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Josy - Thursday, July 01, 1999, 4:45 PM
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The following is a roleplay-log from SouCon MUSH (soucon.godlike.com 4201). The world of Pern is copyright to Anne McCaffrey.
You walk over to the bustling Weyrhall.
Weyrhall
Thick stone walls rise from the granite tiled floor towards the large crossbeam rafters that comprise the high ceiling of this impressively sized building. Broad, deep-silled windows look out on three sides of the hall, easily closed during Threadfall by the metal shutters, but shaded during the day by fabric blinds. On the south wall, a large tapestry and painting have been hung with pride, though they provide conflicting images that may disturb some. Near the kitchen entrance, a long serving table has been set up and close by trestle tables have been placed in parallel -- some with benches and others with chairs, padded with comfy cushions in a myriad of greens. The heavy main doors, leading out to the flagstone courtyard, are usually propped open to let cool breezes pass through the hall, and to cool off anyone working the heavy loom that has been placed in one corner, a task often threaded and in progress there.
The sun slowly sinks down toward the west, creating pools of light which slowly creep across the granite floor. The air is still and hot save for an occasional breeze which teases the blinds over the windows.
To the west lie iron-bound doors leading to the Courtyard. A separate doorway, set on swinging hinges, leads to the kitchen and an intricately carved door to the south, leads to the Infirmary. A number of paintings and tapestries line the walls (+view).
People: Joslyn Foloran Saphire Bertha
Others: Dragonpoker Table
Obvious exits:
Courtyard Kitchen INFirmary
See? Told ya! Anyway, Foloran walks in, hand in hand with Joslyn. Ever the gentleman (or maybe he's just well trained), "Did you want anything, too?"
Saphire is bent over the table, scribbling dutifully, and sipping at her wine glass. Wine? Yup, though she hardly ever drinks it anymore. She taps her writing utensile on the side of her cheek, mumbling calculations. Scribblescribble.
Joslyn comes in with Foloran (but you all knew that) but doesn't follow him much further than the entrance. "Juice'd be good," she says, and disentangles her fingers to go and plop down in a seat at Saphire's table. Most intrusively, "Whatcha doin'?
Foloran nods, and goes to the refreshment table to grab said drink, along with a juice and some cookies for him. Carefully keeping from spilling those two mugs of juice, Foloran makes his way to that table, too, and starts setting things down.
Saphire jerks, and looks at Joslyn with a grin. "Hello, goldrider. I'm calculating the last of this...stuff." Quite unsure of what to call it, she leaves it at that. Sipping her wine, she scribbles two more things, and sets her tool down. "there." She smiles proudly.
"Inventory figures," Foloran offers helpfully.
Joslyn makes a face as draws her chair up to the table with an audible, irritating scrape. The delivery boy is favored with a quick smile and she turns back to Saphire to ask, "Howcome you're doing that? I thought you were th'assistant steward." She blinks at the girl, as if utterly perplexed.
"Just because /you/ didn't do anything when you were the Assistant Steward, doesn't mean they all don't," Foloran drums up with a grin.
Foloran starts munching on those cookies. And what are those? Nuts. They have nuts in them. Ha!
Joslyn ahems, quite primly, and tells Foloran, "You didn't do anything, neither. So just sit there and eat nuts and hush. I'm talkin' to Saphire." Talking to - corrupting - whatever. Anyway, she goes back to waiting for Saphire's reply.
Saphire chuckles, and hands the hides Foloran's way. "I think I'm done."
Saphire looks at Josy with a grin. "Well, I offered to do them.."
Foloran laughs softly at Joslyn's reply, and shuts up, as told. He takes the hides from Saphire, with a nod and smile thanks.
"Now then," Joslyn begins, folding her hands around the base of her glass and looking to the new assistant. "What's he told you that you gotta do? 'Cause I have it on good authority that our darling Steward is very much a slacker an'might make you do extra work to make up for what he doesn't." To be blunt about it.
Saphire blinks in surprise, her jaw dropping. She quickly snaps it back up and grins. "Oh really? Hmm..." Her eyes lside over to Foloran, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Foloran nearly blusters out into laughter at that. "What're you trying to do, Josy? You're going to scare the poor girl off." He's not a slacker, he just takes a lot of breaks.
Foloran decides to clear things up. "I didn't do much when I was the Assistant Steward, but now that I'm the Head Steward, I do plenty." Firm nod. There.
