The architects had taken great care to carve the dining cavern, so huge and grand. It had been a natural pocket at first, conventionly close to the outside of the Weyr. Windows that were larger than the armspan of a man would allow plenty of sun to come inside, the glass panes within them a careful touch. A door, metal due to necessity, could open and lead to the outside , where the Weyr cliffside had been smoothed down to the hardest of stone, chipping away any soft rock to provide a large stone balcony outside that could easily fit five gold dragons. During good weather, these could be opened to the public to dine and watch the dragons fly overhead. This luxury would be a feature boasted that evening, with glows and banners decorating both within the cavern and the balcony.

Within the dining cavern, the smooth ripples that nature had created would be accentuated by the glows that hung above them, the concave shapes playing with the light of the glows, and creating a marvellous ambience. Even better would be the tables upon tables of food, all meticulously prepared for the occassion. Fruits from Southern would play a heavy role, but Northern fruits normally supplied by Thyra would be in short supply, though a few pies of various berries and Northern fruits would be present. After all, there's this little thing called importing. It's expensive, but on an occassion like this, the expense could be justified. Wherry, herdbeast, and even various fowl would be present, some of the centerpiece dishes being of fine goose cooked. Tubers would be prepared in many ways; some mashed while others served in a fine sauce, and various other vegetables would be present.

Already, guests and dragonriders were mingling, enoying the wine and the food. Because one never knew when the Weyrlings would show up, they were not required to wait to partake of the meal offered. Given the amazing display of food given, it could be seen why people didn't want to wait. Still, not a single Weyrling graced the cavern, but everyone would be assured that they were still getting ready, slipping into their gather fineries, or borrowing some from the Headwoman. Strangely enough, the Weyrleaders were also not around, but this was passed off easily. After all, was it too terribly odd that the Weyrleaders would stay around the Weyrlings and aid when needed? No questions were asked, and no mention of the Weyrleaders having visited the infirmary would arise. After all, everyone was far too busy being excited for their own kin for Impressing, or too busy drinking wine and indulging on the amazing food.

((Feel free to throw your dragonriders and Weyrlings in here. This post... is crap.. but oh well! Can you tell I love talking about food? Homg, it makes me just want to draw each and every dish in detail with a description of what it is =D nomnummynomnom.))

Zaela had half a mind to stay with her dragon for the rest of the night, her peaceful expression as she curled up in her oversized dragon couch making Zaela also wish to be lulled into such a peaceful sleep. She might have as well, if she hadn't a family waiting to speak with her. With a frown, she examined herself. Horrid! Crusted soapsand and blood was beneath her fingertips, sealed there with a thick coating of oil. Small pieces of her dragon's meal was still plastered to her upper arms, her candidate robes and even her hair. It was obvious that she would need a bath. She stepped lightly, jogging after the rest of the girls and not hesitating to strip away the disgusting robes and get into the large communal bathing pool. There were others there, smelling of blood and oil much like she was, but also with that same lingering smile that wouldn't go away even as they rushed to get ready.

Zaela had a simple Gather dress she had brought along with her, and she donned it once she got back to her barracks. It was a pretty enough color, though slightly faded green. She had the dress taken up only a sevenday ago by the local tailor in the Weyr. It had seemed she had lost weight during her stay at the Weyr, and would probably slim down even more yet. As she fussed with the white chemise beneath the dress so it wasn't twisted about by the thicker fabric of the main dress, her dragon roused, watching her with curiosity. We look more alike now that you changed your hide. Zaela smiled, turning and twirling so her dragon could see her. "Yes, it's something people do. Our real hides aren't thick enough to keep us warm, so we wear what we call clothes. We like to wear all kinds."

Green suits you. Zaela laughed and agreed, appreciating the double meaning her dragon had implied in that statement. You are going to spend time with someone else? The worry in the dragon's tone made her flinch. "Yes, my family.. my mother and father. They are like Iolath and Behemath to you." The green seemed to understand this. You will be back? You will not go back with them will you? "No! I would never leave you!" Out of impulse, she rushed to her dragon to hold the clean, shining green head to her chest. Soothed, the green crooned, eyes becoming heavy once more. Don't be too long. I don't want to wake up to not find you here. "Don't worry love. I just need to sate my own hunger and speak with my mother and father and I'll be back soon. Trust me, I'm nearly as tired as you are."

------------

By the time she actually made it to the cavern, other Weyrlings were there as well, and she felt less anxious about entering as other weyrlings had already taken that spotlight. Slipping in, she pushed her still damp hair back off of her shoulder and looked around for her family. She found them quickly and rushed forward, eager to cover the distance.

"Oh Zaela, we are so proud of you! We knew you would Impress, and one of the first few as well! I don't see how you could have ever doubted yourself!" Her mother wailed, choking up with emotion. She had never seemed to catch on that it wasn't that she didn't think she would Impress, but before it was a fear that she would. Of course, that fear was a ghost of a memory now.

Her father stood back, looking serious as usual, but giving a gruff nod of encouragement. "You did right by your family, girl. We're proud of you."

Zaela couldn't help but smile at this praise, big and wide as her excitement and joy spilled forth. "I am so happy, and glad that it happened. Neliyuth is the best thing that could have ever happened to me!" The passion and love in her voice actually caught them off guard, and there was a pause.

"Well... we are happy for you, dear. It's a great honor being a dragonrider." With that, her mother smiled once again. "Come, you need to fix your plate, Zaela. You must be hungry! Oh you've turned to nothing but skin and bone.. and look at your hands! Have they got you carving the walls of the Weyr with your fingernails?? Well I..."

Her mother's words though, for once in her life, was going in one ear and out the other. At that moment there was a rift between them that would be there forever. They could never understand what it truly was to Impress to a dragon. She had hardly understood it herself until she finally had, but now that the clarity of what it all was had been bestowed upon her through bejeweled rainbow eyes, it would set her apart from others in a way she could have never understood before. Now she truly realized what they meant when people said dragonriders were truly a breed apart.

After she ate and spoke with her parents for a while, their ramblings and ignorance bored and frustrated her to the point she had to excuse herself, saying she hoped to speak to some of her friends before she had to retire. Finding a safe niche where many dragonriders and weyrlings sat eagerly, waiting to be invited to dance. She herself was not looking for a partner on the floor, but just to be able to distance herself from the people she had obeyed and loved so dearly. For some reason... she didn't want to be near them at that moment. Every now and then, she tentatively reached out with her mind, a foreign yet comforting sensation as she made sure her dragon was still there. Every time, her mind caressed that of a slumbering one, sensing good thoughts and wholesome rest. Well, at least Neliyuth had some peace.

--------------------------------

Announcements from the Weyrleaders.

The clinking of a glass and the hailing for silence halted the band and stopped the feet on the dance floor. The low murmur died down soon after, all eyes now on the main table where the Weyrleaders and Wingseconds sat. The Weyrleaders had made a discreet entrance, and not Alesia stood before them all, in a Feast-worthy coppery toned dress, and glass in hand. Once silence was attained, she spoke. "First off, I'd like to congratulate all of the new Weyrlings. You have overcome your first hurdle in your new life, a major step that will lead you all to greatness. Good luck to all of you and your new dragons." An applaud rang out, and she smiled, waiting for it to die down before she continued. "Secondly, I'd like to thank all of the parents and family who could be here this evening to see off their charges, who so willingly gave them to the Weyr so that they could continue the lineage of dragonriders and keep Pern safe from thread!" An appreciative roar followed that, from both dragonriders and Holders alike, and she had to clink on the glass and call order to silence them. "Now, time for the rules!" A groan emanated, but she continued. "I ask that everyone keep their wits about them. Take part of the wine, but keep hold of yourself. That goes for everyone, and please do not coerce your children who have recently Impressed into drinking; it's not allowed!" Her harsh tone did not call for mutinous cries this time, and she charged on. "Weyrlings, you'll all be up bright and early in the morning to care for your dragons, so keep that in mind when you decide how long you stay out tonight, and other than that.. I'd like for everyone to have a good time."

