Harper Hall Party (Part 3)

Harper Hall Party (Part 3)
Friday, October 5, 2001

The World of Pern(tm) copyright (c) 1967 by Anne McCaffrey.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

Log courtesy of R�kan
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Girl strums her guitar once, then tunes it quietly, before looking up. "This is a song I wrote after Master Caitlin brought us to see the eggs a few sevendays ago. I haven't named it yet." She then begins strumming the opening cords and opens her mouth to sing in her soft alto voice:

The earthly queen guards her brood,
     A daddy bronze stays nearby
          A protective mood
               Is in the air.
One egg of glory, the dark warrior of the clutch,
Another tells the story of what shall come.
One holds a haunting of tragic sorrow,
A fourth the vision of a lake, mythical shadows that shall never be seen.
The golden mother flicks a tongue
     One is rolled, buried deeper in sand.
          A mother's song is sung.
               The gold croons to her unborn.
An egg of fortune sits with brilliance,
Another the pale tear of an unknown, shadowed in mist.
One sits by itself, a beacon of golden light,
Another with ideas unknown, dark shadows swirling its surface.
The mother bugles, who enters there?
     A form waves and comforts.
          Her rider is once again here,
               And with a sigh gold goes back to her task.
Standing tall as a hold is one egg,
Another the dark forests unexplored.
Another the image of a man, hidden in its design.
One a red apple, red the joys of life hidden on it.
Father croons,
     Mother turns another egg.
         Bronzerider swoons,
               From the heat that brings a life with no mate to an end.
An egg of sadness sits with the rest,
Its sibling, one of ill fated love beside.
Another of pure heart guards the other two from invading eyes
The fourth in this group darkness hiding and waiting amid light.
The earthen queen, done with the rest
Goober steps through the double doors into the auditorium.
     Goes to adore the one untouched
          And perhaps the best?
               The golden queen nudges, the one left.
The last egg sits, amid the others
Yet something special
Inside its flower shell it offers
A golden queen
One who must face a difficult fate.
Mothering of this one done,
     Suyinth begins again
          Going one by one
               Caring for each in turn
                    Until the day fate has arranged
                         Arrives.

Girl slowly fades out the last note, taking a deep breath as the song ends and she looks up at the crowd. "Well that's it. Anyone have a suggestion for a name?"

R'kan peers around nervously at V'len's attention on him--are any of his friends watching? What if he says something wrong? What if he looks... stupid? A light blush dances on his cheeks, and when he finally finds his tongue again, he forces it to form around the words he needs. "Oh, surely it can't be too hard. Just... compliment /them/, for a change. It works most of the time, even when they have strong personalities." V'len works as a perfect example. "Alas, you may be right." A blink and a pleased beam follow one right after the other, the bronzerider all too flattered to be inquired about, but his answer is clipped and simple, and might very well drive a rift between himself and the object of his shining blue eyes. "Maraith? Oh. He's... perfect." Simple and short, the response is exactly as the bronze would have liked, and the man silences to listen, then applaud to the singing. "That was lovely!" he calls out, cheering his approval.

Andrei just... stares at Rayna. "Wow..." is all he can say. Then he stands, and cheers his own approval. "Beautiful Rayna! Absolutely beautiful!" A perfect song for the event!

Kishairyn wrinkles her nose delicately, then shakes her head and lapses into a smile. "True," she concedes, "but as far as I'm concerned, Arawn, there's always room for improvement." She winks, then shakes her head at Taire ... with an absent frown at her position. "You know, if you stood like ..." She bites her lip. Not nosing. "It is a good-looking dress, though." She shakes her head. "No," she answers Menace simply, "bawdy songs. That's all." She grins at Gabriela, nodding in sympathy, though what she was about to say falls away as she hushes to listen, eyes slightly wide as if that helps her take it in. Her applause has a wolf-whistle thrown in the middle of it, for no really apparent reason. "Hear, hear!"

Aouda thinks that song was...wonderful...and frantically resists her urge to call out..."THE DEMENTED WHERRY SONG" because she would probably be gripped by the scruff of the neck and thrown out...teehee. And that would be bad. "Lovely!" she adds in to the other's comments....but as far as names go, she's stumped. Too stumped to be sarcastic...too stumped to think up a clever name. Wow. Wonderful.

Taire is still rather busily scoping out just where they hid the wine. "Ya know, for once I could /really/ use a bit of a toddy. Just a wee bit... maybe a glass... skin would do as well." Dark brows shadow over her eyes as she flips a stray braid away form her eyes. Gaze follows Gaby's pointed direction, and she starts towards, only to stop suddenly as Aryion poses a question to her. "Eh?" The girl looks to him with a rather dumb-founded glance, and then eyes the music currently being played. "Ya can't dance to this.... something fast 'n upbeat and.... fun." You know, something with a catchy beat and you can dance to it. Shake your booty! Woo. "And this ain't it... but I suppose I could?" She speaks that quickly to forgo any despondent looks or smirk or anything else, the girl idly claps her hands together as the harper finishes off. "Just as long as you get me back to the drink table?" Yeah, she sure could use a stiff one right about now.

Cera nearly bumps into a table, blinking at the singing Rayna, then claps when the song is over. Looking around nervously, Cera reaches for the nearest drink and burries her face in it. Gotta love wine...

Shylo turns her head toward the singer, and once the song has finished sets into a rile of clapping. "The Rose of Suyinth? But that song was beautiful!" She skips over toward Maeko. "Wasn't that just a wonderful song?"

"Demented.. Wherry dance?" Atsuro blinks, and looks rather.. confused. That's a new one. Shrugging, he grins again, rather proud he managed to best at least /one/ of the herder apprentices. The others.. well, that's a challenge yet to come. "Barn dance, hm? Why not. You'll have to learn to dance eventually. What's a good gathering without it?" Does he know what he's talking about? Assuredly not. Humor the poor boy. Words of the song catch his ear, and he turns his head towards their direction to listen closer as an exhaled breath forms a smile as it ends. "Lovely indeed!" Agreeing with Aouda, of course.

Caitlin smiles and claps Rayna "Lovely child" she gently pats the girl on the shoulder in reassurance and she bows again "My thanks again for your presence and now we will let you return to the dancing and leave you to your conversations, we will have more music and singing later, many here are eager to perform for you. She turns back to the orchestra who nod and take up instruments again, smiling in appreciation to Rayna for her chance to rest and they begin another dance song, quietly so if people just want to talk they can.

Arawn simply chuckles softly, and murmurs as an aside to Kishairyn, "That was very well done," before nodding at Menacion. He introduces himself to the other man, offering, "Arawn, I'm from Weaver...dropped in to check in on all the Weavers who the Weyr kidnapped." Chipperly, as he states this, he stretches, gaze flickering briefly towards Cera and Anki as they rest about within the hall, before shrugging, muttering something under his breath within the hectic auditorium.

