Log Date: 1/12/97 Log Cast: Tance, Kesya Log Intro: With her training duties out of the way, and with the task of creating a simple duo paintmark accomplished, Kesya and Tance hit the Ranges to finish out the black claim she'd cut with him before. Leaving well into the morning so that they can avoid crystal song -- as well as get in some sleep -- the pair flies again in Kesya's sled. While flying, Kesya keeps finding herself reliving Tance's brief flash of decidedly non-childlike behavior, the night before: his kiss on her cheek, and his assertion that she is sweet.... ---------- Black; they are going to cut black again. Tance has been muttering this to himself over and over, and now, he feels a thrill of anticipation as he follows Kesya into the vein. His cutter is at the ready, as is the carton he's brought along with him, and he steps cautiously after you towards the black vein. Kesya glances at her singing partner over her shoulder, giving Tance an encouraging smile as her steps lead her unfailingly towards the crystal face. "Finally! I hate leaving a cut this long..." Her fingers trail over the opaque black, tracing the crevices made by old cuts. "Not much left though, I think." Tance smiles tentatively; is it your imagination, or has his gaze and his step been surer than you're used to, as he has trailed after you into the caverns? "Prob'ly good thing, girlie... been thinkin', maybe I shouldn't cut too much at once...?" Kesya nods brightly to you, her blue gaze lingering on you a moment longer than you might expect. "That's a good idea, actually. I never do anyway, since my claims are always so little. But hrm... maybe five or ten crystals, then take a break, that sort of thing?" Tance inclines his head, and slings his cutter off his shoulder. "Prob'ly better go easy on this thing anyhow," he mutters at the cutter. Then, more loudly, he adds, "You just tell me what you want cut, Jade." Kesya's hand softly caresses the crystal face, and she withdraws it hurriedly as she feels herself starting to succumb to its call. "Umm.. rectangles are on top now... it'll make things easy, too." She grins coyly at you, and nods. "Keep 'em small again, and we'll cut the chord first and see what we get." Kesya braces her body for the power surge and turns her crystal cutter on. "Gotcha." Tance's cutter comes on, so far so good... You turn on the cutter, bracing your body against the power that surges through the handle. Kesya sets her crystal cutter to D. Kesya sings a pure D. Kesya holds the note strongly and while the crystal sings in return, uses her cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. Crystal Vein Here and there, a little faded, you can see green circles, hatched with brilliant neon orange. The vein subtly sings to you in a scale of D. You catch a sparkling glimmer of pure black. The crystal rings with a sweetness and purity of tone. Contents: A very small, pure black, rectangle crystal Kesya Carton 6 - Kesya You set the cutter to F sharp. You sing a fine, ringing F sharp. You hold the note and while the crystal sings in return, you use your cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. The crystal is tiny in size and is perfect. Kesya beams as she cuts the first crystal, and as she turns the cutter off and holds her hand up, the perfect block falls into her palm. Tance comes in on the F sharp a third over you, and flicks you a lopsided grin. The crystal vibrates slightly in your hands. You carefully store the crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Kesya sets her crystal cutter to A. Kesya sings a pure A. You set the cutter to D. You sing a pure D. Kesya holds the note strongly and while the crystal sings in return, uses her cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. You hold the note and while the crystal sings in return, you use your cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. The crystal is small in size and is slightly flawed. The crystal vibrates slightly in your hands. You carefully store the crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Tance pauses on his D long enough to call out happily, "Got the chord, Jade...!" Kesya scowls as the crystal she cuts from the vein ends up flawed. "Damn. Didn't see that clouding in there..." She shrugs, and packs it away. "I'll cut another to make it up." Kesya picks up the crystal with careful hands. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Kesya grins at you brightly at your tone, and nods. "Cut another A? Mine wasn't any good. I'll get another carton." Tance looks around, blinking a little. "Need a carton..." Carton 6 - Kesya has left. Kesya picks up the carton, holding it securely to her chest. Kesya has left. Kesya has arrived. Kesya makes her way out of the immediate vein area. You set the cutter to A. You sing a pure A. You hold the note and while the crystal sings in return, you use your cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. The crystal is small in size and is slightly flawed. You set the cutter to C sharp. You sing a fine, ringing C sharp. You hold the note and while the crystal sings in return, you use your cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. You sense that the vein is almost empty. The crystal is small in size and is perfect. You carefully turn the crystal cutter off and relax your stance. Kesya has arrived. Kesya has left. Kesya has arrived. Kesya clambers into the entrance of a crystal vein site. Kesya tosses the carton carelessly down. Kesya picks up the crystal with careful hands. