View source for Logs:Taikrin's Turnday and the Big Black Aid

{{Log
|involves=High Reaches Weyr
|type=Log
| who = Azaylia, Barnabas, Brieli, H'vier, Jo, Lourna, Quinlys, Taikrin, Vienne, Z'ian
| where = Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr
| what = It's Taikrin's big 30th turnday bash and it's done Glacier wing-style! There's booze, banter, darts, the occasional threat, and then....the gift.
| when = Day 7, Month 11, Turn 30
|day=7
|month=11
|turn=30
|IP=Interval
|IP2=10
| gamedate = 2013.01.21
| quote = "Is that what I think it is?"
| weather = 
| categories = General
| mentions = 
| ooc = 
| icons = azaylia.jpg, barnabas cleaned.jpg, brieli smile.jpg, h'vier.png, jo smile.jpg, quinlys.jpg, taikrin.jpg, z'ian front.png
| log = Nothing short of an executive order was going to stop this train once it got rolling. Bits and pieces of Glacier Wing have been flitting about all day, and the alcohol has been flowing freely. Now that night has fallen, though, the party has moved indoors and sprawled over most of the Snowasis. Word has filtered around that there are free drink: moderate beer and cheap whisky, both of which have been fronted by the birthday girl. There's cards and dice and darts and gambling, and though things are relatively tame now the alcohol has only barely just started to flow.

Except, of course, for Taikrin. She's been drinking all day, and doesn't seem as though she's slowed down an iota. The brownrider is reigning over her party like she owned the place: bright smiles here, a laugh there, and even some friendly punches. She's mingled through to the dartboard, where nobody tried hard enough to keep the pointy objects away from her. At least she's not COMPLETELY drunk, as most of the darts end up on the board. More or less.

Quinlys is like an honorary Glacierite, right? Sort of. In either case, she's been in the mix since the weyrlings were dismissed for the afternoon, in a top that leaves very little to the imagination, and trousers that are no better. At the moment, she's perched up on one of the tables, drinking whisky as she wings her legs, flirting with several people all at once: hey, why not!

With a burlap sack tied with string tucked under one arm, Bones is careful with his birthday present, lingering around the edges of the room with a mug of Klah in hand. He's uncharacteristically wary of human contact. For Bones at least. Saying his hellos and smiling his big smiles, but mostly trying to seed his way through to look for familiar faces.

An executive order, hm? Hopefully no one is looking to Azaylia to rain on her wingmate's parade. The goldrider arrives a little late, fashionable only in the low v-neck, high waisted blue dress she wears. Already laughing at the state of things, she holds up a thin paper bag that's colored brightly pink. "Taikrin! I have a present for you." Singsong, and far too quiet to be heard save for the nearby folk who get out of her way. Who wants to get between the brownrider and a gift?
Any executive order stopping the party would have branded the order-maker Funkiller, so it's not too shocking none comes down... and really, is anyone in the position to be issuing executive orders? Really? Brieli's at the party, so obviously's she's not against it, in her high boots and one of her ridiculously short skirts - and though she might have surreptitiously added to Taikrin's booze-pot when she arrived (even if she had to bribe a Glacier wingrider to sneak it in there), she's not partaking from the free stuff. She's at the crowded bar, holding up her empty glass as a signal, impatient. Over here already.

Jo's been part of those Glacier riders drinking early and often, so it's safe to say that this bluerider is cozy against the bar counter close to her rowdy wingriders, downing a beer. While she's being included in all the crass banter - which appeals, naturally - she's only more or less trading return words here and there. Mostly, she's happy at just chilling with her beer and people watching.

Does H'vier know anyone here? Not really. Does that matter? Not even a little. The promise of booze is more than enough to get this bronzerider out. That he's had a rest day and he's been drinking on and off most of the day probably doesn't hurt anything either. So here he is, huge and finally not wrapped up in a jacket and scarf like some wussy Istan, trying to hit a target with a dart.

"A present!" Taikrin's distraction DOES have her missing the dart board this time, though thankfully the dart sticks into the wood just above it instead of, say, someone's head. She passes off the remaining handful of darts to the bluerider she'd been gaming with, and cuts her way agilely through the crowd towards Azaylia. "You're my favorite wingmate!" Are they on hugging terms yet? Well, they are now.

He's not a Glacier rider or even part of the honorary Glacier crew, but Z'ian finds his way to the bar after a long day of stupidly demanding sweeps. Sure, he's heard the whispers of this party throughout the day and it's probably what brought him down to begin with. However the throngs of people still draw a momentary hitch of his eyebrows from him. He gives the room a look over as he tries to pick up on anyone familiar and eventually just begins to mingle through the crowd.

Vienne is too new to be in the know about this party, having never met the turnday girl, nor much of anyone else for that matter. But one way or another, she's ended up joining the festivities, in a peripheral manner at least. And now, with her beer in hand, she stakes out a seat at the bar, loosening her scarf as the warmth of the room sinks in and generally enjoying the lively atmosphere, eyes cast around for the faces she can name.

The gardener's ears perk up at a familiar squeak across the noisy crowd. Azaylia? Yup, that was her, his height letting him pick out the goldrider from the opposite of the room. Over by the dartboard with the birthday girl, and handing her a gift? Good, that meant he could dump his off as well. He felt like a doofus carrying the thing around. He carefully moves through, trying not to drop his gift or spill hot klah on anyone.

It's technically not /sneaking/, but Lourna did manage to slink in while the party begins to reach its apex of distractions. She's no rider, and like many present, knows none. It isn't even the promise of alcohol that has lured the young woman down from her duties, abandoning them at the enticing promise at a little profit to be made--as long as you're the betting sort. And for the moment, Lourna has tucked herself into a nook with a beer from which she sips half-heartedly, with her dark olive green eyes more fixated upon dicing and gambling than the fact that the corner she has staked as her own is filled with an older group as intent on the game as she.

Azaylia is always on hugging terms! Just ask the often-annoyed Brieli. Laughing softly, she gives as good as she gets, threatening to lift Taikrin off her feet in the bear hug. "Happy Turnday." Even ''she'' knows better than to tease the woman for long. The bag is offered up, weighty contents revealed: Leather gloves, appropriately dyed brown and missing fabric to ensure that they stop at the middle knuckle. There's certainly some ''heft'' to them, and upon closer inspection there's a bulk to the knuckles that hints at the metallic. "I saw them and thought of you." Happysqueak.

Eventually, ''finally'', Brieli gets served at the bar, with a distinct air of annoyance about it. It's rather like she's been hugged or something. It's also likely that the tall goldrider doesn't usually have too many issues getting served around here, but there's an awful lot of people there. She purposefully takes several moments longer in her niche at the bar than she has to before starting off again - and stopping right by Vienne. "Oh, hello. Evening. Did you get invited, or...?" Just happen in?

Clearly touched, Taikrin turns the gloves over and over. Her fingers linger on the weight of the knuckles, and then she's passed through hugging and straight into friendly shoulder-punches. "You ''are'' the best wingmate, on Faranth's bloody egg. Shells. These are awesome." As she pulls them on her hands to test the weight and heft, she catches sight of Barnabas nearing and waves him over with her newly-dangerous fists. "Hey, ''BONES''! Check this shit out!"

Quinlys' blue-eyed gaze meanders through the room casually, returning to her group only so that she can say, "I didn't know this many people even ''liked'' Taikrin. Go figure." Of course, ''that'' makes everyone around her laugh, and someone punches the bluerider in the arm: everyone knows she's friendly with Taikrin. Sometimes too friendly. "Okay, I'm out. Time for another drink!"