P'tala answers the scowl with one of her own, jaw clenching stubbornly at V'zan's rather unreasonable argument. "If we're just buckets for your excess work, I think you've gotten our job description wrong, V'zan. We /are/ supposed to support you enough that you can still walk yourself to bed at night, and get up in the morn." Her hand moves gently but confidently upwards to replace his own, a severe glance from below the reward if he attempts to protest. "And just because you're Weyrleader doesn't mean you get no private time." The last comment is rewarded with a grin, but nothing else. Sincerity, in this one, speaks more than words.

Anki applauds slowly, a slight smile appearing. "What a lovely song," she enthuses before joining the rest of the Candidates. "I say, is anyone else here scared about what's going on between the two biggest egos in the Weyr? I swear, it's a good thing that T'vr's not here or we'd have some sort of explosion. The room's just not big enough." All this, of course, said in a sort of sotto voce..as sotto voce as Anki can get, in any case.

Maeko nods to Shylo, a thoughtful smile upon her face. "It was!" Maeko, however, isn't good with names, though she tries- give the poor girl that much. She's just not mentioning any of her failures. A wink and a nudge, and she grins at Shy. "Have fun with Ary?" Ooof course. Ary's just so cute.

Andrei waves at Caitlin, then motions towards the orchestra, then at his gitar, and back. Mouthing, "Okay if I join in with the orchestra?" He picks up the gitar and starts walking slowly towards it.

Gabriela claps loudly, sailory habits coming through as fingers go to her mouth for a loud whistle. She has manners tucked away someplace. She chuckles toward Taire, nodding. "Surely they have some good skins," she replies as she leans back against her wall, arms crossed over her chest. "Cera! Over here!" Whispered call once again tries to reach across the room, hopefully successfully. "I think they finally discovered, Anki," she replies slowly and quietly, "that their undying love cannot be pushed away... They must break the resistance within them in order to find true happiness." Think she's read too many romance novels?

Menacion ignores the song with his customary philistinistic lack of appreciation and, instead, raises a brow. "Bawdy songs?" Okaaay...head in the other direction. Wait. That's some other time. Great. He doesn't have to run. "Menace..." He returns to Arawn. "I think we bumped into each other once before." He shrugs, defending R'kan. "Karnie doesn't have that big an ego. He's a very nice person. Though I certainly second the other notion." He shudders. "T'var here would be more than I could stand."

V'zan does indeed open his mouth to comment on the placement of P'tala's hand on his neck, but after espying the look on the greenrider's face, he wisely holds his tongue. Massage could usually segue into stranglehold, after all. "That feels... nice?" Surprise brings a questioning lilt to his tone. "And I do get private time. About 4 hours a night. Plenty. Really. Oh, and even the occasional meal break."

Cera blinks as she looks down her nose at the glass of wine, before she gulps down half of it. Blushing even more, Cera's eyes flick about, drawn to Gabriela's call to her. Blushing even more, Cera lowers her glass and clears ehr throat, trying to look the dignified *ahem* weaver she used to be. With just a moment's pause, Cera slowly starts to make her way in Gabby's direction. With a smile, Cera nods. "Hello everyone," she comments softly.

V'len is beaming. So cool! "They were singing about me! Did you hear her? She was talking about the bronzerider on the sands! That's me!" V'len's standing tall, taking the applause thats' filling the hall as appreciation - finally - for his part in all of this. "Oh, the song was lovely, but I think it didn't quite mention Yevgeth enough. All those references to the queen? They /do/ get the attention. Ah, but... just as I was saying, eh, R'kan?" There's a bit of a bronzerider nudge there. That bit of advice about complimenting the women for a change slips right on by... even R'kan can't be right about /everything/, and it moves right to his assessment of Maraith. "Well, I suppose that each rider sees perfection in their dragons. It's a good thing. It keeps down the jealousy. They all can't be Yevgeths, although I'm sure that in Maraith's case, he's wonderful in his own right. After all," he says leaning in for a very quiet conspiratorial whisper. "Yevgeth has /horrible/ color sense. Can you imagine? It pains me. It really does."

Shylo still thinks The Rose of Suyinth is the best name she's come up with. "He's a great dancer... Ary I mean... Except that he seemed to twirl quite a bit too much..." She settles down in a chair beside Maeko, watching Aryion with his other partners. "I nearly tripped and fell, but thank Faranth the music slowed or I would have made a scene." She looks to her feet, letting out a short snort of humor. "And probably twisted my ankle in the process."

Kishairyn grins and gestures. "There you go, Taire ... grab a partner and make us all proud," she says with a cheerful flutter of her hands. She nods once in agreement. "Twas very well done ... hope it won't give more fuel to V'len's fire." Though given the present situation, maybe that's a minor fear. She flashes a grin at Arawn. "Would be a pleasure, when you like ..." She clears her throat loudly. "I think it's sweet, actually, Anki. They look positively darling together." She blinks sideways at Gabriela. "You're not thinking of settling down and having sixteen kids, are you?" A sweet smile for Menace. "Or anything else you can think might need interpreting, yes ... hello, Cera, you look lovely." Does that cover everyone?

Caitlin laughs softly and waves at Andrei and nods her approval of him joining in, anyone to help them out. She nods as the music swells, the sorrowful sound they were playing before dismissed and the light hearted chatter of the flutes and the fiddles become quite apprent with the gitars trying to interrupt.

Aryion applauds loudly, touched by the beautiful song. "Nice song that, very nice." Turning back to Taire, "so.. I will take that as a yes?" He holds out his hand to Taire, and with a sly grin he nods toward the dance floor, "want to go spin a few. I promise to return you safe and maybe slightly dizzy to the wine table." He nods solemnly to her before casting his charming grin back at the girl. A quick wink is cast in Kisha's direction before he casts a "Kisha, your next," over his shoulder. Back at Taire, "ready to go and really show them how to dance?"

Andrei almost jumps with joy as he takes a place in the back with the gitarists. Picking up the light melody, he begins to play countervoice to it, along with the other gitars. His eyes close as he plays, his fingers dancing happily over the strings, glad that he is finally able to play for someone.

P'tala needs a chair. Some people are too tall for their own good, and V'zan is one of them. Fingers work methodically and with great precision, isolating and rubbing muscles in the most businesslike way possible. "Good," she responds brusquely, then rolls her eyes. "Four hours? A night? Does that include sleeping or no, V'zan?" the Weyrsecond demands. "And the occasional meal break is hardly enough. Take some time, V'zan, and dump some work on your loyal and hard-working underlings." Loyalty is M'lan's half; P'tala takes the hard-working part.

"Sweet? I think it's frightening, from the looks of it." Arawn's light tenor voice trails off, as he glances to Menacion, nodding, "Think so, actually, but wanted to be sure..." He trails off, and points out to Kishairyn, "Now works, then, I guess?" Shrugging easily, he gestures to the dancefloor again, looking amused, and says, "Shall we?" They can gossip more about more people that way. Always fun.