Whistles and applauds erupted from the crowd, and Alesia looked meaningfully towards the Weyrleader, giving a querying look that asked if he had anything to add.

M'dak had slipped away from the lake before anyone else, and as a result had the rare luxury of getting the boys' bathing pool to himself. Segrunth crouched at the edge of the pool, his eyes glowing in the semidark as he watched his rider strip off his bloodstained, soiled robe and boots and slide into the steaming water. Only then did M'dak let out a groan: part pleasure at being able to clean off the hatching grime at last, and part emotional reaction to all the memories his innocent conversation with Selena had dredged up. Keenly aware that now was not the time to dwell on such things, he got busy with soapsand on his own hide, scrubbing until his skin stung.

You are far more fragile than I am, Segrunth observed with characteristic bronze pride as he felt, through their shared link, the nerve-ending tingle when M'dak scrubbed too zealously at a scrape or cut.

"In more ways than one," he answered wryly, and climbed out of the tank, his body sheeting water as he reached for a towel. Clean and dressed in well-cut but humble clothes, as befit his weyrling rank, M'dak moved his few belongings into the weyrling barracks just as Segrunth was beginning to yawn hugely. Aren't you coming to sleep with me? the young bronze asked sleepily.

"Very soon, Segrunth. I must eat, too, you know! I spent a lot of energy feeding you today."

Good thing, too, or I'd have starved to death out there. Segrunth was placidly cavalier, which made M'dak grin.

"You weren't so casual about it out of the shell!" He rubbed the bronze between the headknobs. Segrunth crooned in delight, the first lids of his eyes closing. "I'll be back soon, and we'll have the whole night to sleep curled on this supremely comfortable rock." He slapped the stone couch with his open palm and bruised his hand. "Terrific."

Fragile. Segrunth snorted softly, mimicking the sarcasm in his rider's tone. It is very comfortable to me.

Still chuckling over that, M'dak took himself off to the lower caverns and the feast.

** **

Colieth had been asleep almost as soon as J'deryk had gotten the blue settled on his couch. Loath to wake him, the lad tiptoed out of the barracks to fill the void in his middle. He blinked as he entered the Lower Caverns; he scarcely recognized the dining hall. Glows and brightly-colored banners, reflecting all five colors of dragon, were strung from the rafters. The light gleamed on the feast set out beneath them: the long tables fairly groaned under the weight of all that food; everything from spiced wherry to fish stew to succulent, imported fruit. J'deryk stared for an instant, mouth watering, before he remembered himself and sought a place at the table reserved for the weyrlings. It was, for this one night, right beneath the table where the Weyrleaders and wingleaders sat.

J'deryk hid a smile at Alesia's orders; this was one night he'd not even consider wine, even if she hadn't warned them. As he rose to fill his plate, he caught sight of Zaela halfway across the cavern, talking to people who could only be her parents. He hesitated, but hunger won in the end. Anyway, he wasn't sure how things were done in proper society. Zaela might not like him coming up to introduce himself. And if she wanted him to meet her folks, well, he'd just sit somewhere she could easily see him. That decided, J'deryk found a spot at the end of the table and trucked into his meal with relish.

** **

Aeryn left Eagrith with only the greatest reluctance. The beautiful little blue watched her go, his head still alert even though half his siblings were fast asleep. You are hungry, he had told her fiercely when she'd protested that she wanted to stay with him. And you're very small and skinny. You fed me. Now you should eat too. I will wait for you here. And how could she argue with that? Tired as she was, she had to admit she was ravenous.

So she dragged herself off to the bathing pool, rousing a smile for the girls already there, talking eagerly about their Impressions. Aeryn hugged her own memory of Eagrith's sweet mind meeting hers to herself; it wasn't something she was quite ready to share with anyone else. Not about how it had made her feel, anyway. When she'd finished bathing and washing her hair, she combed the silver-blond stuff straight and dressed in a simple white blouse with pintucks in front, a blue hide jumper made of softest suede, and soft wherhide boots that laced front to back up to her knees. She did own a Gather dress, but she was too tired to fiddle with hooks and eyes and bodice lacings; and besides, the dress was purple and she felt the jumper was more fitting to her station as a blue rider. The blue matched the darker colors on Eagrith's wingspars and back, so really it was perfect.

She was mulling this over, and wondering how quickly she could eat and leave without causing offense, on her way down the ramp to the Lower Caverns, when she heard her name being called. Pausing at the cave mouth, she peered around uncertainly. There was another weyrling whose name was pronounced almost the same as hers - Erein. Who was being called for?

And then she was grabbed from behind.

Startled, Aeryn whirled, her hands coming up defensively and almost striking her brother Alier in the face. Alier! And there were her other brothers, standing in a grinning ring around her, with her parents waving frantically from beyond them. Aeryn's upraised hands went to her mouth instead. "Wha - what are you doing here?" she stammered, her voice rather muffled.

"Ninny." Alier ruffled her hair affectionately, while Tynor made an impatient noise with his tongue.

"Came to see our sister Impress, what d'you think?"

Milon pushed forward with a laugh. "Yeah, didn't you hear us? We were yelling ourselves hoarse up in the gallery. Nearly got thrown out, but you were totally oblivious. Down there in a daze with your dragon."

"A blue, too!" that was her mother, smiling with great affection at her daughter as she pulled Aeryn away from Alier and into a hug. "Well done, sweetie. We're very proud."

"Even showed your old dad up," her father said gruffly, but he winked. "Always knew you had it in you, kiddo. Just had to let it come on its own time."

Aeryn stared at them, unable to speak, her mind spinning with the pride and praise she could see in their faces and hear in their voices. They had never, ever been like this before. To her horror, she felt her eyes fill with tears. She couldn't cry! Not in front of her brothers.

Joleb, the brother closest to her in age, had remained silent until now. But he took hold of Aeryn's chin, and turned her head to look at him, his grey eyes somber. "It's okay to cry, little sister," he said softly, and Aeryn had a feeling he knew exactly what she was thinking. She'd always been closest to Joleb and knew he'd sometimes stopped the others from playing the crueler pranks on her. With a glance at their father and older brothers, he whispered, "You showed us all up today, Aeryn."

They were still grinning. Guilelessly. They really were happy and proud. It was like a dream come true - Impressing Eagrith, and now this. Her whole family had seen her Impression, and now they admired her!

"Oh," she squeaked, and then all at once she was laughing, linking arms with Alier and Tynor, smiling gratefully at Joleb, and following their parents into the dining hall. She tried to answer five or six questions at once: what was her dragon's name? How big would he get? What had it been like to Impress? Could she come visit them as soon as he could fly?

Aeryn was aware that she had gained a respectability in her status-conscious family simply by Impressing. On some level, she was aware that she could easily resent them for not valuing her more for who she was, inherently; but the resentment just wasn't there. Instead, to her surprise, what she felt was pity. Her family was so caught up in how they looked that they could overlook who they were. But they were her family, and she couldn't hate them. She could accept their praise and love them because they were her family; and she could also stand on the outside and see their failings without judging them. They were who they were.

The great revelation was that she, now and forever, was different from them. She alone was a dragonrider. And at last, Aeryn understood fully the adage that dragonmen were a breed apart.

Zaela had slipped away from her parents, effectively losing them in the crowd. She doubted they would mind, since they seemed intent on speaking to any dragonrider that seemed even remotely familiar to them. Bored, she looked around, finding J'deryk after a while of searching. He was with the other Weyrlings who didn't have their parents here with them, eating his meal with such gusto that she had to grin. Boys would be boys, after all. He wasn't speaking to anyone, which made it feel safe to approach. Honestly though, she probably shouldn't spend so much time around him... but even as those thoughts went through her mind, she found herself closing the gap between them, coming to sit down beside him in an empty seat. "So, did you decide on an honorific yet?"

