported with stirring romantic sentiment, cries out rapturously, "Of course!" He keeps scribbling, then calls out to E'rian, "Thank you! Thank you! Please, sing--oh, shards, a hide, I need another hide!" He frantically flips the one he's using over, scribbling out notes at breakneck speed. The sight of E'rian's gaze seems to captivate Mehlani. "I," she begins. She is blushing furiously now, and it takes her a moment to manage to continue, "Um... I will listen... of course..." Maylia's attention flashes from the young couple to K'tyn and Kindre. She mutters under her breath, "Faranth... who next?" Never mind that it was just a few sevendays ago that a similarily mushy scene took place with her involved. "You *will*?" E'rian breathes, his face lighting up so much that you could swear he were gazing at the sun at midday rather than the furiously blushing face of his beloved. "Oh! Oh, most lovely of all maidens, I shall not let you down!" With that, he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes in preparation to sing. Tinya grins, the happy light in her eyes making clear just how much the situation has changed. "We weren't, but now we are," she says simply. Maylia shrugs at V'dan, having given him her message hide already. As a last resort, she tugs on the sleeve of his riding jacket. "Use this?" she suggests. E'rian opens his eyes to stare into Mehlani's as he begins to sing, his baritone voice throbbing poignantly on every sweet note, "What was it when I looked at you? What power has chained me through and through? And bound my heart with links so tight, I cannot live without the sight of you...?" Entirely oblivious to the Weyrleader and Kindre, who are, after all, unconnected with Kassima past the fact that they fly for the same Weyr which is hallowed by her Shining Presence, V'dan stares with anxious urgency at E'rian, trying to memorize his position, his tone of voice, and the number and kinds of flowers he has brought to Mehlani. He even starts practicing the younger rider's expression, but mostly manages to get his lower lip quivering a little before Maylia distracts him. "THANK YOU!" he crows, right between E'rian's first and second lines, and he promptly begins to scribble on his own sleeve. K'tyn looks at Kindre, humor lighting his eyes. "I have a song, as well," he says earnestly, straining to keep his face straight. "Tis not one I made up, but... and old one my Da used to sing." Milleniuth's young rider continues, blissfully unaware of any stares he may be getting from the audience he's been unaware of ever since he first spotted Mehlani, "What nameless thing has captured me, and made me powerless to flee? What thing is it without a name, that brings my mind back e'er the same to thee?" As E'rian begins to sing, Mehlani's wide eyes settle down a little, more towards their normal size... but she looks no less wonderstruck, as she stands there with her lips slightly parted, her face softly flushed. She had absolutely _no_ idea he could sing, and she's staring at E'rian as if seeing him for the first time. Taking in a deep breath, E'rian raises his hands up in a gesture of seeming supplication to Mehlani as he finishes almost breathlessly, "The name of Love cannot apply; its commonness does not descry that haunted, hunted painful cry that my soul makes for you. That e'er," he sighs rather than sings that word, "my soul eternal makes for you." The last note is held for a moment, before the proddy one lets his voice fade into a hopeful, waiting silence. Maylia surreptitiously moves her own riding jacket from V'dan's reach. And eyes the charcoal stick, wondering how long it will last at the rate that he's chipping it. K'tyn gives up on his parody, returning to a standing position and watching E'rian sing. Smirking only slightly, he snitches a bit of hide from V'dan, scribbling his own song on it with a warm grin before tucking it into the retreating Kindre's hand. Mehlani just.... stares. And, staring, she abruptly takes an involuntary step backwards, her legs actually wobbling beneath her. V'dan, indeed, is making chips of charcoal fly in all directions. As he finally gets down to the remaining stub, he shouts out, "A SONG! A SONG! She must have a song!" He leaps to his feet, knocking over his chair again, and he bolts out of the cavern hollering, "Chymeth! Chymeth! You have to help me write--" And with that, V'dan is gone. K'tyn sniffs, thoughtfully, watching Kindre leave. "Hm. Pardon me, everyone, I believe I need to...." he looks about the table. "Ah, go make a delivery." K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. K'tyn has left. Breathless, his life suspended, E'rian stares up at Mehlani with his heart showing