Logs:Graduation
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| RL Date: 15 July, 2013 |
| Who: Alida, Hana, Jo, K'del, K'zin, N'ky, Quielle, Quinlys, Telavi, Cadejoth, Rasavyth, Solith, Ilicaeth |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Clutch 34 graduates. |
| Where: Living Cavern |
| When: Day 28, Month 3, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: It is a rare day of cloudless sunshine, though the temperatures are markedly colder. |
| Mentions: J'madri/Mentions |
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| Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr Stalactites hang high above this enormous cavern like a jagged chandelier or an inversion of the Spires themselves, but shadows cling to them instead of light. Below lie great tables arranged in rows, each large enough to serve a fighting wing, while in the nooks and alcoves around the cavern's edge sit more sensibly-sized tables, from six- and eight-seaters down to intimate spots for just a couple of diners. The only really open space is around the kitchen entrance, smelling of food and rarely quiet, and by the nearby serving tables with their long buffet of the day's offerings. Tapestries on the smooth walls -- some faded and others newly woven -- only slightly mute the sea of sound when a meal is in full swing, but they add cheerfulness augmented by the glowlight from wall sconces and the centerpieces of each table. Still, shadows always creep along the ceiling and into the mouths of the exits -- the myriad small hallways at one end of the cavern and, at the other, the twisting tunnel to the bowl near an array of coathooks and and hatracks -- and late at night, when the glows are allowed to dim, the chamber can seem very dark indeed. It's a more restrained party than many High Reaches has hosted: the alcohol is more moderately available, the food less fancy. Still, a party is a party, and even a modestly provisioned party is better than the usual evening spread. The formalities have been short and sweet, with only very short speeches surrounding the presentation of knots, each corded appropriately for full riders. Now, with that part of the proceedings complete, the party itself can commence. The Weyr's harpers have started up some gentle background noise, the food is laid out, and there's a low susurrus of quiet conversation seeping through the caverns. Quinlys' speech was short and sharp, peppered with a handful of jokes (something about strawberries?) and concluding with a, "And now they're not my problem anymore, and thank fuck for that." It's not very formal, but she earned some laughs, and now she's cheerfully hanging with a few riders, laughing uproariously about... well, something. K'zin's expression has been schooled and serious through the proceedings, ranging from politely interested in the speeches, even the dull ones, to small, restrained smiles as his classmates receive their knots. Despite his pristine manner of fancy dress, he's not been coming off as all that festive or celebratory. By contrast, Rasavyth's been broadcasting to any and all that care to hear him a merry mood of frivolous joy. He's even provided exciting music for the dragons as well. Physically, he's in the bowl, socializing, which means wandering hither and yon to rumble or warble or croon at different dragons in turn. Dressed relatively simple, with a double-breasted waistcoat in High Reaches' colours, over a plain white shirt, black leathers, and polished-up knee-high boots, N'ky looks... well, lost, following the speeches. Giddy, certainly - which goes hand in hand with excitement, naturally, but utterly clueless about what to do next. His cheeks are flushed and he's wearing a bright enough smile as he looks around, somewhat wide-eyed in his bewilderment, before he follows the example set by those weyrlings in his immediate vicinity and goes to raid the drinks counter, laughing at something said by J'madri before peeling away from him with a whisky on the rocks in hand. He stands just to the side for a moment, taking a much-needed moment to let it all sink in. Unlike enough others in their former Weyrling wing, Alida isn't dressed in fancy threads...especially not a dress. The apparently tried-and-true guard sports only her new, perfectly tailored riding leathers - the jacket hung on a peg near the Cavern's entrance - and a likewise perfectly-tailored, cream button-up shirt of rarer cotton. Even her boots are perfectly new and likewise fitting. What stands out on her, however, is the hairdo and small bit of makeup worn for the occasion, the length of her intricately braided and decorated pale-blonde tresses showing that the bluie got away from Quinlys' scissors...just like Telavi. During Quin's former short and blunt speech, the woman kept to mostly neutral expressions and militaristic posture, but with the other bluerider's 'thank fuck,' the former weyrling finally broke down and smirked. Each of her former classmates received a quick bob of head, a handshake, or even a quick hug and thump on the back, given their status in her own life. But *now* it's time for fun, and while she's in here, looking all around and moving towards where the booze is settled, Ilicaeth's outside and yakking it up like a crazy man with every dragon who will listens and/or join in, his geniality and wise-assed cracks inspiring good humor in enough. K'del's standing with Sisha, for the moment, listening to her say something that has him looking serious, but not concerned. His nod confirms something she says - and then he peels away, meandering off through the crowd in search of... something. Not his wingmates, certainly, who are largely converged in a group all of their own, and not the food or drinks tables, either. No: he mingles, more or less, pausing to stop and chat to anyone who catches his eye, but never staying too long. It's not so very much longer for Telavi to listen compared to these last months, even with those speeches