Candidate Welcome to Ista Dinner/Dance

The candidates for Qirith and Tuoth's clutch get an official welcome from the weyr, and someone invites an unexpected guest.

Zynassa - Sunday, May 20, 2001, 4:54 PM
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You walk west into the living cavern.
Ista Weyr Living Cavern
The cavern is filled with people, rider and nonrider alike for the evening meal. The reddish glow of the setting sun filters in through the large bowl entrance to the northwestern wall. Through the constant movement of drudges to and from the northern side of the wall, you can see the four large hearths there, each put to the task of cooking the large Weyr meals. An occasional drudge filters in and out of the entrance to the Lower Caverns entrance on the western side of the room. New riders and others are still filtering in through this entrance as well, leading out to the rest of the lower caverns.
Several huge tapestries, many of them ancient, are hanging on the stone walls. One particularly glorious one looks to be a study on the finger rock. You also see several 'places' to sit.
Contents:
Natalee
Kyrola
Pulyn
Alaida
Mirielle
Linna

Alaida glances to Natalee. "Uh..sure. In a bit though? I want to get dressed, if possible. " then she furrows her eyebrows at Pulyn's words. She shakes her head. "Uh..I never really wore a dress before. I wonder if I could borrow one or something. "

Mirielle smiles at Pulyn and stands up. "You could always meet me in the West Cavern, and Alaida, we could maybe find something for you to wear in the stores."

Kaylira enters from the narrow corridor.
Kaylira has arrived.

Your location's current time: 18:57 on day 1, month 1, Turn 36, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter evening.

Zynassa breezes out of the caverns, talking animatedly with one of the assistant stewards. She's already dressed to the nines, and nods emphatically, "Of course I'll keep an eye on things. Just don't expect me to work *too* much, all right?" She grins at the man, and then offers a cheerful, "Evening!":breezes out of the caverns, talking animatedly with one of the assistant stewards. She's already dressed to the nines, and nods emphatically, "Of course I'll keep an eye on things. Just don't expect me to work *too* much, all right?" She grins at the man, and then offers a cheerful, "Evening!"

Pulyn smiles at Mirie and Alaida, then heads for the lower caverns, calling back, "Alright, west cavern it is then. And we should find something for her..."

Alaida nods to Mirielle and smiles. "Thank you, Mirielle. "

Pulyn walks down the corridor.
Pulyn has left.

Mirielle holds out her hand for Alaida. "Come on, we'll go take a look and see if we can't get you dressed up."

Natalee nods and slips the jar into a pocket. "I'll be here," she calls to Alaida. "Just tell me when." She waves at Kaylira, and yells, "Remember to eat something!" after Pulyn.

Kaylira settles her hands upon her hips and calls out cheerfully, "What, expect you to do work Nassa? Whatever is the weyr coming to?" Her tones teasing.

Kaylira waves at the familiar faces.

Kyrola self-consciously flicks a hand over her skirt, as if checking on the fit, tugging on her poufy sleeves to ensure they're settled correctly.

Alaida smiles and reaches up, taking Mirielle's hand even as she stands. "What is it like to wear a dress? "

Mirielle smiles. "Come on, and you'll find out."

Mirielle walks down the corridor.
Mirielle has left.

Shoshana enters from the narrow corridor.
Shoshana has arrived.

Alaida walks down the corridor.
Alaida has left.

Shoshana slips in shyly, keeping to the edges of the room as she glances about the cavern.

Zynassa laughs, heading across to join up with Kaylira. "Your mother told me to make sure you behaved yourself. I told her she'd not a hope of me sticking to it. She sends her best - says she'll make it to the hatching come Fire, Fog or Fall." She gives a nod to Shoshana, and a grin to Kyrola, ringlets bobbing.

Kyrola looks up and sees Shoshana hovering. Giving a 'c'mon over' gesture, she indicates an empty chair near her with a smile.

Natalee waves at Shoshana, "Over here!" she yells. "You've got to meet everybody!"

Nitali enters from the narrow corridor.
Nitali has arrived.

Kaylira mutters a laughing shucks under her breath. "And here I thought to surprise you. Is mum looking well?"

Salva enters from the narrow corridor.
Salva has arrived.

Avalle enters from the narrow corridor.
Avalle has arrived.

Zynassa nods to Kaylira. "Well as can be expected. Herath rose - I think it was a little hard on her. I helped her pass out the spirits after the flight." She rolls her eyes and gives a shake of her head, "Those bronzers."

Natalee glances a Nitali. "New dress?" she asks. She turns back to Shoshana. "This is Nitali, and," she sees Salva enter, "That's Salva."

Kaimi walks over from the Kitchen.
Kaimi has arrived.

Shoshana smoothes her dress selfconciously, smiling gratefully at Kyrola as she steps towards her. Natalee's call startles her and she looks over, already at the chair indicated to her by Kyrola. "Um...thank you." she says quietly to both of them, nodding at the introductions.

Kaimi comes out already dressed for the evening and carrying a freshly baked basket of rolls that she sets onto the table. She fusses with a few of the items and then nods in satisfaction and then turns to look for a place to sit.

Kaylira rolls her eyes in return at Zynassa. "So you're doomed to watch us and make sure we behave during dinner?" The newest of arrivals are pondered.

Kyrola leans back in her own chair to grin at Natalee's introductions. "Don't worry, nobody bites," she confides in Shoshana. "Just have a seat and get used to the bustle..."

Jai enters from the narrow corridor.
Jai has arrived.

Salva waves cheerfully to Shoshana. "Hi!" She nods to everyone else she recognizes.

Nitali steps in carefully, head tilted down in an attempt to watch those high-heels. Dangerous things, high-heels. Slender hands curl about a chunk of her skirts, and she hastens quick-like over to Natalee. Familiar. Good. "Hi," she manages, softly, eyebrows furrowed. Not used to this. Nuh-uh. "Um...hi." That one's to Shoshana, of course. Ahem.

Out from the lower caverns comes the too-slender form of Avalle. Surprisingly... well, ordinary. In fact, it's the exact same dress she's pretty much always wearing, save when stuck with particularly messy chores. At least it's a relatively nice shade of green, but it's hardly formal wear. Not the least bit self-conscious though, even among others in nicer duds. "'Lo," she chirps upon her entrance.

Natalee keeps calling out names, looking pleased that she's finally remembered some. "Avelle, Kaimi, but you met her. Oh, and that's Jai," she says, looking like she's not sure whether she should smile or frown.

Jai walks in carefully, as if fully aware all eyes are on her. Typical for a girl raised as she was. Her dress allows her to only walk in small steps, though she moves over to Zynassa and smiles, "Anything I can help with?"

Zynassa laughs. "More that I'm here helping to make sure the food keeps flowing, while trying to stay out of the baker's way!" She spots Kaimi and waves, "Everything looks just wonderful, Kaimi! Was Rothan in just as bad of a temper as usual?" She grins a bit and then shakes her head at Jai. "No, not really. Tonight's not a night for candidates to worry about chores. You all get to have fun tonight."

Shoshana actually chuckles softly, and slides into the chair now, waving a bit to Kaimi, "Hi...hi...hi..." she repeats to each new name, signaling for Kaimi to join the table she's at.

Kaylira smirks at Jai, and a few of the others. "I had rest-day today. I've been looking forward to this meal since I woke."

Natalee looks around the cavern. "Now, who have I missed?" She spins slowly around. When she faces Shoshana again, she says, "Oh, I'm Natalee, did I tell you?"

Jai nods to Zynassa, weaving and unweaving her fingers together as she looks about, smiling at various familiar faces. To Natalee she says, "I hope that moisturizer helps. The air here is so humid. Skin dries out really quickly, especially with all the work we have to do." Is she trying to be nice?

"Avalle," corrects the thin one with the unbothered air of one who gets such mistakes relatively frequently. She makes her way through towards the others. "I still think this is a conspiracy to make me take time out of my day to sit down and eat. And I still say it's not fair. I could have just grabbed something, but no, of course not..." Avalle's complaints fade to light muttering as she stakes out a chair.