clearly in his eyes. "Did you... like it?" he asks. Plainly, whether or not his life will continue to be worth living hinges upon her approval. He doesn't even notice V'dan's cries, which takes *real* preoccupation. K'tyn and Kindre's abrupt departure is entirely lost upon Mehlani, who is still staring at E'rian in apparent utter fascination, trying to fathom what in the world has happened to him. "I," is her first intelligent reply, the word barely audible. "I mean... you... sing... very well...!" Jayna walks here from the Inner Cavern. Jayna has arrived. Carrying a flimsy bit of scarlet cloth--perhaps a scarf--Jayna smiles broadly. She nods respectfully to the riders and Pierron and moves toward the klah pot. Still clinging to the flowers and the parcel E'rian has bestowed upon her, Mehlani manages to keep standing, despite the force of the limpid hazel gaze he's entreatingly fixed upon her. And, still staring down at the kneeling green rider, she is, accordingly, entirely oblivious to Jayna's entry. Oh, joy! Oh, rapture! Oh, rapturous, all-consuming joy! E'rian's eyes kindle with a hope and love that make them shine like twin hazel stars. "Such words from your lips could almost make me believe myself less humble than the dirt for a moment, resplendant lady... but no ground that bears your footfalls could be anything less than hallowed and sacred. If the song pleased you, I believe I shall weep for sheer delight." Jayna stares with an 'oh' at Mehlani and the flowers and all. Then, remembering her manners, she grabs a cup with awkward quickness and fills it with klah. _Cry?!_ "Y... you don't have to do that," Mehlani babbles out. "But what else would you have me do, heart's own?" E'rian asks guilelessly, rising to his feet. "How else could I properly show my appreciation for the joy that one moment in your presence brings me?" Jayna takes her klah and her scarf and backs up. . . slowly. . . slowly. . . to a table far, far away from the exuberantly proddy rider. She sips her klah quietly. Tinya, while obviously greatly absorbed in and amused by watching the young couple, isn't so oblivious as to fail to notice Jayna's entrance. She waves over at her, smiling. _She_ has to decide this? Well, if he insists... Mehlani valiantly gasps out, "You've... shown... your appreciation v-very nicely, I'm touched... truly... thank you...!" Perhaps if the thought crossed her mind, she, like Jayna, would be fleeing, but something keeps Mehlani rooted to the spot in which she stands. As E'rian gets up, she follows him with her awestruck eyes, apparently unable to look anywhere besides E'rian's lean young features. Jayna sees Tinya's wave and grins back. Silently gesturing toward the lovers, she mimes being totally absorbed in her sewing and klah- drinking. From the kitchen, Willow walks into the Living Cavern. Willow walks in from the kitchen. Willow has arrived. E'rian opens his mouth to reply, then falls silent as an imperious rumble is heard from outside. "My other lady calls, fair one. I would be loathe to leave you--save that doing so will bring me all that much closer to the rush of pleasure that accompanies each fresh sight of you." Before he turns to go, though, the greenrider takes a step forward... and gives Mehlani an impetuous, if rather long-lasting-- provided that she doesn't jerk away, of course--kiss. The sort of smooch that would be accompanied by poignant romantic music, were this a movie. "Farewell!" he whispers once the kiss is broken, and whirls on his heel to dart out to where his green awaits him. Willow walks into thecavern, and blinks abit as she watches E'rian kiss Mehlani. Jayna smiles at the girl in the brown dress. "Heya, there," she says, looking up from her mug of klah and her gather scarf, which she's spread out on the table and is examining. Seized, kissed, Mehlani has absolutely no time to think of anything. Before she can even so much as formulate a thought, she is wobbling where she stands... and as E'rian turns to stride off to attend to his dragon, the girl promptly collapses, sitting down hard right there on the floor, flowers in one hand, parcel in the other. Tinya waves a hand at Willow, then giggles as E'rian makes his grand exit. Mehlani's collapse, however, gets a look of _slight_ concern, and a, "Hey, are you all right?" Willow gives a smile to Jayna, as she walks over to Mehlani. "You okay?" Willow looks at you for a moment. Mehlani sits there, clearly stunned, just as clearly hyperventilating. She stares in the direction E'rian has vanished, until Willow's presence registers upon her. She looks startledly up to breathlessly and blankly squeak, "What?" Jayna grabs a cup and fills it with cold water. She takes it to