put together, especially given the funny one that may not quite get a laugh out of Tela but something very, very close. If she's been stealing glimpses of a few pretty dresses elsewhere in the cavern-- while she's having to stay put in her dress leathers, the horror-- at least she's discreet about it. Once freed, the greenrider has a murmur intended for Sabs' ear, and yes, now she's laughing before setting into her own rounds. It's a game of sorts, returning Alida's somewhat tentative hug if not that lighter thump on her back, hello here, congratulations there, heading for the drinks table... and of course, now there's a ine. "Too quick," she calls over to N'ky, more teasing than complaint. Solith? She's settled in a lower ledge that's been swept clean of snow, not bouncy but certainly pleased. Those two. For all that Solith may not be partaking directly of the frolicking, those gleeful emotions are contagious, and her eyes whirl that much brighter of a blue. (To Rasavyth and Ilicaeth from Solith) What who? He was busy blabbering with a few others at a time. Peer. « Who? » (To Rasavyth and Solith from Ilicaeth) Most of Glacier is here, loud and boisterous and being their usual. Most might not notice Jo slipping in with Kait and M'ron flanking her, heading straight to the table where the drinks are at rather than to their respective wings. She does miss the speeches and the giving of the knots, but the woman is already engaging in patting one of the newly minted riders' backs: those being, Sybile and Canie who seek the trio out by the tables with their knots and smiles. To Ilicaeth and Solith, Rasavyth admits it; it's him. Frolicking! He swaggers about, promoting all the happy feelings achievement engenders. A drink seems right about right, but... there's that line. And in that line... Well. K'zin chooses to hold off, settling into a seat. He's exchanged a few congratulatory remarks with some classmates, but he slipped away from the group so quick that not even Alida had a chance to snag him for a hug. His brown eyes scan the cavern, expression thoughtful. It lingers momentarily on the harpers and then back to the food, but his interest doesn't seem to be held there either. What a party-pooper. Yeah, he can't help it. He's just a-shine with good feelings and pride in their current state. Roared out in mental baritone, « Partaaaaay!!! » (To Solith and Rasavyth from Ilicaeth) Telavi's comment makes N'ky grin; he peeps at her from over the top of his tumbler as he takes a slow sip. Once it's swallowed, he edges towards her and replies with, "Weyrlinghood, the speeches, or getting to the drinks counter?" His drink is offered while she waits for hers, a crooked, soft smile tweaking at the corner of his mouth. "Which wing are you hoping for, Tela?" She just can't help it, even now, and those greens subconsciously skip along the room, noting folks and their actions, where they gravitate to and with whom. After giving a few grins and some murmurs to a few riders in Glacier and Hailstorm, the guard can't help but finding K'zin's contemplative face out there, and after she's nabbed a couple of beers, the woman steers her feet his way. Upon arrival: "Drink." The booze is offered to him with a faint smirk and inquiring eyes. That line, Telavi stands in it. At least it's relatively quick-moving, though Tela picks up her feet just enough that she doesn't shuffle. "Getting to the drinks is what I was thinking of, but now that you mention it... I wonder if there are any special drinks tonight, for the occasion. Or even old drinks, given special names." Almost there! Glancing back, "I'd tell you which wing, but I don't want to jinx it. But it may start with the letter 'S'..." which should give it all away unless she has ambition to kick back with the graybeards. If her expression's briefly troubled, well, it might have something to do with Mielline being so busy after wing meetings of late. "Thanks," K'zin accepts the beer from Alida, with a tight but grateful smile. At least the bronzerider is polite enough to get onto his feet at Alida's approach, offering a gesture toward a chair beside him in case she's of a mind to join. "Congratulations, Alida." This, too, is subdued, but sincere. "So, no dress after all?" This is added conversationally, though he shouldn't be surprised since he didn't wear one either as the proposed deal had been. Somewhere across the room, Mielline is presently tapping the very first of the weyrlings to her wing-- a bluerider, one who looks terribly pleased with his new wing. Jo and the Equinox pair trade jokes with the newly minted riders, Sybile and Canie, Kait and M'ron more animated than the bluerider. She's getting her drink and looking around, seeming to be searching the faces in the crowd while continuing the conversation before she taps her companions on the shoulders and murmurs something to them. She nods before moving off, passing through the crowd in her black leathers (one hardly catches her in a dress for any occasion) and is approaching both K'zin and Alida from behind, only catching the tailend of what the bronzerider says before she cuts in with, "Who needs a dress, really?" She flashes a crooked grin to Alida, stepping to the side so that they both can see her. N'ky shadows Telavi in the line; sort of, anyway. Since he's already got his drink, and the crowd he was with have dispersed into doing their own thing, he doesn't mind talking with his fellow greenrider. "I didn't see any special ones, but, um, I wasn't really looking," he admits, swirling his whisky around so the ice cubes chink off one another. "A wing beginning with 'S'? I didn't get to shadow them. D-do you, um, have plans, for when you're, um... n-not... not drilling?" The pause is because he's trying not to stumble over his words; he bites his lip in mild frustration, then takes another drink to try and hide it. "Welcome," the newly-minted bluerider notes to Waki, then plunking her butt down on that