Salva stares in mock-horror at Zynassa. "No chores, what will Rhi do?!"

Kyrola leans over and murmurs to Shoshana, "Don't let her rope you into her fashion and talent show," and grins, her eyes twinkling at Natalee.

"Oh...where *is* he." Seems Nitali's either waiting for someone...or 'he' is an imaginary friend. Now, don't get any ideas. Nitali has imaginary friends, sure, but she has enough sense not to bring them to a *party*. Yeesh. One foot taps impatiently against the floor, and, after a moment of that, she flops herself down in a rather unlady-like fashion in a nearby chair. Hmph. Taptap.

Kaimi smiles and nods to Zynassa as she heads for the seat offered by Shoshana.

Salva bounces over. "It's my talent show, too!"

Natalee gives Jai a brilliant smile. "Why thank you! And it was -very- kind of you to lend me your lotion." SHe hears Kyrola's comment about a fashion show and brightens up. "Jai! You -must- join in the fashion show Salva and I are organizing!"

Zynassa chuckles and waves candidates, riders and residents alike towards the serving table. "Don't let it get cold - help yourselves. I know I for one am thinking of starting with a bubbly first."

Jai looks down at her rather expensive-looking dress, then at Natalee. Do her eyes narrow just slightly at the girl before she flashes a brilliant smile? "Oh, I don't know. I'm not very good at public appearances." Yeah, right. As she says this, she slips into a chair in such a way that probably indicates turns walking with something on her head to make sure her back stayed straight. She crosses her ankles like a perfect lady, folding her hands in her lap.

Shoshana nods, "You did, back in the kitchen." she answers. With a little smile she nods to Kyrola, "I'll make sure not too...I don't like preforming anyway. Are you doing it?" Kaimi gets a curious look, "'Roul's coming isn't he? Or did he have to head back?"

Mouse enters from the narrow corridor.
Mouse has arrived.

A trio of young male Candidates in line for the serving table burst into a fit of laughter, pointing at a rather busty female brought in from the Igen area who has chosen a less than flattering outfit to wear for the evening. While her friends comfort her an Assistant Headwoman rushes over to the boys to scold them with a harsh word or two of her own. They quiet down when they arrive at the food table, eagerly grabbing their plates.

Kyrola nods to Shoshana's question with a grin. "I got asked to make something. I need to find someone who's my size to be a model or mannequin..."

Fashion show? There's a slightly wary cast to Avalle's features as she drops in on that conversation. "What... ah." A pause. "What on Pern is a fashion show?" At the directive, obviously reluctant, she shuffles over to join the line.

Kaimi smiles at Shoshana as she slips into the seat next to her. She comments softly, "I'm so glad that your here. Roul had to find some place to change but he'll be right out I'm sure."

Natalee smirks at Jai. "Well, if you want -Langley- to win the title of 'Most Fashionable Candidate at Ista,'"

That hit the right nerve. Jai says rather flatly to Natalee, "We can't have that, now can we? Ista being shown fashion by someone with such an obvious lack of knowledge on the subject. I'll be there." Her smile has disappeared and there's a negative twinge in her voice.

Shoshana hmmms..."Do you think they'll need anyone to work on food for it? Or is Kaimi going to take care of that?" she questions curiously. "'Cause I could do that if needed." she smiles at her baker-friend, "I'm glad you're here too...oh that's good. 'Cause if he didn't come I'd have to go about finding you a dancing partner." she says with a little wink.

Natalee waves at Avalle. "It's where all the pretty pretty candidates dress up and prance around in their nice clothes for the rest of us to see. And then, at the end, we decided who looks the best." She grins at Jai. "Great!"

Mouse steps in from the Lower Caverns, doing her best to not appear late and still trying to get her necklace to hang right.

Zynassa is passing Jai on her way to the serving table, and merely arches an eyebrow in reproof. She starts to fix her plate, working down the line of dishes and scrupulously avoiding the peppers.

Alaida enters from the narrow corridor.
Alaida has arrived.

Mirielle enters from the narrow corridor.
Mirielle has arrived.

Pulyn enters from the narrow corridor.
Pulyn has arrived.

Kaylira pulls a face at Natalee's description of the fashion show, and makes her way into the food line rather than get into /that/ particular discussion.

Mirielle follows Alaida in, grinning at her.

Alaida fidgets as she walks in then looks up at Mirielle. "I feel so silly. "

Kyrola looks up as the others tromp on in again, and her face widens into a large smile, her eyes lighting up with the grin.
Pulyn walks in just after Mirie and Alaida, waving to those he knows. To Alaida, he whispers, "You look fine, don
't worry."

Nitali is still sitting, glancing over at the line by the serving table every so often. A grimace, and she lets out a light sigh, a mild glare sent to Jai. Just because. Oh! "Alaida!" Bounce. "You look great!" Oo. Excited? Now she is.

Natalee watches the new people come in and waves at Shoshana. "That's Alaida, and Mirielle, and Pulyn" Her voice drops lower. "Pulyn needs to eat more. Try to get some food into him."

Kaimi blushes, "He'll be here. I know he will." then smiles, "Well I'd be glad to help with the baking of course."

T'mren walks in from the bowl.
T'mren has arrived.

T'mren ambles into the cavern, dressed in a fancy doublet. He look saround him thoughtfully at the assembled room, and his eyes light up at the sight of the food table, towards which he moves immediately.

Fluria walks in from the bowl.
Fluria has arrived.

Jai glances at Nitali for the barest of moments, then says as a general comment about the fashion show, "Oh, I can at least help people with their clothing. I have plenty that people can borrow if they wish." She tosses her long curls over her shoulder.

Pulyn's gaze now turns to the serving table. Licking his lips, he moves towards it, most notibly eyeing the wherry and tubers.

More and more people fill the caverns, as residents and riders answer the dinner call. The line for the serving table grows, as does the ambient noise level. Forks clink and clack against the dishes as friends settle themselves into groups at the tables.

Mirielle smiles at the people in the cavern, and gets in line for the serving table.

T'mren grins over at Jai and Nitali, and Mirielle and Pulyn and the crowd, "Hi folks. Dinner's in full swing now is it?"

Kaylira helps herself to a generous tasting of most everything before settling down at a table with the rest of the candidates. Or, at least theones she's had time to meet properly.

Shoshana nods to each name, rambling off those "Hi"s again. "I'm sure he will, don't worry about it." she assures Kaimi. And if he's not, he'll get skewered and roasted or something. Simple as that.

Natalee pipes, "It's also a talent show!" She yells to be heard over the crowd. "Perfect time to shoe off your knife-throwing skills!"

Fluria enters the cavern and pauses to look at the hub and bub occuring. A small smile flutters across her face as she takes it all in and then moves through the crowds towards the line for food. Her demure size loosing her in the press of bodies.

Mouse is in line to get food, as well - but she keeps letting overanxious other people get in front of her, slowing her progress immensely.

Out of the kitchen appears a pair of drudges, laden with a large stew-pot, thin tendrils of silver steam trickling out from around the ebon pots lid. After setting the pot down by the hearth so it may keep it's warmth, the taller of the two removes the top with a flourish, letting a wave of fragrant vapor flow out from the pots depths, carrying the mouthwatering scent of herdbeast, cooked with vegetables and plenty of flavorful spices. With a nod, the smaller takes hold of the now-empty pot that this is replacing, and the two disappear within the kitchen doors once more.

Kaylira mmms at Natalee, mouth full of greens, "Well, now, knife-throwing I can do. Dresses I'd rather leave to them who like that sort of thing."

Alaida turns to Nitali and suddenly blushes. She fidgets, plucking at her dress and glances around. She's no doubt nervous in her dress and takes a deep breath, smiling at the scents from the kitchen.

Zynassa moves away, and directs an appreciative whistle at T'mren. "Looking rather sharp tonight, aren't you, Tam?" She gives a nod to Fluria as she joins the line as well. As she passes Mouse she grins, "Aren't you glad you don't have to help Grissa with this chaos?