"Zaela!" J'deryk struggled to swallow the enormous forkful he'd just shoveled into his mouth. The food went down in a painful lump, making his eyes water, but at least his mouth was clear. He grinned at his friend and spread his arms as if to encompass the entire Weyr, nearly upsetting his neighbor's water goblet as he did so. "Oops. Sorry!" He patted the lad - Z'per, he thought his name was - on the arm, then turned back to Zaela, blushing slightly. "Almost as clumsy as Colieth, I am. Please sit?" He indicated, less widely this time, the bench opposite him. "I kind of like my name, so as long as Colieth can say it fast, I'm going to go with J'deryk."

He picked up his fork again and dug it into his mashed tubers. "Who were those people you were talking to? Your parents? And how's Neliyuth settling in? Colieth was out like a dead glow the second he hit the couch."

Zaela giggled at his clumsiness, covering her mouth as she did so out of habit. "J'deryk, huh? Sounds good to me, certainly shorter if only because it takes that long 'al' sound out." She politely took the offered seat.

She paused at the question, frowning a bit. "Yes, they are my parents.. and Neliyuth is sound asleep. She was a bit worried about me coming to see my parents though.. she was afraid they'd take me away from her." She giggled at that. "She is just too endearing sometimes."

She glanced into the direction her parents were, her expression becoming mildly perplexed. "It's not until you speak with them that you can tell the rift that has come between you and your family after you Impress, I think. There is no way they can understand my love for Neliyuth." She was being pessimistic. With a shake of her head, she smiled. "But that was to be expected, right? That doesn't make them any less family.. but there's no doubt in my mind that Neliyuth would come first. Funny thing is I don't even feel bad for it. It's just how it is." She propped her head up with her hand, grinning. "When do you think your family will be able to come visit you? Worse comes to worse, you can visit them once you graduate from Weyrlinghood."

Mishaea had gone to see the helpful rider from before, just to double-check about Rovelth's pulled muscle. She'd been reassured that it was healing on its own, especially because their tissues were so regenerative at such a young age, but that if he was feeling further discomfort, that he could get more numbweed.

The meek candidate led the nearly-already-asleep dragon to where she assumed was the barracks, received her assignment, and went to bed down the blue dragonet.

"Rovelth, I'm going to have to go clean up, alright? Then I have to go eat, because I haven't eaten since before you hatched."

The blue turned understanding, green facets in her direction. ~I'll be waiting.~

"Sleep well," she added, and grabbed her brush before heading to the bathing pools.

The extra time she had taken in asking the rider about Rovelth meant that the bathing was in full swing. She flushed at the sight of exposed flesh through the steam, and headed for the privies, taking extra time intentionally and hoping the bath would clear out.

Of course, there *were* still people in there, but she averted her eyes from them and begged silently that they were doing the same. Dried-on sweat had become slimy once mor ein the steam, and so she bathed with more enjoyment than she would have thought possible in that situation. At last, when she was done and clean, and her soft brown hair felt clean as well, she rose out and wrapped herself in a towel, probably covering herself as quickly as anybody had ever covered themselves after rising out of murky, concealing water.

Mishaea driend and brushed her hair, and decided to leave it down. Then she fairly fled down the hallway, embarrassed to be seen in a towel.

Precious few minutes later, Misha emerged and headed to the feast, wearing a pale blue, long-sleeved and modest-necked blouse that only emphasized her soft features, and a long dark skirt that added to her modest appearance.

A group of eight ambushed her as soon as she entered; her parents, five older siblings, and two younger ones. "Ma! Da!" Mishaea was nearly overwhelmed by this reminder of her life before the Weyr.

"Misha! We're so glad we could come to see you!" Amaey, her mother, was glistening with emotion.

"Tell us all about it," enthused her older sister Kaelina, but her brother Jemmy added, "Once we have food."

Everybody heartily agreed, and set to finding a food and table, where Mishaea proceeded to tell them of how different Weyr life was, how amazing it was to actually *Impress*, and how much she missed Hold life.

..."And then it was like 'bam!' Yunaleth chose me! Then again you know what it's like, don't you?" T'bai chattered as he dragged a much older man by the hand, talking and occassionally pointing out someone he knew. The man followed along, a patient smile across his face as his son showed him around. A casual shrug would be thrown at other dragonriders who were grinning his way. Sure, his son was a bit high strung, but then again how often was it that your children Impressed? A green, but then again there was no shame in that.

"That over there, is J'san." He pointed out the refined young lad that was sitting with a large woman who held herself with a similar air about her, both eating just so.

The man rubbed his chin stubble thoughtfully before adjusting his brownrider shoulder knots. "That's him, huh? Well, you know the rules.." He grinned all the broader as the boy waved it off. Yes, his lad knew the rules alright.

"Of course! He's my friend, R'bai, and we both know that our dragons come first! After all, he's not very keen on even talking to me much for a few months. I think it's better that way anyways." He spotted someone else, grinning broadly. "Oh, that's Mishaea over there. She Impressed a blue. Hey Mishaea!" He called out in singsong fashion, prancing over with his father in tow. He wasn't necessarily best friends with Mishaea, but all the candidates had gotten to know the others at least a little, and he was anxious to show his father off to anyone he could find. His father frowned slightly, apologizing to the family. "Weyrlings can get quite excited after Impressing. My name is R'bai, T'bai's father." He gestured to the boy before looking towards Mishaea. It was so easy to pick her out from the others, so obvious was the gleam in her eye from the afterglow of Impressing. "Congratulations on Impressing your blue, Mishaea."

Better late than never, a familiar trio of dragonets entered the Hatching feast. A large, palely freckled green strode in smoothly with outspread wings. Her well-porportioned head was held high and cocked at an absurdly confidant angle. Zalyteth was flanked by her blue brothers, Cerboth and Erneth, who replicated her slow procession and confident air. The matched flawlessly, and well had better: Zalyteth had coerced them into practicing this entrance all afternoon. The blues shared an amused glance and a winkdropped their wings, clapped shut their nostrils, and proceeded to pull ghoulish faces at their unaware sister. Nirva snickered softly, Eonki raised one concerned eyebrow, and Marowa buried her face in her hands to hide her blush.

((Meh, more to follow. My Bro is spending the night, and I had a muse for a bit, but it seems he has deserted me. *glares at absent muse*))

((Eh? Are we allowed to bring the dragonets into the Feast?))

((EDIT: Aaah, of course XD))

Mishaea flinched as she heard a voice-- a /male/ voice-- calling her name. Slowly, she turned around, fully aware that her parents were sending her curious but stern looks.

"Oh," she said as she realized it was a new rider. She looked into his face for a moment, and recalled who he was. "Hi... T'bai..." She flushed, wishing she was more comfortable talking to others. Maybe she'd be able to make a new friend, if she wasn't so nervous. "This... is my family, uh, they're from near Izvand." She glanced around at her siblings, but neglected to introduce them. "So... how's your new green doing?"

"Nice to meet you, R'bai. My name is Karlton, this is Amaey, and we're Mishaea's parents," he said, grinning broadly and standing to clasp hands with the dragonrider.

Mishaea looked up at the older rider, wide-eyed. "Thank you, sir," she fairly squeaked.

"Who's this? T'bai?" Amaey was sending the new greendirder probing looks, while Kaelina had raised her hood to shield her face from probing male eyes.

"T'bai, right? You haven't been involved with him, have to, Mishaea?" Karlton asked gratingly. "You know you're upholding your family honor, and Weyr life is full of the evils of temptation. We're depending on you to represent us well, now that we can't be here to protect your honor any more." He gave T'bai a nearly-murderous look. "If I hear anything about you and her..."

Mishaea slumped low in her chair, flushed scarlet. "It's not like that," she mumbed inaudably. "I don't even talk to him that much."