proffered chair. For his congratulations, *he* gets a careful hug (mustn't spill beer!), and even a quick brush of a smooch on his forehead, if she can get away with them. A smirk and shake of head are for the bronzer's comment about her lack of dress, though her free hand does lift to gently touch her done-up hair. It's her own kind of glamorous allowance for this special day. And then there's Jo speaking from behind them, the blonde turning her head to notes wryly to her fellow bluie, "Nobody. Need 'n want 'r two different things, uv course." With the shift of the ex-con's position comes her own looking sort-of-forward again, Jo gestured closer with a beer-holding hand. Telavi's in no hurry, or at least she has to look like she's in no hurry, which means to the untutored eye that she's not searching for anyone particular in the crowd, and definitely not a certain blueriding wingleader. Even if she is glancing about here and there, she has such a casual air. "I'll have to ask, then," she replies to N'ky, more obvious about going up on her toes to look now, since it's only to peek over another woman's shoulder at the table on display. "Plans? Of course. I can wear my hair differently every single day for months if I like, now, and I'm terribly out of practice. Did you see Alida's? I should have said something, but it was such a crush out there," and even more here. Hana was there for earlier events - either working magic or watching on - but it isn't until now that she slips in from one of the other caverns to join all the merrymaking going on. There's a bit of a smile already present. That said, as soon as she starts to recognize certain faces (or hair, in the cause of one bluerider), names are called out with a bit of congratulations. There's enough of a height difference between them that when Alida leans up after the hug that is returned only lightly, a confused look briefly touches his face, but K'zin leans his head down anyway, then there's a smooch on his forehead, and his chin pulls back in surprise, brow and nose wrinkling. Well, it's a party. Stranger things might yet happen, even if none of the speeches were quite so riviting s the one at their hatching feast. He hasn't sat yet when Jo approaches, turning as he hears her voice. "She did offer me a deal. I wear a dress to this, she wears a dress to this. If Ras wouldn't've thrown a fit..." But he doesn't sound serious. As is, he's dressed all fancy anyway. "I like your hair," He does allow for Alida, and then looks back to Jo's nothing special style. "I always like your hair." The smile he flashes at Jo is one that is mock-charming. Somewhere along the way, K'del must have scored himself a drink from someone, because he's got a beer in hand as he makes his rounds, now. Briefly, it looks as though he's heading towards Alida and K'zin, but Jo gets there first, and the bronzerider swerves, heading, instead, towards nine-month-pregnant Quielle, who is sitting off to one side, looking wistful. "Oh. Your... hair?" N'ky doesn't get the importance of that, as he squints at the blonde's locks. He certainly doesn't know what to say about it, other than, "I-I'm sure it'll look, um, lovely. Every day. For months." Did he see Alida's? Probably, but he still peers over the crowd - the advantage of height, and all that - to try and locate the familiar blonde. His eyes settle on her briefly, just long enough to see her hair, before he turns back to Telavi and nods. "It's p-pretty, but... it's not Alida. But it is pretty." And, in his looking, he spies Hana - a wiggly-fingered wave beckons her over if she'll come, to join him with Telavi in the queue by the drinks. Jo says, "Mmm," Jo answers to Alida first, then turns to regard K'zin for his comment on her hair. Reaching a hand up to fluff at something that's not styled at all, "Oh, ya like? Styled it myself," she sends back in the same tone he uses, tossing him a wink before turning back to Alida and jerking her head to the side before she adds, "Hey. Need to pull ya for a brief. Ya don' mind I steal yer girl, do ya, darlin'?" That last is for K'zin, the teasing undertones bare with a click of her teeth. "It won' take long."" "Mmm," Jo answers to Alida first, then turns to regard K'zin for his comment on her hair. Reaching a hand up to fluff at something that's not styled at all, "Oh, ya like? Styled it myself," she sends back in the same tone he uses, tossing him a wink before turning back to Alida and jerking her head to the side before she adds, "Hey. Need to pull ya for a brief. Ya don' mind I steal yer girl, do ya, darlin'?" That last is for K'zin, the teasing undertones bare with a click of her teeth. "It won' take long." "Isn't it, though? And she's wearing makeup, too," Telavi enthuses. "Not much, but then she doesn't need anything to bring out her bone structure, don't you think?" With that, though, she becomes quite distracted because look, drinks, she's finally in the front of the line. And... when she walks off, it's with two. "Bye, N'ky!" she calls before departing. "Good luck with your wing!" Hana's call upon the air gets Alida's attention, the blonde actually grinning like a madwoman at the other female, then waving before patting at her quite lovely hairdo. Someone's enjoying it, apparently. To K'zin: "Dress fer a dress, toots." Smirk. She looks pleased with Waki's words of her intricate 'do, the expression morphing into another smirk for how the bronzer and Jo respond to each other. With the other bluie's inquiry comes her own shake of head, the blonde standing again, then snerting, "Girl. Feh." And off she moves with the ex-con. Between Jo and Alida, K'zin's spirits seem to be brightened at least a bit. He's not on the boarder of glowering now at least. And he's got a beer. That's progress. A single dimple as one side of his lips pull to indicate his amusement at Jo's wink. "No, steal away. I'll just have to find another." He invites, so put out, of course, but mockingly, then, "Just don't