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Flights of Fancy


Date:  August 21, 2003
Place:  Telgar Weyr Lake Shore
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:  I am really starting to run dry on remotely creative
log titles.  I caught myself eyeing one of my CDs while looking for a
name for this one, trying to decide whether there was any way on 
Earth 'The Ploughboy and the Cockney' would be fitting.  (Answer:
no. ;)  This is another minor scene, included mostly because the 
RP was enjoyable and it probably furthered character bonding:  Yselle
and Kassi, with Kaswyn drowsily listening, talk about their families
and again about flights.

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The Log:

Dianneth flies in from above.

Yselle swings down from Dianneth's neckridges, and slides down her side.

"--She said, 'You see this bronzer here? He's nay too bright, and I
believe, if'n you watch me, you'll begin to see the light.' And as she
teased him, I fast realized she probably was right: there must be fifty
ways t'taunt a bronzer... fifty ways to taunt a bronzer...." Trust Kassima,
tucked against the lee of one of the large boulders, to pick this
particular song as a lullabye for her son. They can't start getting the
right ideas too early, after all. Lysseth is curled in a neat coil on the
shore, seemingly asleep; but her tail-tip twitches suspiciously in time
with the beat.

Dianneth lands lightly, kicking up some dust, and crooning a hello to
Lysseth. Yselle unbuckles, sliding down her side. She starts working on
Dianneth's straps. "Hey Kassima," she calls over. "Ooooooh," she hushes
herself almost immediately as she sees the child. "How is he?" once she's
finished taking them off and the green is lumbering into the water, she
slips over towards the other greenrider, trying to get a good look at the
child.

Kassima cranes her neck to try and look towards the other greenrider; with
that rock somewhat obscuring her vision, it's an impressive craning. "Hey,
Yselle," she greets in return, flashing a smile; Lysseth doesn't break her
appearance of somnolence at first, but after a moment there's a soft sigh
that could be either salutations to Dianneth or a thankfully subdued snore.
"He's well--sleepy, thanks be t'all m'lucky stars personally and by name.
He's just about run me ragged today." Indeed, the little boy in the
greenrider's lap has a distinctly sleepy look, with his pale green eyes
drooping and his head nestled against his mother. "He can't outrun me yet,
but sometimes he gives it a good and solid try. How fares with you?"

Yselle ducks into sight, apparently Dianneth's swimming alone. She smiles
wistfully, and tries to get a good look at the child. "He's getting big,
isn't he? I remember when Levarn was that age." She sighs. "I'm good
thanks, Kass. We've finished everything for the day, and Dianneth fancied a
swim, so here we are." Sure enough, the green is well into the water now.
"He looks so peaceful," Yselle adds.

"Astonishingly big. Would you believe this hellion is a full Turn old now?"
Kassi's voice is too affectionate on 'hellion' for the label to carry much
sting, and indeed it doesn't faze Kaswyn any--though, let's face it, it's
doubtful he even notices. "'Tis half hard t'remember when he was
itty-bitty, and half hard t'believe that wasn't only yestereve. They grow
up so sharding *fast*. Which you don't need me t'tell you about, I should
wager, so... but he is peaceful, at least for now. By night he'll be
banging the furniture with spoons again or the like." Touseling her child's
blue-black curls, she quips, "Getting cold for swimming in the Lake, but
the dragons never seem t'mind. I suppose the thing will be frozen over
again a'fore we can blink."

Yselle crouches down on the ground near Kassima, hands on her knees. "I
know what you mean," she murmurs. "Levarn will be /five/ soon. Five." She
shakes her head ruefully. "I went and saw him yesterday. He drew me this
picture of us and Tel and Sav and the dragons," she smiles so sadly. "I'm
going to put it on the wall. He seems to be settling in pretty well though.
I even miss the banging on furniture." She looks out to the lake, and notes
"She says it's fine. I'm so glad I'm not a weyrling any more; the steam
baths are /much/ nicer to wash her in."

Kassima continues stroking her son's hair, something the boy doesn't seem
to mind much since he only yawns and snuggles in closer. Someday he might
have too much male pride to be caught sleeping in his mother's lap, but for
now? Pride can take a hike. Comfort's more important. "*Five*? Bloody
blazes, that seems insane t'me." There's a pause while she tallies up Turns
on her fingers, and when she comes up with the correct number, she gives a
silent, amazed headshake. "--How sweet of him! And 'tis surely a sign he's
thinking of you, y'know. Hasn't forgotten you for his foster-mum. I've
sometimes taken selfish comfort from that... are you bringing him back for
visits? I'd bet he'll be tickled t'see his picture up on your wall."
Following Ys's gaze towards the waters, she snorts a quiet agreement.
"Seriously. I didn't envy you 'Lings having t'bathe 'em here in the dead of
winter, 'twill tell you for naught."