There's an explosion of raucous laughter from the Glacier crowd near Jo, some joke or other along with a loud ''toast'' to Taikrin on her turnday. "Another reason to drink!!" Clearly, this is not the first toast done this night. The convict rider joins them in it anyway, downing her current beer until it's gone and then turning around to flag the bartender for another one. Having started much earlier, it's easy to discern the Nabolian accent in her speech, just a tad slurred like the rest of them. And while she waits for her next beer, she takes a look around to see any familiar faces, and the bellow from Taikrin catches her amused attention. Taikrin is ''so'' hammered, and Jo was ''so'' getting there herself.

Bones finally sifts his way through the rabble to stand alongside Azaylia and Taikrin. As if his heft alone isn't enough to announce his presence, he makes a bit of a show of it. "Hot klah, comin' through, watch your step, mind the elbows!" His voice isn't ''too'' loud, but loud enough to let the two know he's on his way. "Yo, Tai! Havn't seen you since you tossed my ass in a snowbank, haha!" He drinks heavily from his mug of Klah, then slams it down on a nearby table. "Gift for ya!" He hands her his own burlap sack in exchange for the very kickass pair of gloves. "Whoa, did Zee give you these? Y'can crack some SERIOUS heads with these suckers. Nice one Azaylia! These suckers are bru-tal!"

H'vier doesn't know the birthday girl at all let alone well enough to have gotten her a present. He's just here to take advantage of her managing to survive another turn and he's totally shameless about that fact, glass in hand while he tries aiming another dart at one of the targets. The guy playing with him seems pretty happy about Havi's performance, at least!

Azaylia's following squeak is less happy and more scared. There, back to normal. Rubbing her shoulder, her smile persists, "Now-" But then a Bones happens. With a patient sigh, she lets him coo and caw over the gloves until, "Just, don't go causing trouble at home?" Meaning High Reaches Weyr, of course. "These are outside gloves." So play nice.

"Evening," Vienne returns to Brieli, looking no less out of place now than she did on their first meeting. "Uh..." Her eyes cast around the the crowd quickly before spotting a party-friendly blonde from Snowdrift who is cozying up already with some handsome fellow Vienne doesn't know. "Piyera told me to come. Though she appears a bit busy." Not too troubled to be forgotten by her new wingmate, she gives a quick shrug. "You're..." She's interrupted by a round of cheers and excited hollars. "Well?"

Z'ian eventually makes his way to the bar, shouldering a few stubborn people out of the way. He's polite about it, mostly. Except for that guy who just stepped on his foot rather aggressively. "Motherfu- Excuse ''you''." Actually that wasn't so rude either, ultimately. When a space opens at the bar, he fights his way in and orders a beer from the frazzled bartender. Once he gets it, he attempts to disengage from the total chaos that's going on over there. But not before he passes Jo on his way to the dartboard, he taps the bluerider on the knee and flashes her a quick smile over his shoulder. "Hey, going to play over there. When you're not absorbed." He jabs his thumb in the direction he's going, but doesn't try to drag her along.

"You bet your ass I can crack some heads. A girl after my own heart! I'm even calling you off-limit from the bet, Azaylia." Ominous, despite the chipper way Taikrin announces it. She takes the sack from Barnabas then, bound and determined to open that one too. "Reckon you're awesome, too. What'd you get me?" Her minebred accent is thick on the tongue, made worse by the way she has to not-quite-shout over the din.

With a little shrug, "Well enough. It's not my scene, but it can be interesting for awhile. Or ''in'' awhile, once everyone starts talking." Brieli uses her free hand to mime talky mouths, talking on, as her sharp gaze picks out Z'ian fighting his way in for a beer down the bar. Attention back on Vienne, "How about you? Get any more of your book read? And I assume you haven't met the turnday girl, then." Her head tilts towards the table where Taikrin holds court and people give her gifts, like Azaylia and a big dreadlocked dude. After a sip from her glass, "I should introduce you."

Jo's beer arrives finally, with much applause! No wait, those wingriders of hers are busy applauding one of the brownriders landing on his face by the card table. "Hey Jo! Your turn, ha ha!" one of the Glacier bronzeriders sidle over to her, but with her beer in hand, she shoulders him right back, all aggressive-like when Z'ian passes by her and speaks. She follows him with her gaze, then, after roughly shouldering the bronzerider again for good measure, takes her beer and ambles on after Z'ian. It's probably dangerous getting Jo near any sharp objects, but since that sounded like an offer to ''her''... "Hey, wait up!" Slightly slurred, accented. She passes right by Brieli and Vienne, giving them both a jaunty but rakish, "Ladies," as she passes.

Quinlys hoists herself down off of her table, and, glass in hand, heads back towards the bar to exchange it for a fuller one. "I hope the take is worth it," she says, semi-conspiratorily, to the bartender - who laughs, head shaking. Quin's grin is undaunted, and with a tip of the glass she heads back through the crowd, weaving past various game players to stand nearby and watch. It puts her not so far from Lourna - certainly, her cheerful, "''Poker face'', M'yez, or I swear you'll never make a mark in your life," is close enough almost be conversational. "Maybe I should bet against him; it'd be safer, mm?"

That's pretty much my thought," Vienne answers, her light smirk in agreement with Brieli's take on these kinds of gatherings. Loud as it is in here, it's easier for her to just shake her head to the other questions: no, she hasn't read much more, and no, she hasn't met guest of honor. She catches Jo's passing, returning her greeting with a grin and a lift of her hand that doesn't quite turn into a wave. Then her gaze drifts over to Taikrin and her gifts, leaving Vienne's expression a touch wary. "I'd like that," she says, leaning in closer to make her words easier to hear. "She seems a bit busy, though?"

Bones' gift is heavy, and at first glance entirely unbefitting the rough and tumble brownrider. Flowers? Flowers, still in the heavy clay pot they were planted in, though there was a colorful assortment sharing the single slab of earth. "See these right here? Silverstem Blood Hydrangea. Really rare. Plus they go nice with the Dark Blue Dragonsnaps." All of the talk about flowers might distract from the ''other'' part of the gift, nestled in amongst the earth but not at all sullied by it. Smooth, cyllindrical, gleaming black leather in a shape that could comfortably called phallic. A hefty... marital aid. "And that? Well, y'can probably figure out what that is. It's got this awesome loop in the back so y'can... y'know, strap it on? I heard you like the ladies, eh? Hehe."

Z'ian slows when he hears the bluerider's command coming from behind him, he tucks his beer close to his chest and gives her time to catch up to him. "Hurry up!" He calls back, mouth curving into an amused grin at her. Once she's close again, he'll try to sling his arm across her shoulders (granted she doesn't beat him off) and keep their path on course to the dartboards. It's just a little less packed over there and there's of course, ulterior motives. H'vier the new rider from Ista is over there and well, time to say hello to a new wingmate. "Hey, new guy."

"Bet?" Azaylia asks all too innocently. Not for the fact that there ''is'' one, this is a Glacier party after all. More of her involvement, "Uhm. Glad you like them." There's that at least. "Ooooh." A delicate coo for the flowers Bones has in his big mitts, leaning forward to give the bright petals a sniff. Before she can get too close: ''SQUEAK!'' "Bones!" Smacksmacksmack goes her hand at his upper arm, her other hand busy covering the mortified expression on her face.

