2684.09.21: Berry Bonanza

Date: 21.09.2684 (03.28.10)
Location: Blueberry Barrens, Fort Weyr
People: Anaky, Beva (NPC), Bleriand (NPC), Ely, Galina, Grigoriy (NPC), K'win, Kessa, M'lo, Makeskai (NPC), Matovik (NPC), Pralius
Dragons: Irelanth, Gensoth, Maglinoth
Firelizards: Brown Cheer, Blue Cyanosis, Gold Poison Ivy, Brown Redwort, Green Zeal
Synopsis: Berries are picked! Odd visitors come, packages are delivered, and old people banter.


It's a fine, early afternoon that brings quite a few Fortians down to the blueberry barrens; while the place isn't a secret, it rarely sees huge crowds of any sort, so this is something of an anomaly. While the foliage of the bushes has started to turn from rich green to vibrant red, yellow, and orange, there are yet quite a few berries to be picked … and that's precisely why the cooks have been wrangling folks up for this little venture. Baskets and buckets are handed out to those who've arrived — whether a-dragonback, as a few have opted to do, or via runnerbeast, as many more have chosen — and the instructions are simple enough: pick to your heart's content and return the filled baskets to the wagon that they came off of. A table nearby has skins of water and snacks for those who might need them, but beyond that? It seems everyone's allowed to run amok with their blueberry-picking antics.

Some of that late afternoon sun glimmers off a patch of pear green hide in the distance, picking out the diminutive figure of Maglinoth curled amongst the foliage, the vibrant colors preventing her from blending in completely. Winding their way away from her through paths, bracken, tufts of grass and other obstacles of nature are two figures, each one growing bigger as they get closer and closer to the field of blueberries. It's fairly easy to tell that Ely is the one in the front running, mostly due to the fact her outfit sticks out quite a bit from the landscape around her - it would seem her dragon had some say in her clothes and, surprisingly, she's obeyed her completely today. A dress of rich, deep purple cotton hugs her figure, the airy fabric settling close to every curve and dip right down to the hemline that falls just to her knees. While she's opted for a pale lilac shrug to keep her arms covered from any chill, there's enough bare skin to make up for it between the rather low-cut neckline and inch or so of bare thigh visible through side-slits in the skirt. That in itself is strange for Ely, but she even seems to be sporting a rather fashionable sun hat - wide-brimmed, made of straw and even adorned with a slim band of purple ribbon. Curling the fingers of one hand around the handle of a basket she's carrying, which seems to hold a baby Milana in it rather than blueberries, she twists on her heel to peer behind her as she pauses to wait for someone to catch up, considering she'd actually been moving at a fair clip. "Coming, love?" she calls back with a wide grin, cheerful despite the fact she's yet to even touch a berry yet.

For others, practicality is in order; Galina's eschewed her usual skirts and blouses for a far more efficient workshirt — the button up kind, with sleeves rolled up to her elbows — and trousers. Crossed leather belts over her hips, sturdy leather boots, and a broad-brimmed hat complete the Healer's rather unorthodox (for her) ensemble. Leather gloves were at work, but have since been tucked into her belt for safekeeping. A basket is in hand, a small satchel slung with the strap running crosswise over her person and the bag itself resting at the small of her back and out of the way. And she's … picking berries. Redwort and Cyanosis are nowhere to be found, though whether this is good or bad is readily debatable.

"Coming!" M'lo calls out, and picks up the pace to catch up to Ely. Trailing behind Maglinoth is Irelanth, his whirling blue eyes rather intently focused on the lithe little green in front of him. He's so totally checking out her tail, and every so often he lowers his muzzle to catch her enticing scent. M'lo is dressed rather casually today, in a light blue button-down shirt and knee-length trousers with big pockets. An enormous fang depends from a braided hemp cord around his neck, and his hair is loose, falling around his face in a fetchingly disshevelled manner. He takes no notice of his dragon's interest in the vividly hued Maglinoth - his eyes are on the women in his life. Ely's outfit, which gets appreciative and lingering looks, is surprising, if the lift of his eyebrows is any indication, but certainly welcomed for all that. And of course the baby he carries in a basket over his arm is constantly checked on. Little Daniela is dressed to the nines in pink, today, including an adorable little bonnet and socks with little ribbons and bows. M'lo sets his daughter down in a likely spot once Irelanth settles in a mostly-picked over patch of blueberry bushes and extends his wing to Maglinoth with an inviting croon. "Be right back," M'lo tells Ely, and jogs to get a couple of empty berry baskets, one for himself, and another for his weyrmate. When he spots Galina he waves. "Hey, there!" he shouts, grinning like a loon.

Practicality? Anaky probably might need to work on that, in fancyish clothes and all, although he's at least in shirt and pants. Long sleeves sport slits with panels of more vibrany color underneath, with pants that have amateur embroidery up and down the sides - as if the tailor were attempting to make up for the crooked lines of the design by making more stitches. Also, he's dressd from head to toe in blue, save for his boots which are soft hide and entirely the wrong sort of footwear to be stomping about in the dirt. Yet the lad is here, basket in hand, with a grin on his face and already plucking little berries off the nearest bushes. More of them are heading for his mouth than the basket at this point, but the boy is cheerful enough, waving a, "Hi," to those he passes and giving Ely's outfit and M'lo's very pink-clad baby a bit of s blink.

It isn't dragonback nor runnerback that the Weyrwoman appears by, but rather by cart pulled by a burden beast driven by one of the beast holders. The cart has padded seats and has a roof to provide shade to the threesome that are stowed away inside. When the cart driver brings the beast to a halt, the woman is the first to hop out, a wide brimmed hat over her head with ribbon and flowers stitched into the side. She's wearing a breezy pale yellow blouse and shorts that are snug. Two boys are helped down, one that looks at least four or five turns old, and the other that still looks unsteady on his feet. Mato has his orange and black firelizard stuffie with him, dragging it on a leash this day. The lad is in a simple shirt and shorts outfit, but he's also stuffed under a hat to shade his face. The younger is dressed in a similar manner, Kessa offering her hand to the younger as Mato is quick to dash forward making these 'kawing' noises as he flips the firelizard in the air a few times with whip-lash movements. Kessa calls out, "Wait for us Mat."