With a gesture at Foloran, the goldrider proceeds, "Don't you believe a word he says, Saphire. He still don't do much." Joslyn nods firmly in turn, then takes a drink for good measure.
Foloran gives up his own defense, simply shaking his head, chuckling, and leaning back in his chair. Poor guy. He should have known this would happen... Nibble nibble on them cookies.
Saphire smothers her laughter into her wine glass as she takes a quiet sip. Her eyes twinkle dangerously, and she winks at Joslyn. "Well, since I just met him, I'll have to take your word for it."
Foloran opens his mouth to voice a protest, but doesn't bother. Poor, poor Foloran. Victim Foloran: Action figure due out in August.
Joslyn nods again, adamently, and wipes her chin with a quick swipe of her hands. "Indeed you will." She sneaks a glance at Foloran, satisfied with him nibbling away over there and leans over for more conspiratory words with the assistant.
Saphire tilts her head ever-so-slightly so her ear will be at the ready for the words.
Joslyn mutters to Saphire, "And,... my... for... you get... You could... find... showya all... best... does... should get to,..."
You whisper "And, take my word for it, you get as many breaks as you want. You could come'n find me and I'll showya all the best places to hideout. He does it all th'time, so you should get to, too." to Saphire.
Ok, Foloran leans forward again, immediately. He can't just let Joslyn whisper stuff about him...
Or maybe he can.
Oh dear.
Saphire almost spills her glass when she hears this, and keeps her mirth down to a giggle. "Oh I have many places I can..er, break at." She winks and glances over to Foloran.
Foloran, on the other hand, doesn't spill anything. He voluntarily sets down his cookie and mug, having lost his appetite, now. Oh so thrilled at this.
Foloran's going to pout now. Everyone watch and poke fun at him.
Joslyn beams, once again satisfied. "Oh, good. It's your right as an assistant steward," she informs, and then retreats a little in favor of juice. So she doesn't have to notice Foloran pouting; she'll feel bad.
Saphire frowns at Foloran, "Is something the matter?" she asks innocently. Too innocently.
Foloran, whose player hasn't actually used a semicolon in a pose in like..a year, shakes his head. "Oh, no. Nothing at all." Or something. You may wonder why I put in that bit about the semicolon, though.. And if you do wonder, I laugh at you, because I'm not going to explain it to you.
Poor, poor Foloran just got himself a brand new Assistant Steward, in the hopes that with two people to do the work, he'd have more free time to spend with Josy. She's just torpedoed that idea herself, though. Poor, poor Foloran. He stops pouting, though. Healthy little grin on his face.
Saphire raises an eyebrow in surprise, "Why are you grinning all of a sudden?"
As long as he's not pouting, it's safe enough for Joslyn to smile at the Steward. "Oh, good. I'd hate for somethin' to be wrong," she informs, then contemplates his cookies. With the nuts. Eew.
"Just the irony of the whole thing.." Pause. "Watch." Foloran leans over to Joslyn, and whispers something in her ear...
Saphire chuckles and sips at her wine. Is there something between these two? Hm...let's ask bertha!
Foloran mutters to Joslyn, "... got myself an... spend... time... you,..."
Foloran whispers "You know I got myself an Assistant so I could spend more time with you, right?"
Saphire thinks she got enough from that to piece it together. maybe. Hopefully.
Joslyn's expression changes for just a second, blanching, but she covers it up nicely in favor of another smile for Foloran. "But y'know it wouldn't be fair to expect her to work when no one else does, right?" she contributes, neverminding Saphire's conference with Bertha; the old bat knows nothing.
Oooh. Saphire gets to jump to conclusions now. Foloran, on the other hand, does know what is or isn't going on. Heh heh. Anyway, he nods. "I know, but I actually do work now. I won't make her do /all/ the work, or anything. Just help out when she can." He turns to Saphire. "That's what I told ya, isn't it? Come in when you can?"
Saphire covers her smirk, with her glass again, and stands to grab something from the table. Hm.what have we here? She blinks, and turns back to Foloran, nodding. "yes, exactly what you said."
Foloran nods, his point made.
Joslyn shrugs up both shoulders and counters, "You actually do work, sure, but that's your job. Traditionally - " Don't ask when the tradition began. " - the steward's assistant doesn't haveta do all that much. I thought it was only fair for Saphire t'know about her predecessors."