Fortunately, Quinlys' arrival is sufficient distraction from the inappropriate, but no doubt fascinating events unfolding by the birthday girl. Something about sexual aids. The youth is unaware, for the moment, and Lourna's dark green eyes flit briefly from the on-going game to blink rapidly at the largely unfamiliar woman. "Betting against him is the wise choice, but not the most profitable. You could bet for, and hope that some unimaginable miracle comes to pass. You'd be rich, then," Lourna says thoughtfully, taking a deeper draught from her cup. She has yet to place any bets, hovering at the edges of the gambling group in the corner in which she is standing idle.

"About girls and pants, reckon you'll see soon enough. Say," Taikrin adds while she's unwrapping, "See if you can keep an eye on some of the lightweight greenriders? Gonna need 'em later, before Riorde or Jo get to 'em." Definitely a Glacier thing. The brownrider has a smile for the plant, albiet a confused one, but then she finds the ''real'' present and she's blown away. "Szad's bloody flaming shell, this is ''awesome''! I never thought of putting a loop on one of these!" If Brieli and Vienne are going to come over, they'll be greeted by the brownrider reverently holding up the black leather... marital aid... with her new head-busting fist-fighting gloves.

H'vier is pretty much getting crushed by his opponent. But he's taking it well. He's grinning and bowing out, declining another game, by the time Z'ian is saying anything to him. "Hey, man. Zz'something, isn't it?" He'd probably have a better grasp on that if he was less saturated with booze or was more willing to consult his dragon. "Don't play money with that guy. He'll rob you." Sage advice, though he's looking past Z'ian toward the commotion over presents before he refocuses as much as he's able. "H'vier." That's him.

"Jo," Brieli returns amiably, tipping her glass the other bluerider's way. Watching her pass, her apparent trajectory to the darts beyond, she has another drink before leaning likewise in to tell Vienne, "She's a bluerider too. Tacuseth's." Her look flickers between the darts and Taikrin's table - and when she's about to try to be reassuring given the Igen transplant's wariness, Azaylia's expression shifts from pleased to mortified. "Maybe she is a bit busy," she agrees. Abort. Abort. Oh no, now Taikrin's holding it up. Triumphantly, no doubt. Since when is Jo the better option?

Quinlys, too, will go (for the moment) unaware of Taikrin's new toy; she's busy with the game at hand, and with Lourna's offering to the conversation beside her. "Mm?" she says, thoughtfully. "You might be right. I think this is why I still have a day job: I just don't think risky like that. Play it safe, win a little, never lose too much. You betting? Playing?" She takes a half sip of her drink, swirling it around her mouth idly before her gaze slides back towards the Apprentice. "You're-- I've forgotten your name," if she ever knew it, "but I'm pretty sure you were in harper classes with my little brother, once upon a time."

Jo is probably stepping on all sorts of toes as she threads her way away from her wild Glacier wingmates - the lot of them calling after her to come back and finish getting shit-faced with them - catching up to Z'ian as she passes by the little group surrounding Taikrin. Catching that comment she throws, and the present she brandishes from Bones, "Oh, ''so'' not fair of an advantage," she's putting out there, sending Taikrin an almost-envious look. She could said SO much more, but, she can see Azaylia's already mortified enough - and then, there IS the after party. So, she catches up to Z'ian and hugs onto him, letting him sling that arm over her as they make it to the dart boards. As for H'vier, he's getting her study in silence for now.

Beaming with pride at Taikrin's reaction, Bones' open-mouthed smile has plenty of fangy white teeth. "Happy turnday, Taikrin. Don't forget to pace yourself on the drinkin' eh? Otherwise you might end up usin' Azaylia's gift on me." He pauses for a moment as the other perfect half of the joke comes into his mind. "Or mine! Hahaha!"

"Is that what I think it is?" Z'ian asks outloud, staring past the Istan rider to where Taikrin and her crew are brandishing her new present. The bronzerider can't help, he's staring outright for a good couple of seconds before he glances down and at Jo. "Wait, what's not fair?" He breathes in quickly and then just starts to laugh, shaking his head in mild disbelief. Taking a long draw from his beer, he finally nods to H'vier. "Yeah, Z-something. Now and again people call me Z'ian. Adjusting?"

It isn't nerves so much, though Lourna's lightly tanned face is somewhat flush with color. The young woman, appearing no older than her late adolescence, nurses the beer as an excuse to delay an immediate response. "Maybe," she replies, a little guarded. "Don't much care for harping, it's not a talent of mine. I prefer working with my hands." She shifts a little, freeing a hand to give only a slight tug to a leather buckle upon her vest as if to suggest a profession. "Lourna's my name." She manages, eventually, with only a slight distraction glazing her gaze.

We've met," Vienne says with a tip of her head in Jo's direction. "I like her." It seems to be easier to talk in short, clear statements, given the constant jostle and noise at the bar. Though, when the bluerider follows Briele's glance back toward Taikrin and her aid, she lets out a laugh that's loud enough to be heard even as she hides her mouth with one hand. Tipping it aside, she asks, her eyes wide and bright, "Is that what I think it is?"

Azaylia finishes giving Bones a limp-wristed 'what for', using that savage beating hand to help cover her face. "Lightweight greenriders." Comes the mixed mumblegroan from the goldrider; she's got it. Fingers splay to shoot Brieli and Vienne a look, "Yes. Yes it is." Excuse her, she actually desperately needs a drink now. It's not easy manuevering a crowd with covered eyes, but she'll manage to get to the bar. Somehow.

Quinlys is clearly not oblivious to Lourna's flush, or the guardedness of her words; she continues on quite as if she's unaware, though. "My brother's N'qui. Anquin as was, I guess, because he Impressed this last clutch. ''He'' never took up a craft or anything, but he's your age or thereabouts, I guess. Me, I Impressed a few turns back; I work with the weyrlingmaster." She's also not very good at introducing herself. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you all properly, Lourna. You'd think, growing up in this place, I'd know everyone by name, but apparently even ''I'' can't manage that these days."

"Atta girl," Taikrin croons to Azaylia, oblivious to the goldrider's discomfiture. The pot of flowers is carefully left in the middle of one of the few tables that's not host to a card game (but is host to a pair of disgruntled lower cavern workers), along with her newly-shed riding jacket and a distracted, "Watch that for me, eh?" That frees her to brandish her toy in one hand and gesture at Barnabas with the other. "Lemme introduce you to a friend of mine. You'll like her." Oh, she totally caught that comment from the bluerider, because: "JO!"

"Looks like a big, black dick," says H'vier, ever so subtle. He doesn't sound very ''surprised'' by it, really, though it does make him eye the gardener for a few moments before his gaze flickers over Taikrin and finally back over to the other bronzerider. "Z'ian. Got it. Adjusting well enough. Whiskey always helps, doesn't it?"

"Good. She's interesting." Brieli doesn't weight 'interesting' one way or the other; it is as it is... ''interesting''. As she follows Vienne's gaze back to Taikrin and her gifts, she's not embarrassed in the same way the other goldrider is - just mildly put out in a 'let's not be gauche' sort of way. I mean, who knows where it's ''been''. "Yes." Her answer comes more or less as Azaylia's does, and she just shakes her head a little, lips quirking with amusement. To Vienne, "I am not surprised by any of this."