A young man appearing to be in his early twenties, T'mren has finished growing. He's looking older, his tan is deeper, and he's filled out a great deal to anyone who knows him, being well-built now. He's also, if you happen to notice, over six feet. He looks indistinguishable from a native Istan. His blue eyes peer out of his tanned face, and his shock of brown hair is neatly cut now. He's bulked out, filling his clothes more fully now that he's growing and such. He's wearing, as usual, a plain dark tunic, snug-fitting leather trousers, a leather jerkin, tall functional boots, and a grin. Around one shoulder is tied the knot of an Istan rider, marking him more particularily as a Wingsecond in the Belior Wing.

Wow. Pulyn needs to eat more? For once, this isn't Avalle on the receiving end of such comments, and she positively glows in the brief moment before she reaches the front of the food line and grimaces again. "Faranth," she swears softly, picking up a plate and eyeing the array of dishes on the table. She picks through them, deciding on rather bland fare--a slice of bread, a few pieces of cheese and various vegetables, and a single piece of the sliced wherry. Then, back to the table she goes.

Jai turns to Kaylira and asks, "You throw knives? What do you throw them at?"

Salva runs over and hugs Alaida. "You look great, Sis!" she squeals. She beams at Pulyn. "You, too!"

Fluria glances behind her as Zyn joins the line. "Hello Zynassa." She greets simply, taking a baby step forward as the line moves a bit. "Smells wonderful, doesn't it?"

T'mren grins at Alaida and Salva, "You both look just fine."

Kaylira grins at Jai, "Not people, so you needn't worry. Targets most like. My mum taught me." Given the proud tones of her voice, she must either be good, or consider herself so.

Mirielle grins at T'mren and looks at him carefully. "I hear that there's supposed to be dancing later.."

T'mren smiles at Mirielle, 'Shards, dancing? Haven't done that in ages."

Natalee grins at Kaylira and claps. "I've got a knife-thrower!" SHe yells to Salva, "We've got a knife-thrower!"

Pulyn anxiously rocks on the balls of his feet, and loads up on two of /everything/ once he reaches the table. Balancing a few plates of food on his arms, he smiles to Salva, puts the plates down at the nearest table, and calls, "Thanks Salva! You look lovely as well!"

Kaylira lifts a protesting finger. "But.."

Jai's eyebrows shoot up and she nods, "Well, that's a relief, I suppose. Is there a purpose to throwing knives at a target?"

Salva grins and claps her hands. "A /knife/ thrower? Wow!"

Zynassa nods to Fluria. "The bakers have outdone themselves. I heard that some of the candidates have favourite dishes in here. I hope Rothan wasn't in that terrible of a temper?"

A roar of laughter from a group of wingriders erupts from their table, hanging in the air for a long moment before their conversation falls quieter once again.

T'mren blinks at that, "Knives? Who's throwing knives!?"

Nitali suddenly gets up and out of her chair, and steps lightly over to Alaida, skirts still clutched in both hands to prevent them from being stepped or tripped on. "Can you believe this? Don't you feel like one of those Lady Holders? I remember going to a Gather at Bitra once. It was so fancy!" Yep. Excited. Fluria is spotted then, and she lifts a hand to waggle fingers at the Weyrwoman. "Fu-ma'am! You look great!"

Salva beams at T'mren and Pulyn. "Why, thank ye, kind sirs!"

Mirielle giggles at T'mren. "Well, you can't have forgotten how, can you?" As she makes it to the head of the line, she takes a tiny bit of nearly everything, choosing to sample all the Candidate's dishes.

Natalee interrupts Jai. "It shows off skills!" She hisses at Jai, "Don't scare her! I need a knife-thrower! If you be quiet I'll let her throw knifes at the most unfashionable candidate!"

Salva calls to T'mren, "Someone is throwing knives for our talent show!"

Alaida blushes at all the compliments, fidgeting and mutters something that sounds like a 'thank you' yet it's hard to tell.

Kaylira laughs at Salva's response, even as she explains to Jai, "First, its a good skill to have, just in case you ever needn't to throw a knife accurate-like. But mostly its a test of your own ability. Like most things folk do to amuse themselves, I'd suspect. You try to better yourself, or work to be better than someone else."

Kyrola looks around as the bustle gets fairly intense. "I hope I'm not the target," she murmurs to the comments about a knife-thrower.

Fluria has a hand over her distended belly and she turns towards another greeting. Nitali's to be exact and she gives a small nod. "Rothan?" She asks of Zynassa. "No, not particularly. Of course, I wasn't exposed to him for long periods of time." And again she takes a step as the line moves closer.

A group of four drudges files out of the kitchen doors, and three of them swarm to surround the table, parting with empty dishes, baskets, and pitchers. The forth bears a platter of three baskets, each filled with the soft cheese rolls, and are placed in the newly cleared spots.

Salva skips over to T'mren. "Maybe you could judge for us? We need people to tell us who's the most fashionable and talented."

Shoshana smiles once more reassuringly at Kaimi and gets up, going over to the serving table, skirt swishing quietly as she walks. The conversation of knife-throwing reaches her ears and she blinks, "Whose going to throw knives?" she asks in confusion.

Pulyn now looks around for the candidates he knows, spots them, and slowly teeters towards their table, barely keeping his many plates balanced. He puts down his plates again, sits down, and begins his feast.

T'mren blinks at Salva, "Judge? Me? Well, sure."

Mouse eventually gets bored of waiting - even she has limits - and stays put in line, grabbing herself a tiny dinner before worming her way back out. Though she's in a dress, and definately in public, she doesn't look comfortable about it at all and takes her usual seat, one out of the way.

Jai blinks in suprise at Natalee's interruption, sneering at the girl, "Well, excuse me. I was asking because, just possibly, such a skill might be useful." To Kaylira she adds, "For hunting, perhaps? Though I'd never want to hunt myself, of course."

Natalee says to Shoshana, "Kaylira's throwing knifes. So what are you doing for our talent show?"

Kyrola directs a smile across the table toward Mouse, giving her something of a sympathetic look, then she /frowns/ at Jai's high-handed comment.

Kaylira frowns at Jai and Natalee in turn.

Shoshana pauses in putting bread on her plate, "Me? I'll...cook for it? If you need food for it that is." she offers hesitently.

Salva grins at Shoshana. "Wonderful!"

Alaida glances around the room, tip toeing over all the taller bodies. She finally moves to an empty chair and stands up on it, looking around, searching. She grins then jumps up rather unlady-like despite the dress she wears and heads over to Natalee.

Jai sighs at Kaylira's lack of response, repeating the question, "Would knife throwing be a good skill to have for a hunter?" She asks this with honest curiousity, glancing at Natalee out of the corner of her eye, then back at Kylira, her interested expression unchanging.

Zynassa generously offers Fluria nibbles from her own plate, explaining, "I'm going back for another bubbly before they're all gone. And I was helping Grissa and the bakers out, with loading the serving dishes, so I snuck some wherry earlier. Wouldn't do to have you keel over before you could reach the food." She keeps an eye on candidates. As one of the people who likely worked that gather at Bitra Nitali was talking about, she seems rather used to the crowds.

Depositing herself at the table, Avalle eyes her plate with contempt, then digs into the food. Once actually eating, though, she looks moderately normal... no overly-small bites or anything, although she does a fair amount of playing with her food, and after a moment has settled comfortably into attempting to get a slice of fingerroot to roll over the empty part of her plate. Okay, so she's easily amused.

Natalee crosses her arms at Kaylira. "What'd you frowning at me for?!" She turns to T'mren and yells, "We've got a judge!" Back to Shoshana. "I'll bet you can peel tubers with your feet!"

Kaylira apologizes quickly to Jai, "Sorry. Um, I guess. I've not tried myself, but I can't see why not?"

T'mren beams at Natalee, "That you do. I'll do it! Sounds like fun!"

Mirielle finds a seat near some other people and grins at Pulyn and Alaida. "Which dishes did you two work on?"

Mouse may be sitting near the outskirts of the Candidate mob, but her ears are straining to catch the words.

Kaylira turns to Natalee, and offers quietly, "Oh, just trying to figure something out."