"Me too, I really wish he didn't have to get older so quickly, and..."
Yselle takes a deep breath and exhales it slowly, bobbing around on her
heels to get balance "I've been spending a lot of time with him," indeed,
yes, she's been a little hard to find around the place. "Vannia's doing a
wonderful job, I just wish I had the time. And... you know, I hadn't
thought of bringing him /here/. I just go visit him as much as I can. Tel
comes sometimes, and Sav, although I think Sav's a bit uncomfortable."
After a pause, she asks "Does Kaswyn's father..." she doesn't seem to know
just who that is, by the tone of her voice "spend time with him?"

"And be fostered. I know." Kassi does know, by her rueful tone. "There are
some good things about it--you have more *time*, for one, when you aren't
the principle caretaker, and riders often need all the time they can get,
but... still. I'd wrap Kazy up in blankets and keep him a baby for a few
more Turns if'n I could." Good thing he's still too young to understand
this threat. "Nay reason you couldn't bring him here, if'n Vannia's
amenable and you'd like to. Could bring Vannia up, too--has she been here
much, seen what a Weyr's like? Mayhaps 'twould be interesting for her. And
'twould give Levarn more chances t'ride dragonback if'n he likes that sort
of thing. Does he?" Her curiosity seems genuine. At the question, she grins
and supplies, "O'wyn. I don't know if'n you'd know him--he's a Weyrsecond
down at Southern; I don't think he comes north much unless 'tis t'be
visiting us. Aye, he does, as much as he can--they work him something
fierce, I've gathered. I don't know if'n he spends as much time as he'd
like to, but he's nay one of the uninterested father sorts by any means."

[Editor's Note:  I should confess that I took a bit of
liberty here, and later, in describing Ozy's relations
with Kassi and Kaswyn; his player was being eaten up by RL 
at the time and we hadn't settled matters straight out, so 
I drew on discussions we'd had beforehand to guess how 
things probably would be.]

Yselle reaches out a hand as if to touch the child's hair, but allows it to
hover near him rather than touch it and disturb him. "Maybe Vannia could
come, it'd be good for her I think. Although..." she shrugs "We'd have to
fly straight; she's desperately trying to have a baby, and if she was
pregnant and betweened..." she shrugs "Well, it's pretty important to her
and Ilsen that it doesn't happen. She's never been to a weyr; I guess..."
she leans forward a little, almost upsetting her own balance and asks
"Where did you come from Kass? Were you weyrborn?" Her reaction to O'wyn's
name is to shrug in a 'never met him' sort of way and say, "It's good to
have a father who wants to be involved. Tel's great, although I think Sav
would make a better father. Weird how things turn out."

Kassima murmurs, "You can touch him if'n you want to. Just don't pull his
hair or pinch him or aught; he doesn't like that." Quite as if some
children would. "Ah, I recall you mentioning that now. About her trying for
spawn. Better safe. A straight flight might be worth it, though, if'n you
ever can swing it." She blinks then; her eyebrows lift in surprise.
"Weyrbred, me? Nay, nay. I'm as Hold-bred as they come. Daughter of a
Holder, a bit like Javi, save that Da's Holding would seem t'be more on the
minor side. Nay any name to it; he Holds for Lord Greystones and is happy
with that. Weyrlife's been... a revelation, in many ways." The shrug
doesn't seem to surprise her any; she nods to the sentiment. "Tel might be
goofy, but that enthusiasm he has is a good thing. It can make up for a
lot. I suppose suggesting to 'em that S'vyn sire your next kidlet because
he'd be the better father would get an outrageous reaction, hey? Would they
splutter?"

Yselle splutters enough for both of them. "Sav?" she turns red. "Oh dear.
Faranth, not that he wouldn't love one, but me and Sav?" she looks really
taken aback. "Uh... honestly I don't know if he's ever been with a woman.
And he's really nice, and cute and all that, but uh... I don't know. I
wasn't thinking of having another child soon, at least..." she shrugs "Not
just to have one, you know. Are you really holdbred?" she looks surprised.
"I only ask because... I'm a bit nervous bringing Vannia here, you know,
scared she mightn't really approve of everything, you know?" Her hands
carress the black hair of the child, she has, after all, had one of her own.

The impish and rather unrepentant grin that crosses Kassi's face suggests
she was asking this purely to elicit such a reaction. "I didn't actually
mean t'be suggesting it in *seriousness*, more t'bring up the notion t'see
how they'd react--though if'n he wants 'em, and you ever want another, I
suppose it might be a thought, at that. There might be a time when you'll
want one just t'have one." She's somewhat wry about that, and hugs Kaswyn a
bit tighter. "Indeed. D'you know, methinks 'tis the first time that's
*surprised* anyone. But I am. Some of it took some getting used to; some
things, I still don't *understand*, but I can accept 'em. I understand why
you'd worry, though. You might nay want t'run her by the hot springs where
almost everyone else seems t'go about naked. But if'n she spent most of her
time with you, and Levarn, and Tel and S'vyn--assuming she's all right with
Tel and S'vyn--then how much would she have t'see, really?" That Kaswyn
barely stirs at the touch is final proof that he's sunk into slumber; the
hair is soft, silky, and baby-fine, if rather high on curl.