mess up her hair, mmkay?" The lift of his brows toward the blueriders is mildly suggestive, but hey, that's a joke, right? Progress! Hana catches sight of the waves, if naught else. Alida's mad grin has her laughing delightedly - but it's towards N'ky and the now leaving Telavi that she heads - or at least towards the drinks. "Good evening," she calls out gayly, not bothing to go much out of her normal wear, but to make sure that her dress is good enough for dancing. N'ky doesn't have a clue about bringing out bone structure, so he doesn't think, really, and Telavi gets a blank sort of look for that comment. "Sure?" He ventures uncertainly, before stepping back and out of the way to let her pass, offering her a goodbye as she walks off. Nursing his whisky against his chest, he dips his head to Hana when she approaches, smiling warmly at her. "Good evening," he replies; chipper, but not quite as gay as she is. "D-did you bring your dancing shoes, Hana?" To Rasavyth, Cadejoth rattles his chain, lightly, in Rasavyth's direction: an invitation. He's in a good mood, too. « You should send your rider towards mine, » he says. « Nhidanth's rider is feeling lonely. » Jo snorts to Alida's reaction, but it's to K'zin that she says, "Uh-huh. I was plannin' on doin' all sorts of wicked things to Alida's hair, in fact. Come on..." The bluerider leads Alida off, getting her paces away before she takes a drink from the cup in her hand first before stating, "Hair does look nice, though. Seduced a hairstylist or somethin'?" in typical Jo fashion. She snickers at her own joke though before adding, "So listen, ya got trapped-er, tapped," she corrects with a cheeky grin, "into Glacier wing. Figure I'd let ya know now so ya can start gettin' to know yer new wingmates." Besides her, that is. She's pretty straightforward and direct in her tapping. His chain? Now it's Rasavyth's. The younger bronze's enthusiasm is infectious as all manner of mingled reflections share his frolicking party spirit. Reflected chains rattle merrily to music, flames leap and dance, spring breezes swirl and fling leaves. So much fun, this! But, Nhidanth's Quielle? « I shall instruct him so. » The tenor is musical, groooovin' to the party swell of pride and excitement. (To Cadejoth from Rasavyth) K'del's head lowers towards Quielle; whatever the two of them are talking about, it's not for the ears of anyone else-- and abruptly, she's smiling. Of course, her gaze is meandering towards N'gan, who is across the room talking to Polaris' Wingleader... but still. "Do you need anything, Quielle?" K'del wanders, his voice lifted to a more conversational tone again. To Rasavyth, Cadejoth is amused by this, and pleased, too. He enjoys this kind of event, and the kind of feelings it brings out in people. « Excellent, » he says, approvingly. « Excellent, excellent. » Telavi has a bright smile for Hana as they cross paths, and an admiring murmur for the blue-green shade of that dress of hers. And also, that it is a dress, lucky woman. Not to interrupt Hana's path toward the refreshments, though; instead the greenrider continues unhurriedly about the outskirts of the room, moving toward a side table convenient to set that second glass upon... and if it happens to be not so far from where Mielline hangs out, why, what a coincidence! K'zin, sitting on his lonesome, drinking his beer, minding his own business when his expression briefly shifts to vaguely annoyed, then dutiful, then clears. He rises, knocking back the rest of his beer, Adam's apple bobbing showing the gulped efforts to drain it. The drink is set on the tray of a passing caverns' attendant and he's weaving his way toward the drink table. There is a line, but he bypasses it briefly nodding toward N'ky and Hana where they are nearby, snagging up a cup from the far end, where the line almost never goes. It's the juice. Two juices in hand, he's moving again then, his voice lifted in well-feigned merriment, "Quielle, you're looking radiant tonight. Juice?" Then a juicy-salute to K'del, "Weyrsecond." "Shoes, dress - the only thing I couldn't find a proper pair of, were bells," Hana offers cheerfully, with a bit of a finger-wriggle for Telavi as the two pass. Stepping into the line for drinks, K'zin gets a wave in passing, as well as a 'Remember, later!' before asking N'ky, "So, am I forgiven?" "Ah - K'zin." K'del is all smiles, quite as though he and K'zin haven't been on the outs in recent months (and are there eyes on them, now, waiting for some other explosive incident). "Was just telling Quielle here that she's to fly with us in Taiga, once she's cleared for it again." Another few weeks untils he's due, and some time after that, presumably. He's got a wing patch in hand, which he's handing over to the new bluerider. She seems pleased with it, turning it over and over in her hand, and turns to beam at her clutchmate. "And one for you, too." He offers a second of them to K'zin. "Thanks," the bluie notes to Jo, Alida actually managing to smile brightly for a moment. Rare. Smirk... Ahh, *there's* that more typical expression. "Nah... though Hana's been lustin' after my hair few Turns, apparently." Sip. "Made 'er a deal: she buys me two drinks t'day at the Snowasis, an' I let 'er play with my locks. Even gave 'er permission ta' doll me up a bit further with some makeup." and while Alida might enjoy how it looks, "Irritating...can't rub my eyes 'r face." Or mouth...which even now is opening to take another draught of her own beer. As for the announcement of her Wing placement...there's a dual reaction from the blonde: a quick, bright grin of deep pleasure, and a simulataneous sigh of relief. "Fuckin' *awesome*," is responded to Jo, the woman then trying to hip-bump her fellow wingmate before she responds, "Been yakkin' more with 'em in the last few sevendays." People in Hailstorm and Snowdrift, too, but still. "You still on fer later t'night?" After that, the woman tries to use her shoulder to gently