Ely edges past a few more tufts of uneven grass and eases her own basket down, bending forward briefly to be sure that the baby inside is nestled comfortably within. There's a few seconds where she brushes a hand over Milana's fluffy klah brown hair and adjusts her own outfit, which appears to be along the same lines as Daniela though styled more in purple. Straightening up, she reaches up with her hand to push her sunhat's brim up a bit, letting a rather cross-hatched bit of sun get into her face as she peers around her. Galina's noted and she gives the Healer a cheerful sort of wave, that smile on her face growing even more, as odd as that might be for her, "Hey, Galina." Not much else is able to be said as she soon finds a basket in her hand courtesy of M'lo, who gets a coy little grin and a lingering kiss for his troubles. As she pulls back, she grins even more, "Bet I can pick more than you." That might be normal, though there's just something a touch strange about her behavior, considering the second cheerful wave she gives to Anaky, despite the odd look her purple dress is being given. Bouncing on the balls of her feet once, she starts towards the nearest bush, basket in hand, pausing only to wave another greeting to Kessa. Maglinoth, on the other hand, croons softly, settling herself languidly under Irelanth's outstretched wing, the tip of her tail flicking back and forth with an even rhythm.

The waved greeting of the brownrider is caught and eventually returned with a mirrored lifting and waving of the Healer's hand. Ely is close enough that she's included in the gesture … but M'lo can keep his smile; Galina has no such inclination to be grinning, smiling, or otherwise showing any overt signs of pleasure about being out here. Somewhere, the hobbling form of Grigoriy can be spotted — the Healers must have released the old coot, since he's helping with the whole berry picking process as well. His floppy hat is the battered old cousin of Galina's own … and, in fact, he might be the source of her newly practical clothing style. He's grunting, grumbling and growling about this or that … while the girl simply lowers her head and continues her task with nigh mechanical movement.

"Hi," M'lo says cheerfully to Anaky, slapping the kid on the shoulder in a friendly manner as he passes, unless he moves out of the way. "You look spiffy," he comments, the second time he passes him on the way back to Ely. The arrival of the Weyrwoman and her wagon is noted, and M'lo shades his eyes to get a good look at who it is. Once he realizes, he waves and grins. "Hello, Kessa!" A good look at her two little boys prompts more grinning. "Aw, they're cute!" he tells her. Looking down at the youngest, he even laughs. "Hey, there," he says, wiggling his fingers. "I was there the night you were born." A fact which seems to surprise him. "He's /huge/," he tells Kessa. "How'd /that/ happen? I can't believe he's already walking!" He's quite happy to be kissed by Ely, and returns it with a little more heat than is probably comfortable. Pulling back, he looks a little flushed, and a grin curls his lips upward. "Yeah, right," he says. "I can /totally/ pick more berries. Readysetgo!" he says, and runs on long legs to the nearst bush, tearing off a handful which includes at least as many leaves a berries, and throwing it into his basket, laughing as he does so.

Anaky picks a few more berries, some actually making it into his basket. He returns Ely's cheerful wave with one of his own, nodding a, "That's a nice dress," and bobbing his head to M'lo as well, with a cheerful, "Thanks." The arriving cart has Anaky turning to peek over his shoulder at the weyrwoman and the children, a bit of a light laugh as he watches the one with the firelizard stuffy. "Aww, he's cute," he agrees with M'lo, oophing a bit at the brownrider's friendly slap on the shoulder. He passes Grigory and Galina, giving each a little nod in greeting, and he can't help but comment on their similar headwear with a smile, "Nice hats." Hey, he's a weaver; he notices clothing! There's another cranky old person out in the barrens today too, though old auntie Beva is off stuffing blueberries in a basket and chatting with a gathering of old ladies a little ways off.

It's obvious to most of the Weyr that Kessa doesn't often get to spend time with her boys, likely fostered out for the better part of their lives because of her position. Thus, very much attuned to them, she may miss the wave given in greeting, instead turning them to get a couple baskets. It happens then that only the outright greeting with the use of her name has her straightening to put a look over her shoulder, tipping the front of her hat high enough to spot the cheerful M'lo. "Oh, hello M'lo. Ely," her eyes quick to go back down to Makeskai as he starts to pick some of the grass, squatted down and plucking away. She makes to guide him toward one of the bushes with Mat already claiming one and ripping off leaves and berrys taboot! He's a little aggressive and most of the berries that Mat picks will end up a squashed mess - at least for this moment. Kessa takes a moment to reply to M'lo, "A turn goes by quickly, doesn't it?" She says, voiced hitched with a regretful tone. Yet, when M'lo gets distracted by his weyrmate, Kessa goes back to her boys, showing Mat how to pick berries rather than squash them. At this time, Kessa notices the methodical work of the healer a few berry patches down, but says nothing to it.

Ely breaks into a soft fit of chortling, barely able to gasp out the word, "Cheat!" at M'lo's antics. There's a quick glance to be sure her own babies, nestled safely in their baskets, are alright before she's after him, able to catch up with him even in a rather hindering dress. Aiming a playful elbow at her weyrmate's side, she actually breaks out into a giggle, which sounds almost foreign and too /girly/ coming from her, "/Berries/. Not half the shardin bush." It would seem she didn't even notice her random girlish departure, busy as she is with plucking berries from the bush as fast as she can. Some leaves and debris also make it into her basket, too, but a lot more berries end up in there than not. "I .. um .. " she manages, still gasping between her usual laughter and a few sporatic and rather unplanned giggles as she answers Anaky, "Thanks. It was Mags' idea, of course." As if Ely herself would ever have the idea to wear such a low-cut purple dress, even if it does have a shrug to cover her arms and back. Managing to get control of herself, she tilts the brim of her sunhat back to peer towards Kessa, having only managed to catch her reply to M'lo, "Time goes too fast sometimes, surely enough." Then it's back to berry picking, her usual competitive streak still there, atleast, despite whatever else might be strange today.

M'lo quirks an eyebrow upward when someone else /notices/ Ely's dress. There's just a second where he levels one of those territorial looks at the young Weaver, before he's back to sunshine and blueberries. "Yeah, time sure flies," he agrees with Kessa. His own little daughters, secure in their baskets and shaded from too much sun by Irelanth's bulk, get a quick look. "It's going to suck, going back to work in a few days. But they're finally starting to sleep through the night, so…" he shrugs, and rips another handful of berries from the bush. A few of them make their way into his mouth and he chews happily. He cracks up when Ely's elbow catches him in the side. "All right, all right," he says, and picks more carefully to avoid anything but the berries from the bush. He picks as fast as he can, but unfortunately his hands aren't as delicate as Ely's and she's soon catching up. "Bubbly pies!" M'lo shouts, picking up the first verse in a well-known Eastern song. "He walks on by / And I don't know what do / With that bubbly pie / But I'm gonna try!"

While Galina's basket is already half-full, it might purely be because she's been here for some time longer than the others. She might be content to continue working, mute and focused, but then there's someone speaking and she inclines her head enough to regard Anaky from the corner of a pale gray eye. "I am not sure if 'nice' is … accurate, but they are sufficient protection." The brim of her hat is adjusted, tipped to cover her neck a bit more, and the Healer studies Anaky for a moment or two. Ori finally finds himself near the older women and the odd uncle here and there that are also helping — old people clustering together can't be good.