Aouda nods to Atty, yawning once...and then twice. Look folks, she's "danced", she's eaten, she's done what herders do at parties, and now it's time for her to scoot. Really. She is /tired/. Her klah energy is gone, her herder energy is gone, and her Aouda energy is gone. With a feeble wave to anyone who might care to see it, she walks backwards...out the exit. Bai all!

Taire spurns Aryion's outraised hand, instead, reaching out to grip his sleeve and physically drag him out there. She does throw a glance over her shoulder to Gaby, "Just be sure to save some for me." She flashes the ex-trader a beaming smile before continuing her tugging upon her fellow candidate on out to the dance floor. "If'n you hear a sound like a feline's purr, that'd be my dress ripping. Pay it no mind."

"Good you finally made it," Gabriela murmurs to Cera with a soft smile. She sends a glance and raised eyebrow toward V'len before leaning toward Menace. "I see what you mean now about V'len's... confidence, though it's understandable he would be proud." She guffaws at Kishairyn, shaking her head. "Oh, hardly! We've had this talk before. You have the sixteen brats, and I will keep them hyper on sweets. And I will come chat with you as you make meals and wash the laundry for your handfasted." She winks toward the candidate before turning toward Arawn, shrugging. "As long as they're happy..." Laughing toward Taire, she nods. "I'll try not to swig it all down."

Yeah, that's why P'tala lounges in the Lower Caverns. :)

Anki almost chokes on a sip of juice. "Darling, yes, but not to be thought of. I can feel my mind boggling. If they get any more cloying it'll start dribbling out of my ears. Menace, can't you teach them how to...oh, I don't know. Scratch at themselves or give grunts that're full of masculinity and vigor?" she asks plaintively, looking at the happy 'couple'. "R'kan's acting graceful enough for me to throw in the glove and I'm /female/." And he's not, or so her point goes.

Maeko giggles and bobs her head, curls shaking with the movement. "You had fun, then! Great." That was Maeko's mission, after all. "Good thing you didn't fall, though.. hard enough to get to lessons on time fully healthy, much less with a twisted ankle." She knows, yes.. she knows this. Le yawn. Maeko's attention is desperately needing something to attach to. "Suyinth's Rose is pretty," She comments absently to Shylo. "It's got a poetic ring to it, anyway."

Cera blinks a few times as she makes it to where everyone else is... er... was. For a moment, Cera stands there confused, looking at Arawn, Kisha, Taire, Aryion, then looking down at her dress, before turning to try and look at the back of it. Shaking her head with a shrug, Cera takes another sip from the wine glass, and lets her blue eyes look absently about the rest of the room. She turns back and nods to Gabby with a smile. "Yes, well... button came off, you see. And since it buttons in the back..." Then she blinks again, confused. "As long as who is happy?"

Oddly, the thought of delegating more work to his Weyrseconds makes V'zan more tense rather than less. "It's just not /right/ for me to dump my workload on you two. You both already have a considerable number of duties; I don't want to add to that merely because I can't handle my own responsibilities." He then defensively comments, "And I can function just fine on three hours of sleep a night, leaving me a full hour to just relax." Just don't pay attention to the dark shadows 'neath his eyes.

Kishairyn smirks softly. "That's just because you don't have much of a tolerance for sweet," is her assessment. She chokes low in her throat and shakes her head vehemently at Gabriela's words. "Somehow, I'm *quite* sure it was the other way around ... and if it isn't, is it too late to change my mind?" She quirks an eyebrow at Arawn, mocking a trace of indignance. "You guess? What a way to ask a woman to dance ..." She offers her arm to him. "Lead the way."

The musicians are really quite efficient, matching their music to the dancesteps, supporting and weaving, each set of instruments has its turn to shine, rising to a crescendo then lowering, the gitars and the fiddles still spar while the flirty flutes do dance between them.

Menacion rests one hand familiarly on the hilt of his rapier, feeling much more comfortable. "Pride? Pride is one thing. V'len's waaay beyond just proud." he responds to Gaby. Shrug. "Well, if you want V'len to grunt or scratch himself, you try yourself. But I don't see anything that unusual about Karnie's behavior. He's acting pretty normal." One corner of his mouth quirks in a smile. "Now isn't that an irony. He's more feminine than you are? Maybe you ought to sollicit lessons from him."

Shylo giggles. "Awww, what're ya kiddin? It's not a very good name and you know it." Yaaaawwn. Whoa, where'd that come from. She's not tired. Yaaawwn. Great. "The music is pretty?" That came out in a question. Rephrase. "The music is pretty." Better. Perhaps she is a tad tired.

R'kan is almost about to insert a comment in there--Maraith /is/ perfect, he says so--but the bronzerider has his hook baited, and his line's already being pulled in. "The song would be nice in any case," the bronzer replies, enthused again, and continues with his tirade. "The songs need to mention the queen a bit more, V'len. After all, with a dragon as wonderful as Yevgeth, there's surely no need for immortality by mere verse." R'kan is almost always right when women are concerned, unless those women happen to be Kerryn and Jenar. The man fluffs his lace a bit, managing to make the action more delicate than frivolous. "I can barely believe it. Though perhaps his coloring is just too stunning for him to recognize anything else. Surely his beauty rivals the rider..." R'kan is the personification of Smooooth.

Arawn smirks towards Kishairyn, and murmurs towards her, leading her out onto the dance floor again, then begins to dance amidst the music. He then states, ironically to Kishairyn, "I wonder what they'll do tomorrow morning..." Scream, most likely-- at least V'len. Shrugging again, he coughs, holding a hand before him as he catches the tail-end of R'kan's words, muttering again.

Mrowr. From the look on Anki's face as the smile solidifies, Menace is going to pay for that comment. Sipping thoughtfully, she nods. "I'll have to do just that, Menacion. Thanks for pointing it out for me." The cup lowers to reveal a perfect smile. Too perfect, really.

Gabriela laughs at Anki's words to Menace, shaking her head. "They add a spice of variety to the Weyr, that's for sure. And, Cera, imagine the problem you'd have if it buttoned in the front. You'd have no problems getting dances, that's for sure." See. She's been corrupted. "Oh, V'len and R'kan," she replies nonchalantly and with a wave of her hand. A quick head shake goes toward Kishairyn. "No, dear Kisha, I'm never spawning... not for a few turns, at least. Kidlets tend to fall overboard."

Being dragged out onto the dance floor was surprising, but Aryion should have known by now not to be surprised by anything that Taire does. Laughing, he takes her hand in his, and laying the other hand on her waist begins to twirl the girl around the floor laughing and thoroughly enjoying himself during this dance. He casts her a daring smile, "shall we see who will be the first to drop in exhaustion?" He asks, daring her to meet his challenge.

P'tala sighs, shaking her head firmly. "You can't keep those kinds of hours, V'zan. It's not healthy, and Faranth knows that you, of all people, need your health. Take my advice," she says, placing a hand on his shoulder and walking around to the Weyrleader's front side. It ruins the effect, but at least she can see the Weyrleader's face now. "See that table? Find a jug of wine, and get breathtakingly and horrendously drunk. Tomorrow, you will have a headache so painful that you won't be /able/ to work. Lounge a bit. Eat, drink... something. Let M'lan and I handle everything for a day, then come back the next." It's more of a demand, than a request, but she does leave a little opening.

