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Letting Go


Date:  June 16, 2000
Places:  Ularrith's and Cymrith's Ledge; M'rgan and Kena's Weyr
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Before her twins were born, Kassima made an agreement
with her nemesis of old:  she would allow M'rgan and Kena, who wished
more children but were unlikely to have any of their own, to foster
them once they were of age.  Under most circumstances they would have 
gone to her cousin Simaeva, like the rest of her children--but Kassi 
sympathized with her friends' difficulties and knew they had been 
loving, trustworthy foster parents to several children before.  Now 
that Kimlyn and Kyjain are a Turn old, it's time for her to pass them 
to their new family... and though part of her bargain was that she'll 
always be a part of their lives, it's still not easy to let them go.

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The Log:

You land on Ularrith's and Cymrith's Ledge.

<*> From the weyr, M'rgan is in the weyr, making a bit of a ruckus as he
cleans up some toys. As Lysseth lands he stops tossing toys about and pokes
his head through the curtains.

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

M'rgan pushes the curtains aside, the cloth rustling softly.

Kassima climbs down very carefully, as one would have to while wearing a
doubly-occupied double-infant sling. "Mart," she says slowly and quietly as
she looks around the ledge, "I have t'wonder why there's a giant pile of
socks here. And I have t'be wondering whether I really want t'be knowing
the answer."

M'rgan edges around so that he avoids the pile of socks entirely.
"Firelizard clutch," he grumbles, a grimace on his face. He hunches over as
he nears Kassima, trying to get a look at the twins. "Are you sure that's
comfortable?"

Kassima's eyes rivet onto that pile. "Nay about t'hatch?" she asks warily,
edging a bit further away. The twins are currently both sleeping, two
drowsy black-haired, long-lashed bundles garbed respectively in green and
blue. "For me? Nay terribly, but 'tis the best way of carrying them. For
them? Nary a clue, but I doubt they'd notice." With a faint smile, she
explains, "I took 'em t'Greystones t'be celebrating their Turnday a wee bit
early, see, and they've been fussed over and played with enough t'be
tuckered out."

"I wouldn't be here if they were about to blow," M'rgan quickly comments,
giving the socks a brief, wary look. Still hunched over, he lifts a hand,
one finger slightly pointed as if to touch the cheek of the blue clad
child. "I'll bet your family was happy to see them. I know my mother is
looking forward to fussing over them. While she awaits a great-grandchild."

"You can touch them," Kassi assures, "if'n you're gentle about it; if'n
they can sleep through the trip over here... Lyss is never the smoothest of
fliers." A statement which Lysseth greets with a snort. "Mum and Da are
always glad t'be seeing the kidlings, though they're never content with the
number... bright Faranth. Jannea *is* old enough for that, isn't she?"

M'rgan lightly strokes the boy's cheek with his curled finger and his hand
edges up to touch the lad's hair. "I'm not sure how much of J'lyn I see in
him," he comments as he studies the boy's face. "How are their sleep
habits? Do they nap much or...? Didn't Kena tell you?" He lifts his gaze
from the child. "Jannea's going to be handfasted in the spring."

Kassima wraps her arms lightly around the two, tilting her head to rest her
cheek momentarily against Kimlyn's crown. "The chin," she supplies. "That
is definitely nay m'chin. I think they look rather more like me, both of
'em--they've the eyes, the cheekbones--but 'tis hard for me t'be
objective." She raises her head with a faint sigh. "As t'sleep--well,
y'know one-Turn-olds, and twins are worse since when one wakes they both
do. But on the whole, they're nay bad about it--just one nap in the
afternoon suffices, if'n they've slept good the night a'fore." And now
watch her eyebrows fly up. "She *is*? T'whom? Some Smithcrafter lad?"

"SmithCrafter, yes. Lad, no." M'rgan rests his hands on the small of his
back as he straightens, letting out a grunt. His age is catching up to him.
"He's nearly my age. Well, a few turns younger. Loren. Their Craftsecond."
He sighs deeply. "I shouted and shouted but I couldn't stop her...Hey, why
don't you come inside and I'll show you their room."

Kassima repeats, only remembering at the last second to keep her voice
down, "*Loren*? I know him. A few Turns younger than you isn't so old, but
a bit older than Jannea, I'd say... well, she should be comfortable as a
Craftsecond's wife. Can't fault the match in that respect. A shame there's
nay K in his name, though; nay fortunate K-children from her... oh, certes.
'Twould like t'see--and," she adds with wry humor, "get them settled in
a'fore m'back breaks. They're nay sacks of firestone, but they're still a
wee bit heavy."

At Kassima's words, M'rgan stretches out his hands for the children,
chagrin on his face. Not that there's really anything that he can do. "You
should've said something," he mumbles as he takes a step back towards the
weyr. "But as a Craftsecond's wife she'll have no reason to come here. He
won't be posted to the Weyr."