Laughing aloud at Bones' gift as she throws a thumbs up in Taikrin's direction, "She's gonna have an advantage tonite! Got a bet goin' on on how many girls we can bang tonite!" Which, apparently, is funny to Jo. "She's so winnin', after that thing!" She clearly doesn't care that she may lose marks this night. She then turns to Z'ian's focus on attention: H'vier, Not so much clinging to the man now that they're through the crowd but she's staying close, but then Taikrin's bellowing her name and she's giving Z'ian a light enough smack on the shoulder. "Be right back, darlin'," she drawls, and then adds to H'vier, "And you, too." She'll slide from Z'ian and approach Taikrin and Bones and lifts two fingers to them in a greeting.

It is fortunate indeed that Lourna is incapable of turning any shade of green save for the most dire of illness. At Quinlys's introduction, and sharing of history, she stiffens notably and wets her lips. "Ah, you two are very--lucky," Lourna manages with a crooked grin that would be endearing if it weren't just a little too wide. "It's more necessity and talent, I guess. I've never Impressed." That likely says enough, and then the adolescent is taking a nice big gulp from the cup, finishing off nearly half of it in the process. No alcohol works /that/ quickly, but her shoulders do ease up after the sizable swallow. "I can't really bet for the moment, it's not a sound investment. But I don't mind watching." That's an understatement, if the intensity of her attention is anything to judge by. Of course, then H'vier says 'dick', and Lourna's attention is drawn abruptly towards him with a slight parting of the lips in surprise.

Azaylia thinks that the dartboard looks safe. And then, H'vier speaks. Then Jo. Her glass is drained by the time she gets there, which isn't at all telling is it? It's placed on a dirtied table, lips parting just as Jo's passing by. She'll keep the bluerider's proverbial spot warm. Ahem. "Z'ian. H'vier." Polite greetings, smile not so horrified now even if she is glancing about for any unattended bottles.

"Sure it does. Sisha can be a hard ass, try to keep your career alcoholism confined to off hours. Friendly recommandation." Z'ian says it, but he doesn't look like he's seriously eyeballing the other bronzerider as a drunk or anything. It's the bluerider that snaps his attention back down and he gives her a curious look that eventually seeps back over to Taikrin. "How many girls you can bang." There's no question mark, it's rhetorical. He's repeating it for his own benefit. But before he can really delve into what that means, Jo's moving to join the brownrider. He doesn't stop her, but his hand lingers on her a little longer than it needs to before he drops it to his side. Eventually he smiles crookedly and looks back to H'vier. "Anyway. There's some guys that get together from the wing and exercise and shit. They invited me a few weeks ago, you're welcome too."

Turning to spot Jo's approach, Bones' smile doesn't fade at the sight of her. It isn't exactly a surprise to see her there, but he wasn't expecting Taikrin to introduce them. "Hey Jo." Casual but welcoming. "Me and her have actually met a few times already, Tai." That last line is shot at the birthday girl.

It's probably good that Brieli doesn't actually voice that concern over where the Item of the Moment has been. This way Vienne doesn't have to wonder either. She can just go on assuming one doesn't give used dildos as gifts. "I think I'm beginning to understand that." The lack of surprise. "I haven't been to many parties like this." She does start to raise a hand, to wave at Azaylia for her passing attention, but busy as things are, the moment passes, too. So instead she leans in toward Brieli again with a wry smirk. "I feel like I'm learning a lot."

Quinlys doesn't miss ''that'' reaction, either, and it has her giving Lourna an appraising look, one that softens into sympathy a moment later. "I didn't Impress my first time," she says, a little more quietly (and restrainedly) than her previous statements have been. "But Olly was worth the wait." She seems to register what it is that has distracted her conversational companion only belatedly, because her mouth is open to continue talking and then she just ''stops''. "Faranth, I don't think I ''want'' to know what's going on over there. It's still early for that kind of talk, even for a Taikrin party."

"Oh, you have?" Taikrin's enthusiasm is not the least bit dimmed by the fact that she's not actually making an introduction between Barnabas and Jo. Instead, she waves her big black toy right under the bluerider's nose with a huge, shit-eating grin. "Check out this awesome thing Bones got me! I'm so gonna kick your ass and take all your marks tonight." Beat. "Maybe if ''you'' take your pants off I'll let you out of it, though? Whaddaya say?"

H'vier watches as Jo moves away, gaze dropping to take in the whole sight before he's turning back to Z'ian with a grin. "Just guys?" he asks. Because apparently that might make a difference in his interest. Azaylia, of course, distracts him away from his question to the bronzerider for now, eyeing the goldrider and offering her a friendly, maybe too friendly, grin. "Hey, there."

The sympathy is just such that it is sincere without resorting to pity, a fact that does not escape the youth. Lourna's grin eases to something more believably genuine, and she warms a little, even if she remains largely reserved and observant of her surroundings. "I'm sure," she agrees readily with Quinlys's observation about worthy waiting, but Lourna then moves on to draining the rest of her cup, dark green eyes still fixed on those across the room. She's fascinated, as if the behavior is alien in its novelty, and she stands there, rapt with attention and bemused. "Why is she waving that--oh." Then it sinks in, but it is just Lourna's luck that she was already red, so blushing is hardly a concern. "Huh. She should be careful. She might behead someone," Lourna utters by way of joke, but it almost sounds nervous.

With her own smirk, Brieli notes to Vienne, "Well, I'm sure you've been taught how to listen, yes?" She eyes her glass speculatively, half-full, then Taikrin waving around her strap-on gleefully. "Well, she doesn't look so busy now, if you'd like to say hello?" The goldrider edges a few steps in that direction, arching fine brows questioningly. "Hopefully she's not looking for volunteers yet." It's a joke, but in that wry tone that makes it only a slight exaggeration. Not that the bluerider should be ''scared''. Just warned.

"Sorry, guys in the general sense. As in, some women too." Z'ian brings his beer up, taking another long swallow. Occasionally his eyes wander past the other Avalanche rider to where the bluerider has gone. He hears Azaylia's greeting a beat later than he typically would have, but once it registers he grins welcomingly at the goldrider. Despite her obvious discomfort, "You look like you need a drink after that?" He asks, offers rather.

Quinlys is obviously pleased with Lourna's reaction, but that's nothing on the sudden laughter at the younger woman's joke. "be''head''," she enthuses, probably more loudly than is really warranted. "Oh, I ''get'' it. Seriously, though-- fu-- ''wow''. That thing is, um, impressive. I wonder who thought to give her ''that''." Beat. "Have you met Taikrin? She's - something, definitely. Brownrider."

Jo tosses a wink to Z'ian when he repeats those words about banging girls and all, but she's already passing Azaylia with a nod for her and heading to Taikrin and Bones. She'll be back. To Taikrin, the black leather-clad woman drawing a brief hand on Bones' shoulder as she steps passed him, "Yeah. We know each other," she confirms that easily, and then to Bones, "Hey there, darlin'. Whatcha got her, there?" Well, the 'there's' being waved in her face right then by the turnday girl, and she affects a little pout. "Not fair," she notes, sending Bones a look. "I already saw some of those chicks givin' ya the eye for it." And as for her taking her pants off? There's jocular laughter and a wry, "Is that so? Gonna take a lot more sweet-talkin' than just wavin' that in my face to get me to drop my leathers, darlin'." Then she's studying the other present Bones got, though she adds, "I got yer present, but ya won't be seein' it here, with all these folks." Yep. After party.

"Had one." Azaylia answers with a soft laugh, more of a giggle. She gives a little step, arms behind her back and standing up on her tiptoes to peer at Z'ian's beer. He sure has a lot. Hm. Eyes flick up (and up) at H'vier, beaming brightly. "Did you get your giftbasket?" There's enough idle back and forth twisting of her torso have her skirts swirling, still stealing glances at Z'ian's drink. ''So'' much. Sure he doesn't need help with that?