Kishairyn chuckles softly, shaking her head. "You really are quite the gossip, aren't you?" she murmurs, amusement sparkling in her eyes, stepping easily into the dance. "That's why you strap them to the rails, Gaby!" she calls over her shoulder: nothing wrong with her ability to shout something out, nor her complete lack of compunction that someone might overhear. She inclines her head to Arawn. "That's better," she murmurs, sounding mollified. "And I do think ... well, I think the issue is, V'len doesn't have a chance without him."

Cera looks between Menacion and Anki for a moment, before smiling over her glass of wine. "You know, Menacion, you really should have let V'len make you an outfit. Knit would just look so dashing on you, with a little lace at the throat." Bright eyes shining, Cera flashes a big smile before looking over to Gabriela, and nearly -chokes- on her own breath. "V'len! And R'kan?!" Cera's face turns a bright red to match Taire's dress, and the wine glass is brought up to her lips, to hide the crimson blush that trails down to her shoulders.

Taire bends over to hike up her dress, once more baring a good deal of trim leg for all to view. But, on second thought, holding up a bunch of fabric while partaking of a lively tune isn't exactly gonna make her look like some kind of Pernese Ginger Rodgers. She did it before. Who is to say she can't do it again. Using the sound of the music and the crowd to mask her action. fingers grip upon either side of the hem that falls down the side of her left leg, and with not all that much pressure, she pulls it apart 'til the stitching splits at her ankle. There. That�s better now. As she comes up, she is suddenly gripped by Ary. This isn't at all how dancing is supposed to be. You're supposed to bebop around, shimmy and shake your groove thang. Not grip each other. But.... ohhh, the gauntlet is thrown and the girl grins with feral intent. "Bring it on."

Maeko knows how Shylo feels- Physically, there is no tiredness in her body, but that yawn.. it escaped all the same. And you know how contagious those things are. But she's bored, and excess energy forces her to stand, shifting from foot to foot. "/I/ haven't danced yet," She comments idly, eyes casting over those who are currently in the process. "I'd steal Ary, but he's busy.. want to dance some more?" This question is directed towards Shylo with a shrug. Hey, she's /bored/, darnit. They can always do a repeat of Aouda's wonderful dance- more a twirl using a partner as a center of gravity, but.. it's about all Maeko can manage. Foot stomps on the ground with force, and she rocks back and forth from heel to toe. "Or maybe you've got a better idea?" Food is always good.

It's just one small measure of retaliation for the indignities that have been heaped on Menace. Shaving being prime among them. One has to admit, Anki left herself wide open for that sort of cutting remark. Smiling beatifically, Menace nods. "I'd be glad to introduce the two of you to each other. Give Karnie a little introduction." (Hey, here's Anki. She's a tad clumsy and unfeminine, think you can help?) "No thanks, Cera, I like my uniform perfectly well. I'm not sure I would quite agree with V'len's idea of 'taste'."

Music continues, the orchestra not pausing between tunes, the big drums begin their beating now, thump thump, booming out the steady steps, over which the lighter percussion instruments triumphantly sing out, joining in with the other instruments that weave their merry dance through the auditorium.

V'len is on his second ... no, make that third glass of wine already, and what ever R'kan is saying sounds rather good. He's agreeing, anyway. "I do suppose the song has to mention the queen to make up for the agony poor Siani is going through... now that you pointed it out to me. I should just be gracious about it. Yevgeth, no doubt, will have his name immortalized in song and sonnet, so I don't need to worry." He turns towards R'kan with a broad and happy grin. Nope, he's not feeling like he's got much to worry about at all right now... absolutely stunningly blind to any danger. As for that comment about Yev's beauty rivaling his? "Awww..." he snickers, giving the fellow bronzerider a light little punch on the arm, that is, if he doesn't duck. How manly. "That's very sweet of you to say. More wine?"

The suggestion does bring another faint grin to his otherwise tired features, but V'zan shakes his head decisively. "Nay, I couldn't do that. As is, I've already stayed too long... All I have to do is wait for Noswaith to lose a key flight, and I'll be free to sleep as much as I want. Until then, well, the toil will continue. I do thank you for the offer, however; it's greatly appreciated." He flashes P'tala one of his legendary pearly-white smiles. "You actually do have a nice streak in you somewhere, don't you?"

Shylo giggles maniacally. "Demented Wherry Dance? Hmm... If we can abduct a few wallflowers..." She gazes over to scan the walls of shy, hiding victims. "C'mon, let's find some..." Yes, that dance will certainly spark up energy within the girl. She slowly rises from her seat.

Anki speaks through her beatific smile, not around. "I hardly think you're the prime authority on taste, Menace, even though I'm forced to agree that V'len has inherited a rather strange strain of that virtue. Still, I do happen to know 'Karnie'. I designed his outfit that he's wearing tonight." From the look in her eye, it'll be shaves all over and pink booties for Menacion tonight. "Cera, sweet, don't you want another cup of wine?"

One of the fiddlers has been hearing mentions of the demented wherry dance all night and he quickly runs a trill up and down on his fiddle and the other musicians casts glances at their CraftMaster and then follow his lead, their music whirling and swirling and drawing people in, faster and faster to spin and spin and spin.

P'tala shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Even if you do, doubtless the new Weyrleader would appoint you as the Weyrsecond... After all, who could be more qualified?" The look on her face is slightly irked and slightly mournful, but she puts it forcibly away with a giggle. "Well, the offer stands." A nod to the comment, and shrugs. "A nice streak? Maybe I just like you." And it's V'zan's choice as to the sincerity of that comment.

"Strap them to the sails?" Gabriela blinks toward Kishairyn. "But the wind...? Rails? Oh, Kish, you're awful!" Sharding noise... She grins toward Menacion at Cera's words, raising an eyebrow and nodding, before replying. "Aye, they were dancing together, and they've just been.... clicking. She points to Taire, grinning. "Look at that one go," she whispers with a wink.

Ashelyn glides into the room, usual garment exchanged for a dress of brilliant and bold red hue. Simple in design, sleeveless with a low back and daringly low front. Auburn locks lifted into a loose knot, held by dried flowers and a silver chain. She passes quickly by Menace and a few others she knows, coming to a rest by V'zan. "Good eve, Weyrleader." A respectful bow as the assistant steward grabs a glass of wine from a passing server. Others are given waves, though the former guard turned candidate gets a stern glare.

Aryion grins as the music picks up a lively beat and drops his hand at her waist to spin her around with the other. Oh no, he didn't miss that brief flash of leg, and eyes her appreciatively. Continuing to be-bop around the floor swinging Taire around as gracefully as possible he does manage to catch his breath to mummer a few sentences. "I just wanted to tell you how much I like your, um, dress." Subtle and smooth there Ary. Eyes flash with a evil twinkle as he gracefully spins the girl around, becoming very exuberant in his dancing, reacting to the quickening pace of the music.