nudge Jo towards a less populated spot, while she murmurs private things to the older rider. N'ky gives K'zin a slow, thoughtful nod in return for his, before his attention's all back down to Hana. "Bells?" Yet another thing that's confused him tonight. "Why do you need bells?" Then, he quickly adds, "Even without them, though, you look very pretty, Hana... I'll, um, try not to step on your toes, if... i-if you still want to dance with me." His cheeks colour a little, then he cocks his head and frowns, softly. "Forgiven for what?" It's because Rasavyth still has a hold on Cadejoth's chains (or are they really just his own reflection? So confusing in dragon-mindspace) that the abrupt shift of emotion can be felt. Normally, such a thing wouldn't be felt, but it's such a drastic shift, the change is palpable. Party-mode evaporates in the face of a need for damage control. (To Cadejoth from Rasavyth) "Just something Mother would occasionally say, but thank you for the compliment, N'ky - and I thought I made it clear that dances are always required," Hana teases the rider, before shaking her head. "For being so.. hesitant about flying. I didn't hurt Cailluneth's feelings with the refusal, I hope." "Lustin'," Jo picks up that word like a moth to a flame, but since this was sort of official wing business, she keeps it just to that word. Pleased with Alida's reaction and laughing before joining her in the hip-bump, "Figured ya would be pleased," she drawls with a nod as she fishes into a jacket pocket to pull out a wingknot just for her. Letting the new wingmate guide her towards a less populated spot, "Good," she answers on her talking up her other wingmates. "They're generally good folks. We'll head out soon, alright? I just need to pass it to Kait'n them first. Just be ready to get shit-faced." Jo isn't expecting less, that tone is saying. And of course, she's huddling close to what Alida murmurs her way, her expression turning towards something more poker-faced as she listens. Uh oh. Cadejoth is aware of that shift, so immediately. So too must his rider be. « He wants him there. Chose him. » And; « It isn't intended to hurt. » Even if it does. (To Rasavyth from Cadejoth) Bells keeps the laughter in Tela's eyes even once she's gotten that second drink stationed; she can't quite seem to stay still, though, especially with people wandering by, hellos and brief conversation and... look, Alida and Jo? She raises her glass as the two walk by, one forefinger briefly skimming beneath the line of her own brow, not frosted the way the other blonde's is. "Oh - oh no, n-no, it's ok," N'ky reassures Hana, smiling crookedly enough for a dimple to show in one cheek. "No, she wasn't offended. Not in the slightest. Me neither. But we'll go sometime, won't we?" His grin grows a little, until he quashes it with a sip from his drink. "Um, Hana? Can I get you anything to drink? I, um..." Looking along the line, he points to one of his fellow former-weyrlings, who's close to the front. "I can ask J'tor if he would get one for you?" The way K'zin loses his breath is like he's just been punched in the gut despite the fact that nothing so colorful has occurred. It's something that only those closest might notice despite all the interested eyes. His expression wipes of false cheer, but at least it takes a detour to neutrality instead of going all the way to anger or something that really would reward the gossip-mongers. It's all done in the matter of two blinks (well, someone else's blinks; K'zin is staring at the patch). He turns and leans, setting Quielle's juice down within reach, then with an impassable look at K'del, his voice comes with the most formal of formal inflections. "Thank you, sir. It is my honor." The patch is taken though fingers are careful to avoid physically contacting K'del as though that might be too much to tempt another kind of contact. To Cadejoth, Rasavyth, apparently, is on Cadejoth's side, working to illustrate to his rider what a good thing this is. And at least he's successful enough at keeping his K'zin's reaction internal. Seeping through the touch, not because Rasavyth desires it to, but because it's simply so strong, is the leather-smoke-and-orange-peel tinged echo, « FUCK! » Taking her Glacier patch from Jo, Alida grins slightly before pocketing it to apply later, then continues to speak with Jo in more subdued fashion, finally letting the level of her voice raise once again to note, "Take care uv Wing stuff first, oh, not-quite-mentor. We got all night ta get shitfaced." A sudden pause allows her a moment to think about something, and another quiet murmur is offered to the other bluie. Hana pauses a moment, then chuckles, "Well, if I can't get a drink now... something wine-like would be lovely, N'ky - and if J'tor wouldn't mind, it would be much appreciated." "Waki--" begins Quielle, who reaches her hands out towards K'zin, ignoring (for now) the juice, for all that she must be grateful for it. "K'zin?" That's K'del, who isn't fooled by that formality, and who looks... one part hurt, and one part sad, and one part just resigned. "Think you'l like flying with us. F'manis is a good Wingleader. I should..." He hesitates, gazing from one rider to the other. "Leave you to it, I guess." Once Alida takes the patch, Jo listens to further words from Alida, giving Telavi one of her smirks as she passes by. "Yer just dyin' to have me mentor ya," she has to tease now, draining her cup and then looking towards the drinks table for a refill. "Ya ain' all mine, now. Fair warnin' that this wing tends to ride each other hard. Might get a good jab off a month, so, that might be up yer path." Rule Number 1: Don't Stress Out the Pregnant Weyrling. K'zin's hand wraps around Quielle's smaller one as it reaches for him. It takes a breath of effort, but K'zin forces a tight smile onto his lips. His baritone comes out blase, "I'm sure I will, Wingsecond." Formal, formal, formal, as he chooses the more relevant of