Kessa gives a slight nod at Ely and M'lo, though when they become too engrossed in their own competition between one another, her attention drifts from them to her boys. Mat is holding his stuffie by the neck and pushing the nose of the stuffie at the berries, squishing a few against the toy's fur. Kessa rolls her eyes in mirth, sitting back on her ankles as she starts picking - likely they won't be as helpful as other people, but it's something to do with the kids, and that's good enough.

Watching the two riders race to fill baskets with berries, Anaky can only chuckle sofly, working slowly and popping berries in his mouth every few handfuls. At least his basket is being /filled/ now. "Mags is your dragon?" he glances over his shoulder to peer at the green, "My brothers' blue has him all in red now." M'lo's look is only met with a cheery, innocent expression, Anaky smiling back at him pleasantly, with a quirked brow of his own. There's a bit of head-bobbing along with the song when the brownrider begins singing, though Anaky doesn't join in. He grins at Galina, "Add a little ribbon and some flowers and it would be lovely," commenting about the hats, tilting his head to study her in kind. Beva meanwhile notices Grigory and with a bit of tsking she hobbles her way over with a, "Old fellow like you shouldn't be out in the sun. Likely to crisp, you are." Despite the fact that Beva herself is without a hat, and pale enough to risk sunburns. Kessa and the kids waved at, the old auntie calling, "Oh, they're just darling, weyrwoman." Nosey old auntie makes her way over.

Ely plucks a few more berries that are easily reachable, tossing them in with the rest as quickly as she can. It's not long before the ones that were staring her in the face have been picked over and only the ones deeper inside the brambles are left. Undaunted, she hooks a thumb under the rim of her hat and pushes it back a bit, cruching forward to be able to stick her entire arm into the heart of the bush. It's certainly an awkward position half-bent like that, though with the amount of rustling and sounds of berries falling into her basket it must be a very fruitful way to do things. Oddly enough, she even finds herself humming along to M'lo's tune - it's a soft, lilting sort of tone that atleast manages to get the right notes if not the words. "There has to be a wager," comes Ely's voice after a few seconds ,partially muffled by bits of blueberry foliage considering part of her is still buried in brambles, "What do we get if we win?" There's a pause and more rustling before she adds, obviously to Anaky, "And Mags is my dragon, yes. She's … very fashion forward. She likes pink. A lot."

M'lo waves over to Galina, wasting precious seconds in his competition with Ely. "Galina! Come pick berries with us!" He goes back to harvesting berries from their bush, which is an enormous, sprawling affair. He's already about 1/4 to filling his basket. "Hey, Ely," he says. "Do the berries have to be in good shape?" His hands blur, they move so fast from bush to basket, but the berries that make it into the container aren't all in pristine condition. "Your brother?" M'lo asks Anaky. "Who's your brother?" Though the hints of a blue dragon who likes to dress up his rider in bright colors is quite a hint. "A prize?" M'lo seems interested in the idea. "Quick, someone!" he shouts at large to the persons nearst - Kessa, Galina, and Anaky. "Gimme an idea. What can we win, for whoever fills their basket quickest?" He's taking a different approach to berry-picking than his weyrmate, moving around the bush to gather the top-most berries, and avoiding those too far in. "Bragging rights? A foot massage? A pass on the next poopy diaper?"

"Why should it be 'lovely'?" This is a strange and genuine question from Galina to Anaky, her brow furrowing a touch under the shade cast by the hat. She rocks back to her heels, basket coming to rest on the ground and her elbows on her knees while she maintains her balance. Her attention on the poor Weaver is intense, but only out of curiosity for his response. "I cannot fathom Senior Journeyman Grigoriy wanting a lovely hat," being an old codger nearing his sixth decade and all. Speaking of the old fellow … he's rounding on Beva with a finger extended to wag chastisingly at her. "Y'ain't one to talk, young lady. Y'oughtta be in a hat or with some salve on your face so y'don't burn up." Meanwhile, M'lo's calling elicits a slow blink and Galina looks over, the line of her mouth flattening. For the invitation, there seems to be no response from her. For the prize … "Satisfaction for a job well done," is her suggestion. Helpful, no?

A nosey old auntie? Well that's certainly not a new concept. Kessa nods at the said auntie, knuckling the brim of her flower-ribboned hat forward. She smiles lightly as the kids continue to make a mess of themselves and the berries. Quite a few times Makeskai just stuffs things into his mouth and the Weyrwoman has to ensure that it's nothing not edible. "Yes, my pride and joy…" she murmurs to Beva, fixing up Mat's hat when he twists it side way from nearly crawling underneath the bush.

"Ooph, pink?" Anaky glances back at Maglinoth, as if unsure whether to be sympathetic or not, given she's a girl and all. Turning back, he blinks at Ely halfway into a blueberry bush. One hand comes up quick with a muffled 'snrk' sound, the lad trying not to look amused and quickly stuffing blueberries in his mouth. "Bevenky- B'ky," he answers M'lo, "You should see the getup he's in /now/," complete with eyeroll. As for an idea, Anaky laughs lightly, suggesting, "I'd take the pass on poop duty, if I were you." Galina's question gets a blink, "That's what hats are for." And his eyes scan around for one he'd seen, pointing briefly at Kessa, "Like that. Now /that's/ a lovely hat." Over a ways, Beva smiles warmly at the weyrwoman and children, though Grigory gets her attention, and with a haughty old lady sniff she shoots back a, "Who're you calling young, laddie?" waggling her own finger right back at him, "Of course I got salve on my face, I don't need need to burn up like a hearthfire. Hmph, a hat? How are you going to pick berries with a hat in the way?"

There's a muffled "ow!" from Ely as she straightens up suddenly amidst a shower of leaves and a great rustling, her sun hat going completely skew from the sudden jerky movement. That sunny disposition she's had for the entire trip vanishes for a brief second with a single, "Sharding bush." It would seem something poky had attacked her from within the recesses of the bush, as there's a tiny droplet of red on fingers already stained blue from berries. Sucking on the offending finger, she lets her shoulders sag for a moment, voice muffled around the blockage, "Mmf." Extracting the appendage to peer at it critically, she seems happy to find the bleeding has already stopped and the brief flicker of Ely's old disposition clears to be replaced by her cheery one. "Mmm," she pauses, licking berry juice from each of her fingers slowly, having completely lapsed in the contest now that she's actually tasted a berry. The next blueberry she grabs actually goes to her lips and into her mouth, "These'll make good pies for sure." Switching her basket to her other hand so she can pick berries with her other, which is clean and uninjurd, she starts back into the competition with renewed vigor. "How about all of them together?" she suggests of the prize ideas from M'lo and Galina. "As long as it isn't pink. Mags likes it, not me," she adds, obviously as an aside to Anaky.