Andrei smiles impishly at the new change of pace in the music, and gets into the mood himself, fingers flying over the strings. Now this is /fun/!

Cera stares in unbelief at Gabriela. "But... but... but... they're both MALE!" she exclaims, finally. Gulping down the rest of her glass of wine, Cera nods quickly to Anki holding out the empty chalice. "Yes. More wine! That's just ... I mean... how could... " Cera's head tilts to the side and she gives a shudder and a twitch. "But... where?"

Arawn smirks at Kishairyn, and murmurs, "That's better?" He blinks innocently, and looks towards her, shaking his head, "I don't know if he has a chance either way, really..." He trails off, continuing to dance, and then peers towards Aryion and Taire, murmuring ironically, "Poor girl."

V'zan sighs wistfully. "Weyrsecond. A demotion I would gladly accept. That'd leave me enough time to get back to my garden, with perhaps a little to spare to test out my theory about you being capable of kindness." He grins impishly, a hint of the old V'zan reemerging.

R'kan lifts a brow in Menacion's direction, hearing his name echoed several times and wandering over, continuing the conversation with his second glass in hand. Hopefully, V'len will follow along and stay at his side. (Stand by your maaaan... kinda.) "That is true. I mean, Siani surely deserves a little honoring for the doubtless inner turmoil she's going through. No, no more wine for now... Let's go say hello to your candidates, shall we? Menace, I heard my name?" There, isn't he the sweet little hostess?

And thus the search begins- for the wallflower to draw in. As the music picks up, however, Maeko tugs on Shylo's sleeve to bring her away from the chairs (obstacles) and reach for her hands. "Come on! Take advantage of the beat while we've got it." Spin, spin, spin- the spiral dance, participants weaving in and out and around all others.. imagine the design left if everyone's feet left a colored line upon the floor. In, then out, then 'round the outside- back to the center, and twirl out once again. Make it up as you go, the design doesn't really matter; just be careful of smashing into other people.

"Ah. Then you need no introduction. Glad to hear it." Menace replies. (Hey there, remember that weaver person? The unfeminine one who made your outfit?) "I'm the prime authority on /my/ taste." he responds blandly. Shaves all over? Gee...how reassuring. At least it's not waxing. Blink. "What kind of music is this, anyway?" How odd. He shrugs at Cera. "It's better not to ask. Trust me. Don't ask...." Menace doesn't know either. His voice trails off as he spots the aforementioned rider approaching. "Err? Hi Karnie. How are you doing tonight? We were just talking about..um...how...well...you and V'len were getting along."

Taire isn't about to be led about the dancefloor like some kinda canine. Ohhh no. Aryion can try to spin her all he wants, but be better be ready to get as good as he is giving. In the midst of a drum-beat, the girl shifts gears and sets to lead him for awhile. "Ahhh, its me dress you're lookin' at? That'd be a fardling shame if'n you were so blinded by the color to misstep." And with a healthy thrust, moves to actually try to swing Ary about. Size matters not, its raw determination here.

Caitlin shakes her head but there is a merry grin on her face but she sighs, wondering how this tune ever got such an awful name. She lifts her feet out of the way, not wanting her new slippers to be stood upon, her foot already bruised. She glances around the room and hopes nothing is knocked and then she smiles as she listens to the whirling music and watching the dancers twirl.

Perfect. All R'kan needs is a skirt. Often, when outraged, women trumpet the thoughtless comments of their hapless male comrades for the whole world to hear. "Indeed, R'kan," Anki murmurs. "Menacion is of the opinion that I should get lessons in femininity from you. What a sterline idea, isn't it?" she asks, voice edged with a glass-sharp edge. Good evening, V'len. Enjoying yourself?"

Kishairyn smirks faintly. "I think poor him, rather ... Taire is more than any man can handle, I think." She grins, shaking her head. "I don't know, I don't see any problem with tying a child to the rails," she says to Arawn. "Do you?"

Shylo pads her feet against the ground, twirling around in circles. This time, she's /going/ to get dizzy. Her arms pull into her sides, and she eyes the floor, then looking up to the crowd. She throws out her arms and thrusts them back toward her, twirling on one foot and causing her entire dress to whoosh out from under her. "I can't believe the Harpers started playing the Demented Wherry Song!" Cackle.

P'tala rolls her eyes and laughs, working at melting the tension from her voice. "You and your garden. You'd be more able to grow in the winter than cultivate my niceness," she replies, and maybe if Vez is watching carefully, there's a bit of regret in there. "Does that mean if you're demoted..." The girl stops. Heh.

Gabriela giggles at Cera, nodding. "The women won't have them, I guess?" She blinks slightly. Gaby's as new to this as Cera is. "Or perhaps they prefer one another." She shrugs slightly as she looks toward R'kan and V'len. "I don't see anything bad about them, but other women might." She continues chuckling, shaking her head as she secures a glass of wine. "I would advice, Cera, not to ask, or, knowing the people at the Weyr, you'll get answers... which are generally scary." She blinks toward R'kan, blushing slightly, considering her earlier words. "Hello there. Enjoying the festivities?"

Jenar decides to abandon her corner for awhile, approaching the happy couple. "Good evening V'len, R'kan. Nice to see you both." A bit of sarcasm hinted towards R'kan there. "Especially since Kerryn and I are raising your son. Thought you would visit more. Now V'len here. Knows his duty." Smile for the bronzer. "V'len think you could rub off on R'kan here on fatherly duties?" Smile. "Kerryn and I would just love to go out now and then, but no one to babysit. It would be the perfect time for father son bonding I think."

Arawn blinks towards Kishairyn: he doesn't seem to get what she's saying, "Tying a child to the rails? I'm not sure I understand what you mean...?" He trails off, peering at Kishairyn.

Zhyni pads in, a silent wraith amongst the chatter and noise of the gathering as her roving gaze explores the many unfamiliar faces. But hey, it's a party and Zhyni was never one to be a wallflower so once she locates a clearish piece of floor, she joins the dancing.

Cera blinks as she slowly looks from person to person in the group, and gulps deeply once. And Cera's the oldest -IN- the group. She turns blue eyes to Menacion and nods slowly. "You know, I think you're right on that. I won't ask..." Blink. Look, speak of the Dark One... er... First Egg... s. Cera looks at R'kan, then at V'len, then back at R'kan and then V'len again, and just ... stares now. This is a lot to comprehend in one day, with one glass of wine already under her belt.

V'zan winks, "Y'never know, P'tala, it just might mean that." Shards, is he flirting? With Penta? R'kan must be a bad influence.