Fluria happily takes a few bits from Zynassa's own plate. "Thank you! I'm starving. Eating for two tends to do that. Though I never would have believe it before." She says. One hand goes over her belly and the other holds a cheese-roll for her to munch at as she takes another step towards the table.

Natalee waves at Alaida and jostles through the crowd to move closer. She shrugs at Kaylira, and looks back at Shoshana. "Well?"

As favorite dishes are realized, various voices express their delight at seeing such things from their homes. Some serving plates are emptied quickly as the delicacies are devoured, only to be replaced just as fast by something new and intriguing and deliciously scrumptious from another area.

Jai nods to Kaylira, "I do enjoy the furs the hunters bring in. Though they're not so necessary here in the warmer climates." She rises from her seat, shooting a glare at Natalee, "Because you interrupted. Not very nice of you to do that, you see." She moves away to go sit with Mouse, slinking into the chair next to her with a smile, "You look nice in a dress, you know."

Pulyn, mouth full of tubers, points to the wherry and tubers with his fork, then to the chili nuts. When he's finished swallowing, he says, "Those ones. I cant get enough of them." Grinning, he returns to his meal, still listening to the conversation around him.

Salva loads her plate with food and joins the other candidates, wedging herself in near Natalee. "So, we've got a judge, a knife thrower, and dueling fashions?"

Alaida turns at Mirielle's comment, then smiles. "I had a hand in the bubblies, the stew and a few others. "

Shoshana smiles a little, "Peel tubers? Not likely, that's bad enough with your hands." folding pastry is a diffrent matter. "You can just tell me what sort of refreshments you'll need and I'll make them though." not even wild herdbeasts'll get her on /stage/. She'll just do behind the scenes work.

Kyrola looks around a few shoulders and sees several unfamiliar faces. She gives them a smile, and then she finally spies an opening in the line toward the food and gets up to head for it. "Don't let anyone steal my chair!" she calls over her shoulder to Shoshana.

T'mren looks the table over thoughtfully, "This all looks so good. I dunno where to start."

Mouse flushes, looking down. "Maybe, but I still don't always like to wear it." She picks at the food instead of really eating. "That's a nice dress you're wearing though. I like the hair too."

Mirielle takes a nibble at one of the aforementioned bubblies and grins at Alaida appreciatively. "Ever thought of being a cook in your spare time?"

Salva shouts to all adults in the room, "Who wants to judge whether Jai or Langley is the most fashionable?"

Through out the room several drudges circulate with chilled skins of wine, cider and other bevrages. They pause here and there to fill up any empty mugs or glasses they come accross.

Alaida giggles and shakes her head. "I dunno how to cook really. I just followed orders. "

Zynassa grins at Fluria. "P'tod or S'ris should be getting you a plate. Shame on them. Where *are* they to make you stand in line like this. Here," She offers off her own plate to the Weyrwoman. "You go sit, tell me what you'd like, and I'mm bring it. Men. Never around when you want them."

Shoshana grins as she returns to the table with her plate, "I won't!" she replies to Kyrola, pushing the chair closer to the table, and keeping an eye on it as she nibbles on some bread.

Natalee calls to Salva, "Yep. And plenty of food-preparers and servers!" She waves to Alaida again. After Salva's comment, she yells, "Or Kyrola. Kyrola's going to be fashionable, too!"

Jai touches her hair fussily and grins, having the decency to at least blush a bit at the compliment, "You think so? This is just something from the bottom of my press in storage." She smiles once more, "You shouldn't have to wear a dress all the time. Don't let anyone tell you that you should, either." She winks.

Jai turns and looks at Salva with a start, "What? Is this a competition?"

Salva grins. "Wow, Kyrola, you're taking your life in your hands!"

Salva nods. "Uh-huh!"

Pulyn raises his glass to one of the drudges, who fills it with wine. He takes small sips between huge bites of wherry, finishing a plate, and moving on to the next, which includes chili nuts and spiderclaws. Only 2 or 3 left now!

Mouse grins at that. "I don't wear it all the time. Just out like this; I don't have anything dressy that's not - well - a dress."

Mirielle smiles and slides down in her seat a bit, not wanting to be considered an adult, apparently.

Fluria looks a touch surprised at Zynassa's offer and then laughs. "S'ris and P'tod are off on duties, actually. Or I am sure they would. And to be honest...I can't decide. That soup looks good, but so does everything else. But definately lots of meat." A pause as she considers this. "And peppers...while some tubers and gravey." Who knows what the pregnant weyrwoman will do with the combination!

Natalee looks at Jai. "Of course its a competition! How else will all us poor unfashionable people know which one of you is better looking without a competition?"

Kyrola chooses a few familiar things from Ista Hold to pile onto her plate, a slight frown on her face. Stopping near Zynassa, she asks, "Need a hand?"

Salva peers around. "Someone said there's dancing, later? Eww...I don't want to dance with any of them!" She indicates the male candidates.

Jai says to Mouse, turning back to her with a somewhat distracted look, "I think you can look good in casual or dressy clothes and they don't always have to be skirts." Turning back to Natalee and Salva, she shrugs, "No matter. The choice will be obvious when the time comes."

Kaylira laughs at Natalee, the sound not all mirth, "And why should us unfashionable people need to know?" She chews some roll. "There's more to life than dresses, you know. I dont see what all the fuss is about." Perhaps just a little defensively.

Zynassa hands over her plate to the Weyrwoman, gesturing off at a table. She grins at Kyrola and nods. "If you'd not mind? P'tod and S'ris have the bad grace to be *working* and leaving Fluria to fend for herself and the little-one-to-be." Her tone is teasing, "If you could get her drink?" The serving table is reached at this point, and she starts putting on the choices Fluria selected. "I'd definately appreciate it."

With gravy dribbling down his chin, Pulyn gives Salva a mock glare before dabbing his chin with a napkin. "Hey, we're not all /that/ bad!" This seems to be directed to a nearby candidate, who shoots him a nasty look, and a push.

Natalee grins at Kaylira. "Fuss? The show's just for fun!" To Pulyn, she yells, "I'll dance with you! But you have to eat something first."

Alaida bounds to Natalee and moves to touch her shoulder to get her attention.

Natalee nods at Alaida. "Now?" she whispers.

Mouse happens to be halfway through a bite at that. Swallowing: "Maybe, but it's this, work clothes, or my very best dress which I didn't have time to find the jacket that goes with it. Contest? Is this that talent showy thing?"

Kaimi sits quietly and nibbles at the dinner on her plate. She smiles quietly to some people here and there and sips from a glass of cider as she quietly watches the room. Now and then she glances at the room's doors.

Salva laughs. "Maybe with you, Pulyn...if all these other girls don't beat me senseless for it!"

Jai calls out to Kaylira, "Thank you! There's much more to life than dresses." She grins back at Mouse, "There's alot more right now we need to focus on anyway, right? Like cleaning and scrubbing and going to the beach and hoping to Impress a dragon. Why must we always talk about clothes?"

Mirielle stands for a moment and smiles around. "I'll be right back," she says to Alaida and grins. "You look lovely, by the way."

Mirielle walks down the corridor.
Mirielle has left.

Fluria shoots Kyrola a smile as she heads towards the table. "Juice! If you would!" She calls back as she finds a seat and falls into it. Only then realizing where she is sitting. "Oh! Hello." She says to her tablemates. A number of candidates mostly.

Clinking of glasses as someone raises a toast at a table full of older Candidates and younger Dragonriders. Voices are raised in wishes of luck, not only for the hopefuls, but also for those who risk their lives along with their lifemates.

Pulyn shifts in his seat to beam at Natalee, indicating his 4 or 5 full plates of food. "This enough?"

Alaida nods and smiles. She whispers softly to Natalee. She mutters to Natalee, "You... off?"

P'tod walks in from the bowl.
P'tod has arrived.

Kyrola nods once with a grin. "Men," she murmurs easily, getting the chosen drink for Fluria. "Is this enough?" she asks, checking how full it is, holding the glass in the Weyrwoman's view.

Alaida looks over at Mirielle, blushing at her compliment again, then turns back to Natalee.

Salva waves to P'tod. "P'tod, d'you want to be a judge?"