K'del's titles. He's playing nice, see? But he's not arguing that K'del should take his leave. He looks to the bluerider, "You feeling up to a slow dance when the harpers get started? I need a beautiful dance partner to make all the others jealous." Since the smoothness is always a little feigned, it comes off more naturally than most everything else. "Sure, I'll ask him." N'ky briefly touches fingers to Hana's arm to ask her to wait a moment, while he goes to the brownrider at the front of the queue, speaking briefly to him before returning. He's empty-handed, but it's only a moment later that J'tor comes up alongside them with a selection of drinks, held in both hands - including one red and one white wine, which are offered to Hana for her to take her pick from. N'ky swills his whisky around in its glass, waiting for Hana to choose her drink. "It... it feels k-kinda weird," he admits quietly, brushing fingers through his curls, "to not be a weyrling any more. I've got free time between now and getting tapped, so, um... i-if you wanted to, sorta, um, get familiar with riding? Cailluneth and I could help. Then we'll go... wherever. Anywhere. Any time." "Oh," says Quielle, clearly pleased, as if she hadn't expected to be asked. She gives her belly a rueful glance, and then shrugs. "If you're willing to try and maneuver this thing, I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks, Weyrsecond." Her smile for K'del is genuine enough - she's happy. The one she gives to K'zin is rather more speculative, but she's more than willing to be lead away. "Have fun," says K'del, rather less like he means it. Sigh. To Cadejoth, Rasavyth doesn't need convincing, not that he doesn't like hearing that of course. It's interesting, after all. « I am doing my best. » There's a pause, before a simple sigh, « My K'zin is not as reasonable as I am, unfortunately. » Silly human emotions. « Your K'del would do well to make good on his promise of a trip sooner, rather than later. Though I cannot promise it will be without unpleasantness. » He also can't promise that it won't end up being a perfectly pleasant outing, either. He's not sure how that will go. "Yeah, I getcha'," Alida smirks softly to Jo, the graduate simply working on sipping slowly at her beer, right now. She's got way more booze ahead of her tonight, so right now, it's not really important. "I figured. I'll be ridin' 'em hard back enough days, likely." She knows when to keep her 'new-punk-ass kid' head down, though. Another listen to the other bluie, then a small shrug presage another few whispers, and soon enough 'lida's departing from Jo's side, heading back towards K'zin and Quielle...and the now-departing K'del. That smirk of Jo's bolsters Telavi's backbone as it always does, never mind her good show of not having needed it; there's an extra lift to her chin now, her laughter in talking with a few others brighter after those few syllables' slip towards brittle. No, not looking towards Mielline at all, now, and not even towards the Frostbite wingsecond who's just wandered by. Not for very long, anyway, dark greenish-blue eyes taking a read of the near part of the vast room. Indeed, there's more booze to be coming, so really, Jo isn't exactly downing the beers here like she normally does. The chin lift from Telavi earns her quiet laughter while she and Alida talk in low tones. But then Alida's departing and the bluerider's raising her empty cup in her departing direction before she's wandering back towards the drinks table (predictably), where Kait and M'ron have still parked themselves as she works to refill her cup. Hana offers J'tor a quick smile, then takes the white wine, a small sip given before she full-on beams at him. Drink in hand, the hairdresser turns to N'ky, and nods, "I.. one of these days, I am certain I'll take you up on that. It...er.. just may end up involving a good deal of screaming on my part." There is a pause, then she adds, "I should go find food, then I'll be ready to hunt down everyone for dances. You should go, and talk to folks though." "It would be my pleasure. You know I like a good challenge." There's a light tease to that, but only in answer to the way Quielle talks about her pronounced baby-round. He wraps his arm in hers, after pocketing the patch, keeping an easy pace to where they've cleared space for dancing. He gives a nod toward Alida as they pass her, not about to not make good on his dance offer, tonight. It happens that the harpers have started playing something a little more appropriate for dancing and slow at that. It's awkward, of course, but they manage. In fact, K'zin's dance savvy has him positioning the bluerider with her back to his front, one set of their hands on her hip and the other set extended out. He keeps the rest of the moves simple, nothing too grueling, but enough so Quielle doesn't feel like they're just swaying to the rhythm. "Ah - screaming?" Not quite what N'ky had expected. "Cailluneth's... gentle. I promise. Whenever you want. And, um... food. Yes." He looks over at the spread, nodding his head, squinting as he considers what's available. Her dismissal is responded to with a gentle biting of his bottom lip, before he nods again. "I'll, um, come f-find you for a dance? Later." N'ky then leans down to plant a soft kiss on Hana's cheek, rosiness flooding his cheeks when he steps back, looking a little flustered... but pleased. "Um... yeah. Later. See you... later?" Away he goes, meandering along the outskirts of the living cavern to find a good spot of wall to lean against, where he can watch the goings-on. Later, indeed. Apparently, Hana can hand 'em out, but getting them is another time. Instead of food, she finds a quiet cove to quiet the evil blushing - with the help of that wine. Then food, followed by dancing. Because there must be dancing. Always. Everyone. Everyone. To Rasavyth, Cadejoth acknowledges this with a rattle of chains, and a sigh of his own. « He will, » he