Aryion laughs loudly at Taire's actions and allows the girl to direct the flow of their dance, he knows when to let the lady have her way. "Aye, the dress m'dear, a shame that you had to rip it, but, you had to have more room to dance like this." Suddenly he changes the flow of the dance again as he picks up the smaller girl and starts twirling her around swing style. Using his size and strength to easily swing the girl around before setting her back, feet to the floor and grinning at her. Having fun yet?

R'kan coughs at Jenar, arching a brow carefully and falling coldly silent, perhaps for the first time in his life. "You're looking lovely tonight, Jenar," he remarks casually, then moves towards Menace and nods. "Aye... V'len is a very capable dancer and a charming conversationalist." That is, if you don't go insane first. "You might even enjoy a whirl," he nods, winking. "I like the new beard-style, by the way. I'd say Anki has taste in more than just clothing..." A glance at Cera, and the rider performs a gentlemanly bow. "Delighted to meet you, miss. R'kan, at your service."

Zinia done listening to the players, Zinia retreats back to her good friend Caitlin. Noticing the Master swing her foot out of the way the girl frowns. "How is your foot doing Master Caitlin. You didn't hurt it too bad did you? Maybe you should see a healer."

Caitlin smiles at Zinia's concern "back are you, still enjoying the music?" she asks and nods "Ahh they gave me some cream and it is doing better but with such a wild dance I was fearing I might get trodden on." She grins as she looks down at her slippers and lowers her voice "Also I am quite vain, did not want anyone stepping on my new white shoes." She smiles and shakes her head "You think people are enjoying themselves."

Menacion has a glib response ready. "Well, it was just a suggestion I came up with. Anki was the one who brought up the subject of how graceful you were. And how unfeminine she felt, compared to you." He responds with a smile. "I thought, why shouldn't she learn from the person who makes her feel so uncoordinated?" He deliberately turns his back on Jenar. "Err, you do?" he replies to R'kan, reaching up to stroke the goatee. "But it's...like a little...rodent of some sort. A patch of furry mold attached to my chin."

V'len is just along for the rider, thankyouverymuch. Um... along for the ride. Ride. That's what he meant. Ride. He nods a welcome to Menacion. "Oh, R'kan and I have a lot more in common than I would have thought." He nods in agreement with R'kan's remarks. He /is/ smooth! He'll try some of this himself! Bowing towards the ladies, he smiles broadly, catching their eyes. "I'm sure you're delighted to see me as well!" Oh, how personable!

The gitars and the fiddles and the drums and the flutes all create a whirling maelstrom, drawing people in to let them spin and spin and spin and then witha thunder roll on the drums it is over, they collapse. The musicians massage tired hands and then begin a slow song, a steady paced waltz, not quite the wherry dance and not as much fun but definitely relaxing after the speed of the last one.

Either that, or he may have become a little too confident in Noswaith's lack of skills at winning queen flights. "Pity you won't even dance with me while you're working next to me." Cue the melodramatic sigh. "Shards, you might even be too late in catching me. You know how fast violent, arrogant, and belligerent women go in the Weyr, don't you?" [P'tala]

Zinia chuckles softly, sitting next to the Master (Being quite well behaved at that). "Yeah its really nice. I can't wait to learn. Your shoes? Oh..." Voice falls a bit. Zinia really isn't into girly things yet. "How do you like my boots? Mom just got them for me."

Jenar just smiles sweetly at R'kan. "Thank you R'kan, Kerryn tends to make me dress well for formal occasions even if she cannot attend." She doesn't push on the lack of his fathering skills again just yet, instead nodding to the others in the group. "Cera. Anki." Menace gets ignored as well. What is it with Jenar and men?

Gabriela takes a quick swig of her wine as she does what she does best: sinks back against the wall again, fidgeting with the glass in her fingers. A gentle hum catches her lips as if she knows the tune, though she's pretty far off and out of tune. She chuckles toward V'len, nodding and smiling. "Of course... Always nice to see that you've gotten off the sands."

Kishairyn lifts one shoulder in a fluid shrug. "If one lives aboard a ship, then how does one keep track of one's children? Tie them to the rails, of course." She pulls back for half a second, peering at him, then slows as the music changes.

Andrei is suddenly in front of Caitlin and Zinia, panting, his hair tousled. "Hello... Master... Cai... tlin." He puts his gitar down carefully, then almost collapses. "That was quite... interesting..." He smiles a bit at her, then closes his eyes to regenerate for a moment.

Taire was feeling rather powerful and manly in a feminine sort of way as she basically guided the smith about, but that was until she was quite literally picked up. A shoe slips off her foot at the action and the girls arms immediately latch onto Ary with a death-grip. With eyes as wide as marks, she is stunned speechless for a moment. And then she is whirled about. Now, if she had a couple of glasses of wine in her, she would be more than happy to take up with this sort of thing. Alas, she isn't... nor is she dizzy. Just mortified and in a rather helpless position. So, what is the first thing this candidate does? She kicks... Where that foot/leg/knee lands? Aryion will let us know.

Rayna is staying happily hidden in her corner with her song done. Hopefully no one will notice her. Caitlin will definitely have to work on her shy senior apprentice.

Arawn rolls his eyes at Kishairyn, and laughs, "I don't even want to think about it..." His voice is amused again, and he glances towards Taire, wincing as she kicks-- just imagining it landing in a less-than-pleasant place. He murmurs to Kishairyn, "Don't kick." Please.

Cera blinks, yet again! Cera is an expert at blinking! She gives a half smile, a wary look in her eyes, to R'kan as she nods. "Um... well met, Bronzerider. I'm Cera, Journeyman Wea... Candidate of Fort." Then, she looks at V'len, and STARES even more. V'len didn't strike Cera as -THAT- sort. Not that Cera knows who -THAT- sort is, anyway. "Um, maybe you'd like to dance with me, V'len?" Cera blinks and blushes a bright red. Shards! Where did that come from? Clearing her throat, Cera tries to cover her tracks by smilng and nodding to Jenar. "Hello, Jenar. How goes the babe?" Safe topic... right? Sigh.

Anki grins sweetly at Menacion. "Carefully, Menacion, you're treading on thin ice here. I wouldn't want to wake up without any hair at all. I'm sure you wouldn't either." Not that Anki'd do such a thing. She prides herself on being a little more subtle. "Ooh, yes! What a very excellent idea. Why don't you go and take a spin with V'len, Meancion? I'd like to speak to R'kan here. Hello, Jenar. How are things with you and your family?"

R'kan sighs and rubs his temples at his companion. "No, V'len, darling. It's, 'You look radiant tonight'. Then you wait for them to compliment you in return, see? Much more satisfying that way." A blink at Jenar--perhaps he's been pampered by V'len's easygoing and oh-so-charming style. He just can't handle women who bench more than him. A beam at Cera and an encouraging clap--after, of course, stepping behind V'len. Brow is raised at Anki, interested in whatever the woman has to say due to the success of the tighttight pants. Woowoo.