Foloran has to. It's the law (Don't ask when the law came to be). "And when, pray tell, did this tradition begin?" Smile.
The back of Joslyn's head is given a thoughtful scratching as she tips her eyes ceilingward, thinking real hard. Like it's necessary. "Uhm. Dunno. It was a pretty long time ago, though," she replies vaguely, lowering her gaze to smile back at the Steward.
Now Saphire gets to ask herself the inevitable question: are they having a couple squabble, or just a friendly chat? Ha.
Saphire chuckles, coming back into the conversation. "Well, I offered my services, and became his Assistant so it's only fair for me to help. Besides, a stablehand's work is as hard, or so I've heard.
Foloran could just kiss Joslyn right now. Or could he? I mean...if they aren't a couple, she'd just smack him for it. However, if they /are/ a couple, she wouldn't mind in the slightest. This is fun. Anyway, Foloran ahs softly, and nods, believing Joslyn's explanation /so/ much. He smiles over at Saphire, "Honestly, I don't mind if you're just as lazy as I was when I had your job. Or even if you're as lazy as Joslyn no doubt was..just as long as you come in every once in a while." He bends easily. Did I mention that?
Saphire is filled with doubts about these two, but will she show it? Nah. Never! The feelings of Saphire never show! Or do they? Hm..Dev might know...
Joslyn bristles some. "She can't be as lazy as I was," she mutters, as if offended by the notion. She had laziness down to a science during her stewardly days. "Either way. Just don't you let him make you feel like you gotta work, Saph. Even every once in a while."
Saphire grins, "For some reason, I always feel like I hafta work." Opps, did she say that in front of her new 'master'? Oh dear, not good.
Dev might know..or he might not. Foloran doesn't know if Dev and Saphire are actually a couple. That might have been something Joslyn told him to make sure he wasn't oogling his new assisntant. Foloran seems to agree with Joslyn's response, though, so he nods, and shrugs. "Well, it's not terribly imperative for you to do anything in your new job." How's that for an employer to employee speech?
Saphire blinks in surprise and almost drops her glass, quickly grabbing onto it. "er, I, um..thanks?" Now that's a mouthfull.
Joslyn, who has successfully pestered Foloran, resigns her position as Saphire's corrupter with a decisive beam. And then she settles to pestering the only other person within pestering distance: "Where's your side-kick, Saph? That boy Deveran?" she asks abruptly, looking about for the resident in question.
"It'd just be...kind of you to help out every once in a while." Foloran's got more to say than that, but he stops, in favor of cringing for Saphire. He's seen Joslyn do this to people before.
Saphire grins enigmatically, shruging. "I have no clue. I don't keep up with that -man-..." Slight emphasis?
Joslyn tilts her head some, puzzled to judge her expression. "Really? 'Cause I thought..." she trails off, letting that finish itself as she shrugs. "Oh, well. He seems t'think awful highly of you, anyway." Bait.
Saphire raises an eyebrow, "Oh he does,d oes he? Well, I suppose that is good..."
If only Foloran knew Deveran, he'd help Joslyn out on this one, but he doesn't, so he can't.
Joslyn nodsnods most energetically, continuing with, "He was hangin' around with that girl... Oh, what's her name? The one what hurt her foot?" She shrugs dismissively and proceeds, "Anyway. I saw 'em in the courtyard th'other day. That was the last time I saw him, though." Hmmmm.
Saphire chuckles, "Well, it's glad that he's getting over his shyness. It will be good for him to make more friends." Cool, calculated sip of wine....
Has Joslyn finally met her match? Foloran has no clue. He's being quiet anyway, so it hardly matters.
Joslyn met her match - pft. What Saphire won't tell her, someone else (likely Deveran) will. "Oh, yeah. He was awful shy when we first met. But he's gettin' over that, yeah. That girl - " What IS her name? "Oh! Elen, that's her. Anyway, they were awful cozy. We all had juice'n then I left." Them alone.
Saphire chuckles, and plops back down into her seat. "Yes, I've heard that Elen is very nice. Once he gets over that shyness, he is too." She tilts her head, "But I think I have yet to meet her...hmmm....what does she do again?" Changing the subject? Diversion? Mmaybe..
Right, like that's going to work. Foloran doesn't say anything still, though. He's learned to keep his mouth shut sometimes.. Besides, this is too much fun to listen to.