The broad 'eee' kind of smile that Vienne wears might suggest she's still a little uncertain about venturing within striking range of Taikrin's new toy, but it would seem that it's not enough to put her off entirely. She takes a sip, a fortifier, and tells Brieli, "Sure. Let's go meet the Turnday Girl." As for volunteers: "She'd have to do better than buying me a warm beer," Vienne replies with an impish twist of her smile. She slips off her stool, allowing it to be swallowed behind her by the press of people.

The accidental jest sinks in shortly at Quinlys begins to laugh, and against her will, a laugh is tugged free of Lourna. She doesn't break into raucous laughter, but it sounds genuine, if something softened around the edges by growing inebriation. "That isn't exactly what I meant, but--no, no, I haven't met her," Lourna is admitting even as she tries to find some place to set down her now-empty cup so she can smooth a few errant locks of blonde hair back from brow. "I think it would be hazardous to come within--uh--arm's length of her right now, wouldn't it?"

"I'll think about that," H'vier says to Z'ian but his attention is much more focused on Azaylia. Sorry, man. "Don't think I have. Sure you sent it to the right weyr? Or maybe it's still in yours. Should we go check?" He's drunk enough that that probably doesn't sound nearly as awful to him as it will to anyone that hasn't been drinking that much.

"You sure you don't want another?" Z'ian banters back, smiling engagingly at the goldrider as he takes another sip. Glancing over her shoulder he catches the wink and shakes his head, mostly bemusement. Focused more closely on the two people standing in front of him, he lifts an eyebrow at Azaylia's assessing stare of his beer. He holds it out to her, "Absolutely sure? You can have some of mine?" Is this peer pressure? Maaaybe. Don't worry, H'vier. He's sober enough to just wince at the bad pick up line. He doesn't even look at the other man, just sort of stares at the woman in front of him. "You could probably check later. Like way later. Like tomorrow or the next day."

"Aw, and here I thought you might leap for the chance," Taikrin smirks at Jo. "Go have a beer with your bronzerider over there and let me know when you change your mind." When, not if. She tucks the toy into her belt so that it's prominently displayed, then plants her hands on her hips. "And no stabbing." To Bones, she declares, "I need another drink. I'm starting to feel my nose."

By her expression, Brieli's not real sure about the idea either, but she and Vienne. Two people, strength in numbers. Right?! Edging her way through the crowd with an equal amount of skill and death-glares to clear the way, she turns back to tell the bluerider, "I know, right? Seems about the same with some types." There's a roll of her eyes, but it's good-natured enough. It doesn't take long to find their way to Taikrin's table, and she offers the turnday girl, along with Jo and Barnabas, a brilliant smile. "Everything good?"

Bones gives a quick sideways glance and small smirk at Jo, but is quick to say his goodbyes to both with a big meaty paw slapping both of the glacier rider's on their shoulders. "I'll let you ladies catch up. I feel like I'm scarin' people off from gettin their two words in with the turnday girl." It figures just as he says that, he sees Brieli and Vienne make their approach. Taikrin is given a playful shove at her shoulder just before he starts backing up into the crowd. "Remember to drink water!" Mindful of her impending hangover. So helpful.

"Sorry," says Quinlys, though she doesn't sound wholly repentant. Or even a ''little'' repentant. "Mm, no, you're probably right there. Taikrin-- can be a little much at the best of times, but right now? No." Her gaze slides across the caverns towards the brownrider, and this time, her own cheeks grow faintly pink. But then: "So. If you ''did'' have marks to bet, who'd you bet on now?"

Oh, could Azaylia's eyes get any bigger? She mostly seems startled by H'vier's bravado, not eve ''that'' oblivious. "I just got here." She offers softly, biting her lower lip and not looking terribly put off. The beer earns more of her attention, gaze shifting from the tall bronzerider to the tall drink. Sorry, man. With both hand she snatches it up, taking long, greedy pulls as Z'ian effectively blocks. With a brush of of her thumb over her lips, "Be nice." Delicate scold to the blonde, only after she's drained most of his foul-tasting, though effective liquor. "Maybe... maybe sometime later?" Is politely offered to H'vier.

Laughter. Jo downs her beer and gives Taikrin that sort of laughter that’s considering one. “Ya mean ya don’t trust yer game all that much on a mere bluerider?” she quips right back on leaping on that chance, hand on her hip. With Bones making his leave, “I’ll catcha around,” she sends his way, and then back to Taikrin she adds, “And catchin’ greenriders is SO easy.” As in, she wasn’t. Goading Taikrin is fun, in any case! Z’ian is brought up and she swings a look his way, just when Brieli and Vienne shows up. To them, “Hey. Tell Taikrin here how we’re not so easy to get, even with THAT thing,” is going to Vienne, flashing a wide smile. 

Forced to blink several times to clear her head, Lourna immediately replies with: "I'd bet on her, I bet she--" Oh wait. The game! Letting out a squawk, Lourna turns her attention back to the ongoing game, tearing her eyes quickly from Taikrin. It would seem that in that scant few minutes, she has lost track of who done what, and gives a soft, rather annoyed grunt that isn't entirely ladylike. Her lips purse, and she watches someone pocket something. "Ah, nevermind." It would seem she did bet /after all/, and the loss is met with a grimace. "I think no more betting for me. I ought to know better, but it just seems like my luck is always about to turn."

"He-e-ey, Brieli! Check out what Azaylia got me!" Is it subtle political maneuvering, an attempt to pit a goldriders against each other by waving the gift from one in the face of the other? Or is it just drunken Taikrin being an ass? "Flaming awesome, ain't they? And-- hey, who's your friend?" There's nothing subtle in the way she's looking at Vienne. "Don't know as we've met?" She looks to Jo, makes a face, then sticks her begloved hand out. "'M Taikrin!"

With Brieli's height and death glares, she has a definite edge on crowd-cutting and Vienne falls into step in her wake, taking the relative space to unbutton her jacket. She'd probably prefer to take it off, but the beer in her hand makes that too difficult to manage at the moment. So, as it is, when she arrives in front of Taikrin and company, it can be assumed that the pink in her cheeks is from the heat. She has a smile for Barnabas, though he seems to be taking his leave, and another for Jo, and for the guest of honor, "Happy Turnday," is offered with a friendly smile. And otherwise she stands there looking like a girl who has no idea what she's supposed to do next. Of course, the greeting she gets makes it easier. With a bright laugh and brighter grin, she takes Taikrin's hand. "Vienne."

Mostly ignoring Z'ian in favor of Azaylia, H'vier grins at a 'maybe,' a maybe that he probably takes for something that she doesn't, and for now he'll content himself with that. "Definitely later." Now he'll glance at Z'ian, offer a salute that isn't really much of a salute and he turns away from them to refill his own glass and probably wander off somewhere to be much more drunk than he is now.

"I s-- Th-- Sh--" Brieli tries to start three different sentences in response to Taikrin, then just gives up, offering Jo a weary little grin. Bones wandering off, she seems to be a little less concerned about. Trying to be formal again; "Taikrin, Vienne, Oswinth's - she just moved here. And she was at your party, so I thought she ought to say hello." Because clearly, the world would end with a lack of proper introductions. Looking around at the amount of people in the place, brows knit, "Are you sure you have enough to pay for all this?"