M'lo laughs at Galina. "Psssshhhh!" he says. "I could get that picking as slow as the slowest picker. We're /racing/! There's gotta be a prize!" By this time, his berry picking-hand (his left hand), is stained purple from the blueberries. He glances around again, to see if anyone else is going to chime in, and spots Kessa with her kids again. "Kessa," he says. "Once our girls can, like, sit up and stuff, they should play with your kids. You know, like a play date." He gives his weyrwoman a cheesy smile. That turns into a surprised look. "Your brother is /B'ky/?" he asks. "I didn't realize. Hm. He Searched me, you know." His own dragon, pale and small brown Irelanth, gets a doting look, though Irelanth is far too busy silently flirting with Maglinoth to notice. "You all right?" M'lo asks, when Ely gets pricked. And apparently she is, so he gives her a little smile. He gives her an enthusiastic nod. "All right! Winner, between you and me and our blueberry baskets, gets bragging rights, a foot massage, and a pass on the next poopy diaper!" He's half-filled, now, and keeps sneaking glances towards Ely's basket to see how he's faring in their little race.

There's a slight shake of Galina's head at Anaky as she explains, "This hat is purposeful. The aesthetics of it should not matter." Puzzled, she simply looks at Anaky for a long moment … and then, saying nothing further, she hefts her basket and treks a little further into the bushes. M'lo isn't even answered, though it's probable that she's just focused. Grigoriy, meanwhile, renews the finger waggling, his weathered mien set in a scowl. "Would you rather I call you old, missy?" he retorts. "For the likes of you, a hat'd keep the worst off your face and keep ya from lookin' downright leathery," so sayeth the old Healer who … well, looks as if he's a bit leathery himself.

Mato starts hucking berries, really hucking them. He's gone around the bush out of his mom's sight and is tossing berries at anyone close enough. They're small enough so that they don't hurt, but he's playing all stealth like too - tossing when people aren't looking. Galina or Anaky, or whoever else may be near enough. If the lad hits someone, he'll break out into laughter that he tries to cover with his hand, muffling the snickering giggles. Kessa peers over the bush from time to time, but never happens to catch him throwing things, helping Makeskai out with nibbling on the berries rather than keeping attention of the older whose turning out to be quite the trouble maker. Her gaze lifts when her name is voiced again, her attention rousing over at M'lo, "Play dates.. Sure. Sounds fine with me." Oh but when will schedules match to allow such a thing?

"Careful," Anaky cants his head at Ely's exclamation, giving the vicious berry bush a bit of a look. His own hands move with a little more care now, wary of prickly things, the boy bobbing his head to M'lo, "Yeah," and turning to peek at the brown dragon a moment, "He did?" Eyebrows lift at that, though it's Galina who gets the next comment, Anaky letting his breath out in an almost huffy, "Of course it matters." But as the healer is moving away, the lad just shrugs and gets on with the berry picking. But suddenly something taps him in the back of the head and the weaver acks, laughing a, "Hey!" at Mato and half turning to grin at the boy. Beva meanwhile is still facing Grigory, "I would prefer you call me auntie /Beva/," and she suddenly reaches out to try to clasp ahold of his still-waggling finger, intending a handshake of sorts, while tossing a kind of retort, "Don't talk to /me/ about leathery!" Whatever that means.

"I'm fine, love," Ely reassures with a cheery tone as sheranges around the outer edges of the bush, too wary to force her way in deeper anymore now that she's been pricked by whatever sharp things linger in the inner recesses of the plant. It would seem she's slowing down, too, considering she's pausing every so often to actually eat what she picks rather than drop it into her basket, which is just starting to get over half full. Plucking a rather fat juicy berry, she pops it into her mouth with an appreciative noise, licking any lingering bits of juice from her lips with the tip of her tongue. "Mmmm," she says, pausing with a berry at her lips to peer over at M'lo, "Whatever you say, then. Though I think we should be able to choose what type of massage we get." Something of a grin breaks over Ely's face as she gives M'lo a significant look, her lips tinted slightly purple from juice by now. Perhaps it's this new idea that has her renewing her speed in picking, but that momentary lapse from before has certainly given M'lo time to catch up to her huge lead. "Play dates, indeed," she seems to agree with the conversation going on between M'lo and Kessa as her fingers move quickly, stowing berries away in the basket now rather than eating them, "It'll be months, though, but they should be fun." No time for talk, however, as she soon concentrates on berry picking and only berry picking.

It's unfortunate that Redwort chooses that moment to perch on Galina's head, claws digging into the hat. No sooner than he's settled than a blueberry thwacks the brown square on his rump and he's all spitfire and vinegar. Where did /that/ come from?! Where?! He's fit to be tied, all hissing and flailing his tail around until Galina reaches up to clamp a hand down on his body. "Cease." A moment later and the Healer spots him, though it's more than likely she spots him only by tracking the sound of muffled laughter. Nothing is said, but the Healer begins to move, basket in tow … oh-so-surreptitiously angling to move in a wide curve around. Ori, meanwhile, accepts the handshake with a firm grip and a snort. "Too young t'be one of my aunties, Beva. And if yer gonna call me leathery, at least call me Grigoriy or Ori."

M'lo glances once at Galina, but since she ignores him and passes up the invitation, he merely shrugs and goes back to enjoying the day. He hears Mato's little snickering giggles and glances toward the little boy. He doesn't catch him thowing berries, though. "Great!" he says to Kessa, picking away. The blueberry which thwaps him on the leg is a little bit of a surprise, but he doesn't know where it came from, so he lets it go. Besides, he's suddenly captivated by the sight of Ely and her juicy berry and her appreciative noises and the tip of her tongue. For a few second he just stares at her (there goes his chance to catch up), but the significance of her look does not go unnoticed. He swallows, and then his own wicked little grin steals across his face. "Yeah," he agrees, rather huskily. And then he realizes that she's distracted him with her wiles. "Cheat!" he accuses, laughing, and starts to pick faster.

"Grigory?" Beva hrms, her own grip strong despite her age, letting go to get back to berry-picking with a quirked brow, "Ori? Now there's an odd nickname, if I ever heard one." She pauses a moment to consider the old man, "Hmh, Griggy," a firm nod as if deciding before plucking berries and dropping them into her basket. Anaky, too, is berry picking, stufling a laugh for Galina's surprised firelizard over there, and commenting a cheerful, "Aw, they're only berries." His own three are perched in some of the bushes, playing what might be a game of firelizardly hide and seek.