Joslyn shrugs at Saphire and replies, "Dunno. Heard she was hangin' around with Kinoa's wing." If you know what she means - knowing thought, knowing thought. "Anyway, she did seem pretty nice. They looked like they were havin' fun. But I ain't seen 'em in a while, really."
Saphire chuckles, and winks, "maybe they went to the steam baths..."
Foloran finally pipes up. "Actually..." Thoughtful expression. That's it, though. Hmm.
Foloran /looks/ like he's trying to stay quiet. Like maybe he has something to say, but he's not going to.. This is fun.
Saphire tilts her head at Foloran, "Actually?"
Foloran shakes his head. "Nothing.. Never mind.."
Joslyn lifts a brow and looks to Foloran, her own tactics having little to no effect. Now that he's opened his mouth, though, she's dying to know (sucker that she is). "What?" she asks, a pleading little pout to help drag it from him.
Saphire chuckles and drinks her wine. Are those beads of sweat on her brow? A happy grin forms quickly but disappears just as quickly when Josy's gaze is averted.
Bertha looks up from where she is sorting vegetables and wonders, "Is there any liquer left, darlin'?"
Foloran pages: Given time, they could actually make a pretty good team, if she actually knew he was just trying to help her out.
Long distance to Foloran: Joslyn's never had a partner, could do some serious damage...
"I'll have to tell you later, Josy," Foloran says, motioning with his head toward Saphire. Like she wouldn't want to hear it. Then Joslyn sees a wink. Poor unsuspecting Saphire, though, is on the wrong side of Foloran to see that little gesture.
And poor, unsuspecting Joslyn is too dense to realize what the wink is supposed to mean. On the contrary, it just makes her want to know that much more. "No, no. Fess up?" she asks sweetly, dismissing Bertha with a gesture toward the kitchens. "Go'n look."
"Oh, you know very well what I'm talking about..." Foloran tries to dig himself out of this hole - this'll teach him to meddle in Joslyn's affairs, won't it? He glances over at Saphire for a brief moment, before leaning in to whisper something very very quietly to Joslyn.
Foloran whispers "I'm tryin' to help ya out. Play along..."
Saphire leans forward, "Hmm? She does, does she?"
Foloran ahems. Softly, "Remember?" 'Nother secret wink.
Joslyn blinks at Foloran a little, her brows knit - utterly perplexed. And then realization dawns (or pretends to, anyway) and she nodsnods adamently. "Ooohhh, yeah. Nevermind, Saph," she adds, as if somberly.
Saphire is -positive- there is something between these two. No, she knows it. There is more than meets the eye going on here...
Foloran smiles awkwardly over at Saphire, nodding. "You don't wanna know.." In his mind, though, he's whew'ing a lot. Almost got himself caught there..
Saphire giggles softly, "Oh, but I'm sure I do..."
Dammit. How's he supposed to dig himself out of this hole if you all keep throwing dirt on top of him, eh? Foloran mumbles something about the steam baths, Deveran, and Elen. That's about all you hear, though. Except for his other smiled comment, "Prolly be better if you asked Deveran about it. If you can find them." Eh. "Him, I mean."
Joslyn just shakes her head, as if sadly, and turns her attention to her juice. She clucks her tongue - poor Saph - and sends obvious, pitying glances at Saphire. Laying it on pretty thick.
Saphire giggles and winks, sighing, "I do wish Topaz hadn't gone wild on me when I came over here." She grins mischieviously, "I could spy on him.."
Foloran's turn complete, he picks up his mug, and takes a drink of his juice. Joslyn's turn now. Foloran picks up a cookie. See? Can't talk with food in his mouth. Have at, Josy.
A Watchrider snorts with mirth and turns to a Headman. "Could you possibly pour me a half-glass of juice?"
Foloran's still a beginner, see. Not good at this yet.
Saphire glares, just glares at Foloran, and sighs once more.
Promptly, Joslyn offers up, "You could have Tubby!" And then she catches herself, blinking at her own offer. "That is, you could if he weren't mine already." 'Lizard-lover, obviously. Anyway, she notes Saphire's glare and decides it's time to clam up, sorry Foloran.
Saphire grins and winks, "Thanks, but I'd rather have the fun of trying to get their intention." She chuckles, knowing that's not why she couldn't have him, but hey. No hard feelings. :)
Margali slips in quietly and looks around.