Quinlys' laughter is good-natured and friendly, not really aimed ''at'' Lourna so much as ''with'' her... even if the other woman isn't actually laughing at present. Her mouth twitches again at the grunt, then turns more serious: "Oh man, that's lame. Me-- I pretty much suck at games, most of the time, but it's still fun every once in a while." She glances down at her drink, which is - suddenly, and apparently surprisingly - empty, and sighs. "I'd better get another one! Nice meeting you, Lourna. Good luck." And then she's weaving her way back through the crowds: more booze required.

Her beer is gone and Jo’s setting it down on one of the tables as introductions around her are being made. Lots of liquor makes the bluerider more amiable as she goes to slap Taikrin on the shoulder and says the ladies, “And now, I better get back to me and sharp objects. That bein’, darts.” And nods to Brieli and Vienne, giving them their chance to spend with the turnday girl as she makes her way back to Z’ian and H’vier. To them, and Azaylia, “So what did I miss?” She’ll stand by Z’ian, and to H’vier, “Jo, blue Tacuseth’s. Glacier.” At least this time she introduces herself.

"Yes, ma'am." Z'ian responds easily to that light chastisement, flashing the goldrider a slow conspiratorial smile as he side glances in the direction of his wingmate. Having relinquished his beer to Azaylia and with nothing to keep his hands busy, he ends up folding his arms over his chest comfortably. H'vier makes his leave and he sort of acknowledges it, waving absently as the other man wanders away. "I'm sorry. I don't really know him, I thought it would be nice to say hello and..." He takes a breath like he's going to say more, but this Z'ian. Not exactly gossipmonger of the turn. Luckily Jo arrives to provide the distraction he needs to not say anything more on the subject. Jokingly he nudges her with his elbow, "None of us are greenriders."

"I win more when I play," Lourna replies immediately, still grinning. That alcohol is really kicking in, and the lightweight youth utters another chuckle. Quinlys's friendliness is well regarded, and Lourna ducks her head and offers half a bow before nearly tipping over. She readjusts, glances sidelong at the surrounding crowd. "Was, it really was, I oughta get back to m'work," she's muttering as she ducks around one of the natural stalagmites. The urge to siphon off more alcohol is strong, but the swimming in her vision and the sudden warmth keeps her from going back for more before slipping out.

"'Course, it's fine, have a drink Brieli. Don't worry about it!" Taikrin makes a magnanimous gesture to include the whole wild-leaning thing of it. "Wouldn't do it if I weren't good for it!" Her grip for Vienne is firm, and remarkably heavy thanks to those gloves. "Welcome to High Reaches! Always happy to have more lady-riders, ain't we?" Despite the shoulder-slap, she doesn't seem to realize Jo's moved off until she's glancing over her shoulder looking for her. "Well. You enjoying everything okay?"

Azaylia gives a little hiccup for the frothy, and perhaps somewhat warm beer. H'vier's answer has her giving a gentle, though non-commital "Mmhm." as he leaves. She may have been planning on salvaging the last of the brew for Z'ian, but Jo is a wonderful distraction. So, the bronzerider will be handed an empty glass with a smile that's too sweet to scold. Right? "H'vier invited himself to my weyr." She answers her wingmate honestly. "Aaand... Z'ian's drink disappeared." It shall forever be a mystery.

Vienne sends a parting glance toward Jo, her smile bitten in her teeth. It also gives her a chance to avert her attention from the discussion of money that Brieli brings up -- it only seems polite. And then it's back to Taikrin once that topic is so happily set aside. "I am!" Enjoying herself. "This is quite a party. Do you do this every turn?" she wonders, voice lifted as she leans in a bit in hope of being heard. "And lovely gifts," she tacks on with a laugh. Apparently, she's been watching.

With H’vier gone – no introduction here! – Jo finds herself free of a bottle. This won’t do. She collects up some darts and tries to toss Z’ian and Azaylia’s way, along with a jaunty, “Hey Azaylia! Damn, missed all of that? H’vier, huh?” She hasn’t really met him, but she does look after him as he moves off. Back to Z’ian for his comment on greenriders, “Ha! Don’ I know it,” she quips right back. “Taikrin’s just tryin’ to get me out of my leathers. I knew she ‘’so’’ wanted me. Wavin’ that thing around and all…” Oh yeah, she’s so talkin’ smack! “But hey, y’all wanna play some darts? I can be a good shot!” And she’s drunk, so, that’s probably a warning sign.

"Mm. Well. I'll check in." Brieli's expression doesn't really belong at a party, a thing of calculations and drinks-per-person and spillage and general buzzkill stuff like that. Though she does lift her glass up to show Taikrin she is, in fact, drinking. Look, she'll finish most of it now, even! "It's quite a party, regardless. High Reaches loves an open bar," she says, dryly. Leeches! Though maybe she'll take a cue from Vienne, shaking her head with her own amused grin. "I don't know what Azaylia's thinking with those gloves, after K'del at Tillek, yes? I didn't talk to him about it. I would have said something... regrettable. Don't break anyone's face." If she sounds a little nervous... would anyone blame her?

Z'ian accepts his now empty glass, glancing down into it and then back up at the goldrider. He gives her a ''look''. Then he sighs and smiles crookedly, eyes rolling up to the cavern ceiling. To Jo, "I'll give you one guess on where it disappeared to." Hint. It went into Azaylia's stomach, that's where it went. She drank it. He doesn't catch the darts when she throws them. His land on the floor and he's forced to get down there and pick them up. "Sure, darts. One minute." He disappears through the crowd for a few minutes until he returns with more beer. His beer. Azaylia's. Jo's. There's three and he passes them around, whether they want them or not. Once they're out of his hands they're not his problem. Except for his, he starts to drink that. "Don't blind me with any darts."

"Not ''every'' turn. It's my thirtieth! It didn't start out this way. It was just a wing thing at first, you know? But then word got around, and we ain't got all that many workable greenriders, so--" Taikrin shrugs, unconcerned. But then, K'del has her rubbing her newly-lethal fist. "That one. Don't know why they even let him out of the Weyr if he ain't gonna be able to protect himself. Ruining our reputation! Why--" Fortuitously, the brownrider's rant is interrupted by a cute young thing dropping a tall glass of what appears to be whisky into her open hand. "They say you're too sober," she says, before departing back towards the bar. Utterly distracted, she turns back helplessly to Brieli. "What was I saying?"

Azaylia squeaks! She may be going for a new record this evening. The darts fall to her feet, though some smack their fletches harmlessly against her body before they reach the ground. "I can play!" The goldrider answers, bent over as she is. She's got all of her colors collected by the time Z'ian returns, expression somewhat conflicted as she looks at ''her'' beer. But it's the thought that counts, so the bronzerider will get a bright smile, "Thank you. I'll try not to." She won't blind anyone, and it might be beginner's luck that has her hitting so close to the target when she does play. Her skill will deteriorate as she drinks into the night, weyrwoman possibly forgetting her hidden talent come morning.

The look Jo sends Z’ian is one of drunken adoration when he goes and returns with beer. She moves to clink her bottle to his, and then to Azaylia’s if she accepts it before she gets to drinking. She eyes the few darts she’s got in her hands before taking a step back and lining herself up to the board – which isn’t perfect, really. There’s laughter when the bronzerider comments on her not blinding him, her drinking arm lingering just a little longer than appropriate against his before she hauls back and lets a dart fly. Of course, it hers is not hitting the right target at all, and a few Glacier riders behind the board immediately ducked for cover. Azaylia’s own is much, much better aim. To Z’ian, “So-o ya wished the turnday girl a congrats to getting closer to old?” she asks, getting ready to aim another dart. 