Oh, there's something he can do, and Kassi's quite glad to give him a
chance to do it: she frees Kyjain of his sling and offers him to those
temptingly outstretched hands. "You don't suppose that she might--just
might, mind you--come here t'be seeing you and Kena?" she suggests,
sounding faintly amused.

M'rgan has never been one to resist a sleeping, non-barfing child so he
immediately scoops Kyjain up, holding the boy against his chest with one
arm so he won't be disturbed. "It's possible, I suppose. But if I held my
breath the reason she'd be here would be for my funeral."

The curtains swish as you open them.

"Given that a man can die from lack of oxygen in a matter of minutes..."
Kassi drawls, taking Kimlyn likewise into her arms as she follows him in.
And, unable to resist the opportunity, takes a look around. "Nice place
you've got here," she approves. "Rather more spacious than mine, by the
look. Y'know, you could always go t'Smithcraft t'be seeing her, too. 'Tis
only a dragon's hop away."

M'rgan veers to one side only a few steps from the curtain, moving to a
curtained doorway that leads to a tiny, cubby-hole of a room. Jannea's old
room for those who remember previous visits. In there are two small beds
and a few toys for toddlers, like blocks and dolls. "I know. But it
wouldn't be the same. It's never the same." He smirks a touch as he watches
Kassima look around. "Well, it is for two riders. And a horde of children."

Kassima follows suit, and takes a much longer time examining *this* room.
"'Twill do," she decides at length, smiling again, if crookedly. "'Twill do
in very deed. I suppose I should be glad that Kay's only thirteen yet;
'twill be *awhile* ere she gets married, I devoutly hope. And you do have a
point there, but mine's t'hold me, m'children--when they're very young or
wanting t'stay--and all m'marks in, which means I have you beat after how
many of the last I've suckered from you."

"I thought you planned on turning her into a greenrider," M'rgan remarks as
he stands behind Kassima, watching her face as she examines the twins'
room. He's lightly patting Kyjain's back and is rocking in place to keep
the boy soothed. "No matter how many you might sucker from me, I can always
sucker more from the Holders."

"Brownrider," Kassi corrects. "Or so *she'd* have it, nay matter how I may
argue. Khari's the one who wants t'be a greenrider. Kris doesn't really
show any leanings towards that direction; he's the brightest, 'twill tell
you in confidence--but here I'm digressing again." She drops her head to
brush a kiss atop Kim's soft, dark hair, and watches sidelong Mart's
actions with her son. "You'll take good care of them," she says abruptly,
neglecting--for once--to talk of marks. "Won't you?"

"I'd say Kay's the smartest if she wants to be a brownrider," are M'rgan's
first words as he can't resist the usual battle between them. But after a
second he notices how serious Kassima seems and he sobers, nodding to her.
"Of course. Better than my own." Just in case Kassi remembers Kegan's
numerous bruises and scrapes. "Kena's got plenty of time now and I'm making
time and Kegan and the girls will help. We'll take very good care of them."

Kassima has to laugh, if quietly. "Plenty of time now. Aye, she would,
t'Leya and E'vrin's indubitable dismay--more hidework for them." She frees
one hand to reach out and brush Ky's cheek. "I know. Forgive me for asking;
I didn't have to, a'course--if'n 'tweren't certain you would, 'twould never
have agreed t'be letting you have them. 'Tis just a hard thing t'be letting
'em go. Mayhaps you can comprehend it."

M'rgan turns to the side, as if to playfully bump shoulders with Kassima.
"More than you know, Kassi. More than you know." He tilts his head, so that
he's looking up at the greenrider. The patented George Clooney look. "Are
you sure that you want to do this? Kena and I were really looking forward
to having them but if you don't want to..."

Kassima allows her shoulder to be bumped, even permits herself a wan smile.
"Oh, aye. Poor 'Maeva, she doesn't really need a pair of active
one-Turn-olds right now--she lost, y'know, that babe she and V'dan were
going t'have. And twins, they really need more than one person t'care for
'em, d'you ken?" She shrugs; sighs. "'Tis best. Turning the first three
over t'Simaeva was hard, but Kim and Ky, I'm turning them over to a whole
new set of parents... 'tis what troubles me, I suppose, and 'twill get over
that in time."

M'rgan's eyes turn down, shadowed, as Simaeva's loss is mentioned. "You
will still seem them all the time, I promise. And any time you want to.
Just give us a bit of warning so that we can take care of...things." He
looks at the child he is holding and gently cups his hand behind the boy's
head, so that he can tilt Kyjain back a little and peer into his face. The
boy's eyes are still closed so he takes that as a good sign. "Why don't we
lay them down and you and I can get something to drink."