"I dunno," Foloran starts. "If you were nice and careful about it, you could still spy on him." Spying's a good enough topic change. Foloran drums up a slight smile. "Just hide behind stuff, you know?" He's such an expert. Or something.
Saphire laughs, and shakes her head, "No, I don't think I'd stoop that low. I've had people do it to me." She frowns, "Not fun at all."
Margali slips over to the conversation.
Joslyn, Foloran, and Saphire are seated a table with some glasses and cookies and hides and such littering the top, apparently engaged in some conversation which the goldrider continues, asking, "Who spied on you? Nobody ever spies on me." Sad, ain't it?
Foloran was all ready to dig himself into another hole, too. Aww. He quiets down.
Margali says "I could if it would please you, set my firelizard to spy on you all the time."
Saphire frowns yet again, "Someone at Hot Feet, my birthhold." She grins at Margali, chuckling slightly.
Foloran actually seems a bit frightened of that prospect - someone spying on Joslyn - for some unkown reason. He manages to hide it well enough, though.
Saphire raises an eyebrow Foloran's way. and, once again, sips innocently at her glass.
Joslyn seems a little wary of actually being spied on herself, only just noticing the Weaver as she contributes to the conversation. "Ahh, Margali. Uhm, that's okay. Saphire didn't seem to like it, I prob'ly wouldn't either." She tacks on a smile and then nods to a chair. "Sit with us and have some juice? Got two stewards here to fetch it for you, even."
Saphire humbly replies, "ONly Asst. Steward."
Margali says "It is the priviledge of the old to point out the folly of youth and I am among the oldest here, born before thread began falling. If one spied on you, you should take it with the compliment that it intented which means you were so worthy in their eyes that they felt you were worth the effort. Embarassing, uncomfortable perhaps, but do not let it bother you or stay in your mind."
Margali looks for some Klah.
Foloran is still being quiet. Quiet Foloran: Lunchboxes and party favors available a the following retail outlets: (Huge list).
Joslyn nods at Margali and says, "Oh, I'm sure I'd be flattered plenty. But... well... I got secrets, you know." She doesn't elaborate further, only asks, "Did you want something, Weaver? Saphire'n Foloran would prob'ly get it for you."
Margali says "some Klah would be good. S'Ldor's recipe if anyone other than me still remembers it."
Bertha just beams. "Aye, S'ldor...that's my boy!" she says proudly.
Saphire chuckles and stands, curtseying low for the weaver, "I would be honored, ma'am."
Foloran has no clue who that is, so that removes him from the responsibility. Ah good..his assistant's gonna do it. He offers Saphire a thankful smile.
Joslyn repeats, brows knit, "S'ldor?" Obviously unfamiliar with the name, she only shrugs it aside and leaves it to Saphire to retrieve the desired beverage - even if the girl isn't supposed to have to work according to tradition. Cluelessly, she drains her juice and wipes her mouth.
Margali says "Now S'ldor was a bronze rider worth knowing. Weyrling Master when I first came here, he was a seacrafter who impressed. He kept a sharp boathook in his weyr for threatening the weyrlings when they got out of line. Made the best Klah too, it would strip paint from a building and clean anything but the taste was great."
Foloran visibly cringes at the thought of that boathook, but manages a soft chuckle nonetheless at the description of the Klah. He's still in silent-so-you-don't-make-a-fool-of-yourself mode, though.
Saphire promptly walks over, taking a mug and pouring fresh, steamy klah into. Walking carefully back, she extends her arm, "here ya go."
Joslyn rubs the end of her nose at the visual, putting her mug aside as if it might just start stripping paint. "I dunno. I think maybe I like my klah weak. And sweet. With cream." Basically, she just wants dessert in a mug.
Margali takes a taste, "It will do."
Saphire blinks in surprise, and just smiles, faintly. She hopes she did good? Oh well, can't please all the time.
Margali says "You are like all the young, you wish to relish the sweet and everything is bright and rosy for you. Enjoy it while you can, age will come bringing death to dreams, the dregs of bitterness that will balance your joy now."
Blinking at the weaver, Joslyn notes, "That's not a very cheerful outlook." And Josy is a decidedly cheerful person. "Some folks're plenty happy when they get old. Lookit Bertha - she's happy." Oblivious and drunk, but happy. Certainly, the goldrider concludes, "I'll be a happy old person."