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Kesya picks up the crystal with careful hands. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Tance looks up, grinningly. "Got the fifth, too... think we're runnin' out though, Jade!" Kesya stows away the crystals carefully, though her fingers trail reluctantly along their edges. "Mrm... hrm? Oh!" She smiles absently up at you as your voice reaches her. "I noticed... good cuts, too." She stands, turning her cutter back on. "Maybe we'll be able to make an octave from it though." Kesya sets her crystal cutter to E. Kesya sings a pure E. Kesya holds the note strongly and while the crystal sings in return, uses her cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. The crystal song lessens. Kesya picks up the crystal with careful hands. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. You turn on the cutter, bracing your body against the power that surges through the handle. You set the cutter to G. You sing a pure G. You hold the note and while the crystal sings in return, you use your cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. Kesya sets her crystal cutter to B. It is getting harder to find a good cut in this vein. The crystal is small in size and is perfect. Kesya sings a pure B. The crystal vibrates slightly in your hands. You carefully store the crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Kesya holds the note strongly and while the crystal sings in return, uses her cutter to extract a rectangle from the vein. It is getting harder to find a good cut in this vein. You carefully turn the crystal cutter off and relax your stance. Kesya snorts as she pulls another flawed crystal from the vein. "Damn... if this vein weren't so elusive, I'd think it were me." She packs the crystal, and looks up at what's left. Kesya picks up the crystal with careful hands. Kesya carefully stores a crystal into a carton, making sure it's packed securely. Tance watches you, as you sing, after he packs the G crystal. He smiles crookedly, humming along with your voice. Kesya casts a wry glance at you, and shrugs sheepishly. "Not sure if I can find another decent one... but..." She turns her cutter back on. Kesya sets her crystal cutter to B. Kesya sings a pure B. Tance catches his breath, a little giddy from the lingering chords from the black, hanging in the air. Kesya turns her cutter off, shaking her head. "That's it. We got an octave, but one of 'em is flawed... better just to keep the chord." She pauses then, one hand reaching to trail along the small slivers of crystal that reflect along the rock, almost communing. Kesya carefully turns her crystal cutter off and relaxes her stance. Tance inclines his head quietly, then shakes his head a moment, to clear it. "Break time," he murmurs. Kesya doesn't appear to hear your voice at first, but slowly, she nods. "Um hmm. I could use a bite to eat." She picks up the carton, feeling the pull of her crystal beneath the packaging. Kesya picks up the carton, holding it securely to her chest. Tance nods, and when you don't move quite quickly enough, he lifts a hand to your shoulder. "Let's go...." Kesya's sled To the bow of the sled, the spotless control console is reflected in the clear, clean windshield. Upholstery so clean it seems brand new invites one to sit in the pilot's chair with its high tech arm rests. The main compartment is compact, but adequate for a Singer in the ranges. The fresh smell of the cleanser used still lingers faintly in the air. By the main hatch, the empty cutter brackets gleam in the light. The webbing separating the forward sections from cargo storage and the drive section seems new, and is fastened securely. This is a 2 person capacity sled. There is room in this sled for 8 cartons, 2 have been checked out. One of the special new engines has been installed, allowing for greater speeds. The console is on. The speaker is off. The auto-scanner is on. A small metal plate is fastened to the upper left corner, you can just make out "Twilight's Ambition" scratched into the surface. The weather is fine. A good day for flying. ( Type 'sled help' to see available commands. ) Contents: Carton 1 - Kesya Kesya Carton 6 - Kesya Tance turns the lamp off and takes it from his head. There is an audible click as you switch the lamp off. The humming from the battery stops and the light begins to dim. The glow of the bulb slowly diminishes and is once again dark. Tance comes into the sled after you, stretching stiffly after he helps you stow the cartons and cutters. Kesya follows you in, carefully securing the cartons inthe cargo area before she joins you. She slings her cutter into its brackets on the wall, and peers at the catering unit. "Gods, I'm /ravenous/. Any requests?" Tance smiles tiredly. "Hells, Jade, I ever been picky about what I'm eating?" Kesya chuckles softly, and gestures to the