Kassima nods once. "Aye... but 'tisn't the same." She offers a grin,
though, one more genuine. "Still--I can bask in the thought that they'll be
evil t'you through sheer, adorable, obnoxious toddler-ness; there's
something t'be said for that. *And* for laying them down, and drinks. Kim's
terrible t'get back t'sleep once she does wake, so I'm for avoiding that."

The bedcovers aren't blue and green but brown and green. Ularrith's brown
and Cymrith's green to be specific. M'rgan slides into the tiny room that
has just enough space for him to step around to carefully lay Kyjain on the
brown bed, tucking the covers over him and just under his chin. "The
children of two greenriders," he whispers to Kassima. "How could they be
anything but evil."

Kassima, eyeing that dubious amount of room, is very careful about stepping
in to set Kimlyn gently down on the green, smoothing back the little girl's
hair and lingering there for a moment. "Just so long as they don't grow up
t'wear disturbing leather things," she murmurs, slipping back out, "I'll be
quite satisfied."

"They won't," M'rgan says as he eases out of the room, giving a backward
glance to make sure that both children are settled and fine. "That's
another promise that I can make to you." In only a few steps he's into the
middle of the weyr's main room. "Did you want wine? Or something else? I
think Kena's got a nice red that she's been hoarding."

"*Thank* you," Kassi mutters, giving a long look back over her shoulder
before following. "Wine, beer, rum, whiskey, White Lightning, aught but ale
unless that's all you have."

M'rgan pulls a wineflask down from the shelf, unstoppering it to give the
contents a whiff. He shrugs at the smell and grabs a wooden mug as well. He
motions Kassima towards the battered couch before presenting her with the
wine. "I'm sure that Lysseth will be glad to have you to herself again."

Kassima accepts both seat and drink with a murmured thank you, taking a
hearty gulp of the latter. "She shan't; the Wing and the other children
still require m'time as much as ever. There never seem t'be enough hours in
the day. At least I've managed t'keep up with m'gambling; I've nigh as many
marks as I had ere that Weaver auction. You?"

M'rgan disappears behind Kassima for a moment to put the guard in place
against the twins' doorway so that they can't flee on him. After checking
how secure it is by giving it a tug, he returns, sinking into the couch as
well. "I'd have been surprised if you'd made up that loss already. You
spent a fortune at that auction. I prefer to make the Weavers rich one
dress at a time."

Alas, the plots of the Doublemint Evil Twins have been foiled, and visions
of vengeance dance through their sleeping heads. Their mother is cheerfully
oblivious. "I did," she agrees. "One-hundred and two on me, and there was a
rip-off; one-hundred and fifty on I'sai. I own a bronzerider. That'll
surely come in handy someday."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn tickles I'sai. :)

"Since the bronzerider is I'sai, I doubt it," M'rgan comments. He relaxes
into the couch, resting an arm across its back and propping his ankle up on
his left knee. "He's destined to destroy whatever plans you have...How's
the wine?"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "No sneaking on."

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio blinks and looks around. I'sai? Where?

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Should've given squeakier leather. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Whinde wavels at Is!

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio snugs I'sai!

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Speaking of which, Kassi is no longer pregnant,
and you still have no excuse. Time for a fashion show, I believe."

Telgar Weyr> Whinde says, "The weaver hall is putting on a fashion show
soonish. THe models will be modeling tables."

Telgar Weyr> Whinde says, "No joke."

Telgar Weyr> M'rgan aughs! I don't want to see I'sai's butt.
*shudder*shudder*collapse*

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn has a Turnday VERY soon. Like tomorrow. That would be a
nice gift for Jaly: To see his gifts put to use. :)

Telgar Weyr> Tania just so eyes you all. :)

Telgar Weyr> I'sai waves to Maylia, and ... M'rgan again comes through in a
pinch. Knew there was a reason I liked him.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn CACKLES at M'rgan!

Kassima crinkles her nose at him. "You don't like him, do you? I've never
been quite certain of why. *I* like him, but then, he reminds me a bit of
me... oh, 'tis fine." She lifts the mug in a toast. "For someone who
doesn't drink, you stock a fair vintage, hey?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima is not. Wearing. Buttless. Pants.

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio offers mouth-to-mouth to M'rgan. <eg>

Telgar Weyr> Kassima ;)

Telgar Weyr> Whinde bets that Whinde would.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn peers at you all. "What? Where? I want to see Kassi
wearing buttless pants!"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn can't breathe.... Only at TGW would you see that line...

Telgar Weyr> I'sai copies Kassima.

Telgar Weyr> K'nan says, "Hey. Don't tempt me to show up to a fashion show
nude. *duck*"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn will bring 1/2 marks. :)

Telgar Weyr> Whinde sniggers.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima whapwhapwhapwhaps K'tyn. You're a sick man. ;)

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn grins and makes squeezing motions with his fingers. "Yes."