A vague stirring at the back of her mind caused her fist to tighten marginally in her lap. {Go back to sleep, baby dragon. You need your rest for tomorrow.}

~Is somebody bothering you?~ Even through the mind-link, she could sense his exhaustion.

{No, everything's fine,} and Mishaea concentrated on reassuring little Rovelth that she was fine, and clearing her mind. After a moment, she felt him settle back into a sleep.

((God only knows, they dont for sure! Zalyteth didnt want to be left out... It will be hysterical if after all her planning she gets kicked out!!! Tehehe!))

Selena had freshened up and reluctantly left Chiarth. It had been hard to convince the blue to sleep alone until she got back, but finally the dainty Weyrling had convinced him, and with an uncharacteristic tender smile across her face at the thought of the sleeping blue, Selena moved into the cavern. She didn't expect to see her dragonriding father, Lower Caverns mother, foster mother, or foster aunt and uncle, so she wasn't surprised when she'd finished serving herself a succulent roasted fowl steak and nobody had yet approached her. Touching that link between herself and Chiarth once more, she glanced across the room and moved to a table only relatively full; of course, all the tables were full, but this one she preferred to eat at as it was the most empty.

Catching sight of Ro'lan across the room, she for once smiled at his appearance, though it was of relief. He was sitting at a different table, talking to three dragonriders, presumably people from his family.

She felt a bit out of place with her red robe of smooth material tied at the waist with a matching sash, for it seemed as if everybody else was in gowns; but the robe had been a gift from her Bronzeriding father on her sixteenth turnday, and she liked the gold embroidered pattern, not to mention the silky feel of the material. She'd gently cleaned her delicate, pale skin and fashioned her glossy black hair into two matching knots at the back of her head, and felt, for once, pretty. She'd Impressed, she'd cleaned herself, and she was wearing her finest clothing. Even if she had begun to realize that perhaps a pale-skinned girl from High Reaches didn't exactly get along so well with the Southern sun.



Meanwhile, Ro'lan was indeed talking to three family members, Vayrie, Fa'ligh, and T'zir, all of Fort. He himself had combed out his dark brown hair and done his best to make it neat, and although it wasn't exactly able to be called that, it was better than usual. His green eyes stood out even more in contrast to his brown, black, and white Gather Best he'd just been given from his mother and father.

"Uncle," he said, turning to bronzerider T'zir, "was it the same way when you Impressed?"

"It was the same for all of us," said Vayrie fondly, for she'd always had a soft spot for him out of all her sons, and although she didn't keep Fa'ligh as a partner as a rule, she was on good terms with him and he had been a good father. She liked Ro'lan's green eyes, precisely the same shade as her own Nunth.

"So how's Fort?"

"Oh, Fort's doing fine," T'zir said vaguely. "Here, I still haven't given you your gift!" He handed Ro'lan a longish package, which yielded a fine knife.

"Thank you," said Ro'lan sincerely. "I've been practicing, but it'll be good to have a real knife!" His original practice knife was an older, less-funtionable one.

"Congratulations," said Fa'ligh with a broad smile. For once, Ro'lan was enjoying himself without brooding about others; engaged in laughter, he only once briefly touched his mind to Vetusonth's, content to find the brown in deep sleep.

T'bai turned so red it looked as if he were about to burst. He stared back at them, very much as if the two of them had grown a second head. "I'll have you know that... THAT, is the last thing on our minds at the moment, having baby dragons to think of, how perverted are you?"

R'bai's eyes went as wide as saucers, seeing a confrontation about to arise. Dragonriders knew better than to divulge the truth about went on behind Weyr walls. To his horror, his son kept on talking.

"She's my classmate. We study amongst our peers. The only perversion going on around here is what is in your mind. I'm insulted by your insinuation and rudeness, and advise you not to speak so unkindly to others with such radical ideas!"

The brownrider now took hold of his son's shoulder, squeezing it hard. The lad winced and went silent, but saw the fury sparking in his father's eyes.

"I apologize. My son speaks out of terms, but I'm afraid that he is correct. We have manners in the Weyr like anyone else... and we certainly don't speak of such things so bluntly to complete strangers, throwing blame and suspicion about like that, and we certainly don't let -children- do things that aren't for children to do." It might have been only a half truth in some respects, but the level tone and the stare he gave the family made it quite genuine. "Come along, T'bai."


As they walked away, T'bai seethed. "Oh, I almost said something, R'bai. The look on their face would have been priceless if I had told them I wasn't even that interested in women!" For that moment, the innocent expression he had gotten so used to was twisted with rage at how he had been treated, but it only lasted a moment as shock and anxiety replaced it. It was obvious he now had to soothe his dragon.

"You'll need to learn to control yourself, T'bai. Your dragon is young, and you have to try and keep yourself from upsetting her. Greens are such sensitive creatures, especially when they are young." The lad looked so guilty that the brownrider had to pat him on the back. "There's Holdborn people for you. They don't understand anything we do in the Weyr. They never will." The boy nodded, looking to the ground. "Well, you'd best go get you some dessert before it's all gone."

C'ben was there in a flash to intervene the trio of candidates, their dragonets proudly marching with them. Standing before them, he put both index fingers together and pressed them to his lips, taking a moment to assess the situation and compose his thoughts. Already, many people were looking over towards them, eagerly questioning their own newly Impressed as to why they could not bring their dragonets along. With a sigh, C'ben finally spoke.

"No... I don't want to know what possessed you to not put your dragonets to bed like everyone else did. I Don't want to know. However, I do know that you have in fact brought them in here, for what reason, I don't know." He looked over to the Weyrleaders, which were now standing up and looking over curiously. Alesia was frowning, and L'gan... might have been laughing? He wasn't sure.

"How about.... you show them to your families... and.. after that... put them to bed, then come back."

T'bai slinked over, a piece of pie on his plate and a frown on his face. "I thought we weren't allowed to bring dragonets to the party! Yunaleth wanted to go!"

"And so it starts!" C'ben sighed, exhasperated.

"Allright, you guys have had your fun," scolded E'nki as the dragonets completed their circuit of the room. "You said you wanted to take a quick look: You've had that, now its off to bed. Nirva, would you escort the dragons back to our quarters?" His sister nodded sleepily rubbing at one eye before turning slowly back to the Weyrling Barracks. E'nki carefully measured her gaze, and nodded thoughtfully. He doubted his sister would return; more likely she would fall asleep bedding down her blue.

Marowa's face had resumed close to its normal colour, though a faint blush of rose still lingered softly, threatening to return at the slightest provocation. He put a comforting arm around her. "Nirva will probably not make it back tonight, and since my favorite dance partner has deserted me, would you consider being my date this night?" To his shock, it was not relief that spread over her face, but that lingering blush! Her pressed her lips together tightly, and seemed almost ready to cry, yet still she nodded. I will never understand women... E'nki thought to himself.

A sleepy voice flowed senuously through Marowa's mind. ~There will be dancing...?!~ ~Go to sleep, Zalyteth!~ The was a brief, resistant flutter, then the green's stream of consciousness sank lower, and Marowa could feel the dragon drifting into sleep. One last, querying thought of ~...food?...~ managed to slip through, and Marowa felt her stomach rumble in response. Besides, it was as good a delay as any!

"Uh, if we are going to do any dancing I have to eat first. I sort of forgot, in all the excitement, you know?" E'nki nodded emphatically. He felt slightly ashamed: It was his resposibility to take care of the girls, and he should have noticed that Marowa was hungry earlier. Maybe that was why she was blushing so much... Did hunger cause blushing in women? E'nki made a mental note to inquire a Healer about the matter.

He took Marowa's arm and escorted her to the long food tables where they divided: Marowa sampled tiny portions of a smoked wherry in a berry sauce; a mash of tubers and ground grains, mixed with ripe cheese and a small portion of red wine; a fantastic meat pie with heardbeast, root vegetables, and some sort of spicy green vegetable the green rider couldnt place. Everything was exquisite.