bed. "Have a seat. Pasta will fill us up well enough, I think." She pokes a few buttons on the machine, and is rewarded with two servings of ravioli, and two containers of beer. Tance settles himself down willingly enough, and considers. "Am I just cracked, girlie, or am I getting in better shape?" Kesya blinks as she settles beside you, and passes you your share of the food. How to respond to /that/? "Oh, I'd say so," she agrees readily, her words innocent enough. "You managed to scramble back here faster than me this time." Tance accepts the food and starts in on the beer, then offers between drinks, "Guess my sym's not too mad; I feel... okay." He grins a bit. Kesya laughs softly, her back resting against the bulkhead. "Really? You don't feel any different at all?" Her gaze turns to look you over thoughtfully, perhaps a little cautious. "We were only in there a few hours, but still... but who knows... it could be that black really likes you." She winks, and takes another swallow of her beer. "Nah, I mean... don't feel like I'm gonna fall over after climbin' around back there." Tance suddenly grins, first at his drink, then at you. "And I didn't break nothin'." Kesya grins at you over her beer glass. "You certainly don't /look/ ready to fall over. You're looking more energetic than me, even." Tance meets your gaze, suddenly grinning a little impishly. "Think I'd beat you in a snowball fight, then?" Kesya's eyes widen, and she coughs as she chokes a bit on her drink. "You imp! Don't you even /think/ about it!" She grins, and tosses her balled-up napkin at you. "From your aim last time, I'd say you'd probably win, yes." Tance grins widely, and leans back against the wall beside him. "Sure you wouldn't just let a crazy old karker beatcha?" Kesya says evasively, "I might... but then, I don't know any, so the question would never come up." She arches her brows challengingly, "I'd never let *you* beat me, that's for sure!" "Maybe I'll just hafta call you on that," Tance drawls lazily, eyes actually twinkling. Kesya is found speechless, her hands fingering her empty ration dish as she simply stares at you a moment. Finally she stands, collecting the empty plates. "Don't be silly," she says, dropping the plates in the disposal, "We've things to do." She waits, eyes peripherally on you to check your reaction, and then with a stiffled giggle, jumps out the door. Kesya has left. You step out from the cramped interior of the sled "Twilight's Ambition." Gravel Field This huge redstone rampart forms the southernmost bluff of a nearby range. Roughly square in shape it rises a majestic 8,000 feet above the ground. This gently sloping field is made of up gravel that has been eroded away from the rampart over the centuries. The red and white stone varies in size from colorful dust to huge boulders nearly as tall as a sled. There is one area quite close to the rampart that seems flatter and is empty of the larger boulders and seems the perfect spot to land a sled. To the immediate north of this field is the rampart itself. It towers above the landscape like some giant toy block. Part of the eastern face seems to have eroded a bit more than the rest and mars the symmetry of the rock. Upon closer inspection you see other colors melded to the red cliff wall - whites and oranges shoot through darker areas which blend into the dusty red stone. As the afternoon fades into evening the shadows lengthen, cooling the air at the base of the rampart substantially. With the last golden rays of the sun, the mountain again puts on a delightful show. Purples and pinks blend into the dusty rose stone, making the rampart seem like some magical castle of fairy tales. Here and there, a little faded, you can see green circles, hatched with brilliant neon orange. Contents: Kesya Kesya's sled Obvious exits: Cave Entrance Tance calls after you, "Sure we do!" You can't see Kesya as you step out into the soft snow, but it's immediately obvious where she is as a snowball comes flying towards you from the rear of the sled. Tance lets out a whoop and scrambles after you. "Won't let me beat yah, will you? See about that, you minx!" You hear startled laughter come from behind the sled, and rapid footfalls as Kesya skids around to the far side. A few snowballs arc over the top, but obviously they don't fall anywhere near you being she can't see where you are. Tance comes scrambling around the sled, stumbling a bit in the packed white stuff. His breath comes out in white puffs of cloud around his head, and his eyes and face brighten in the chill air. Kesya is caught in the middle of packing another snowball to lob over the top of the sled, but evidently she didn't expect you to move around to her side so quickly. Her eyes widen as she lets out a strangled, "Oh!" as she sees you, and she throws the snowball at you, instead. Tance is splattered, but undeterred, he scoops up a big handful of snow and hurls it right back at you. Kesya catches the snowball in the right shoulder as she dives out of the way, and you can hear laughter as she works to pack up another, kneeling in the snow where she landed. Soon the snowball is arcing towards you, and she grabs another handful as she scurries