A tall silent drudge whisks into the cavern, removing the empty bowl where the fruit once was. Moments later he reappears with another bowl, refilled with fresh, juicy fruit, neatly sliced. Quietly as he came, he places the bowl in the recently vacated spot, before breezing away again.

Natalee grins at Pulyn. "Yep. Perfect." SHe nods to Alaida, takes a quick look around the room, and slips toward the bowl, trying to hide in the crowd.

Shoshana wrinkles her sunburned nose as the word 'dancing' reaches her ears, and turns her attention to Kaimi, whom she smiles thinly too. "He'll come, don't worry." she mutters as she catches the other girl's door-looks.

P'tod stalks in, shedding riding gear as he goes. Helmet, gloves and jacket go on an empty chair near the door, and he looks up, blinking away irritation as his name is called. "Oh, eh?" He scans the crowd to locate the owner of the voice, and his gaze settles on Salva. "Judge? For what?" he asks, managing to sound reasonably courteous.

Fluria nods to Kyrola and holds out a hand for the beverage. "More than. Thank you Krayola." Again getting her name mixed up. But the feeling behind it is still there.

Christine enters from the narrow corridor.
Christine has arrived.

Mouse shrugs slowly. "I never talked about it before so this /is/ a change for me," she admits.

Salva laughs. "Our talent show, of course! And fashion show."

Christine slips into the cavern as quietly as rattling toys permit, looking a touch harried.

Kyrola knows it's rude to correct pregnant women. They get cranky about that. With a polite smile, she hands the glass of juice to the Weyrwoman. "If you need anything else, please ask," she says, balancing her own plate carefully.

Alaida giggles and ducks a bit in the crowd, almost as if trying to hide herself which isn't difficult due to her size.

As if on cue, at the mention of dancing, the sounds of music, and harpers warming up, can be heard faintly in the distance.

Jai sighs dramatically, saying loudly with a glance to Salva and Natalee, "Is the only topic of conversation tonight going to be that talent and fashion show?" She smiles at Mouse, "Have you ever been a Candidate before?"

Zynassa brings the fully loaded plate back to Fluria. And in addition, has a plate full of just bubblies and fruits. They're both deposited at the candidates table, one in the middle, and the Fluria-specific one before the Weyrwoman. "And there's P'tod, so he can play food runner for you." She gives Kyrola a swift, appreciative look. "Thank you, Kyrola, I never would have managed." The words are discreet, but pitched enough to give the right name to Fluria, should she cue in on it.

Natalee motions with one hand to Alaida. Once agian, she makes sure that nobody is watching as she leans against the cavern wall, waiting.

Near the kitchens, the sound of breaking glass causes a pause in the din of the party as everyone glances that way. Istan teamwork rears it's pretty head as the broken glass is efficiently cleaned up by a group of drudges and Candidates, not a shard to be seen when their done. After that momentarily lull, the party resumes full force.

Pulyn now starts on his next plate, which is piled high with delicacies from High Reaches, and Telgar. He mutters something to the candidate next to him, who snickers, and grins evily. Hearing the sound of music, his eating pace increases. He's obviously been waiting for the dancing.

T'mren cocks his head, listening, "Uh oh. Music."

Natalee takes advantage of the broken glass to slip out into the bowl.

Natalee walks outside, into the bowl.
Natalee has left.

Kaimi blushes, "I'm just afraid he may have gotten turned around somewhere." she comments to Shoshana. Then she adds, "I never reallized how many people are here though. So many don't usally eat at once."

Mouse nods to Jai, swallowing again. "Mmm. Yes, I was a Candidate here a bunch of Turns back. I got the same cot and everything this time."

Fluria isn't totally oblivisou, even with food wafting up at her, and she starts again. "Oh! I got your name wrong again didn't I? I'm sorry Kyrola. Thank you, but you should enjoy yourself. I'll entreat my weyrmate if I need anything else."

Salva groans. "I want to dance, but there's no one good to dance with!" She pouts slightly.

Zynassa hears the music. "Oh, shards. Is it nearly that time already?" She hurries to the west cavern, and can be seen with one of the assistant headwomen, helping the harpers to get settled in a corner of the living cavern.

A little boy with a shock of black hair follows along behind a matched version of himself, though obviously a few turns older. The larger boy leads them to a table while balancing two plates, the smaller carrying the napkins and utensils.

Alaida leans against the wall with Natalee while she stands there, waiting then slips out with Natalee silently.

Alaida walks outside, into the bowl.
Alaida has left.

Jai smiles and nods with some interest, "Really? Was it hard before? This is the first time I've been anywhere near a Weyr during a Hatching, much the less stood as a Candidate."

Salva rolls her eyes at Jai's back. "Booooring..."

A small mousy haired girl scurries out of the kitchen, a large pitcher cradled in her thin arms. With a little struggle she lifts the pitcher, filled with a thick, whipped substance with the color and scent of klah, and plunks it on the tabletop, grabbing the empty pitchers and scurrying away again.

Shoshana nods, "It's not that hard to get lost 'round here, believe me I've managed a-plenty." she attempts to console her friend. Again, she nods, "I know, it's really overwhelming."

Christine wends her way through the crowd, singlemindedly in search of a bubbly. She mutters to T'mren as she passes, "Evening."

Pulyn's now only got one more plate, and his pace almost becomes feverish. One of the female candidates near him gives him a glare, and he slows a little.

Kyrola nods once with a smile to Fluria and then goes back to get her a drink of her own, settling back at the table the candidates commandeered and nibbling on her own repast.

Jai sighs and turns to Salva, "What, exactly, is the issue? I thought you and I were friends but suddenly you're being nasty to me. Why is that?"

Nitali is here! Honest. She's just more prone to watching then acting. Plus...Jai and Salva's little ditty's quite entertaining, though not necessarily in a good aspect of the word. She's more like...worried, lower lip soon becoming the victim of some major gnawing.

Salva blinks. "I'm not being nasty! I just don't think you're being very nice about Natalee and I's idea!"

Mouse looks over at Salva as well, but keeps her mouth firmly closed on the subject. "It's loud," she admits after a moment. "Really loud. And hot too, but I was only thinking about the loud then - I get headaches if I'm around noise too long."

Mouse corrects almost absently, proof that she was an assistant Headwoman for at least a little while, "Natalee's and my."

Under the guidance and watchful eye of the asistant headwoman, along with Zynassa, three senior Harper apprentices set up in a previously cleared out corner of the living cavern. The tallest, a gangly blonde boy winks at a few of the candidates as he drags a stool into place. His companions, a dark haired girl with pipes, and a younger boy with a hand drum, settle in with less boldness.

P'tod rubs at his nose thoughtfully, and runs a hand through his damp hair. His gaze moves over the crowd and settles on Fluria; he begins weaving his way through the throng of people toward her table and finally comes up behind her chair. "Hello, love!" he says brightly, though there's weariness underlaid in his voice.

Jai rolls her own eyes, "And it's nice of you to insist everyone in the room talk about your fashion show? What about Langley's spa day? Or the eclipse that's supposed to happen in a few days? Or the Hatching that's going to occur in a few months? Why is your event more important than everyone elses? And why am I not allowed to hold a conversation with Mouse that doesn't involve your sharding fashion show?" She's obviously upset at this point.

Kaylira watches the arrival of the evening's music with an uplift of brow."Maybe I /should/ have worn my dress," she comments to no-one, though those nearby can't miss what she's said.

Kaimi nods agian, "Your right I'm sure. How do you like the food so far?" she asks as she gets her glass filled again by a drudge with a bit more cider.

Zynassa arches an eyebrow at that tallest harper, though she doesn't say anything aloud. She and the assistant headwoman make sure there's juice and water nearby for the trio, running last minute errands as they finish their tuning up.

Salva makes a face at Mouse, although she's smiling. "Whatever." She looks at Jai, a little overwhelmed. "Sorry...I...I..." She looks as if she's about to burst into tears, blibking furiously and staring at her lap.

A group of giggly little boys and girls gather around a jolly young bluerider who's entertaining them with a hand puppet and regaling a tale of a brave young rider and his long lost brother.