In contrast, E'nko went straight for the haunch of heardbeast. It was well seasoned, and a tureen of gravy was at hand. He poured a copious amount over both the heardbeast and a veritable mountain of mashed tubers. The two sat in silence as they wolfed down the meal: His was comfortable, companionsble. Hers was nervous tension.

((And once more my muse deserts, and I realize that i shouldnt post while hungry. LOL, I love E'nki's assumption about a woman's blush...))

Mishaea was still red-faced, though she remained silent until both riders had left. Karlton scowled, and Amaey immediately began speaking, in a quiet voice, about how much Misha should know better than to give any of those sinful riders ideas.

"He called us perverted," said Kryver, the oldest of Misha's brothers; and she buried her hands in her face. "The only perverts here are those lascivious riders..."

"Hey, Misha," added Jaeson, second-oldest, "you'd better watch out. We could get you a fire-lizard egg so that you're more protected while you're here..."

"You don't get it!" Mishaea stood abruptly, face still red, but expression angry, something she rarely experienced. "I *haven't* been doing anything to embarrass you, and even if I *had*, you shouldn't just say that in front of everybody! Don't you know that I have more reason now than ever to be careful of my actions? *Anything* I do will affect Rovelth, and I love him more than I've ever loved you, because he cares about me, and not just about how I'll make him look! I can't believe you just said that to T'bai!" True, when Misha came to the weyr at first, she was afraid of lusty dragonriders, and she still feared them, but she'd realized that not everybody who lived in a weyr slept with everybody, and she didn't understand how her family couldn't understand that. Abruptly, she turned and fled, leaving her family watching, openmouthed.


Mishaea would be busy soothing Rovelth the rest of the night, foregoing the feast altogether after that, and eventually falling asleep on the stone couch with the little blue.

Kai's willowy frame, accented by a modest but pretty red gown, could be seen at another table, eating and laughing and giving off an aura of happiness. Her parents, two older siblings, and younger sister were both present, and describing to her their perspective of the hatching, while Kai was in turn telling them everything she knew or had discovered about Enorath.

Both of her older siblings were positively awed by his hide, although they had yet to see him up close.

"Well... you'll have to do that some other time, because he's sleeping, and you'll be leaving before I have a free moment from lessons, after this." She paused. "Oh, there's one really nice girl you guys should meet. She also Impressed Blue. She's really cute," Kai said, and stood, and made her way over to Aeryn's table, her five family members in tow. "Hi there, Aeryn," said Kai, waving as she drew in close to the table.

Dr'gon was sitting at a table, alone, and eating with faint disdain for those near him. Of course he couldn't expect anybody to show up, for he'd been isolated from his siblings, and his Master was busy, and the only other person-- Kennle-- had been so despised, there was no way the heir to Bitra could actually think his presence was wanted-- not to mention, he'd probably be too busy. Although he looked little distinguishable from the rest of the Weyrfolk, in average appearance and neat-- if not particularly memorable-- grab, he was separated by his thoughts, which were in awe still at the new mind, little Gerosuth, as breathtaking a connection he was finally able to feel. He felt his history, who he had been up until this day, had little bearing or importance, and the only thing that mattered was who he would become, and Gerosuth, who somehow loved him unconditionally.



Erein was seated with her seven-member family, and two surprise visitors-- her uncle B'rand and his son, her cousin A'led. Being the only riders in the family (for they were from her father's side and took great care to note who in the family would be joining their ranks), they had come to see if their relative would Impress.

"And at your first hatching, too!" B'rand was ruffling her hair, when A'led cleared his throat.

"Yes, well, you'll have enough of lessons and duty and whatnot in the next eighteen months, so perhaps you aught to enjoy the night. It's really something, though, isn't it, Arin?"

The blond girl was flushed with pride at the thought of her tough little green. "I never really understood it when you two talked about it..."

From the look the two shared, it was clear they both knew the rest of the family still was clueless.

"Well, there's something we thought you might like," A'led continued. "Of course, knowing that you're a weyrling, our plan to get you a firelizard egg failed, because for the first seven months or so, you will have literally no time to care for a pet. But we did remember from our earliest days how much we both wished we'd had a knife, not to mention a dagger for emergencies, so we managed to..." He paused, and pulled a long, cloth-wrapped item out from under the bench. "Well, there's been difficulty obtaining goods lately, but we called in some favors."

Erein was flushed that she'd gotten a quality knife and dagger, all from just Impressing. "Thank you guys, so much!"

Her mother smiled and said knowingly, "So, are there any good boys around?"

"Moooom, of course there's not!"

The family continued conversation as they ate, and after, stayed for a while, eager to start dancing but also to share their last moments together.

"I'll be trying for my Runner apprenticeship in two Sevendays." Joleb cast Aeryn a shy - for him - smile. Her parents and siblings had finished catching Aeryn up on news of home; starting with their father and working down to Joleb, the youngest brother, as was the family custom. Aeryn had been at the Weyr almost two months, so everyone had a lot to say. Mostly, she had just listened and ate. But at Joleb's announcement, she grinned back in unreserved pleasure, glancing at her mother as she did so. Lynnae's usually calm face was radiant: all Aeryn's brothers were superb athletes, but up to now each one had shown a tendency to follow in their father's agricultural line of work. But fifteen-Turn-old Joleb was going to try for their mother's profession. Aeryn had never felt any closer to her mother, despite being the only girl, but she was in her quiet way pleased. Lynnae loved tending the Izvand Runner Station, and often came home with stories of whole families of Runners coming through. Now she would have her own offspring to talk about.

Aeryn was still smiling when Kai called her name. She turned to see the graceful, older girl approaching their table, accompanied by an older couple who must, from their unselfconscious grace, be her parents; and also a young man and a young woman who looked older than Kai, and a girl a few Turns younger.

Aeryn went pink again because Kai had singled her out; she was still unused to attention after deliberately placing herself outside social circles. As she waved back and answered, "Hello, Kai!" she fervently hoped her brothers would not show off. Blessed with the same golden skin, white-blond hair, and beautiful violet eyes as Aeryn herself, they had been quite enjoying the attention paid to them by young female dragonrider and serving-girl alike. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed 23-turn-old Tynor homing in on Kai's older sister (if that's what she was), while 20-turn-old Milon was staring openmouthed at Kai herself.

Aeryn kicked him sharply in the shins, something she'd not have dared to do the day before, and stood to greet the tall, slender girl. "Isn't this great?" her voice squeaked with stress and excitement, but her friendly smile was genuine. "Mom, dad, this is Kai. She Impressed a blue, too; his name is Enorath and he's lovely. Kai, these are my parents, and that's Tynor, Milon, Alier, and Joleb. My brothers." She pointed at each in turn, naming them from eldest to youngest. Then, feeling quite daring, she met the eyes of the people with Kai. "These must be your family," she said, half questioning.

M'dak would just as soon have eaten his fill in a quiet corner and gone straight back to the Weyrling Barracks and Segrunth. As it was, he was scarcely able to eat at all. People he didn't even know kept coming up to congratulate him on Impressing a bronze. He found himself repeating answers to the same questions, reassuring people that Segrunth was well settled for the night, and accepting approving clouts on the shoulder until he was sure he'd wake up bruised. It kept his mind from his parents, though, and particularly from feelings of guilt whenever he imagined what his aunt Ranna would think if she knew he'd Impressed. Knowing that she'd probably feel furious and betrayed was deeply saddening to M'dak; he'd love to share with her the incredible experience of Impression, as far as he was able.

This, however, was not the night for the new bronze weyrling to wallow in flashes of regret amidst the joyful haze of Impressing. Nobody would let him, even if he tried. Self-pity had never been his thing, anyway, but he did wish people would let him alone long enough to eat.

