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Sovann sighed, very familiar with Okassis' ways. Here we go again... Of course Kas had to launch into an outlandish story. Then again, he might as well have fun and play along. "And I've been having so much trouble getting up without it," he said mournfully, playing off of his friend a little. "He knows the recipe, you see. A girl like you wouldn't turn us away, would you? A kind hearted girl like you? It's simply murder without that extra kick." Oh Shards now that they had gotten going, they'd definitely be rolling with this. Heh. At least it was amusing. He gave the girl the most innocent eyes he could manage without making it all seem over the top.

It was fact: Okassis couldn't help tugging people's strings. It wasn't so much that he was a jerk, as he just liked to see what happened. When people had to react to things, it was interesting - and how could anyone, especially someone who spent half their life on the road with people too wise to their tricks already, pass up an opportunity?

He glanced once was his friend - just a quick look, a small smile - then he was all business, talking to the girl. "Yeah, well, see," Okassis began, "it's really a secret. You know, passed down from parent to child through generations. And so while it works great, it's really important that it only goes to someone that is a fantastic klah maker. Maybe you know someone a bit older that'd be worth telling it to, huh?"

An eyebrow raised and arms crossed almost petulantly, the movement causing bright red flesh under her clothing to stretch almost painfully, causing a slight wince. Still, the expression remained wry. "Well, then I suppose you're left to the women in the Cavern." Inaari really was ready to try to make friends, but not if they were going to be so rude! Brown eyes looked both youths up and down, before she turned away with a careless wave of her hand.

"I'd wish you good luck, but I don't waste luck that way. They're not very easy to get past down there. It's really a shame you're so silly." Inwardly, she sighed as yet again, her age pushed her back from interaction with the other Candidates. It wasn't HER fault she was so young, and she wasn't at all childish! Really!

"Well... " Sovann pretended to deliberate, biting his lip, and looking pensive. "It's really important. Do you think you can manage it?" Inwardly, he was laughing. It was not all that often that they managed to get such genuine responses out of people, and he was really enjoying them. "I mean, if you say you're really good with klah, I guess you know your own capabilities better than we do. Maybe if you could show us how good you were, just to prove your word?" And hey, a pitcher of klah for Sovann in the bargain. He definitely approved of that idea. He made his expression as open and earnest as he could. "We didn't mean to offend, sorry."

Okassis thought a while over that. "You're a Candidate too? Really?" he derived at last, his brows shooting up. "Geez. You've gotta be a Weyrbrat, huh? I didn't think they Searched so young." Probably rubbing salt in the "young" wound wasn't the smartest thing to do, but at least Okassis was being sincere about his surprise this time. Most of the Candidates he'd met were right around his age - but Inaari didn't even look like she'd grown into her freckles yet, sheesh!

That was it. She stopped abruptly, heels digging into the worn stone floor, elbow out, and moderate force behind it, where it was sure to ram into SOME part of the boy close behind her. "You'd be shocked at how young they Search us! Especially if there were a Queen on the sands!" Oh that hurt, to think that she was so unruly and wild as to be from the Weyr!

As much as she loved the freedom and lifestyle of the Weyr, the children here were decidedly more wild than those grown and raised in the safety and schedule of a Hold. "No, I'm from a Fort Hold cot. My father's family has Held the Cot for generations now!" Pride and indignation warred in her voice. "Just because you're entering your peak, and they feel the need to shove a dragon under you, doesn't mean we're all so unlucky!"

The tone was sharp now. "I don't even know why I'm bothering now, but by the Egg, you'll have the klah!" Oh she knew why, and she was going to prove that no matter her age, she was worthy to be a Dragonrider!

Sovann's eyes, which had appeared to be so open and friendly before, went flinty. "So you're a holder's daughter," he said, and it was clear from his tone that that bought her no respect in his books. His lips tightened into a fine line and he carefully shooed Okassis out of harm's way while the youth was doubled over. He might be able to get away with pushing Kas around, but that was because they were all but brothers, and scorch it, some cotholder girl didn't have any call to hit his Kas just 'cause he was being a jerk. He looked down at the girl, sizing her up, trying to decide what he thought of her. Well, at least she wasn't painted and powdered. He had to give her that. Women who flounced about wearing that foolishness looked ridiculous. "Never thought I'd see someone like you working in the kitchens. That's something new." His eyes bored into hers, and he took in every freckle, every hint that she wasn't some soft shell. Trouble was, everything he knew told him that girls like her weren't good for anything out of bed. Young as she was, he was fairly sure she wasn't meant for anything in it.

Oh geez. No way. No fardling way. Was Sovann really pushing in to protect him against a thirteen year old girl?!

Okassis couldn't stand for this. Of course, it was still a bit hard to stand straight, and he winced in doing so. But there was no way, no way at all, he was going to look like a wilting damsel, standing by the side while Sovann jumped in to protect his honor.

"G, guys, c'mon...." he began. "C'mon. No reason to fight, okay? Geez, you're drawing attention, guys...." Attention which means more people saw me get beat up by a girl. Scorch it!