Fluria grins up at P'tod and says, "Off of duties?" She asks just before popping a bite of pepper into her mouth. A nearby comment of the upset kind draws her attention around. Curiousity on her face as she chews and watches Salva and Jai. Puzzlement writhing its way onto her features.

Mouse goes back to quiet, head dipped - both to eat, but mostly to avoid being drawn into the argument.

Shoshana hastily swallows a bite of greens, "The foods wonderful Kai...did you make all of it?" she asks curiously. "I mean besides the things I saw 'Roul making, and that I helped work on."

Pulyn gets up, now finished his meals, and wipes his face off with his napkin. He gives an amused look towards Salva and Jai, until Salva starts blinking, when it turns to concern. After he's took his plates to the nearest drudge, his glance begins shifting from the harpers, then around to everyone else in the room, most notibly the females.

Jai sighs and rises to her feet, moving over to Salva, "Look, I think your idea is a fine idea. I think a fashion show would be a great thing to do, especially if you consider the amount of fashionable people in our Candidate class. I also think that we shouldn't take everyone else's plans for granted or anything. I just got frustrated. I...." She pauses, taking a very deep breath and closing her eyes before the extremely difficult words for her to say slip from her lips, "...I'm sorry, Salva."

Quarroul walks over from the Kitchen.
Quarroul has arrived.

Nitali has to smile, naturally, when her gaze falls upon those kidlets. "Aw." Meeeemories. She used to be the tale-teller, back in the day. Sigh. Hands fidget in her lap, smoothing out the fabric to her dress or otherwise just idle twitching. She's good at this, see?

Salva is still staring at her lap. "I was just excited. No one's ever taken my ideas seriously before. It's okay."

Shoshana moves to nudge Kaimi quickly, "Look...look he's here." she whispers, pointing out the baker journeyman. "didn't I tell you he'd come?"

Drudges clear the area before the harpers of chairs and tables. And in some cases, people are also removed, some quite unceremoniously. A greenrider already well into his cups is dumped into a chair along the edges of the dance floor.

Jai snorts at that, "No one's ever taken your ideas seriously? It was you who rescued my clothing from Riclair's fumbling attempts to silence me and instead spilling redfruit juice all over my front, wasn't it?" To those around her, she adds with an impressed air, "Not a redfruit stain left on my clothes, thanks to Salva."

P'tod leans down to give Fluria a kiss on the cheek. "Yup, only now. Had a bit of an incident over at the sea hold, I think you or S'ris might need to have a word with G'sond, but I'll tell you about it after the party. How're you feeling tonight?"

Quarroul saunters out with a smile, searching the crowd for the other bakers and quickly crossing to them, grinning at Kaimi and Shoshana in particular. "Sorry I'm late."

Kyrola nibbles on the greens and dressing she'd got earlier, watching the floor get cleared for the much-afeared dancing

Salva looks up, quickly wiping away a stray tear. "It wasn't really that hard...and my mother did most of it." But she looks happier.

From the corner, the distinctive sounds of warming up begin again. The taller boy leans in to his cohorts and offers corrections and advice with a wave of hand. Nodding, they follow his directions.. it isnt' long before snatches of melody float over the noisy cavern, interspersing themselves with conversation.

Kaimi grins, "Oh no I'm no where ready to do this much on, my own. I help with a bit of this and that, made my specalties and the like." then smiles brightly at Roul, "Did you get turned around in the halls after all?"

"Hungry!" Is Fluria's chipper response as her attention is drawn back to her weyrmate. "Though this whole dinner is wearing me down quicker than I would have thought. I'm going to eat and then I think I'll have put in a decent show so that I can get back to Qirith and the grouns."

A tall bluerider paired with a lovely girl from the Bitra area dance by with laughter and ease on the floor. Looking as if they were paired for each other, a closer inspection soon reveals that they must be related! Their eyes and hair match exactly, as do some of their mannerisms.

Shoshana relizes the floors starting to be cleared and wrinkles her red tipped nose, "Oh no, not the dancing." she grumbles. Quarroul gets a friendly smile, and a few 'tsk-tsk's, "Really, you had poor Kaimi all up in knots." she scolds teasingly, throwing in a wink to make sure it's clear she's speaking only in jest. "She was worried you weren't going to show up!"

P'tod gives Fluria a good looking over. "Hrm, yes, well. You don't look as tired as you have some nights but the more energy you can store up the better. How's she doing? In good spirits and all that? I hope Tuoth hasn't been too annoying lately." His mouth twists in a smirk.

T'mren has reconnected.
T'mren has partially disconnected.

Jai crinkles her nose and winks at Salva, "Oh, come on, you did help. I thought the clothes were ruined. That Riclair! He's not got it all together up here," She taps her temple to indicate the head, "but he's pretty handsome when you look at him in the right light." To Salva again, she leans in and says, "I think that maybe I should volunteer to judge your fashion show instead of being in it. Let's see if we can get P'tod to wear something dazzling for us, hm?" She glances over at the rider with a playful grin.

Kaylira grins at Shoshana, "Its not all that hard, you just move your feet. And if you step on enough toes.." The remainder of the teasing comment is left to complete itself.

Pulyn does a few more circles of looking, before settling his gaze back on the harpers. His foot begins tapping lightly to the melody, and he smiles, evidentally recognizing it. Sighing, he goes back to his searching.

Quarroul shakes his head, "I forgot my vest..." he thumbs the ends of his vest and makes a face, "I didn't mean to take so long changing but it happens I guess." He shrugs up his shoulders helplessly. He hooks his hands on his hips and inclines his head to Shoshana, "She was in knots was she? Oh dear me....I'm sorry Kai!"

Zynassa accepts the offer of one of the weyr's tanners to dance, and is soon gliding around the floor. She's obviously been taught how, though he hasn't. A smile is fixed firmly in place as her feet get trodden on. She makes polite conversation, and excuses as her partner plows her into another couple on the floor.

Petunia the Herdbeast enters from the narrow corridor.
Petunia the Herdbeast has arrived.

Salva laughs delightedly. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea, Jai!"

Petunia the Herdbeast snorts his outrage as unseen hands shove him into the living cavern. He gives one long, low howl and plants his feet right in the center of the cavern and doesn't budge.

T'mren returns from the meal table, "Shards, what the...?"

Salva stares. "What on Pern?..."

Fluria huckles a bit and shakes her head. "Qirith is fine. Tuoth is being a good sire. The only thing is that Qirith wants me to stay near...near..." She trails off and stares at what has just entered into the cavern. She stares and blinks and then slowly gets to her feet and walks towards the beast.

Kaimi blushes a bit, "Well I was afriad he'd gotten lost." then smile to Roul, "Your here now, don't worry about it." then stares in surpise at the hearbeast.

Jai fairly beams with the compliment, "Not often I hear that either, you know." She smiles at Salva, "No hard feelings, hm?" She stops, jaw slack and green eyes wide as a Herdbeast appears in the Living Cavern.

Kaylira laughs outright.

P'tod jumps half a handspan into the air, stumbling away from Fluria's chair as the herdbeast runs into the cavern. "What in the shell is THAT?!" he bellows.

Pulyn's gaze immediatly snaps to the cow. "What the..." is said, eyes bulging, and jaw wide open.

Mouse seems to be with Jai on this one - stare. That's not something you see every day.

Christine stares, cup nearly dropping from her hands. "Oh dear?"

T'mren coughs, "A herdbeast. In the cavern. And NOT on a plate, as is proper!"

Kyrola blinks and /stares/. "Oh my goodness..." she says in a low voice.

Natalee walks in from the bowl.
Natalee has arrived.

Alaida walks in from the bowl.
Alaida has arrived.

Petunia tosses his head angrily, trying to loose the big bow that has been affixed to his forehead.

Salva gasps, remembering a scene from the candidate's quarters earlier. "Oh, NO!"

Shoshana's eyes go wide at the herdbeast's entrance. Once she finds her tongue she asks slowly, in an undertone to Kaimi, "Is...is this a regular thing down here?" she asks, blinking in amazement.