Caitlin smiles at Zinia and admires them "Very nice. I do prefer boots, especially in winter but you cannot dance in boots and sometimes it is nice to dress up." She grins and winks at Andrei "Looked like you were having fun there, that is a fast song to play." She smiles and smoothes her skirts, feet settling on the floor again and she grins at Zinia "Don't you think it is fun occasionally to dress up, or are you like my poor Jo was, happy only in her riding outfit and boots?"

V'zan snickers. "Catching you would require a brave, hardy soul with a deathwish. Few fit all three criteria, leastwise not without a lot of assistance from liquid courage." After a moment he adds, "Or the manipulative urgings of wicked lifemates. As for the dance, sorry to disappoint, but my refusal still stands. In fact, as I've already mentioned, it is past time for me to depart... At the very least, I feel the need to escape to somewhere I little more peaceful and less... shocking." The lasty word is underscored by a glance towards R'kan and his companion.

Kishairyn chuckles softly and shakes her head. "I'd never dream of that ... as long as you're nice to me, that is." She pauses, fixing Arawn with a warning look, brows high before it melts. "I suppose I haven't a drop of maternal instinct in me. Even the weyrlings won't let me near their dragons, if they know what's good for them."

Gabriela grins toward Cera in either amusement or amazement, eyes wide. Brave, that girl. She gulps down the last from her glass before sighing. "Too many people..." is mumbled as the trader quickly exits the auditorium.

Jenar can indeed bench more than prolly all the guys here. Advantage of being a smith. "Sooo. R'kan. When do you think you will come visit Jeryn again?" Assuming he ever visited his son. Not that Jenar minds. But might as well harass him in front of his new beau.

Andrei is still sitting there, hair tousled, eyes closed... and then hears Caitlin's comment, "Yes... that is quite a song to play. I had a hard time keeping up with it, but it was absolutely the most fun I've had in a long time." Impish grin parts his lips as he opens his eyes and looks at Caitlin, "I'm almost positive that our grand MasterHarper would have joined in the fray... erm... the fun if her foot hadn't have been hurt, correct, Master Caitlin?"

Thin ice makes things more interesting. It's not like he has anything better to do, than poke verbal fun at Anki. "I'm a light sleeper. Somehow I don't think you could manage all that well. Don't you think you've gotten rid of enough of my hair already?" He frowns, shaking his head. "Me? Dance with V'len? Cera's the one who offered. Besides. I don't dance." [Menacion]

Zinia shakes her head. "I don't know how to ride runners. Only been on dragons. But I like my trous and tunics. I can explore then. Dresses are for those prissy holder girls who don't like to play."

Aryion offs and grimaces slightly as Taire connects with his side. Not wanting to cause a scene, he sets the girl back down on her own two feet and smiles slightly, favoring his side. "I believe I owe you a glass of wine?" He politely leads her off the floor and summons a large glass from a passing drudge. He offers it to her in hopes of forgiveness. "Sorry bout that Taire, here's your wine."

V'len blinks first at R'kan, and then at Cera. A female? Asking him to dance? Whoo! Tonight has been rather successful, no? "I didn't have to use the radiant line," he hisses to R'kan as he holds out his hand for Cera. "Do you mind, R'kan? I'll return shortly." There's a smile for understanding there, and he makes a little bow towards the lady. "I'm...surprised, Cera, dear. " Astonished. Flabbergasted.
Caitlin grins and shakes her head "no I thinkI am too old to dance to that tune now Andrei but thank you for the compliment." She smiles at Zinia "True true, trous are much more use, you can go further and dresses get ripped but a Masterharper must look the part and sometimes it is fun to dress up but you do look lovely in your outfit today ZInia." She smiles as she taps her foot to the waltz, listening to the slow soft song as the music joins together, no longer whirling and crashing but joining and melding together.

Arawn chuckles at this, "I'm always nice. I did offer to make you an outfit for this, after the fact, granted, but you never asked for one." He shrugs lightly, adding, "Some people aren't. I don't think I'm very paternal, if it helps?"

Zinia tilts her head as she smiles at Caitlin. "Ahh. But I am not a Masterharper. I am just the product of a goldflight. Flight baby. I have no duties to others. But thank you. Mom said I had to at least look clean if I was going to go to this and be her daughter."

P'tala laughs, absorbing this new insult with a raised brow. "I know you're brave and hardy. And with three hours of sleep a night, you're bound to get a little suicidal too. There, my chances are increasing the more work you do." A brow raises at the two riders in question, and a little breath of relief pops out as V'len finally finds a dance partner of the /undeniably/ feminine persuasion. "I'll join you, if that's all right. If we can't share a dance, I might as well keep terrorizing you." There's our sweet li'l Penta.

Cera blushes even more, and grins sheepishly at V'len. "Honestly, I am to. Must have been the wine. But I asked. Might as well be good to that, eh?" Cera blinks and looks at R'kan, then at Menace, and there is a spark of ... something. Not malignant, perhaps, worried, before smiling back to V'len and following him. At least Cera knows how to dance, and she won't be tripping over herself in that. Just... pretend, Cera, that you don't know what you do... that... oh, Shards! You asked '-V'LEN- to dance! What -WERE- you thinking?

Anki gives an arctic smile Menace-wards. "No. It's obvious that they're still inhibiting your common sense. It'll haveo come off." Reaching out to rearrange a pleat on R'kan, she beams, "You look simply splendid tonight, dear. Won't you do me a favour and get Menacion here out of my sight before I'm forced to resort to violence? I do think you two will be quite the pair, twirling gaily around the dance-floor." A winsome enough smile. "Pretty please?"

Andrei is now just listening to Caitlin and Zinia's conversation. Flight baby? Never pegged Zinia as a flight baby... just a... baby. Shrugging calmly, he closes his eyes again, waiting to get back into the musical groove.

Kishairyn smiles slightly. "True ... but you might have thought of it beforehand, on the other hand," she says, a teasing note in her voice. She wrinkles her nose, then studies him with a bit more of a serious air. "No, I didn't you were," she answers. "It does help. At times, I voice my opinion about children, and people look at me as if they'd like to have my head on a platter." She blinks ... and stares backwards towards the candidate cluster. "Oh my."

Taire hobbles after Ary, shooting him some rather scowling looks, "How dare ya even pick me up? I sure ain't some kind of rug you can sweep up off the floor 'n lug over your shoulder. What there ya thinking?" She hesitates, and then turns back around to claim her shoe. Thus, she *click-patters* after her fellow candidate, continuing to throw out insults, "Just pick 'em up 'n swing them about. You might be able to do that with some girls, but that ain't me -at least now when I'm clean sober." Hand holding her shoe waggles in Ary's face, "You mark me, boy. Next time I'll black your eye -you just see that I don't. And another thing, I..." She looses her head of steam as the insults wane and wine is brandished by him. "Thanks..." Glass is tipped and downed 'til all is gone. Empty glass is handed back to him as she demands. "Another."

Caitlin laughs "sounds like you have a duty to your mother." She smiles and leans back "I was talking to Hanz about you." She says quite lightly and she shakes her head and finished her drink "He talked highly of you..." She pauses and laughs "Asked me to make sure while you are here I do not let my male apprentices near you." She winks and then watches people dance, half an eye on Zinia.