Leaves go flying and rustling as Ely snatches at one berry after another, some of the spindly branches swinging wildly once they relinquish their fruit. "All's fair in love and berry picking," she remarks, throwing a coy sort of grin at M'lo, her own voice having a flirtacious lilt to it that might match to the flirtacious little movements Maglinoth is making in response to Irelanth. Now that M'lo's caught onto her little game, there's little extra distraction she can muster beyond what's already provided by the bits of bare skin shown by her dress. Even so, there might only be fleeting glances through the thick blueberry bush of the low-cut neckline or what bare skin happens to show through the small side-slits in the knee-length hemline. Every little bit counts, though, as far as valuable distractions go. Berries upon berries go falling into Ely's basket, regardless, as she picks up her pace. It's obviously going to be a close one as the time ticks on, the basket getting more and more full with each frantic grab of blueberry. "Done!" Ely finally crows with success, a bright grin spreading over her face as she holds the filled basket aloft, her free hand going to steady her sunhat that had nearly tipped off her head in the last minute run. "How'd /you/ do?" she asks M'lo with that curious lilting tone in her voice, standing on her tiptoes to see over towards his basket.

Even knowing full well that Ely's using her feminine wiles to distract him, M'lo cannot help but oggle his weyrmate as much as possible, between tossing handfuls of berries into the basket. It costs him precious time, and once Ely holds her basket aloft he groans. "Not as well as you, you little tease," he says, showing his own basket, which is still a good inch and a half from being filled. And now that he's free to take his time, he does, popping a huge handful of his already-picked bounty into his mouth. He props his free hand on his hip and mock-glares at her. "How'd you get so good at flirting, anyway?" he asks. "Someone giving you lessons?"

"Ori's short for Gory Ori," he reasons with a grunt, and then Grigoriy's settling to work alongside her. There's a narrowing of his eyes for 'Griggy', but it's allowed to pass. For now. Instead, "I'm a surgeon; s'where the name comes from." More berries are picked, his hands deft even if he hobbles with a clear limp. Galina, for her part, might seem to be occupied with much more than listening to others — but Redwort still seems riled enough that she's forced to stop, remove her hat, and peel him off of it with a stern look. "You will survive," she intones for the brown, then turns her attention to Anaky. "I know this. He is … easily offended."

"Gory Ori?" Beva asks with obvious distaste, nose winkling up and making lines in her already well-lined face, "Now /that/," she lifts a finger to point squarely at the elderly healer, "is a horrible nickname. You may be a surgeon, but it's no excuse to go around sounding like some kind of /disease/." Speaks her mind, this one. She tsks some more, shaking her head at Grigory, likely pondering alternatives. "Think he might need a little more training," Anaky comments with a grin for Galina and her firelizard, rolling a blueberry gently between his finger and thumb, as if pondering tossing it her way. But he only ends up popping it into his mouth. Nom, berries.

Ely slides her arm through the handle of her basket, still aiming a cheery sort of grin at M'lo, "I could've done more. That was just a taste." There's a definite lilting tone to her voice, mellow and alluring at the same time. Plucking a few berries from her bounty, she tilts her head back and pops them into her mouth, taking am oment to lick any stray bits of juice from the tips of her fingers. "I think I get a massage later," she adds coyly to her weyrmate, looking somewhat smug, "Maybe I can throw some flirting lessons in for you, too?" Pushing her basket further up to the crook of her elbow, she saunters back over towards where the babies have been settled. It might just be a trick of the way the dress fits, but there might be some more hip movement there than strictly necessary. Pushing her sunhat out of her eyes, she grins over her shoulder at M'lo, "Let's go sit in the sun a bit while it's still warm, love? I'm sure the girls will want to get out of their baskets for a bit." Picking up the basket carrying Milana with her free hand, she goes to deposit her basket of blueberries in the appropriate spot with the others before starting to head for a more secluded area. On her way past, she throws a cheerful wave of departure to Anaky, Galina, Kessa and the rest, still obviously in that strange, happy mood.

"Well," M'lo says to Ely. "When you put it /that/ way…" He grins and deposits his blueberries with the others on the wagon before retreiving Daniela and following Ely toward their own little family picnic.

Grigoriy just /laughs/. "Ain't so bad, now. Sure as shells ain't a lie, for what all I've had m'self up to my elbows in. Been called that since I picked surgery. It's grown on me, y'could say." It's all said in a good-natured, if matter-of-fact way. A couple of blueberries in his basket are flicked, idly, at Beva's. Just to see, of course. Galina, meanwhile, turns a look to Anaky, then down to Redwort — who is now being held rather precariously and at arm's length. He's calming down a fair bit now, though it's not enough for her tastes. The brown is unceremoniously dropped, a gesture that must be familiar, for he slips fluidly Between and off to parts unknown. For Anaky, "He is trained. He just dislikes being handled and hit with blueberries." Matter-of-fact, that. "He will do as I bid him to and he does not harm others."

Anaky catches sight of Ely's wave and raises a hand briefly to her and M'lo before going back to berry picking. "I wish mine listened all the time," he grins at Galina, indicating a rustling bush where his three are perched. "Grump, the blue one, thinks I'm edible. I almost named him Owmyfingers! but.. it's kind of a mouthful." He continues with the berry-picking, popping one into his mouth occasionally. Beva meanwhile is shaking her head with a disapproving tsk, "It's terribly, I say. Hrm hrm.." she ponders, "Griggy." The old woman decides, "That'll do for now," and then arches a brow for the blueberry flicking.

Early afternoon is quickly turning into mid-afternoon, with several people filtering back to the wagon to deposit full buckets and baskets and to get empty ones or maybe a drink of water. A lot of berry picking can be found, between berry tossing and berry eating and … well, mischeviousness of all stripes, too. The hat is put back on and adjusted, with Galina granting a shallow nod to Anaky. "I had to work hard with him. He is Redwort; Cyanosis, the blue, took to his training much more readily. It took significant time with both of them and some intervention to calm Redwort." If he's that cranky being 'tamed' … well, one can only imagine how much of a pain he must have been. Grigoriy grunts, methodically pulling more berries from the bushes and adding to his basket. "Well, if y'say so, Bev." See? He can play the nickname game, too. No more berry flicking once he's caught, alas.

A gold firelizard appears from /between/ with a soft chitter, turning gently on wing until she lands near Galina and Anaky, chirring a soft greeting to Cyanosis and Redwort. Contrary to what might be expected, the next to appear is an aged baker from the caverns, Bleriand, known best for his cookies and scones, he's probably here to oversee the gathering of the seasonal ingrediants. Ori and Bev get a sidelong glance… close to his own age, but still… wrong, somehow.