Yselle blushes deeply. "I would," she admits finally. "I mean, sometime,
like another child. I just meant... I wanted it to be the right person, you
know," she looks wistful. "Was Kaswyn a flight baby? Or are you with his
father?" she ponders and confesses "A flight baby seems really... weird,
you know? Like you're just with someone the once, and... well, I can't
talk. It was only once with Tel. If the right person won the flight, then
that'd be nice, but..." she spreads her hands. "I'm letting /my/ holdbred
roots show aren't I? Vannia's... well, she's just never been out of the
hold, and she's always thought I was a bit odd, you know, with Levarn and
Tel, and she's still getting over the shock with Tel having a /boyfriend/,
but maybe she'd come. It'd be nice in a way, I guess, but..." she blushes
again. "You know."

"I can be understanding that," Kassi finally decides. "I might have wanted
it once. I rather gave up on it later... ah, neither, quite." She gives
Yselle a grin that's both sheepish and amused. "Ozy and I've only been
together the once, the day we met in fact; alcohol had something t'do with
it, if'n you ken. I can't speak for him so much, but I don't think either
of us are quite the type t'be bedding near-strangers without it. We're good
friends now, but between his schedule and mine...." She lifts a shoulder in
a helpless shrug. "I mightn't be adverse to a bit more than friendship
someday, but I don't count on it, and I enjoy things as they are. Flight
babies *are* a bit strange in a way. I've borne three. All three t'friends,
thankfully, but--and with me, well, all of mine have been pretty much
results of just the once. Except Kris, but Ev and I weren't lovers outside
of the flight until *after* 'twas carrying him, so he still sort of counts.
I'm getting off the subject. There's naught wrong with finding things kind
of odd still. You really haven't been here *that* long." There's a soft
chuckle to follow. "I can imagine. You could propose the idea t'her, see
what she thinks about it?"

Yselle nods. "Oh I understand that perfectly," she says. "It's exactly how
Levarn came about." She continues to stroke the black hair of the child
lightly. "It's a bit scary in a way," she confides. "I guess I've got used
to the idea... maybe... of flights, and you know, it could work out really
nicely, but then... it could be awful too, don't you think? But, having a
child to someone you hardly know..." she shrugs. "I'm a bit scared about
that, I confess." She looks up and says "I suppose I just wish it were
over, her first one, you know? And that it was good and that the winner
was..." her cheeks pinken "Someone I liked."

Kassima bobs her head in understanding. "Just so. And I don't have any
regrets. 'Twas a good day; it led t'good things...." She trails off, and
smiles down at her son. "Particularly this wonderful thing I'm holding. I
guess a flight could be awful if'n the malerider were *terribly*
inconsiderate, or something went wrong. But barring disaster the experience
itself shouldn't be awful nay matter who 'tis. For what 'tis worth." She
pauses in thought. "And if'n you really wouldn't want t'bear the child of
whoever wins... there's a remedy of sorts. The long jump *between* in the
morning. Much as I love children, I confess I'd be hesitant t'bear one
t'someone I utterly loathed if'n 'twere me. But that *probably* won't
happen. If'n your antipathy towards someone in particular is strong enough,
it may be that Dianneth will try t'avoid his or her dragon. It doesn't
guarantee you someone you *like*, but it might be protecting against
someone you hate." Lysseth suddenly stirs on the bank, eyes blinking open
and wings rustling as she draws out of her crouch. "Ach, shells--the
beast's reminding me, we have a meeting. Will you be excusing us? It's been
a pleasure talking with you, though, Ys. If'n you ever want t'talk about it
more some time...."

Yselle smiles gratefully at Kassima. "Thanks," she says. "She says not to
worry, but..." she shrugs. "And everyone says it really doesn't matter in a
flight, it just... it seems weird that it doesn't. Thanks for the talk.
Maybe we'll come by some time." She straightens from her half-crouch with
one final caress of black baby hair and murmurs. "I guess everyone else
survives it," in a rueful tone. "Clear skies Kass."

"It is strange. 'Twouldn't expect t'be understanding why it doesn't matter
until you go through it--the whole experience kind of defies description,
as much as we try." Kassima climbs to her feet, settling Kaswyn over one
hip for easier carrying. "You're certes welcome t'visit if'n you like.
Clear skies t'you both, Ys, Dianneth." She gives a last wave, then exits,
stage left.

You head in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.