"Thirty?" Vienne replies with all the due surprise. "Well congratulations. I didn't mean to... crash it." But there's a flicker of confusion in her brow. "Workable greenriders?" Does she even want to know? Maybe she'll be saved by the distraction of the turnday girl's rant, and if not that, then the whiskey seems to do it. Except Vienne is curious enough to turn her glance toward Brieli. "Is it a dirty thing?" Because there does seem to be a bit of that going around. The bluerider tugs her scarf again, just to get a little more air on her skin. "I might have to step outside soon. It's so warm in here."

Seriously, Brieli tells Taikrin, "Darts. You were saying you wanted to watch them play darts." Clearly! See, over there. Azaylia and Jo and Z'ian, drunkenly dart-throwing. That was the brilliant plan all along. Even though the ranting about K'del seemed to only meet agreement from the goldrider, she isn't about to egg it on tonight. Draining her own glass, she considers it for a time before blinking up at Vienne. "What? Oh! No, no. Just that ''someone'' thought it was a good idea to get the former Weyrleader drunk and in a fight. I bet ''he'' got out fine. Anyway." That seems to have soured her mood a touch, as she tells the bluerider, "I ought to head out, if you want to come with me. Taikrin-- don't let them kick you out, all right?"

Z'ian tries to make short work of his beer while the two women are taking their turns throwing at the board, but not before clinking his bottle against the bluerider's. He laughs when her darts miss the board and her wingmates duck down as a result, he leans and puts his fingers on the small of her back briefly as he goes to take her place. His aim is a little better, but he's not so much in the wind yet as everyone else. Nothing he sends off lands anywhere near the center, but that's his luck. He grins ruefully before taking another draw of his beer. "No, I haven't gotten the chance to fight my way over to her. I don't think she'll remember or know I was here anyway." The bronzerider twists around, checking out Taikrin and her group for a moment.

"Was I?" Taikrin still seems confused with this answer, though she's eyeing the dart players now instead of paying attention to Brieli's explanation to Vienne. A little whisky, though, and she's more or less committed. "Yeah! I was! Hey, Vienne." The brownrider turns her most winning, crookedest smile on her new frend. "If you ain't heading outside with her, you ought to come and kick ass at darts with me. You any good at darts? 'Cause Jo over there needs some taking down some pegs."

Taking turns at the dart between Azaylia and Z’ian, Jo’s own pretty much missing most of the time. At least people now have the sense to ‘’not’’ be around with that Glacier wingrider holding a sharp object! Her beer almost finished, “Bah, go over there and just shovel in a congrats, is what I would do!” she says, leaning over to see where Taikrin’s gone. Little does she know that the brownrider would be coming their way! “Anyway, she’s pretty sloshed that I’ll doubt she’ll remember much of anything after tonite. Not that I’m too far off myself, hehe.” She eyes one of the darts and moves out of the way for Z’ian’s chance to throw. 

"It's what you already did." Z'ian points out with a laugh, pulling his arm back and throwing a dart at the board. Then another one. They're mostly hits with a few that bounce off. When other people toss them back over to him, he catches them with a polite 'thanks man'. Leaning against one of the freed up tables and drinks some more of his glass, watching Jo and Azaylia take turns. "Probably not, bet she's going to have some questions that need answering tomorrow morning. But anyway, she looks distracted talking to that girl over there. I don't want to interrupt a good thing." He flashes the bluerider a wolfish grin before chugging back more of his beer.

Vienne doesn't seem to make much heads or tales from the explanation Brieli gives her, but she does pay attention and maybe some day in the future it will all make sense. She also mouths a grateful, 'thank you', to the goldrider before she takes her leave. But rather than sneak away with her, Vienne grins back at Taikrin as if flattered by that winningest drunken smile -- or maybe she's just laughing. "I can cheer you on? I haven't really played much." She turns, ready to head in that direction. "I think I'd probably be a danger." Not that the drunks with point objects are all that safe to begin with.

"Sure you can. Oswyth's blue, ain't he?" Taikrin asks as she pushes away from the table and heads towards the darts. "Need to find a greenrider. Maybe two. Not all together. It's for the bet." She explains it as if fully expecting Vienne to know exactly what's going on, as drunk people tend to do. "Oi! Jo! You gonna introduce me and Vienne to your friend here?" she interjects demandingly when Azaylia takes a turn at the darts.

“Does, did…ahhh, ya know what I mean!” Jo quips back with a look that doesn’t look nearly as intimidating when she’s feeling ‘’really’’ good right now. When her turn comes up, she’s laughing it up, acting like every single one of her shots had hit right on target. Nobody could tell her any different right now. At least one or two of those darts get on the board, somewhere. “It’s better if we’re usin’ knives, see,” she’s saying, blaming it all on the darts anyway. Yeahhh no. “I’m a better shot with knives, and hey, whaddya mean-?? She ain’t startin’ already-“ but Jo’s not really justifying her sudden outburst at something Z’ian says, for the pair is already upon them. She flashes a smile something crooked at the ladies, letting Azaylia take her shots as she answers, “Hey, Zi. This is Taikrin, the turnday girl, and this is Vienne. Ladies, this is Z’ian. Rides bronze.”

"Oh no, we're not going to switch to knives, girl. You'll send someone to the infirmary." The bronzerider laughs and leans back into the table again, relaxed when Taikrin and the new rider arrive. "We already met." Z'ian begins helpfully. "You tossed your beer in my face the other night. Try to remember me confused and covered in alcohol, it should come back to you." Even more helpfully he brings his arm up to his face and mimics a confused, surprised expression. "I looked something like that. Anyway, happy turnday! And hello to your friend, Vienne." He lifts his glass in greeting and glances over to the action at the dartboard, not his turn yet? Alright then. For confirmation, "Yes, I do ride bronze."

"He is, yeah," Vienne replies off-hand to Taikrin, but the real question is: "What's the bet? What are the greenriders for?" And by the time that's out, she's standing in front of the dart gang, looking vaguely out of place again, despite the fact that she's already met most of them. Not Z'ian. He gets a nice simple, "Hi," as she reaches past him to set her unfinished beer down, where it likely to remain unfinished, at least by her. "Are you guys actually keeping score or just..." She doesn't complete the question, but it's likely that missing word is 'not'.

"I did? I did! Hey, right! Thanks, you're alright for a bronzerider. And now you're drinking my booze." She nods, for all is now right in the world. "We got a bet on, me and Jo and Riorde. About greenriders and pants and-- well. You just let me know if you find any likely." Taikrin proprietarily pats the toy she's got stuffed into her belt. "But don't tell Jo. And ''don't'' give her any knives, neither. I told you Jo, no stabbing at my turnday."

Jo turns a fraction to Z’ian for his comments on infirmary and her sending anyone there as she banters back, “Where’s yer sense of adventure, huh? That thrill of not knowin’?” Not knowing who’ll get injured in the end? Maybe. And then, there’s Vienne, who gets sort of ogled at while she asks about them keeping score and greenrider bets. “Just tossin’ around, shootin’ the breeze,” is her breezy answer, which in her case is pretty much literal. She’s totally leaving that greenrider bet question for Taikrin to answer, and when the bronzerider mentions her wingmate tossing a drink in his face, “I missed that? What happened there?” Gaze takes them all in for an answer since it’s not her turn to toss darts. As for stabbing? “I’ve been good alllll night,” she notes to Taikrin with a wink. “Haven’t even punched someone.” There’s a ‘’yet’’. It’s there.