"The brown's Cheer and the green is Zesty… or Zeal. I haven't decided yet," Anaky introduces his lot, although they're not terribly visible being still perched inside the bush. Occasional flashes of hide can be seen, but they are apparently too concenred with whatever game they're playing to notice their human waving vaguely in their direction. "How long did it take you to get him calm?" the lad looking a touch dubious at that. He pop another berry in his mouth, picking a few for his basket. Beva snorts an almost haughty, "Of course I say so, anybody would," eyebrow rising higher for that nickname, but not complaining. And whatever she is, she certainly isn't right for that cook over that, as she ignores him in favor of plucking one berry to flick over at Grigory's basket. Two can play at this game! Or something.

Cyanosis, fittingly, is hidden in shrubbery … but when the gold makes her appearance, he pokes his head out to greet her with a churr. Redwort is gone by the time Ivy lands nearby, the brown having been cast off to be cranky elsewhere. Which leaves Galina to blink once at the goldling, and then to put her basket down so she can dig in her satchel with berry-stained fingers. A shred of jerky, then two, are pulled out of a small pouch, the first offered to the gold, the other to Cyanosis. "I believe close to a full turn. He is a turn and two months," she recalls, "and he is still … touchy." Grigoriy snorts over at Beva. "I've gone this long without a woman 'sayin' so', and I ain't gonna endure it now." For that, she gets a berry flicked back at her basket. Or an arm. Something.

Poison Ivy churrs, taking the jerky daintily to nibble on it. Once she's finished, she chirps a thank you to Galina and a soft greeting to Anaky's lizards as well. Bleriand just looks… flustered, torn somewhere between 'hey, I need those berries' and 'eeeew, you're too old for that.' After a long, unblinking stare, he coughs, moving to grab an empty basket. Berries to pick. Riiiight. Pralius' appearance is preceded by his usual clumsy sounds as he breaks his way through the underbrush. A battered old satchel is draped over one shoulder, though it's the sprigs of what looks like mistletoe that he's stuffing into a smaller woven bag that stand out. He pauses, blinking for a moment, where had all these people come from? He blinks again, sliding the bag of mistletoe into the satchel as he approaches, "Afternoon, Galina… new person." He inclines his head first to Galina, then to Anaky with a slight grin, "Did I miss some sort of announcement? Is today berry day?"

"Mine are all little still," Anaky tells Galina, the boy crouching down to pluck berries from deeper in the bush he's currently picking. "Perhaps a bit more than touchy," the weaver lad laughs lightly, giving the healer girl a grin, "I'm Anaky, by the way." Right, introductions, since he has manners and all. His firelizards are too busy with their game to notice the goings-on outside their leafy hideaway, but Anaky does give the little golg a brief glance. "Yeah, you did," Anaky laughs, "And I'm not new." Well, new to the healers, maybe, but the lad is already moving off to pluck more berries. As for Beva, she merely chortles a, "And how many women have you met, laddie? It can't be very many if you're still callingyourself that," as if she doubts about this. There's a wicked little grin, for the berry flicking, Beva flicking one right back with a tsk, "No need to get huffy on me, Griggy. Have a litte humor. You lot of healers, could use some time in the lounge, I always say. A nice bit of relaxing will fix you up properly." And if one of those berries she's flicking happens to be aimed at Bleriand too, well. She's an old lady. Her aim's not so good.

A bit more jerky is extracted and offered for Anaky's firelizards, though the jerky's left laid out for them in some way or another if they don't take it from her hand. There are berries to pick, after all, and she's not … doing that right now. Her basket is hefted, her hat adjusted, and she looks to Pralius with a slow, owlish blink. Eventually: "Hello." Pause. "The cooks took whoever was handy to go; I do not think they did too much in the way of announcing." To Anaky, she intones, "Perhaps." There's another pause. Then: "I am Galina." Over yonder, Ori seems oblivious to Bleriand's flustered look. He does take a gander at the cook, however, his brows lifting just a little. But then there's a huff-snort at Beva. "Met more'n my fair few, missy." Berry /flick/. Poor Bleriand; he might well get pelted accidentally. "Pah! I have some sense of humor. Ain't been to the lounge in a while, though." Cue sour expression.

Gensoth's neck> A large Bronze dragon sails over the cky, circling as if looking for something. Slowly he spirals down, his head sweeping about and he lands at the edge of a field of berries where people are busy working. The rider slips from the dragon's neck and on the way down grabs a package from a cargo pouch.

Bleriand blinks as a couple of tiny blue dots appear on his crisp jacket, then shrugs, returning to berry picking. Safety in the bushes. Pralius shrugs, "I decided to explore a bit today and see what herbs were in walking distance of the Weyr…" He shrugs, "Might help with the berries though." He grins a little, "Nice to meet you, Anaky. I'm Pralius." Ivy chitters a little at Pralius' introduction, then flits forward to swipe one of the strips of jerky Galina had set out for Anaky's pair. Shameless gold.

Anaky aims a cheerful, "Well met," over his shoulder at the healers, the boy lifting his head briefly to watch the approaching bronze and then leaning down to pick more berries. Only blue Grump seems interested in Galina's offerings, or rather, her fingers. He tries to nip at them, the other two still distracted with chasing each other through the branches. "I'll believe when I see it," Beva raises her nose in the air, and then gives Grigory a gap-toothy grin, "Well then, Griggy, you should get yourself over to the lounge as soon as possible," stated firmly, the old woman flicking another berry. "And I'm no /missy/," with yet another berry sent sailing through the air. That sour expression has her adding with a sidelong glance, "It might cure that awful look on your face, too."

Having endured enough of a nippy Redwort, Galina doesn't flinch when Grump tries to take a bite out of her fingers. The jerky is artfully slid into place and she's quick to move her hand, only to move on to picking at some of the berries again. There's just a nod for Anaky and then her attention is slanting to Pralius. "I see." She considers for a moment, then adds, "There should be some empty baskets by the wagon, if you are inclined to help. I was hoping to experiment with bubblies, which is why I am helping." The bronze's arrival is peripherally noted. Grigoriy grunts. "From how many berries yer missin', I'd wonder if you can see past yer nose any," retorts the glasses-wearing healer. "And you're a missy." Flick, flick. "I'll get on to the lounge when I can, though we ain't gonna be here all that much longer. Travelin's a better cure for that than alcohol, by a long shot."

K'win strides into the field and then slows, realizing that he is amidst plants that have thorns. They do not bother him through his boots and leathers but he might do damage to him. Sohe more carefully picks his way over to the small group of folks buzy at there work. "Good afternoon!" he calls. "Is tehre a fellow named…" He looks down at the package, "Pralius among you?" He holds up the package.