says. « He can take the unpleasantness. Any of it. Whatever comes. We must make sure they are not at odds... for both of their sakes. » It's a hard life. There's brief discussion being waged over Tela's spare glass, that finally leads to the greenriders trading sips; the dark-haired one looks a question to the blonde, who just murmurs, "Maybe. I don't know." Telavi tilts her head, refocusing and casual, and all of a sudden Solith hops down from her ledge: lightly, if not casually, floating out over the floor of the bowl until... there's a nearby spot, she can drop right into that, and did that larger dragon want to stretch out? Too late. Quielle seems pleased... even if she's tired pretty easily. By the time K'zin escorts her back to her chair - and that juice that she now definitely needs, K'del is no longer there. "Thank you," she says, warmly. "It was nice to... do something normal, you know?" Ah, Waki's dancing with Quielle, so Alida decides to circulate a bit during that time, the woman procuring some foodstuffs along the way, and feeding herself for the 'grueling' night ahead. If anyone gravitates toward her, they'll be led along back towards the preggo bluie and the unhappy bronzer she originally had her sights set on. "Of course," K'zin answers Quielle as he releases her hand from his helping grip to ease her into her seat. He leans down to press a light, brotherly kiss to her cheek. "Thank you. And congratulations, Qui. I'm glad we're going to be wingmates." His smile is more genuine than the forced one before, though it doesn't quite manage to get to his eyes. "Can I get you anything else?" He glances back across the room, taking note of where certain faces are in the crowd. But here comes Alida. Blueriders: so determined. "Hey, 'lida." He greets. Rasavyth was about to stretch out, thank-you-very-much-Solith-Spot-Stealer. He snorts, his party mood significantly dampened from the earlier frolicking, but far from gone. His nose dips playfully to tap against the green, excuse me. A murmur of polite greetings for Quielle transitions into a more animated "Waki. Gotta' personal question for ya..." to K'zin, Alida then sipping at her beer again, her gaze flicking all about to note where others are at. Quielle is all sweaty and... okay, glowy, because she's a lady for the evening, all dressed up, and ladies don't sweat, okay? She smiles as she wipes some of the condensation on her glass onto her forehead, and shakes her head. "I'm fine, K'zin - go and have fun, okay? -- Hello, Alida. You two should go off and chat, then." Wall-leaning and watching leads to N'ky finishing his drink sooner than expected, as he discovers when he raises it to his lips to get nothing but watery dregs from the bottom. That necessitates another trip to the drinks counter, so over he goes, rejoining the line with his empty tumbler in hand. The Glacier crowd erupts into laughter to the side of the cavern where they are, and Jo and her crew - including new riders Sybile and Canie - are chatting it up near the drinks. Jo has a fresh beer in hand as she steps away to join them, occasionally scanning the crowd as the music from the harpers mingle in with the current conversations going on about her. With Quielle's blessing, and a, "Okay, but if you need anything, just have Nhidanth get ahold of Ras," to the pregnant one, K'zin turns his attention to Alida. He politely offers her his arm, "I'm without a drink. Will I need one for this kind of personal question? Will you catch me if I faint?" So, in slightly better spirits again, apparently. Or using that humor to deflect. Some people and their defense mechanisms. After giving gracious Quielle a small smile - she's dredging up quite a few of those tonight - Alida ambles off towards the booze table again her hand laying lightly atop the man's forearm, the blonde murmuring intently to him. After a few moments, there's another small glass of beer being appropriated for herself, and another for Waki. A quick wave is launched at Tela and N'ky as her eyes flick across them, but her attention returns to the taller rider at her side. Alida whispers to K'zin "Ya kill K'del's puppy, 'r somethin'? Quite a face 'e made when talkin' to ya." All of a sudden: "No. Really?" from Tela's table. It's followed by collective nodding, a little too much like bobble-dolls, before laughter lightens the whole thing. As for Solith-Spot-Stealer, she lifts quick-whirling eyes back at Rasavyth, quite as though she couldn't possibly have seen him there before, or perhaps it's that she forgot in just the last few seconds. What? What little good-cheer had returned to K'zin is replaced by blank neutrality, the beer he's been handed by the bluerider gets set back on the serving table in one lean. "Too personal, Alida." The baritone is quiet, but firm. Drawing a line. "Not tonight." But that doesn't mean not ever. "Wanna dance?" Dancing's a good distraction. Not that he looks like he's the most cheerful partner, but neither does he look sad or angry, just neutral. What? Rasavyth doesn't buy it. The tapping's warning enough as far a he's concerned. So he sprawls out anyway, flopping across the green, pinning her with his greater bulk, though at least he's careful that his weight isn't crushing. (To Solith from Rasavyth) A long look is given to K'zin with his words and expression, but all Alida does is grunt, then take him up on that dancing inquiry, the blonde moving them off towards the open area for such, and falling into the beat of the music. During their time on said dance floor, her lips are moving at times, the woman's voice kept low and intimate, her own expression neutral. Alida whispers to K'zin "Another time then... soon. You *are* my pal." Pause. "Ya wanna join me 'n Jo barhoppin' t'night?" Surprise. Surprise, and dismay! When did he get that much bigger? It is not fair. Solith's neckridges can't be comfortable for the bigger dragon to lie on, but they also impede her somewhat when she squirms as