Needing a Bit More than Klah

Writers: Ainsley, Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 30th March 2009

Characters: Lineal, Barli, Nico
Description: Lineal, Barli, and Nico take time to recover from the scare of Jezz's near tragedy.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

Lineal approached the table and peered in the pitcher, feeling the side of the pretty pot and smiling to find it was warm. "Hang on," he said to his sister and his cousin. "I'll just get a mug."

"Hmmm... I'm thinking its not just klah you need a draft of," Nico said, nodding to Lineal and stretching up high into the cupboard, and lifting down a small bottle of the stronger spirit. "Just a drop won't hurt you," he cautioned, before Lineal had a chance to refuse.

Barli, somewhat recovered from her earlier bout of illness, shook her head. "I cannot believe my child! What in the name of the first egg was she thinking? Thank goodness for the both of you, and Fog as well."

"She was doing something for someone else and didn't think of the consequences. Not that I'm excusing her actions..." Nico held his hands up, "just that I can understand to a certain degree." he looked from one to the other and dropped a small dram of the liquor in each mug.

"Brave and foolhardy," Lineal said, settling down at the table feeling ridiculously tired after the excitements of the day. "Why do those terms seem to go together so well?"

He smiled at his sister, very glad that she hadn't seen her daughter swinging from the railing above the paddlewheel. It was one thing to be told about it; quite another to have seen it. Even having seen some harrowing sights in his Turns as a seacrafter he suspected it would be a long time before he forgot the sight of his niece losing her footing in such a precarious position.

"And why do those words have to describe my daughter so well?" Barli gratefully accepted the mug from Nico. "I just don't know what to do with her! She's well meaning but her sense of adventure paired with her lack of common sense is going to be the death of her I'm afraid! And if not her certainly me."

"I think after today, she may be more cautious than she has been in the past. She had no colour when we brought her back up - scared witless, hopefully. I know we all were."

"I certainly was," Lineal muttered, holding out his mug toward Nico for another drop of the liquor.

With a sympathetic smile, Nico topped his cousins mug up again, and proffered the bottle towards Barli. "Not only make you feel calmer about Jezz, but it'll also get rid of the lingering flu." he grinned.

She held up her mug for him, "Just a touch, mind you," she said with a grin. "I don't remember finding so much trouble when I was young," she commented. Nothing like Jezz had done today she was certain. Her poor brother had still looked like he might have heart failure when he had come to explain the incident to her.

"I did some foolhardy things," Lineal admitted, "but I was older and - I now realise - comfortingly far away from my family."

"I was never any trouble to anyone." Nico said, trying hard to keep a straight face. Faranth knew, between him and the other boys, their parents had had a hard time keeping an eye on all of them.

Lineal laughed. "You two - twin boys, what would anybody expect - were notorious."

Barli chuckled as well. "That's true! I can't even imagine dealing with two of Jezz."

"Though I was surprised that Lihona and Linli weren't involved in this escapade. The three of them usually hunt as a pack."

"It wasn't me, it was all Tyno, I just followed along at his insistence." Nico said, continuing the feigned affront. "I'm sure if the other two hadn't still been studying they would have been involved too."

"Hmmm, and if we asked Tyno, would he tell the same story?" Barli queried.

With an abrupt laugh, Nico nodded, "Probably. But as we all know, he does have a wonderful imagination." He got up and walked back to the cupboard to put the bottle away. "Well, I've made you smile, so my work is done. I guess I should get back to the grind, eh?" he asked, glancing from one to the other. "You both look a little better, anyway."

"Thanks, Nico," Lineal said. "I do feel a little more relaxed." He looked at his sister. "You getting back to your bed? You've been pretty sick and this on top of it."

"I'm feeling much better, but yes I think I will rest a bit more so I can be up and about tomorrow. Thanks again, to both of you."

"You're welcome, Barli," Lineal said, getting up and giving his sister a hug. "Sleep well."

Last updated on the March 30th 2009

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Needing a Bit More than Klah