There is more cricking and cracking in the underbrush as Bleriand continues to pick the berries, pointedly ignoring the other two older weyrfolk who are somewhere between flirting and food fighting. Pralius nods, sliding his bag off his shoulder and letting it settle gently to the ground, "I'll grab a basket or two…" You know you've lived in a Weyr too long when you don't even notice an unfamiliar dragon arriving. In fact, Pralius didn't notice K'win at all until he ran smack into his chest just as the bronzerider asks if he's there. The healer takes a step back, then nods, "Yeah… I'm Pralius…"

Anaky has almost filled his basket of blueberries, and likely his tummy as well, given how many he keeps popping into his mouth. "I can see just fine," Beva huffs, nose lifting in the air, and as if to make a point, she tosses one right in Grigory's direction. "If I'm a missy, you're a laddie," another berry gets tossed. With all the berries going through the air, it's a wonder her basket's getting filled at all. But it is, and in fact, it weighs heavily on her arm, close to being full. There's a bit of a hrm, Beva glancing down and agreeing, "No, not long at all," before she adjusts the basket and announces, "Time for me to head back in. All this sun can't be good for someone my age." There is a a dubious look thrown Grigory's way, "Travelling? Faranth, you're old enough to be his grandfather," hand waving at Anaky there, "That can't be good on those old bones." And with that, she turns to hobble back to the wagon, calling, "Lunchtime, Anaky. Come on lad, hurry it along!" Anaky sighs, popping another few blueberries into his mouth before waving at the nearest people and jogging after Beva.

"I need to take this back," Galina intones, indicating her basket. "I will retrieve a few more empty ones." Matter-of-fact again. And, without further preamble, she turns, heading off toward the wagon to take care of the matter. Redwort blips out of Between in her wake, settling in the twiggy shrubbery and just looking cranky. So much for having been dismissed. When Anaky's called away, she watches him go, offering a shallow inclination of her head and a passing, "Be well," for him. Grigoriy, for his part, just takes the 'laddie'ing in strides. "Ain't good on the bones, but it's good for the spirit. Good work, too. Aside from which, the girl needs a change of scenery. Been here far too long." And then Beva's departing and he grunts, lifting a hand in a wave to her. His basket, also full, is hauled off to the wagon to be left, while he gets some water.

K'win smiles at the lanky young man. "I've a package for you, sir. From…" He looks at the package again. "Your mother, I believe. Her name is Prail, yes?" He offers the package which is the size and bulk enough to hold a short or possibly two, with a bit of a bow. Once he straightens he looks aout. "Picking berries, I see. Need help?"

Pralius has begun screening out the banter between Ori and Beva. Old people flirting. Eeew. He raises a hand to Anaky, then takes the package, "Umm… thanks… I hope it's not breakable…" He glances at Galina, then back to K'win, "I'm sure we do- eep!" He yelps as a young girl no older than 10 or 11 bursts from the bushes near Bleriand and plants a kiss on him, "Fank oo fer the cookies, Mastah Bleer!"

The other Healer is gone for a short while, long enough to make the basket exchange and grab a skin of water. Some conversation is briefly had with Ori, who grunts and seems content to sit at the wagon with some of the other older folk. Galya's soon trekking back through the twiggy brush, three baskets stacked together. When she returns, it's to disengage the baskets and leave two near Pralius and K'win, while she turns to start in on the next bush that still has berries left on it. Back to harvesting!

K'win offers. "Well I have a free afternoon. Need more help?" He sounds rather interested in it and actually hopeful. "Not that I've ever picked berries since I was a lad. I'm more used to dealing with much beigger plants…./Much/ bigger plants!"

Pralius grins, "Thanks, Galina." He reaches down and grabs the one basket, passing the other to K'win, "The more help, the better the scones and the longer they last." Bleriand just sort of /stares/ at the attack-smooching little girl as she skips off down the path towards the Weyr, "I… what just happened?" Pralius shrugs and sets the package from his mother down near his satchel before moving to the bush next to Galina's and beginning to pick, "I've never picked berries that weren't medicinal… Telgar wasn't exactly flush with them…"

"Of course," is intoned, though Galina seems to settle easily into the task at hand without much hesitation. "The process is no different," she explains to Pralius, though she doesn't look up from her work. "Even if the end product may differ." The antics of the girl and the baker are not noted by her, though part of it might just be that a fair bit of her view is obscured with the brim of her hat. "My mentor is hoping that we can make it to Telgar before winter, however. He has a few cotholds in the area that he intends to check up on."

Kessa had been dealing with her children in a respectfully secluded part of the berry barrens. There she enjoyed a make-shift picnic with them, dealt with some of the down sides of parenting, and more or less finally helped out with the berry-picking. When she comes back in view, she's got a basket of blueberries in one hand and a sleeping one turn old tossed over her opposite hip. Trudging along with a little less energy than he arrived with behind her, is Matovik, the scamp with his orange and black firelizard still swinging alongside him. Kessa checks a few times that he's still following her, glad to be finished with the picking since she doesn't look eager to pick up another empty basket when she puts the full one on the cart. Mat whines from the back, something about being tired. Kessa mumbles a few soothing words to him, grabbing his small hand in hers.

K'win heads over to the cart to get a basket. He has no idea howlong it takes to fill a basket of berries but he will try one and see if he's any good at it. He heads back with the other people and watches for a few moments then tried himself. Riding gloves are good to protect one's hands from thorns but they soon get a little purple from rushing them. He decides that will do no good so slips off the gauntlets to try picking fingers with his bare fingers. "I hope I'm doing this right," he says to the next person over, smiling.

Pralius nods at Galina, "Hope you're right… I'd hate to ruin our chance of bubblies for the next month." He mock shudders, carefully plucking berries with his wherhide gloves. Kessa's sudden appearance draws his attention and then a wave for her and her children before he's back to picking. No reason to distract the WeyrWoman while she's taking care of her midgets. He looks over at K'win, then shrugs, "Looks okay to me…"

"When we are done, it should be sufficient," she estimates, looking back at the wagon that's rapidly filling with yet more full baskets. Galina shakes her head just a little, continuing at the task and eventually moving to another bush when the one she's working on is sparse. "If not, then perhaps the cooks should look into making another variety of bubbly pies, rather than simply focusing on blueberry." It's an attempt at a joke, but the Healer isn't terribly well-equipped in that department. A glance is given to K'win. "I believe you are doing it correctly," but her tone is puzzled, regardless.

K'win looks up at the women and says, "Thank you…thank you!" Then he realizes one is wearing a very elaborate knot. "Ah! WeyrWoman!" he says and bows respectfully. "I'm sorry, I did not realize that you were part of the purple picking party!"