Telgar Weyr> Ryialla says, "Aw, c'mon, K'nan...show up to a fashion show
nude... };)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn still thinks it's rude not to wear a gift at least once
in the presence of the gift-giver.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn :)

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn grins. Mortification be damned! Wear the pants! FEAR the
pants!

"I like I'sai just fine," M'rgan says. As if there's anyone he doesn't like
and L'cher doesn't count. "He's just not the most dependable or
even...what's the word...sensical...Is that a word?...Anyway, I don't know
what he's talking about half the time. And don't try to explain to me how
he and M'kon can father children right and left and all Kena and I have is
Kegan. But anyway..." He grins at Kassima while sucking in a breath.
"...That's from Kena's stock. She's the one who knows her wines. Must be a
greenrider or Thunderbolt thing."

Telgar Weyr> K'nan shows up in J'lor's Pants. Then oyspams.

Telgar Weyr> I'sai points out he doesn't want to have to Fear anything next
to his skin. And then quiets.

"Sensible?" Kassi hazards. "He's *reasonably* dependable; he went to that
fashion show after I bribed him into it, y'know, even though he had t'wear
overalls split down the sides and get bought by me. Poor man. Anyway,
preferring men doesn't imply a lack of virility; the evidence is sleeping
in the other room, I'll remind you." Another toast, this one towards the
room where the twins sleep. "Excellent choice on Kena's part, then. She's
always been a sensible woman. I'll miss her as 'second, and that's naught
short of truth."

"But it should," M'rgan grumbles to himself after the virility bit. "They
just drop their pants a single time and there's a baby popping out nine
months later. It's ridiculous." If the fates had been kind, he'd have had
the number of kids that usually only come when a harem's involved. "I think
she'll miss being a wingsecond. But something had to give. She was wearing
herself out with all of her duties."

"It could be pointed out that I do pretty much the same," Kassi points out
over her mug's rim. "Some people are just like that. Aye, I can be
sympathizing; 'tis nay easy thing, as I recall it, though nay quite so bad
as Wingleading. I could wish I'd had more time t'get the two new ones
broken in first--but 'twill nay complain; I worked with nay Wingseconds at
all for a time. I can do this by all accounts."

"It's the dragonhealing that's been taking up a lot of her time lately,"
M'rgan comments with a glance over his shoulder towards the twins' room.
Was that a noise he heard? But all seems quiet there. "And she's not about
to give that up. Her mothering instinct and all that." The man runs a hand
through his hair as he turns back to Kassima. "So tell me everything we
should know about the twins. What are you feeding them? What's their
schedule like? Any favorite toys?"

Kassima can't quite suppress a grimace. "I'm glad m'mothering instinct
doesn't go that far," she mutters. "But someone's got t'do it. Anyway:
food-wise, they're on solid food now, though softer things are better just
yet; strawberries are Kim's favorite, methinks, and Ky likes bananas--and
toys, oh, they've got a few things. I'll bring those over tomorrow, if'n
'tis all right?"

Grinning broadly, M'rgan leans forward, in an attempt to lay his hand on
top of Kassima's. "Tomorrow is fine. Whenever you like. I wasn't joking
about that earlier. Whenever you want to stop by or take the kids, you can.
They are *your* children."

Kassima smiles and drains the last of the wine before setting the cup down
to aim a pat at Mart's hand with her newly freed one. "Thankee, Mart. 'Tis
silly of me t'be worrying about that, I know--and 'twill try nay t'be
visiting *too* often; you'll be their parents too, you and Kena. But have
nay hope that 'twill leave you alone entirely. The family would never
forgive me if'n I didn't take the twins home for visits, y'know."

M'rgan smirks and gives Kassima a little wink. "I'll have to make sure that
they're given an unflattering haircut right before those family visits."

"Do and 'twill throttle you with one of L'well's horrid floral scarves,"
Kassi threatens, rising to her feet. "For the nonce, 'twill leave
you--a'fore I lose the nerve," she adds wryly. "If'n you need aught for 'em
or help with 'em, I'm only a dragon's call away."

M'rgan rises to accompany Kassima to the ledge and her lifemate. "We'll
figure it out, I'm sure. But if we don't we *will* give you a call. They're
in good hands." And he extends his arm to her, as if to give the greenrider
a hug.

"I know." Kassi turns to take grateful advantage of that offered hug, and
return it. "I know. 'Tisn't just *any* archenemy that I'd be handing over
two of m'children to. And 'twill be over in two days for their Turnday, you
may be certain of it."

Kassima nods once, and gives a last, long look towards that small room.
Then, with a deep breath and tremulous half-grin, she turns and steps out
for the ledge with perhaps some haste.

The curtains swish as you open them.