Quarroul frowns and turns to look as well and slowly shakes his head, "well, that's not the sort of company I expected for a weyr." He leans in closer to Kaimi, "does someone have a bet herdbeast here?"

Alaida slips back inside from the bowl, panting a bit as if she had been running.

Jai glances at Salva, "What? What is it?" Other than that, eyes never leave the dirty beast. She's safe behind a table with Mouse and Salva, thankfully.

Natalee slips back in -very- quietly, sits down, and pretends to be shocked.

P'tod catches Shoshana's comment. "No, it's not!" he says crisply, and strides forward. Can't let pregnant Fluria confront a raging bull all by herself, after all.

Salva looks stunned. She mutters to Jai, "... who you lent..."

"Oh! The poor thing! *Poop*. Who put him here?" And it's Nitali the animal lover to the rescue! She gets to her feet, and strides closer to the poor guy, eyebrows furrowed. "Aw. And what's with the *bow*?" Hmph. She's almost pouting now. Not too close. That could be bad.

Fluria approaches the herdbeast slowly and carfully. She stops suddenly a few hands away and crosses her arms with lips pursed. Nope. Doesn't look happy. "Well...this is...a surprise." She comments to no one in particular. Slowly she looks around the cavern at the surprised faces. "Someone want to help get the animal OUT of the living cavern?"

Jai's eyes narrow as she notices Natalee's entrance again. She blinks and looks at Salva after the mutter, "Yes.... what's that got to do with this?"

Pulyn slowly walks towards the herdbeast, but stays just outside the ring of people around it. He mutters something to one of the people near him, who nods. They both walk even closer to the beast, /very/ carefully.

Alaida looks over at the herdbeast, then gasps, trying not to laugh.

The music is brought to a jangling halt, the harpers staring in consternation at the beast. Zynassa too heads forward a trifle warily. A sharp word to a drudge, and the man is back in half a moment with a rope. "P'tod? Need this?"

Salva coughs. "Smell it, Jai."

Kaimi shakes her head at her friends, "oh no I've not seen anything like this here before."

Petunia the Herdbeast howls and shakes his head.

Jai shakes her head, "I don't have it back yet."

Salva shakes her head. "No. Smell the /herdbeast/!"

Quarroul states mater-of-factly to Kaimi, "I thought there was to be dancing." He backs up a little, drawing Kaimi with him, just in case the beast should decide to charge through the cavern.

Petunia the Herdbeast dips his head towards Jai and snorts at her.

Mouse just sits there, shocked. "That is the weirdest thing I've seen all Turn," she comments, idly.

Kyrola leans over to the candidate next to her and murmurs, "I've heard of dinner on the hoof, but I believe this is a little bit ridiculous."

P'tod blinks a bit as he's offered a rope. Now it's his responsibility to take care of this... animal? But, he's loathe to refuse, so he accepts the rope with a nod that could almost be a wince. "Uh... I'll get it, Fluria. Why don't you um... go sit down?" He gestures vaguely toward the back of the room.

Pulyn and his companion freeze at the howl, while Pulyn looks towards P'tod and Fluria. "Umm....we could use some help, if you want this thing out of here."

Christine says "Well, if you want to dance with the herdbeast..."

With a laugh, the tallest of the harper trio points to the herdbeast. "Well," he calls out in a deep voice, "We seem to have an audience for the first of the dances! Ladies, I ask, which of you gentle creatures shall partner the intrepid beast?"

Jai blinks at Salva in utter shock, "You mean my expensive lotion was wasted on the herdbeast? Natalee did that to that poor beast??"

Salva shushes Jai frantically. "Shhhh! Don't get her in trouble!"

Fluria doesn't move as P'tod motions her back, though she does step around with arms folded and eyeing the animal. Slowly she moves towards it as well and then pauses. "Actually, {

Kaylira frowns at Natalee again. "Did you really do that?"

Salva groans and slumps into a chair. "Why did I open my mouth?"

"Actually, P'tod, I believe we have some candidates from the Beastcraft. They're likely capable of helping you." Fluria says.

Kaimi sticks close to Roul, after all she has only delt with the animals as they are prepaired for supper, not when they are still moveing.

Alaida glances to Kaylira. "Shhh. " and tries not to giggle. She moves forward toward the beast, grinning. "I can help. "

Petunia the Herdbeast takes a step towards P'tod and moooes at him.

Quarroul mutters to Kaimi, "Not very well... here..."

Shoshana catches Quarroul's comment and arches one brow, "You could try dancing with /that/ thing." she suggests in a mutter, flicking one finger towards the new addition to the party, Lady Herdbeast.

Nitali is still looking mighty distraught. Maybe, just maybe, on the verge of a whimper or two. "Oh...*P'tod*! Quick. Take him back to the corrals!" She won't do it herself, of course. Then Fluria's words are heard, and the Candidate blinks owlishly. "They can?" Hm.

Zynassa gives the candidates a quelling look. "Stay OUT of the way, and don't rile the beast any further. Bulls can charge, don't you sharding idiots know that." her tone softens faintly, and she murmurs, "Really, Weyrwoman, we can't afford to have you injured with Qirith on the sands. And if those nitwits that did this had any idea of the possible harm that could come to you if it charged..." She clearly thinks this is *anything* but funny.

"Oh... right," P'tod says, looking down at the rope in his hands. "Alaida-- where's Alaida?" He turns in a slow circle, scanning the faces for her.

Jai tears her glance away from the beast and blinks at Salva, "Why on earth not? She's interrupted a lovely party by allowing that beast in here and wasted expensive products of mine that I lent her out of the kindness of my heart. I should have gone with my first instinct to not lend anything to her." She folds her arms across her chest and watches the herdbeast with the others.

Pulyn stops again on his trip towards the herdbeast, and points out a fellow candidate to P'tod as he moves back. "I'm not good with this kind of stuff, he can probably help you out."

Natalee shakes her head and tries not laugh.

Kaylira whistles under her breath at Zynassa's reaction. And, of course, she stays out of the way.

Alaida calls, jumping in the crowd. "I'm here. " and she pushes her way toward the beast and P'tod.

Kaimi mutters to Quarroul, "... my... funny... eat..."

Christine comments, "Maybe it is trying to Search someone?"

Quarroul leans over to look, "is it a bull or a cow?" Bovine naughty-bits....well, he shrugs and looks at Kaimi innocently, "I can't tell."

P'tod looks decidedly relieved. He mutters to Alaida, "I don't... the... out of..."

Mouse? Gone. She's disappeared under the table, only peeking out through other people's legs.

The harper boy holds his tongue, though his eyes dance and clearly he looks as if he /wants/ to make comment. To his credit, he shows admirable self-restraint.

Fluria isn't amused either, but at the number of comments given to her to get out of the way she conceeds and starts stepping backwards towards one of the tables. "You're right, Zynassa." She says as she passes the woman, glancing back at the beast and shaking her head.

Salva laughs weakly at Christine, but is nervously eyeing the adults.

Alaida grins. "Well, first, get the dragons out of the bowl so it doesn't spook it and send it trampling. "

Jai comments, "The dragons were in the bowl when it came in here. Someone obviously led it in."

Kaimi shakes her head, She mutters to Quarroul.

Kyrola stays as far away from the herdbeast as possible. She apparently likes to eat them, not smell them. A hand unconsciously shields her meal from it.

Petunia the Herdbeast whimpers and glares at Alaida.

Alaida giggles suddenyl. "Then we bring in a female and let it have fun. " and quickly quells the giggles. "Sorry.. Ahem. "

Shoshana shrugs, "Don't ask me, I don't know anything about herdbeasts. I just know this ones big." she responds to the baker. Oh and in the middle of the Istan Living Cavern.

P'tod raises his voice, finding his authority again now that there's something to use it for. "Right. Fluria! Would you have Qirith tell the dragons at this end of the bowl to move back from the cavern entrance?" he calls over to his weyrmate.

Salva glares at Jai. She mutters to Jai, "Do... us all... get..."

Pulyn now moves back into the crowd, settling near Salva to watch the happenings.

Salva mutters to Jai, ""You... all.""