Pralius smirks slightly at the alliteration. Galina gets a nod and a chuckle, "Well, hopefully they'll pick other berries, too…" He pops a few blueberries into his mouth, then shrugs, "But bubblies are bubblies."

With black and orange firelizard stuffie held underneath his arm, the young lad tugs on Kessa's shorts. Kessa looks down at him, ruffling Mat's hair between her fingertips. "I know sweets. We'll get you back to the Weyr." Mato shakes his head then, lifting up his firelizard stuffie which has blueberry stains on it now - and also a very torn head. Yes, the stuffie had a bobble head now, some of the stuffing poking out. Kessa ohs softly, reaching for the firelizard, "We can sew up mr. kitty when we get back. He'll be just fine." Mat nods and takes back the injured stuffie, being rather careful not to damage it anymore. Luckily the one-turn old is sleeping on her shoulder, totally oblivious and quite content. Kessa sighs quietly, nodding to Pralius by chance having seen his greeting. K'win on the other hand earns a raised brow, "Why are you sorry?" Confusion.

The younger Healer purses her lips, then glances off to where Cyanosis and Redwort seem intent on rummaging through the underbrush. Up to no good, no doubt, at least in the brown's case. Still, there's no harm to be found, so she continues her work, with only a passing look over to other people that are speaking — if only to attach words to faces and nothing more. But she nods to Pralius a moment later, though Galina seems to have no interest in eating the fruit she's picking. "Yes, they are, although recipes tend to differ. The recipe at Ogren Hold is different than the one used here, for example."

K'win explains to the WeyrWoman, "I should have given my due respects to you sooner, Ma'am. I'm not used to living in Weyr, though I'm here with my weyrmate enough." He smiles even broader at that. He nods to Kessa's little boy. "Cute lad," he says. "I'm K'win, by the way, rider of Gensoth over there. I have my workshop at Ierne Weyrhold." He offers his hand to her.

The fingers have purple stains.

Pralius glances up again at the mention of sewing, then frowns, "Aww, poor little flit. I'm sure someone can make him all better." He glances slyly at Galina, "I hear Galina here's good at sewing. And baking, too. When are you going to bake some bubblies? I'm always interested in new recipies."

"I am good at the things that need to be done," is Galina's flat reply, with a sidelong look to Pralius. The young woman pauses in her berry picking to adjust her hat, her berry-stained fingers being given an absent look along the way. The line of her mouth flattens a little, but she says nothing of it, turning her attention, instead, to Pralius, with, "It will have to be soon, if you want me to make them. We will be here, at the most, another few sevendays before moving on." And, like as not … sooner, rather than later, knowing how antsy the old man is.

Kessa's eyes widen with a certain surprise for the formalities, not because they aren't due to be given, but because of the circumstances surrounding the location of. She's not wearing much formal attire to call attention to herself that she was the Weyrwoman, but it's likely the bit of golden thread in the knot threaded through her belt loops that give her away. Afterall, she doesn't traditionally wear her knot on her shoulder at all times. Her free hand extends to K'win anyhow, "K'win, nice to meet you." Her eyes flicker over toward Gensoth when the dragon is also introduced. "Oh really? In Ierne." A pause as Mat fidgets behind her, his eyes on Pralius as he tugs his firelizard stuffie close, sticking out a tongue at Pralius though. Kessa doesn't see the tongue sticking out, but she tries to get Mat to stop clinging to her leg. "You're welcome to stay in Fort as long as you please," an aside spoken formally to K'win.

K'win gives a quick nod. "Thank you!" he says and goes back to picking berries. After a few more have been picked he holds up a hand to the Healer, Galina. "Who do you get rid of the purple on the hands?" he asks her."Do you know a trick for it?"

Pralius smirks at Mat's tognue-sticking out and crosses his eyes in response before returning to the picking. Galina gets a little nudge, "So what 'needs to be done' then?" K'win's fingers get an odd look, then waggled gloved fingers, "I always wear gloves when I'm harvesting… some things are good in medicines, but make you really itchy if you touch it…"

The younger of the two Healers doesn't immediately seem to notice that the bronzerider is speaking to her … no, that takes a long moment, when the realization that there's a silence waiting for an answer to fill it comes to her. Galina tilts a sidelong look to K'win, appraising his fingers for a long time before giving him a slow blink and intoning, "Water and soapsand." There's another slow blink and, with that said, she answers Pralius with a flatly unhelpful, "Sewing, cooking, gardening, and Healing."

Seemingly getting ignored after the quick and unexpected introduction, Kessa takes a hold of Mat's hand as she excuses herself. "I should be getting these two to bed," this murmured to anyone who cared if she was going or coming. Her eyes sweep over the remainder of those picking berries, while Mat gives a bit of a covered laugh to the crossed eyes from Pralius. To the conversation of sewing, Kessa says loudly enough, "It's fine. I'm weaver bred after all, taking care of his firelizard stuffie is a snich." She shrugs and waves, "Have a good night." With that, she's taking the youngsters to the cart in which they arrived in, finding the driver indulging in a few bubbly pies, prepared to drive them back regardless of them.

K'win waves a hand to the retreating Kessa. "Thank you for the offer, Ma'am!"

Pralius grins at the departing lad and nods, "Sorry. I always forget that you're a weaver, Ma'am." More berries find their way into his basket as well as his mouth, moreso into the basket, though.

Afternoon starts to creep closer to evening and glow baskets are employed to provide lighting for those who are still doggedly working at the berry picking. At some point, the wagon has been replaced with a new one, the first load hauled off to the Weyr to be cleaned and prepared by the waiting cooks. While the crowd of berry pickers is thinning, it's not yet gone and there are quite a few who are filtering off to explore yet other areas of the vast field. For Galina, she's lugging her second full basket off to the wagon; there is no farewell to the others, however, for she's waylaid on her way from the wagon by Grigoriy. Brief conversation is had and the pair soon retreat, off to where a pair of runnerbeasts await. Redwort and Cyanosis depart in a rustle of foliage, leaving only a bunch of berry-less bushes to mark where she was working.

K'win finishes with his basket. Not quite full, but an ernest attempt. And now itis getting too dark to continue the work.

Pralius stands carefully, Ivy winging to his shoulder as he does. "Guess it's time to get back to the Weyr before night falls completely…" Ivy chirps and he shrugs, "Wyn should be back by now."

By the time full night has fallen, the rest of the people have finally finished up and another wagon is hauled back to the Weyr. While the fruits of their labors — literally! — won't be on display tonight … Fort Weyr will be all but swimming in bubblies and pies and other treats of the blueberry-flavored variety for sevendays to come. A fine end to a fine day, indeed.

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