He could see without turning his head that Dr'gon, who had Impressed the first bronze, was managing somehow to eat alone. M'dak envied him a bit as another lung-emptying wallop of congratulations landed between his shoulder blades. For a moment, he considered going over to ask how Dr'gon did it, but the sneer of supercilious disdain on the other boy's face repelled him. Come to think of it, M'dak mused, it probably put off everyone else too, which was exactly how he managed to be let alone. M'dak was still curious about him, but not enough to purposely broach the weyrling's air of disdain.

Not yet, anyway.

J'deryk had resumed eating with great appetite, especially now that he had someone to talk to over supper. "Mm, ah, you know." He swallowed another enormous bite, picked up his knife, and attacked a breast of spiced roast wherry. "Hear tell of a rumor there's to be a Gather here at the Weyr before winter sets in. They'll be spinning the autumn wool by now, so for sure they'll be here for the Gather. You'll have to meet 'em, Zaela. They'd like you, you being a dragonrider now but with mothering instincts. They like tough women, don't believe there's a job out there a man can do better'n a woman." He nodded sagely. "Very modern thinking for farmers, my folks."

Up by the head table, the Harpers had rearranged their stools and now picked up their instruments and began tuning them. "Hey!" J'deryk laid down knife and fork across his empty plate. "Will there be dancing?" He grinned at Zaela. "Wanna dance with me? I'm a good dancer. Much better at it than I am at eating, or waving." He grinned apologetically at the lad on his left before returning his open gaze to his friend. "How about it?"

((Awww, come on, he's not /supercilious/ and nasty... you make him sound so mean... :'( ))

Kai greeted the family with a pleasant smile; this was probably one of the few occasions that her uncanny knack for remembering names could come in handy. "Tynor, Milon, Alier, and Joleb, did you say? Nice to meet you all." She smiled at them, although her eyes did rest on Milon for a breath longer than they had the others, before she turned slightly to greet Aeryn's parents. "Your daughter is quite lovely. You should be proud; she's held up well on her own, even though she's a bit young for first-timers coming to the Weyr."

Kai paused, half-annoyed with Nakira's glances at the oldest brother, Tynor. "Yes," she said with a smile, to Aeryn and her family. "This is my family. These are my parents, and this is Dannon, and this is Nakira. And this is Rycora." The youngest sister, Rycora, waved shyly at Aeryn.

Kai exhaled with a smile. "Well, I do think Enorath is lovely, but Eagrith is quite handsome too, you know," she said gently, turning once more to catch Nakira's eyes meeting Tynor's. SHe decided to ignore it, and continued to smile. "It was quite a lovely hatching, though, wasn't it? All the dragonets were healthy, and all Impressed successfully... Thought for a minute there that Obluth wasn't going to make it... he had quite a time hatching."

Olly hurried into the dining cavern, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Zamuth had fallen asleep on her feet en route to the weyrling caverns, so Olly had had to carry the snoozing green in her arms. It was no small feat, especially since Zamuth's belly was full of meat, but they had gotten there eventually, when some of the other weyrlings were already starting to leave for the feast. It didn't bother Olly as much as it might have, surprisingly, and she had taken her time with a wash, putting on her dress, and fixing her hair. Now she was ready.

Everyone was already sitting down and talking and eating, so Olly stood alone at the entrance. Her lavender dress, gauzy and flouncy just like Olly liked it, floated around her legs, still staticky from their recent wash. She had given her hair a quick dry with her towel, and now it was starting to form its natural soft curls again. Her muscles ached from that day's adventure--Impression, feeding, and not one but two baths--but it was a good kind of ache... Whatever that meant.

"Olly!"

Startled, Olly turned around to see a strangely familiar man and woman rushing towards her. At first she backed away in confusion, but then realized... aha!... her parents.

"Mama! Papa!" She exclaimed, laughing and running to meet them.

"Don't run, Olly, you'll ruin your dress--" her father began, but she smothered him in a hug. She embraced her mother before Mirelle could say anything, realizing with a grin that their gowns matched almost exactly. Mirelle's differed only in that the neckline was higher and the sleeves were longer, befitting the woman's more businesslike approach to her choice in clothing.

Before they could say anything, Olly was telling them all about her life at the Weyr: her arrival, her slow adaptation to having to do chores and tasks normally assigned to drudges at Izvand Hold (here Valian gasped), and her very recent Impression to her beloved green. Mirelle wanted to meet Zamuth, but the green was fast asleep anyway, and Olly wasn't sure if her parents were allowed in the weyrling barracks.

"B-But," Valian spluttered, flushing red and looking around for the Weyrwoman, "I am the Lord Holder of Izvand Hold! And if the Lady Holder demands--"

"Papa." Olly gently laid her hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. Maybe some other time? And when Zamuth gets big enough to learn to fly, I'll come visit you!"

**It's strange...** she thought, leading her parents to a table of delicious-looking food. **Some people really do have a lot to learn.**

***

S'mer had eaten quickly; even though the day had been long, he felt too filled with happiness to consider gorging himself. Tedyluth had done more than enough of that for the both of them.

So he sipped at his water as he sat at the table, listening to the excited conversations of his fellow weyrlings and their invited guests. He hadn't seen his mother around, but it wasn't a surprise; as one of the highest ranking Healers in the Healer Hall, she often had to stay late hours to work. It did make S'mer a bit sad, but he tucked it away, like he always did.

He looked up to see the Harper who had been playing step down from the stage. "Just a mo'," he called to those who stood closest to the stage. "I need a drink!" The onlookers laughed appreciatively.

S'mer hestitated... and he would have kept on hestitating were it not for the events of these past few weeks. Hesitation had kept S'mer from doing so many things he had always wanted to... Now Impressing Tedyluth had shown him that all hesitation got you was disappointment and regret. He stood up abruptly from his seat and strode over to the Harper.

"Excuse me..." he murmured to the man, even as his heart leapt. He gestured at the harp that hung from his shoulder. "May I?"

The man grinned and gladly handed his instrument to S'mer, clapping him on the shoulder in congratulations as S'mer passed. He watched the weyrling as he poured himself a drink, noting that the boy checked the harp's tuning even though he had already been playing for an hour or so. That was a sign of a truly dedicated Harper.

There were hundreds of people in the dining cavern, but S'mer didn't watch any of them. Looking at other people made him nervous, but playing brought him joy; so he found a compromise by playing with his head bowed. He began to pluck out notes on the instrument with his blistered, aching hands... just a simple traditional song that everyone would be sure to recognize. But he put his own spin on it, adding grace notes here and there and complicating some of the simpler parts. And still, after perhaps months with scarcely a practice session to himself, he was able to play with comfortable ease, though it was a song that Harpers only learned in the later years of their journeymanship.

Those who had been watching the professional Harper had turned away once he had stepped down, thinking S'mer was simply a novice who was being given the opportunity to practice in front of a crowd... But as they heard his sweet notes flowing across the room, their eyes and ears turned back and listened with pleasure.

S'mer kept on playing, eyes closed and blond hair falling softly over his face. He felt their eyes on him and he heard their applause between songs, and his heart skipped a beat as he heard some of them beginning to dance. But still he didn't look up; he thought only of Tedyluth, and his overwhelming joy kept him playing all through the night.

Zaela was nearly glowing in her good mood, her chin propped up daintily against the back of her hand as she listened to her friend. A gather sounded absolutely wonderful. She was rarely able to go to any of them herself.. and Impressing! It was as if everything good that could happen to her was all falling into place. She couldn't believe that she was ever hesitant to Impress.

"Oh, dancing! I do believe they will, after all they're setting up the band. I do so love the Toss dance when they get to playing the songs for it.. but I won't subject you to that lest I crush you." She giggled. Zaela was not a tiny girl at all, but then again she wasn't huge. If anything she was baiting him in similar fashion to deny that she had too much weight on her frame. It might have been slightly reflex, not consciously looking for any reaction.. but then again the female ego was a powerful force that could not be subdued.

((Bah, so it's time for me to forcibly pull myself out of my posting slump now, no matter what the muse says! *prods her* GET TO WORK, YOU!))