Z'ian watches as a dart sails through the air towards the board. He seems to have more or less disengaged himself from the game for now, happy to nurse his beer over on the sidelines. He shifts enough so that Vienne can get her drink onto the table without him knocking it over onto the floor with his hip. Flashing a bright smile at Taikrin, "Thanks and yeah, it looks like I am." He glances between the women as the turnday girl explains the bet, partially anyway. Biting down on his lower lip, he looks amused but reins that in for now. Laughing again he turns his attention back onto Jo, "The thrill of spending the evening in the infirmary when you accidentally hit me with a knife and I need twenty stitches put in me. You're keeping me company if that happens." He warns before tipping his beer back again.

Vienne does catch a glimpse of that oogling. She gives Jo a sly little smile and reminds her, "Blue." So whatever the details of this bet, she doesn't count. And she might not understand it all but, "Aren't there like a million greenriders in this bar?" She turns to look around, eyes cast over the strangers still mingling about the place, not that she knows enough of them to be able to pick out a dozen greenriders for her companions. When she turns back to the darts, a hand comes up, fingers pinching the air. "Can I try one? If you're not keeping score?"

"Hey, I didn't say no punching. There might be punching, 'cause sometimes it ain't a party until there's punching. But no stabbing. And no knives! And I ain't paying for the shit you break, neither." Just the drinks. Taikrin has drained her whisky at an alarming rate, and now she gestures for the darts to be handed over while she glances over the crowd. "There ''are'' a lot of greenriders here," she remarks thoughtfully. "But most of 'em--" know better? "-- ain't had enough to drink yet."

To Vienne, “Oh darlin’, that’s Taikrin’s thing,” Jo notes on the greenriders, so blasé about it all. “I’m far more equal opportunity.” Pause. “Though I ‘’will’’ win the bet,” she adds for Taikrin’s benefit, “with or without newly acquired, ahh, help.” She passes the fellow bluerider over the rest of her darts, taking herself from the game and settling beside Z’ian with her beer and a whole lot of eyeing after semi-sober greenriders. Z’ian’s response to her sense of adventure gets a little elbow from the convict rider, flashing him a smile full of devilment. “Sounds like a threat,” she notes, her amusement laced with beer. “I just might, but Taikrin there won’t let me get rowdy. How ‘bout I shoot a dart at yer ass and we see what happens from there?” Could be, she’s trying to get him naked. Jo’s just incorrigible. And then, to Taikrin on punching, “Ya read my mind, darlin’. Ain’t no party at all without a little blood.”

Vienne's eyebrows go high as she smiles, 'I see' written all over her face as she takes the darts from Jo. "I think that thing might frighten as many girls as it attracts." Her teeth settling into her lip, she turns toward the dartboard, holding the little dart up as she's seen everyone else do it -- which, given the sobriety of present company might not be the best of examples. With a weak toss, the thing arcs through the air, lands of the floor and slides into the wall. "Oh yeah, just like that," she tells herself. The rest of the darts are offered over to Taikrin. "I should leave it to the master."

"There might be... But they've probably heard about your bet by now. So they're going to need more to drink. I've never found women to be really fond of bets that include them getting naked for someone else's amusement." Z'ian clears his throat uncomfortably then. "Not that I have a lot of personal experience in that. At all." He fakes pain when Jo ribs him, putting his hand down where her elbow made contact. "You shoot me in the ass with a dart and I'll end up taking ''my'' pants off. Right now. And I don't think there are that many people here who want to see that right now." He side glances over to her and grins mischievously.

"If it's scaring 'em off, then they ain't very much the girls we're after anyways. No girl scared of a little old thing like this is going to take her pants off for me." Taikrin is so blase about the whole thing that it's a little scary. "''You keep your pants on!''" she demands of Z'ian as she takes the remaining darts from Vienne and brandishes them threateningly in his direction. "Ain't nobody told you I'm a bloody lot scarier 'n little Jo over there?" As if to prove her point, she throws a dart at the board. Would that it hit the bullseye; rather, she only barely manages to hit on the board at all, and not even in a scoring zone.

Jo drains her beer finally, perhaps actually making an effort to ‘’not’’ be piss-drunk by the end of the night. She sets the empty bottle down behind her and flashes one of her charming grins Vienne’s – well, it’s a sloshed one, anyway since she’s inebriated – and weighs in on the conversation of greenriders between Taikrin and Z’ian. “I’ve gotta feelin’ at least ONE of them’s goin’ to throw their drink at my face for sayin’ the wrong thing by the end of this night,” she’s predicting it right now. “And, perhaps, I’m gonna be a little broke in the mornin’. But I ain’t goin’ down without a fight.” She watches Vienne throw darts and chuckles, shaking her head, and at Z’ian’s quip of him taking his pants off – while Taikrin’s not for it, it’s obvious Jo totally is. “Party pooper,” get sent Taikrin’s way for that. To Z’ian, “Fine. I’ll let ya keep yer dignity. There’s always tomorrow.”

"See, there's at least one person here who wants my pants ''on''." Z'ian flashes a smile in the brownrider's direction, even if it's not exactly warranted or appropriate given that she's now threatening him with the darts. He's back to biting down on his lower lip, one hand creeping onto Jo's leg to give it a squeeze in terror? Good humor? Affection? It's so hard to tell right now. But from the crowds comes a person that looks suspiciously like Avalanche's wingsecond. And that person doesn't look happy as they crook a finger at him from across the bar. He stares back with wide blue eyes before exhaling loudly. "This has got to be good." Except his tone says that it's more than likely not. He drains whatever is left of his drink and slides the bottle away from him on the table. With a crooked grin to the woman next to him, "Let me know if you win the bet. And good-bye everyone else, happy turnday again, Taikrin." Quickly, the bronzerider takes off across the bar to disappear with the other rider.

"All this talk of dropping pants. It sounds more like you're looking for a medical exam," Vienne muses. Though with a shrug she adds a dry, "I guess plenty of people enjoy playing healer." As promised, when Taikrin hits the board (poor as the shot might be) the Igenite lifts her hands to clap in quick, light succession. She did offer to cheer. "Much better than I did!" It's about all the compliment she can offer. "I think I'm gonna head outside. Thanks for letting me crash your party, Taikrin. And happy turnday." Her glance shifts back over to Jo, sharing a rather conspiring smile, "Good luck." Though it seems that it's too late for that, since Z'ian is already being beckoned away.

The core of the party is still winding up-- most of Glacier is still here, and getting drunker by the moment. Riorde has cornered a pretty girl from the kitchen, and there are greenriders stalking towards Jo and Taikrin with intent. The brownrider is sliding past drunk and into trashed, and so that might be why she lets Vienne go with little more than a "Wait and see! It's gonna be awesome." She tosses the rest of the darts at the board (thankfully, no casualties), then turns to Jo. "Ain't we got a bet to fill out? Bronzeriders don't count either way-- I don't wanna see none of that. Let's do this thing."

Jo chuckles Z’ian’s way, a hand passing over that squeeze to her leg before he’s being called away. Brows coming together, “Just say it wasn’ you that did it,” is the advice she gives as he moves away. And then on the bet, there’s even more laughter and before Vienne heads away with a wave going her way –and then, greenriders. Yeah, yeah. Jo’s already on it as she starts to put on the charm.




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