Shaking his head Arawn denies as they dance, "Sorry, didn't," before turning to look over his shoulder, questioning Kishairyn, "What?" He didn't see it, unfortunately, nor hear it. "What's wrong?"

"Of course not," R'kan replies, winking at Cera encouragingly with a 'knock 'im dead, girl!' kinda smile. Jenar is rewarded with a frosty smile--something the man probably learned from Anki. "When I have time, Jenar-dear, and when I'm not pressed to other engagements. Not, of course, including my tryst with V'len." A glare. He does know some things take precedence. Anki is rewarded with a pretty bow, and a stunning smile. "Of course, Anki, I'd love to remove this Menace." Though not in the way she might think. "As you designed this outfit, Anki, honor a poor bronzerider with a dance?"

Andrei opens his eyes at the mention of male apprentice, and quirks an eyebrow. Then notices Caitlin's glass is empty, and motions for a drudge to come over, and fills her glass with an excellent Benden red. "There you go... now what about keeping male apprentices away? I'm a good boy, I promise." There's that impish grin again...

Zinia nods. "True true. I do. In fact I'm here in her name tonight. So I guess I have a duty to my Weyr. Hanz." She smiles slightly. "I think he makes my mother quite happy. He seems nice. But he and I argue about a lot of stuff. But boys are icky so I don't see why he would care about me and apprentices."

Fynelox has been rather quiet this evening. No surprise there. But even he is a little more sociable than this normally. The youngster hovers at the edge of the crowds, staying to the shadows with just a mug of juice to keep him company for now. Almost anxiously he watches people, keeping away with almost extreme determination at the moment, perhaps wary of encountering someone or certain someones.

Tora grins as she sees Maxwell return. She was getting rather bored just sitting around. Of course watching the drunk riders doing the wherry dance was rather, um interesting. The girl walks over to her friend and grabs his hand. "Shall we continue?" She asks motioning towards the dance floor. She was enjoying dancing, though she'll never admit it. Of course she doesn't have to but that's a whole different story.

"If you promise to keep massaging my neck, you can follow me anywhere, Penta. You will have to pause momentarily while we make our escape, however. It'd be rather difficult to navigate our way through the press of the crowd otherwise." V'zan thus gently but reluctantly removes her hands from his aching muscles and turns towards the exit, advantageously using his height to plot the best course through the milling throng.

Caitlin laughs soflty and nods as she sips the wine "Ah h you've been learning Andrei, you will keep that knot if you keep this up." She grins at Andrei "Male apprentices are very icky" she agrees with Zinia "Ahh he is just concerned about you but very much in love your mother." She smiles softly, almost wistfully and glances at the rings on her fingers and then laughs "I think it is not you and the apprentices he cares about, just wants to make sure my apprentices behave and are suitably respectful."

V'len reaches out a second time tonight in the dance hold. The glasses of wine are having an effect, but his steps are still remarkably smooth. "Well, Cera, my dear, I look radiant tonight!" There's a grin shot R'kan's way. He's using his lines! "It's quite wonderful that you could join us for this fine affair. To hear Yevgeth immortalized in song truly makes this an event to remember, wouldn't you say? And it's a lovely night. I wonder if the stars are out." He's babbling away, and only catching bits of conversation. "Trust... isn't that nice. I've just met him, and already, R'kan is talking about trust with me." He glances over with a warm smile, mouthing 'yes' to the bronzerider. "It's always wonderful to know that you can have that kind of a relationship with someone, don't you agree, Cera dear?"

Jenar just blinks at R'kan. "No pressed with other engagements? Oh tha�ts wonderful R'kan. Since you seem too busy for /my/ son." She is getting protective here "I would appreciate it if you stay away from him. I don't want him hurt by knowing a man who refuses to be part of his life." After growling that out, and looking quite nice in her dress, Jenar storms out, waving her ride. She is ready to go.

The Harpers are tiring now the music slow, wondering if the dancers are as tired as they are. The music is now more of a lullaby, a gentle croon on the gitars and fiddles, soothing, not the mad rush of the dances before, but supportive and gentle, no fighting or squabbling between instruments now but gentle and happy light tunes.

Aryion motions for another glass of wine as he suffers the latest Taire-ism first hand. Soon her empty glass is filled again with wine and returned to her, before bowing politely and retreating to the wall to nurse his bruised side and his dragged out and stomped on male ego. He leans against the wall, sipping his own wine, as he tries to decide what was worse, getting slammed in the ribs, or slammed in the face with her words. Groaning slightly he sits down slowly on a nearby bench, finishing one glass of wine and motioning a drudge over with another.

Kishairyn shakes her head with a small click of her tongue. "Cera," she murmurs. "Cera is dancing with ... V'len? Or is that an imposter ... no, I can't imagine anyone else being bold enough to wear *that*." An anxious glance back at Arawn. "You didn't have anything to do with that outfit, did you?"

Maxwell strides back into the auditorium, muttering something about people who can't fix their own problems. His eyes show a flash of relief as he sees the party has not ended while he was gone. Even more relief appears when he spots Tora still there. "Of course, m'dear." He replies, then leads her to the dance floor and wraps one arm about her waist, the other entwined with her hand. "Happy to see you did not leave before I came back." He says with a sly smile.

Andrei just shakes his head some more, not believing what Caitlin is saying. After being as good as he is. Oh well. He'll just have to prove himself some way. Some time... who knows when, where, or how. But he will.

Zinia beams as Caitlin agrees. Boys=Ick. "Yeah he is. They make a cute couple. He even lets me play in his wood shop when he isn't busy. And are respectful? Why should I get respect." She is confusing respect as a person with respect for someone ranked.

Anki frowns slightly. No, no, no. This is not going as planned. Far from Menace being swept off his feet by R'kan, she's the one getting the pigeon-wing. Sighing, she places the glass on a nearby table and steps into the offered dance, shaking her head. "I would love to, R'kan, if you can look past my obvious lack of femininity?" she asks, leaving the departing shaft for the goateed Candidate. Take that, bucko.

P'tala follows, carefully (and almost daintily, if you can believe /that/) lifting her skirt up as she walks. She would laugh, but it would probably get lost in the crowd's noise... Now there's something you don't see every day. P'tala: dainty, quiet, and obliging.

Shylo rises, yawning in a tiresome effort to go back home. Which isn't all that far. And hopefully she'll get there before falling asleep completely.

Menacion furrows his brows. "Inhibiting common sense? That's ridiculous. Hair doesn't inhibit common sense. Hair has nothing to do with sense." Or else bald old people would be the most sensible people on the planet. "Violence? I thought we were just chatting." Offering violence to a fully armed guardsman is probably not a very smart idea. "And I just told you. I don't dance." Not with women, not with men. "Have fun, you two. Maybe you can learn some pointers while dancing."

Continued in Part 4

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