As Alesia frowned next to him, L'gan was indeed struggling to repress a smile as he watched the trio of Weyrlings being scolded by C'ben. The corners of his mouth kept twitching upwards no matter how hard he tried to keep a straight face, so he instead settled for taking an unnecessarily long drink from his goblet of wine in the hopes that by the time he had finished, the strong urge to laugh would have vanished. Luckily for him, it did, and he was able to escape a lecture from Alesia about properly presenting himself during feasts.

He settled back into his seat to resume his survey of the new Weyrlings. There had been an unusual number of blues this hatching, and his mind was already beginning to plan possible wing formations to maximize the unique skills often displayed by blues. Nearly as nimble as greens and having almost as much stamina as browns, blues were a valuable commodity in any Weyr, and he planned to make his ideas known even if he was no longer Weyrleader by the time they were old enough to fight Thread. With a grimace, he shook that unpleasant thought away. He had grown rather fond of Alesia, and he did not wish to ruin the night with unpleasant thoughts. You would do better to think on the closing speech you said you would give. Behemath interrupted suddenly. L'gan smiled. True, but we all know I thrive on spontaneity. He replied airily.

((I'll try to get a post up for Z'per and Obluth later today. But now, it's time for blessed sleeeep. :) ))

((Well, you know, my very dear Contrition...if M'dak sees superciliousness where there isn't any, perhaps it's the writer's sign of subtle envy emanating from her character. I tend to write to extremes of third person limited unless forced, so there is little omniscience in anything my characters observe, perform, or create.

Stormy..."the female ego was a powerful force that could not be subdued" - RoFL! I'm gonna have fun with this one, for one must not forget that the male ego is a fragile and wispy thing, despite any macho protestations to the contrary.))

"Oh, I know!" Aeryn was wide-eyed with remembered concern. "Obluth was the blue whose egg almost didn't Hatch," she reminded her parents, who were watching the exchange between their shy, inhibited daughter and this graceful young woman with quizzical smiles on their faces. At Kai's praise, Bielor had puffed out his chest and nodded smugly, as if only he could have accomplished his daughter's success. "But he's okay now, I saw Z'per with him at the lake." Suddenly she giggled and looked meaningfully at Kai. "But your Impression ... I thought Enorath had chosen me, the way his tail brushed against me. But then he looked at me like he was saying he was sorry, and I knew it was you. It was the prettiest thing, seeing your Impression." Pretty was not the word she wanted, but Aeryn used it because she would otherwise had said a word that would have made her family laugh at her - shiny, perhaps, or sparkly. Because that's what it had been like, seeing her tall new friend Impress: all glittering happiness.

Aeryn paused for breath, and beamed back at shy Rycora, in whom she suspected she'd found a kindred spirit. Milon, she noticed, had been watching her exchange with Kai with interest, and she'd bet the clothes on her back he was just waiting for the chance to say something to Kai himself.

But it was Tynor who broke the ice first, rising from his place and extending his hand to Kai's sister Nakira with a slight bow. S'mer, the brown weyrling, had just risen from his place and taken an instrument from one of the Harpers. "Nakira, it's a delight to meet you. Would you do me the honor of the first dance?"

Aeryn rolled her eyes and glanced sheepishly at Kai. She knew her brothers were all too aware of the effect they had on girls - all except Joleb, who was still figuring it all out - and they knew just how to talk to them as a result. To her horror, she saw that Milon had risen from his place, too, before she could stop him. Obviously her kick had not had the intended effect.

"My brother's probably too intimidated to ask, Kai, but if a blue rider would consent to dance with a lowly Holder, I'd remember it as the night I got to dance with the prettiest girl in the Weyr."

Aeryn's mouth hung open at Milon's audacity. Without waiting for Kai's answer - for how could she or her sister refuse without seeming rude? - she muttered mutinously, "Somebody had better dance with me." And she glared in turn at Alier and Joleb, who so far had remained silent.

J'deryk stared at Zaela, astonished. "What, do you think I'm not strong enough to handle the Toss Dance?" He sat up straight and shook his honey-colored curls out of his eyes, pretending to glare savagely. One arm curled into a fist. "Have you not seen these biceps? Oh, that's it. You, my dear, have questioned the ... manly manliness ... of a strapping fine strong blue weyrling, I'll have you know! I'm gonna go request the Toss Dance right now!" And grinning brazenly at Zaela, J'deryk stood, straightened his shoulders, shot her his the most ridiculously macho face he could, and marched straight up to the Harper platform.

He recognized S'mer by sight, if not by name, and grinned, bowing to the other weyrling to accord him his new rank as brown rider. "I'm sorry to interrupt your tuning," he said, with a contrite glance at the other Harpers. "But my friend has seen fit to challenge my prowess as a dancer. You'd be doing me a kindness if, after everyone's nice and warmed up, you'd play a round of the Toss Dance. Please?" He turned and waved impudently to Zaela, then looked back to the Weyr Masterharper and S'mer, awaiting their answer.

S'mer stopped playing abruptly, realizing that several other harps had joined his to complement the melody that he was picking out. He turned around and saw at least four other Harpers behind him, who smiled as he noticed them. He didn't know whether to be embarassed or honored, or maybe both... He had sort of taken the post without asking anyone, really, but it was really something to say that all the Harpers who had been playing behind the professional before him were now following his lead, too.

"Er, um..." he mumbled, turning back and forth from J'deryk to the other Harpers.

"Go on," one of them said kindly, motioning for the band to tune their instruments accordingly. From the sidelines, the man S'mer had replaced grinned, raising his goblet of wine in a toast.

S'mer blushed, ducking behind his sheaf of hair to hide it. "Well, alright," he said finally, grinning nervously at J'deryk. He tapped his foot to count into the song, then began to play. The Toss Dance was set at a vigorous tempo, sure to get people up and involved. S'mer closed his eyes again to play, even though his hands worked at an astonishing rate to make all the notes flow together. With his eyes closed he could truly appreciate the chords that the other Harpers were forming with their own instruments, some of them even playing secondary melodies of their own.

***

"Ooh, the Toss Dance!" Olly exclaimed, rising from her chair and beaming at Valian and Mirelle. "Come dance, you two!"

"I don't allow this song at the Hold for a reason--" Valian was saying, but Mirelle was already laughing and dragging him by the arm to the dance floor. The Lady Holder of Izvand Hold only partook in a few special carefree activities, and dancing was definitely one of them.

Olly picked up the skirts of her dress and ran to the dancefloor, beginning to dance already even though she had no partner. Ollyriale of Izvand Hold was not the sort of girl who would wait for some boy to ask her to dance and watch all those other people having fun. No... Even if she looked silly, Olly knew what she wanted, and what she wanted was to dance!

"Oh, no he isn't!" Zaela half wailed, half laughed as she watched the bluerider brazenly make his way to the harper's platform. "Oh shells, he's actually doing it!" T'bai had taken a seat nearby and was now crowing with laughter, leaning against J'san with mock seduction, mimicking Zaela. "Oh, great manly man, can you throw me up in the air or am I too fat?" J'san frowned deeply and stood up, taking his plate to sit elsewhere. T'bai was unperturbed, grinning wide as he stood up. "Oh, he adores me, it's obvious. And now if you'll excuse me, I see some desserts that need to be eaten!"

Zaela had already stood up to greet the proud looking blue weyrling, a broad smile on her face. "Well, aren't you the proactive one?" She jested, still rather amused and surprised he'd actually went up and requested the song. The tune was a merry one, and already she felt light on her feet despite a wave of embarrassment coming over her. "Just don't drop me, okay? I fear I won't ever come out of the Weyrling Barracks again if I fall on my face." It was mostly a joke... but she really -didn't- want to be dropped.