Saphire glances over at Bertha and dies laughing.
Margali says "There is forgetfulness and false joy in drink, but some of us like our brains intact, it is about the only thing of worth they have."
Poor Foloran. Just hired that girl as his assistant, and now she's dead. Well, now that Foloran's player is finished being a wisenheimer, on with the pose... Foloran nods at Joslyn's statement. "When I used to live at Ista, I knew plenty of the older folk. Most of them seemed happy. Kept talking about how full their lives had been..."
Margali says "Some are content, but then again, they never dared to dream to see dreams crushed."
Margali sips her Klah.
"So sure of that, are you," Foloran asks, bewildered look on his young face. "How can you assume that? You've never even met them.."
Saphire tilts her head, pondering softly to herself, "i guess I'm used to just a glass of wine. Doesn't get me drunk at all. I fended off Jos-" she stops and grows silent.
Margali says "Time will tell."
Joslyn blinks again. "And some of 'em dreamed and their dreams came true." She's probably a bit biased in the dream department, and still childish enough to make a face at Margali. "I'll be a happy old person," she repeats emphatically.
Foloran grins over at Saphire, but says nothing - Joslyn can respond to that little remark.
Saphire hmmms softly and looks at her glass. How -did- that slip?
As for the slip, Joslyn shoots a quick glance to the assistant steward and comments, "You THINK you fended off Josy, anyway." She smirks and nods to herself, adding, "Deveran's easier t'talk to, is all. He already told me he's sweet on you." Which may or may not be the truth.
Saphire chuckles and raises an eyebrow, "Oh really? What exactly did he say? I'm curious as to where he got this from..."
Joslyn, apologetically, "I'm not at liberty t'discuss such things. You really oughta take it up with him." She reaches over to patpat Saphire's hand consolingly and adds, "I'm sure he'd tellya all about it."
Saphire's jaw drops in surprise, her eyes glittering rapidly. "And how do you know so much, goldrider?" Or think you know so much... ;o)
With a simple, limp shrug, Joslyn tells Saphire, "I just know. Folks tell me stuff." Or they get it wheedled out of them, which is just as effective.
Saphire grins, and whispers conspiritorally to Josy.
Saphire whispers "So what else do you know?"
Joslyn only shrugs again at Saphire, feining both innocence and disinterest. Just to change the subject, she says, "We should play cards," as if it were just another casual comment.
Foloran is pretty good at making large tactical errors. Watch. Never tell a born and bred Bitran this: "I've never played before. You going to teach me?" Even if you may (or may not) be dating that person. Watch that trusting smile of his...
Saphire sighs and sits back. "Ah, well. Can't win everyday." She stands, and nods to those sitting at the table, "if you'll excuse me..."
Saphire mutters something about a lonely per-runner. Yea, that's it.
Margali glances at Foloran, "Why don't you teach me, youngster."
Saphire walks toward the Courtyard.
Joslyn was just about to get excited about teaching Foloran to play cards when Saphire departs - and she frowns. Didn't get anything good off of that one, bummer. "Huh?" Remembering her earlier glee, she ohs and nodsnods. "I could teachya. I could teach you both." Trusting smile is met with the portrait of innocence in batted lashes and sweet dimples.
Foloran nodnods. "Teach away, o wise one." Foloran brushes crumbs off the table, and finishes off his juice.
"Oh, good," Joslyn says, dusting off her palms before she shoves one hand into her trouser pockets. A moment of rummaging ensues before she deposits a deck of nicely painted, seemingly new dragonpoker cards on the table. "All right. Y'know the rules? What beats what?"
"Nope," Foloran replies simply.
Margali says "Perhaps you should explain it to us."
Foloran nodnods to that. Bright smile. Naive young lad...
"All right." Joslyn takes a deep breath. "High card wins if there's nothing else. Impression, two of a kind, beats high card. Hatching, two Impressions, beats an Impression. A gather, all cards the same suit, is next. Then conclave, three of a kind. Then a wedding, all cards in order, like 2-3-4-5-6 or whatever. Then it's a full Hold, a conclave and an impression (full house). Then four of kind, you need a Harper. Then wedding gather, which is a wedding with all the cards the same suit (strait flush). Then it's five of a kind, but you gotta have two Harpers. Got it?"
"Uhh.." Foloran says, in an effort not to sound stupid. "Yeah. I got it.."