singlemindedly and indecorously as a hatchling, her intent to wriggle free: into the neighboring blue, perhaps, even if she won't topple him over like a proper domino. Although that would be fun, too. (To Rasavyth from Solith) "Nah, if I come, I can't fantasize about what happened without me," K'zin answers some quiet offer Alida evidently made. If she's going to dig deep, he'll chance an injury to get in a joke of his own. He doesn't stop his graceful dancing to make the joke. It is a joke, right? Alida's attempts to lead at the dance are met with unwavering resistance. She may like to be in charge, but on the dance floor, it's a man's place to direct the movements of the dance. K'zin even knows what he's doing, well beyond what the training of Silver Threads would have done. "'Lida," He leans it at one point to murmur something to the bluerider more quietly. K'zin whispers to Alida "Relax, and enjoy the dance, would you? Sometimes you need to trust yourself with someone else. Even just in a dance. And I swear, if you make me step on your toes and my sister hears about it, she'll never let me forget it, and possibly never forgive me for not living up to all she's trained me for." Brandishing a new drink, N'ky resumes his earlier spot, leaning against the wall and watching, quietly. He's joined by J'madri, but there's no real conversation between the two of them; they just lean together, drink, and watch. And then Telavi's extricating herself from the group, abandoning her glass, not quite frowning; not that she rushes out right away, given that it's safe to go visit Quielle now, and so she does. She's not looking or even carefully-not-looking for wingleaders, now, but when she does glance towards the Bowl, it's pretty nearly in the same way. "Yer loss..." Alida notes dryly to K'zin, the woman then rolling her eyes some at his humor. With his insistence on leading comes her push back, challenge seen in green eyes, the blonde making certain there's no toes stepped on. "Can't give and take, eh Waki?" is noted low, Alida somehow enjoying the tension. Those whispers are listened to, responded to in kind. Alida whispers to K'zin "Yo need ta learn how ta' balance some shit, Waki." To Solith, Rasavyth allows it. The allowance being full of oozy sarcasm. As though she needs his permission, ha! The wiggle, the freedom. As long as he's gaining ground in which to sprawl, she's welcome to move. "Not the way it works, babycakes," K'zin answers Alida teasingly as he pushes with one hand on her hip to send her toward a spin under his hand. "Anywhere else, but not on the dance floor. Imagine how dangerous a toss dance would be without one clear leader. Same applies to wings really. S'why there are clear leaders." Maybe he can remember that later when it's important. But soon enough the dance is over. "Now I definitely need a drink. I didn't think I'd live to see the day that Aliiiida would dance with me." He pretends he has to fan himself for air, eyes fluttering in girlish flirtation. No dress, but at least he's girlishly entertaining anyway. Allows. It's that oozy sarcasm that does it, a mental zephyr fluttering against it as Solith pauses, as though to cool it of. It's then that she must realize that, actually, since she really isn't being crushed... it's warm down here. Why, now that she comprehends that she could get loose without too much peril, it's almost like a nice thick blanket. It's just that it's a blanket, she's decided, that needs grooming. So she does. (To Rasavyth from Solith) "Don't try 'n teach me my job, toots," Alida grits off around a stark, hard little grin to K'zin. "Wings 'n dancin' 'r two seperate things." With his hand to her hip and that spin, the agile woman releases her hand, form from his, and then lashes out with her left hand, attempting to grab him by whatever is readily available and pull Waki in for one claiming twirl before they abandon each other. "Might not live long after this, though..." she murmurs around a cat's smile to the bronzer, 'lida returning to find her own left behind drink. A few minutes more and something Quielle says makes Telavi laugh, all of a sudden, somewhere between a laugh and a grimace. "Of course," she says, glances around one last time, and finally makes tracks to disappear into the Bowl. She does look back once, but at least she doesn't turn into a pillar of salt. AUGH! It was a trap all along! He should have known, the bronze's mind bemoans playfully as green tongue starts grooming him. It's not as nice as it was the other day. Maybe he realizes it's because she was getting toward glowy the other day and is now on the other side. He snorts, backing off the green as swiftly as he may safely do, on the retreat, though one paw is used to try to pin her neck lightly - just to keep her from following. (To Solith from Rasavyth) He's grabbed but the twirl is resisted. Dance is dance is dance, as far as K'zin is concerned. This is one area in which he is unyieldingly stubborn, and as strong a man as he is, there's no pulling where he won't willingly go. As much as he says he needs a drink, his attention is distracted, "Ras." He grouses under his breath, "Excuse me, Alida." There's a gesture. He's got something to attend to. And it's in the bowl, where, if Ilicaeth is still about, he could likely report that Rasavyth has sprawled across Solith who is attempting now to extricate herself (with no resistance from the bronze). That's where K'zin heads. A nod from J'madri and N'ky pushes off from the wall, nodding back at the other greenrider in response to something unspoken. While the shorter of the two makes his way out through the crowd towards the bowl, N'ky winds his way through people back to the drinks table. He grabs another, quick enough now that the line's died down with people occupied elsewhere, and with it in hand he meanders his way out of the crowd, and into the bowl, where Cailluneth's waiting. |
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