((Oh lawd! *giggles fitfully at J'deryk* I always love your characters, Fury =D

I love everyone's characters. We have an epically wonderful role playing group together... I can hardly believe how lucky I am to have some of the best in my Weyr =D That's all of you, you know. Every one of you. It took joining another Weyr for a while to realize how precious what I already have is.))

((Why thank you Nako! You know we love you too!!!

Oooh, can I snag Olly?!! Pwease? Ish drama!!!))

E'nki was refilling his cup of fruit nectar when he noticed Ollyrial dancing alone. He swallowed hard, setting his cup to the side. He had been quite smitten with the girl from the day he met her, but although she had lived in the same barracks as his sister and Marowa he always seemed to miss her by moments. He would dash into the barracks, only to hear that he had just missed her. Other times he would have to hear from Nirva how she had come back just after he left. It was quite frustrating!

He summoned his courage and walked up to her smoothly, and within a few steps had matched the rythym of his steps to the footwork of the dance. "Hey, Ollyrial!" he said, gently tapping her shoulder. "Congratulations on your Impression today! It was a green, right?"

((Eh, okay XD *deletes a portion of her post*))

((I'm sorry Nako... Did i snake you on grabbing Olly? I didnt notice any one grab her, but I did wait a long time before sending my post...
*feels horrible*
I can delete my post if you want... I should have updated before I sent it in.))

Aww, you guys stink... all of my characters hate life too much to enjoy dancing XD

LOL... I suppose XD D'rgon isn't *nice*, but he's also not downright unpleasant... he's just wounded by his past =-3 and who isn't? =3

---


"I was just... so surprised, when he came to us, and I was thinking, 'Well, she's done it! Good for her!' I didn't expect he'd actually been coming to me... until I saw his rainbow eyes sparkling at me..." She smiled and her face lit up, but only for a moment, until the chords of music hit her ears, accompanied by the sudden request to dance.

Nakira didn't need to be asked twice; her round, comely face broke into a smile. "I'd be delighted, Tynor!" She giggled at Kai before taking his hand. Kai couldn't resist rolling her eyes.

But then, shock of shocks, somebody actually /asked/ her to dance? Kai could hardly see straight. And such flattery! "I, uh," she began, feeling almost dizzy. "I'm not the prettiest!" Wash the first thing that came out, accompanied by a rather pink tinge to her cheeks. "I'd love to dance, though!" She ducked her head and avoided her parents' gaze, though she did shoot her older brother a glare, as though it was his fault for being almost a decade older than her new friend, thereby inhibiting any dancing.


---

OK, count off!

D'rgon: Doesn't know anybody. Is in a bad mood and would call any over-ly suggestive "ask-me-to-dance" girls VAPID. (x)
Misha: hiding/sleeping from her embarrasment XD (x)
Kai: Taken
Selena: Exhausted but unusally happy (o)
Erein: Also exhausted, but knows not many people... (o)
Ro'lan: Wants ta dance! (o)
L'vair: Confused XD Probably couldn't dance.

AHH Nako! L'vair needs to swoop in and interrupt the Taibe/Jasyn relationship!!!

(( LOL rose don't worry about it! I'll of course step down so you can grab her because I already have a character interacting with Fury's character and you need someone to play with too! *noogies*


Or maybe L'vair could just join in? ROFL !! ))

((I have an older blue rider trying to get laid. This whole thing is rather depressing for her. Any older charries open?))

Z'per entered the Lower Caverns cheerfully after having put Obluth to bed with no problems. The tiny blue was clearly exhausted, and had barely bid his future rider a drowsy goodnight before dropping into a deep slumber. Z'per had watched his blue sleep for a fond moment before hurriedly changing into his finest tunic and trousers. He hadn't eaten at all that day, as his stomach was so insistently reminding him. As he scanned the crowded tables, he felt a small pang when he discovered his mother was absent. He knew she was surely overjoyed that he had Impressed but that did little to dull the sting. He took a seat instead by J'deryk and Zaela and immediately began to dig heartily into the food, keeping his attention fixed on his plate. He had to dive to keep his water goblet from tipping as the enthusiastic blue weyrling to his side knocked it in his excitement. He grinned easily back. "No worries, I'm just glad it wasn't me for a change!" But J'deryk had already returned his attentions to Zaela.

Z'per shrugged, not really put off, then glanced around as he heard his name mentioned by someone. Evidently Obluth's hatching had caused somewhat of a stir. He smiled proudly, pleased that others had taken notice of his lifemate's success. As he saw people step onto the dance floor, he leaned back from his now-empty plate to watch. He had always enjoyed music, but usually preferred to watch from the sidelines- he had no illusions about his clumsiness, after all.

((Hey, threesome between blue-blue-green would have absolutely no problems at all, ...except for flights, but hey, as we did just mention in that other board, there's gotta be *something* for the losers to do... why not just make a lose-and-win threesome? XD

OY ROSE. Want me to throw in K'mav? He likes ickle blue-ies!))

(( lol you perverts! =P ))

J'san sighed, leaning against the wall as he watched the others dance. His foster mother had already retired for the night, though that hadn't bothered him at all. Like many new riders, he had felt strange trying to explain his experience to his jaded caretaker, who was more interested in the status of a brown than anything else. At the question of why he didn't Impress to a bronze, he had excused himself. Granted, the woman had been rather deep in her cups at that point, but she still had no right to say such a thing. A brown was a high enough honor, especially considering his preferences.

Speaking of preferences, T'bai was being such a dimglow! Flirting the way he had been... He'd have to keep him at an arm's length so as not to upset their dragons. He wouldn't do anything to hurt Ronuth, not even for T'bai. It was with an overwhelming urge to see his dragon that he would leave the Hatching Feast early, curling up with the brown on the stone couch despite its discomfort to his own fragile human body. Ronuth was all that mattered to him, and Yunaleth was what truly mattered to T'bai. For his friend's own good, he would have to keep his distance.

((Oooh, I'll take him! I need his male gentetic contribution, Mwahahahaha!!!
*accompanies evil laughter with double handed grabbing motion*
gimmegimmegimme!!!))

Laris stalked over to the tables, snatching a porion of red wine and downing it quickly. She grimaced: A bit too acidic for her taste, but it suited her mood nicely. She grabbed a second portion and made her way to the long tables. She watched the dancers whirling across the floor as she stradled the bench, and did her best to get drunk.

~Stop your griping. It was your fault anyway.~

"Quiet Corvarath," she snapped. Her blue was right, depending on how you looked at it, and that was what angered her the most. She angrily pushed her long hair back from her face and downed the last of her drink.

Her dragon sat on the heights with her weyrmate's dragon--former weyrmate's, she thought bitterly. Shamm (her and her dragon are NPC) had not shared her weyr for long, and when her blue Faketh flew another woman's green the relationship fell apart. Laris was not stupid enough to be jelous of her partner bedding another woman... Had that been all, things would have ended very differently. But Shamm had fallen in love with the green rider, and fallen out of love with Laris. Laris had confronted her about it, and after a blistering spat Shamm had collected her things and gone back to her old weyr. She had been gone for over a fortnight, and Laris's ire had been redirected... To herself. Normally self-assured to the point of cockiness, she deeply regreted not making more of an effort to keep the affections of her lover.

She shook herself free of her reverie. It was done, over, and more than time to move on. She wasn't beautiful, not in the traditional sense: Her beauty was that of a glacier, an erupting volcano, Threadfall. She was terrifying and savage. It should not be too late to find a fellow rider looking for a night's distraction. The feast was the perfect opportunity to find another lonely rider.

((Shamm and Faketh ... nice touch, Rosalita. :)

Dammit, I was too slow. I wanted to throw K'jin at Laris. Poor Winter and I, we seem destined to always have awkward love affairs. He'll no doubt be looking to shake off the near-miss of dreaded intimacy for winning Aubria's affections when Sevofth won her dragon. Hmm, maybe I'll bring him in anyway, just to see what happens. But not yet. I gotta cook myself some dinner before I whittle away to nothing!))