Margali says "I think I got it"
Joslyn gives a reassuring smile Folorans way and says, "You'll catch on. Watch." She shuffles those pretty cards real quick - real nice, too, the little card-shark - and then slides them toward the Weaver. "You should cut those. We'll just have a practice hand."
Foloran cracks his knuckles, and waits, all anxious-like.
Margali Watches the shuffling with the eagle eyes of one that trusts no one.
Foloran doesn't watch anything. Why on earth would Josy cheat him? Poor guy.
"Okay, there's two Harpers in that deck," Joslyn explains as she receives her cards, tapping the deck neatly on its side to make a tidy stack. Top card turned over, she proceeds to toss five in front of everyone. "You get five. You can toss up to three of those and get new ones. Normally we'd bet, but we can skip that this time. Got it?" as she puts the deck aside and picks up her own hand.
Margali slips her one hand into a pouch under the table while the other holds up her hand and then she studies her cards.
Foloran picks up his cards, and studies them. The lad has no poker face, since he's never done this before, and he's smiling. Got something, he does.
Margali has the bitter frown she always has, She studies her hand and puts 1 card face down before her.
Foloran puts down three of his own cards, still smiling.
Joslyn doesn't have a poker face - at least, not a typically blank one. She's smiling the same as ever, considering her hand but briefly before two cards are tossed. HER hands never leave the table. (Not yet, anyway.) "Two, three, and three," she mumbles, handing new cards and leaving the old ones.
You say "Rather, two, ONE, and three."
"Thank you kindly," Foloran says as he picks up his new cards, and looks through them. Watch that smile vanish. Aww.
Margali slips up her cards and considers and then she looks at the others and lets slip a slight smile. "I believe this hand is mine."
Foloran says "Well, it certainly isn't mine.."
Foloran lays down his hand. Absolutely nothing in it. What he was originally smiling about, is anyone's guess.
Joslyn raises a brow at Margali, then at her cards, then shrugs and says, "All right then, I'll call you on that. Whatcha got?" She reveals her own cards, not bad with two Impressions though they're pretty low. As for Foloran, "It's all luck, really."
Foloran mmms, and nods, face wrinkled up at his own bad luck. Ah well, it's his first hand. He'll have plenty more chances.
Margali lays down a bust hand even worse than Foloran's
If that's possible.
"Oh, well. Hm." Joslyn looks at Margali's hand and then says, "Well, Weaver, you've gotta pretty good hand here, there's just nothin' in it. See, you're supposed to try and get cards that go together." She makes a face and adds, collecting the cards, "I won 'cause I had two pair."
Foloran threads his fingers together and anxiously awaits the next hand. He might turn out to be one of those people who's really terrible at something, but plays anyway. A source of income, in other words.
Margali nods, paying attention.
Margali pays as much attention to the shuffling as to the backing on the cards and prepares to play again
Quickly, Joslyn asks for, "So what'll we bet for?" She glances around the table, tapping the cards idly but not shuffling them or anything. "Marks? I'm kinda broke," she admits regretfully.
Foloran shrugs. And since he's rather good at losing to Joslyn anyway, "I dunno. What do you normally bet for?"
Margali says "well, I do have a mark or two."
Margali glances at the painting on the wall, one of her more recent sales.
Joslyn scratches at the back of her head again, really hedging about marks. "All right. But only a LITTLE, weaver. Like, no more than a mark from each of us," she decides, glancing to Foloran for agreement.
Foloran nodnods in agreement. "Works for me." He starts fishing through his pockets for his money.
Margali reaches into a pouch and pulls out several 1/8th and 1/32nds totally a mark.
From somewhere, in some little pocket in her vest, Joslyn produces a handfull of smaller marks - 1/16th for the most part. "Okay. Ante up a sixteenth?" she asks, glancing around.
Margali slips two of her smaller marks into the pot.
Foloran fishes out something to that extent.. He nods at the suggested ante, separating out his money into separate piles. He pushes a sixteenth into the pot.
"All right," Joslyn repeats - that being her phrase for the evening. She hands the cards out once again, five to everyone and the last card dealt to herself. She puts the deck down neatly and picks up her own hand and asks, "So who's gonna open?"
You paged Foloran with 'Pernese money - 1 mark = 50-ish bucks.'.
"Someone who isn't me," Foloran says, looking over his new cards, and frowning.