behind a rock. Tance charges for the rock and starts trying to clamber right over it -- and with a whoop of delight, he jumps down off the top of it, looking to tackle you! Kesya can be seen peering around the side of the rock as you scramble atop it, brow furrowed as she tries to see where you are. A shadow -- your shadow -- makes her look up though, and she lets out a yell as you jump down and tackle her into the snow. "Nofair!" she laughs, struggling against you, "You played dirty!" Grinning devilishly, Tance tells you, "Wanted to see what your face looked like with white around it..." Kesya's hair is soaked, splayed in the snow, and she makes a face at you playfully as she struggles against your arms. _Let's just hope he doesn't wonder what I look like with snow /on/ my face_, she thinks. But as you hold down her shoulders, she is still able to move a bit, and she grabs a handful of snow with one free hand and stuffs it down your shirt. Tance yowls, and tussles with you, striking back by tickling whatever part of you he can reach. Kesya's uncontrolled giggles tell you she's rather ticklish, and she squirms beneath your grasp. "Nofair! *giggle* *gasp* Stop! Don't...! S'nofair!" Winding up on his back with you pinned in one arm, Tance grins, and pants out, "Got... better idea, Jade?" Tance's eyes are shining, now, brighter than the flush of cold across his face. His much shorter hair has gotten quite damp, as well as his jumpsuit, but he doesn't appear to notice or care. Kesya, now that you've relented, is able to at least catch her breath, and as you hold her tighter in the snow, her gaze goes to your eyes and she finds herself much closer to you than she'd intended on this trip... dangerously close. She can feel your chest against hers, rising and falling with every breath, and oddly enough, she feels warm despite the soaked clothing clinging to her. Swallowing, she nods briefly, her gaze never leaving yours. "What idea you got, then?" Tance asks, voice a trifle huskier, brown gaze steady on your own. And this close, you can see little highlights of gold in his eyes, even a bit of green. You can feel Kesya's warm breath on your face, transparent clouds of vapour disippating in the air around you with each soft exhalation. She does hardly seem to be breathing though, now. Her gaze drops to your lips, her head tilting as she leans closer... and she pauses, unsure, Quinn's voice echoing in her mind. _Be his friend.._ Tance lifts his other arm up to encircle you, and he, too, nearly stops breathing. His head starts to crane up slightly to meet yours, till his mouth is a bare centimeter from your own. "Kesya," he breathes, softly. Kesya's thoughts are a jumble, her emotions playing havoc. But as you pull her closer her eyes close, and she nearly melts in your embrace as you say her name... and slowly, her lips meet yours as she kisses you there in the snow, the cold forgotten. Tance sits up slowly, but with a kind of grace he hasn't seemed to possess before, rolling you slightly back to rest cradled against his chest, almost in his lap. The kiss holds for an immeasurably long moment before he finally pulls back a fraction, enough for you to see wonder suffusing his face. Kesya's eyes seem uncommonly blue as you look down at her, her gaze never leaving from your brown ones as you pull back just a bit. Unable to breathe for a minute, she swallows, hands still at your chest. And something else enters her gaze, something she has previously been able to hide with her chatter and with her work. It'd be easy, very easy, to think that blue gaze holds within it... love. She finally stammers, her voice just a whisper, "So... who.... who won the snowball fight?" "Damned if I can remember," Tance murmurs back to you, expression radiant, gaze drinking in your features. A low, husky chuckle can be heard from the woman you're holding, but it doesn't last long as her fingers reach up to trail through your damp hair. "Me neither," she murmurs, and pulls your shoulders to her just enough to almost touch hers... and she whispers, coyly, "I guess we can't blame this on crystal song, hrm?" _She doesn't mind. She doesn't MIND. SHE DOESN'T MIND!_ The thought surges up in his blood, and he embraces you fiercely. It's certainly not crystal song driving him, though his pulse is racing as giddily as though it were. Impulsively, before he can let himself stop to think, he answers back promptly, "Fault's all mine, Jade....!" Kesya's slender arms wrap tightly about you as you embrace her, and you can hear her voice, a soft, laughing murmur in your ear. "Of /course/ it's your fault! If you weren't so damned _handsome_ and _sweet_, I wouldn't be so attracted to you, and we wouldn't be here!" She withdraws then, to look at you with laughing blue eyes, an impish smile on her face. A smile novas across Tance's face, and his eyes widen a little, in amazed and joyous wonder -- but though at any other time he might have scoffed derisively at such labels being handed him, might have reminded you what a crazy old karker he is, now he simply glows. And echoes gleefully, "Here... yeah, I like it here..." as he lowers his mouth to yours to kiss you again. [To be continued...]