Mehlani's table. Willow says "Your very much liked by the boys so I'm told." Ro breaks out in yet another fit of giggles from her place in a shadowy corner. Jayna drops to the seat next to Mehlani and puts her arm around the girl. The hyperventilating's not good. "Shhh. Hush, Mehlani. Take a deep breath. Here, drink this." She soothingly offers the cup of water. Apparently totally failing to comprehend Willow's observation, Mehlani breathes rapidly in and out, her features flushed crimson, her gaze full of shock. "He..." Pant. "He... " Pant. "He..." Still sitting right there on the floor, the lass then blinketyblinks at Maylia and drops the parcel, fumbling for the cup; once she has it, she starts gulping down water. Jayna looks clinically at Mehlani. "Your color's not so good, Mehlani." She fans the girl. Maylia smiles somewhat lopsidedly, trying to keep from giggling. Second mug of klah finished, she watches Mehlani with a touch of concern. "Are you all right?" She asks. Jayna looks around. "Ro, or. . .uh. . . I'm sorry, I don't know your name. . . will one of you get another cup of cold water for Mehlani?" "He KISSED me!" Mehlani squeals. Willow moves over to get a glass of water for Mehlani Willow pours a glass of water and returns over to Mehlani, handing it down to her. Silen walks here from the Inner Cavern. Silen has arrived. Jayna tries not to laugh at Mehlani's squeal. "How'd it feel?" she asks, kindly. Silen walks out, humming a tune under his breath. Tinya smirks a bit, looking at the girl on the floor. "Men. They _will_ do things like that," she drawls, dryly. Maylia restrains a grin, nodding as reassuringly as she can towards Mehlani. "That he did," she observes. Willow says "Is there something wrong with him kissing you?" She questions. Watching Mehlani curiously." Silen walks over to the group, making a bit of a face at the word 'kissing'. He smiles at Mehlani, though, and waves to the rest. Jayna looks at Mehlani, there on the floor. "Ready to try to sit up here?" Jayna notices Silen. "Oh, Silen, didn't see you over there," she smiles. Ro listens intently, cautiously venturing from the shadows "What was it like, 'lani?" The second mug of water is gulped down in the wake of the first, and Mehlani, E'rian's bouquet still clutched in her left hand, reddens yet again at Jayna's inquiry. How'd it _FEEL?!_ She doesn't answer that; if her expression is any indication, however, not to mention the fact that she collapsed, the kiss clearly ranks on the same caliber as the vivid blooms and the green rider's clarion baritone singing. She _does_ bob her head to Jayna at her second question, though. Jayna offers her hand, with a grin. Silen blinks, visibly realizing Mehlani isn't lying on the floor because it's fun. He dashes to her side. "Are you all right?" Jayna laughs. "You'd better get up here, Mehlani. You're starting to scare people." She offers her hand again, for Mehlani to use to pull herself up if she wishes. R'val has arrived. R'val enters from the Bowl. R'val wanders into the cavern and waves amiably to the people inside. He spots Tinya, and heads towards her. "He kissed me," Mehlani blurts, more softly now, The lass looks faint, still. Then, as she fumbles at Jayna's hand and shakily rises, she begins to realize that there is a ring of mildly concerned faces around her, and she blushes yet again. "I.... I... I think I should lie down now..." Jayna smiles at R'val from her bench near Mehlani, who's just rising from the floor. Silen oh's quietly, and backs away to give Mehlani some room to stand. Jayna tilts her head at the shakey girl. "Shall I walk with you to the dormitories, to make sure you get there alright? Or would you like to lie down right here, on a bench?" Tinya smiles as R'val comes in, waving and calling, "Heyla!" to him, patting the seat beside hers for him to set down. "I want to go to my cot, please," Mehlani mumbles, her voice and eyes dazed. _He kissed me. He KISSED me. HE kissed me. He kissed ME?!_ Willow moves over to a bench, sitting down. Watching Mehlani still. R'val sits at Tinya's side, gladly accepting her invitation, and kisses her cheek. Silen grins, though he does out of kindness try to hide it from poor Mehlani. Jayna puts her arm around the glassy-eyed girl and winks at Tinya, R'val, and the others. "Can you walk, do you think, Mehlani? Or shall we draft some help, carrying you?" Mehlani looks down, realizing E'rian's other gift is still at her feet. Slowly, mechnically, she crouches down to pick it up, and upon rising again, she informs Jayna, "I can walk... thank you..." Still looking rather as if someone had clobbered her with a rock rather than kissed her, the girl promptly wanders off. [End log.]