Margali considers her cards, "An eighth.
Joslyn looks over at Margali, as if wondering at her cards, then ducks down some. "Okay, I got your eighth," she offers, glancing Foloran's way. "You get more cards later, too," she reminds him helpfully.
Foloran mmms, and nods. The thought of that seems to relieve him, somewhat. "I guess I'll see your eigth..." So sure of himself. Sure he'll lose, anyway.
"Cards, anybody?" Joslyn asks, already laying down two of her own face down. She then retrieves the deck and looks about, putting her other three cards to one side.
Foloran puts down two cards, whilst nodding to Joslyn. "Two, please." Uneasy smile. And unconfident, too. Can't forget unconfident.
"Two, please," Joslyn repeats absently, laying the new cards before Foloran and then sitting back a bit. "You're not looking like you enjoy this so much," she comments, amused.
Foloran picks up the two cards and looks through them. Now, instead of looking like he's grinning at his cards, he'll just act like he's grinning at Joslyn. Oh, and shrug up his shoulders, too. "I've just started. Not used to the game quite yet." Smile.
Margali considers, "I am keeping what I have."
Margali Considers her cards carefully and waits for the weyrwoman to take her own cards.
Joslyn nods at Margali, looking a little impressed as she gets her own two cards and gives them a glance. "So now we bet again," she prompts, looking down at her marks and then around the table. Beginners, fun.
Some random person, who you'll likely never see ever ever again, trots on into the Weyrhall, leans down, and whispers something to Foloran...
Foloran's eyebrows furrow upward, and he glances over his shoulder at the young lad. "They sent what? Oh dear.." He sets down his cards - three of a kind, incidentally - and scoots his chair back. "Terribly sorry, but I've got a bit of an emergency.."
Foloran turns to Margali, and smiles. "It was very nice to meet you," then to Joslyn, "and I'll see you later.." He stands, completely forgets about his money, and leaves rather hastily. Emergency, indeed.
Foloran walks toward the Courtyard.
Joslyn looks at the faceless messenger, looks after Foloran, and blinks. "Well, those things happen, I guess," she comments, shrugging it off. "He folds," she decides, and then turns back to the weaver. "Gotta bet?" she invites, hands on her cards always.
Margali says "Certainly, a 1/4 mark"
Margali signals Bertha to collect and hold the rest of Foloran's money. Of course getting it back from Bertha will be an interesting task, but at least it will be safe.
Joslyn blinks. "A quarter... mark?" The goldrider looks taken aback, so much for poker faces. "All right. I guess I'm in for that." She parts, reluctantly, with more money and then looks across the table. "You must have pretty decent cards."
Margali says "Perhaps"
Margali says "As has long been known, not for me are impressions or hatchings," her voice full of bitterness, "and since the toying of my affections, no weddings for me either. THis just leaves me with a conclave.""
Margali lays out the hand with three matching high cards.
Joslyn reaches up with one hand, scratching at the back of her head as the cards are revealed. "That kinda figures." She tosses out her own cards, muttering, "Had a good Gather going there." A mournful glance goes to the marks in the pot. Sigh.
Margali says "I will give you some advice. Do you truly think that someone who has been weyrweaver longer than you have been alive would be totally ignorant to this game or any older person here?"
Margali says "More over, I have painted three quarters of the decks in use here."
Joslyn, again, rubs at the back of her head, truly perplexed. "Well, most people here dunno how to play. Not any good, anyway." She shrugs. "So you never know. Teach me a lesson," though it likely won't.
Margali says "They will learn if they live to be my age"
"Probably, but they dunno now. Get used to playing against people who dunno how," Joslyn explains, fretting a bit as she puts away what's left of her mark. "Still. Good hand. You still paint 'poker decks?"
Margali collects her ante and bets leaving Joslyn's money on the table and giving Foloran's ante and bet to berta to hold with the rest of the funds, "Consider this lesson cheap. As I said, The true judges of character have found me unworthy which leaves me only to the gambling and underhanded tasks." With this she rises and walks out. "I will consider if I want to do another deck soon"
Joslyn is just left blinking after the woman. "I'm gonna be a happy old person," she reiterates to herself, under her breath, and then half-rises. "Clear skies, weaver," she offers with a wave that probably doesn't get seen.
Margali strides over to the Courtyard.
*** END LOG ***