Zynassa keeps between the bovine and the Weyrwoman. "HONESTLY! Have these silly wherries never learned their teaching ballads?" She looks out over the candidates, most of whom she is of an age with. "I've never seen such irresponsible, porcine-headed, stupidity in my entire life. If that beast panics, and stampedes in here..." She glowers at the group.

Jai sighs dramatically at Salva, She mutters to Salva, "How are... for... by... in..."

Quarroul nods slowly and eases back a little more, "I think he'd look lovely on the spit above a nice deep roasting pit."

Salva looks meaningfully at Jai. "Lotion. /Your/ lotion."

Alaida ahems and glances to the beast. She reaches a hand out to let it sniff at her. Luckily she hasn't been touching any dragons of late then steps up to it. Strangely enough, the beast doesn't flee or show her hostility as she rubs its brow. "There we go, boy. Yeah, too many people, huh. " she speaks to it. For the first time, her touch with animals is seen.

Natalee bites her lip and looks around nervously.

P'tod raises an eyebrow at Alaida's second recommendation, and shakes his head a little. He gives the herdbeast a nervous glance, and leans toward the former beastcraft apprentice to speak quietly to her once more. He mutters to Alaida, "... to... around... neck? Or... But it might try... poke... its... very happy."

Mouse continues to hide under the table, peeking out once in a while but mostly just staying hidden under there.

Jai mutters to Salva, "... the lotion... My... But anyone who knows... that... not... a... that.... would... touch... a beast.... saw... Natalee,..."

Quarroul hms, "Perhaps /in/ the pit. Well, no matter, I just hope he doesn't do any damage to all your hard work Kaimi." Another step back and out of the way of the candidates and other people, keeping Kai beside him.

S'ris walks in from the bowl.
S'ris has arrived.

Salva nods. She mutters to Jai, "Exactly.... you... lotion...."

Pulyn gives Nassa a I-diddn't-do-it look. He then gives Natalee a confused look as he hears mentions of her name.

Natalee gives Pulyn her most innocent shrug.

Fluria clambers up to sit on one of the tables, might be safer, and crosses her arms again. She uses the added bit of height to keep her eyes on the herdbeast. "I think the dragons are moving." She calls to P'tod.

Kaimi nods, "Oh yes, It would make quite a feast I think." she stays close to Roul's side letting people who know how deal with the beast.

Jai shakes her head defiantly, She mutters to Salva, "What... did... the... not... am... who... trouble."

Kaylira glowers at Natalee. Her own opinions clearly forming.

Alaida continues to rub the poor beast's brow and looks up at P'tod, shaking her head. "Only if people spook it, will it do something like that, Sir. I do need people to give it a wide birth to the exit and not to make any startled movements. I can easily herd him to the corrals. "

Shoshana hmmms, considering it. "He'd make one big roast that's for sure." she says, watching the journeyman retreat with Kaimi. She doesn't back up, she's brave!...not that she goes forward either.

Quarroul sighs, "I hope Telgar doesn't allow Herdbeasts into it's living cavern. They really aren't the best pets to have."

Petunia the Herdbeast shakes his head, making the pink ribbons jingle.

P'tod listens carefully to Alaida, and nods. He turns around and cups his hands to his mouth to shout, "Alright people! Let's clear a path to get this beast out of here. Everyone move back." He steps forward, waving his hands to motion people out of the way.

Jai does add conversationally as she looks at the Herdbeast, "I wonder who that ribbon belongs to? Thank Faranth I don't own any of those."

S'ris walks in, eyes immediately drawn to, that, a big beast in the middle of th eliving cavern. And without muttering a word, turns on his heel and walks out. Not going there.

Zynassa suggests to Fluria, hard eyes still on the candidates, "Considering the circumstances, ma'am, I'd like to speak to Grissa about some recommendations for the candidates and their chore cycles. Obviously a free night was too much for them, if someone took advantage of it like this."

S'ris walks outside, into the bowl.
S'ris has left.

Kaimi nods in agreement with Roul.

Salva sighs. "I give up." She moves back gladly, hiding behind Pulyn.

Pulyn grabs a drink, and sips at it, evidentally mildly enjoying this whole fiasco.

P'tod mutters to himself, "Lovely. A... who's..."

Fluria nods very slightly to Zynassa. "I was thinking the same thing." She says seriously as she watches the beast be led out. "Hopefully we'll be able to find out who did this."

Quarroul sighs and rubs a hand over his forehead, looking rather disapointed and looks over at the candidates before fixing Kaimi with a wan smile, "Well....it was nice seeing you no matter what."

Jai turns to Salva, "I just don't understand why you think any of the rest of us would get into trouble for something we're obviously not involved in." She sighs, then blinks, realizing Mouse is not seated next to her any longer at the table, "Mouse?"

Natalee shrinks back into the wall as she hears Fluria.

Salva gapes at the mention of the chores. "But what if we weren't involved?!"

Mouse's head abruptly pops up from under the table, close to Jai. "What? Is it gone yet?"

"Move back! Everybody move back!" P'tod repeats, doing his best to clear a path. He glances back to see if Alaida and... Petunia... are following.

T'mren grimaces, "This is one strange prank I must say."

Kaylira leans closer to Jai, still glowering. She mutters to Jai, "... we're... we're supposed... form to... like..."

Pulyn's mouth is almost the same as Salva's, but he says nothing, just sits there. It is obvious, however, that he's steaming a little now.

Zynassa nods to Fluria. "I could definately use the culprit in the stables. Though I hope Grissa isn't going to want to disinfect the entire caverns." She looks over the candidates, as if more than willing to suggest them for the job. All of them.

Fluria turns towards Salva and says simply, "Hopefully the perpitrators will make themselves known so only they are punished...if not then everyone will suffer." She says quite clearly.

Alaida waits until people back away, then moves to stand beside the beast and looking strangely tiny compared to it yet that beast isn't paniced around her. She smiles then murmurs softly to the beast. "Ok. We're just going to take a small stroll. You remember this, right? " and she gives him a firm slap on the rump to get him going. Her hands are used to direct him to the bowl easily enough. No doubt she's had experience in this.

Jai jumps in suprise, putting a hand to her chest with a relieved laugh as she realizes it's her fellow Candidate. She says, "They're moving it out now." She blinks again in suprise at Kaylira, then growls right back at her, "I'm not about to get into trouble for someone else's stupidity. You shouldn't take the blame for such idiotic things as pranks, nor should you be proud of such things either."

Kyrola frowns as the concept of 'all will suffer' sinks in. She directs a troubled look toward her comrades.

Petunia the Herdbeast jumps at the chance to get away from all those eyes. Shamefully, he follows Alaida out, looking like he's not sure whether he should feel grateful or not.

Salva groans. "I don't want to be a tattletale! But I don't want chores, either!"

Shoshana backs up now, since she's told to, scampering to stand with the bakers. She listens to the talk of punishments and culprits and all that silently, but with widening eyes.

Mouse scurries back out at Jai's words. "Everyone or just one?" She bites her lip, thinking about it. "If we say who did it, only that person gets punished?" she calls out.

Christine grimaces, shaking her head. "Now the trick'll be to get the smell out!"

Kaylira gives Jai an impassive look. "I have no intention of taking the blame for someone else's stupid prank. But I'm not going to tattle on some wherry-minded ninny who thinks a herdbeast in the caverns is a good idea." The words come out louder than she expected.

Zynassa slips away from the Weyrwoman to talk to the Harpers. Whatever she's murmuring to the Harpers has them playing again in a few moments, once the beast is out of the caverns.

Jai says to Salva, "Don't worry about it. And I think the culprit is obvious, Kaylira, whether I 'tattle' on that person or not."

Quarroul smiles at Shoshana, "looks like you're going to get tossed into the brew with the other troublemakers 'candidate'." He teases his fellow baker, or is that ex-baker. "Sorry Sho."

P'tod looks relieved as it seems like the herdbeast is going to make it out of the cavern without incident. He steps out of the way, himself, and tosses the rope onto a table.

A petite little girl with bouncing blonde curls runs across the dance floor, in and out of the couples until she emerges on the other side and crashes happily into the legs of a burly brownrider. He picks her up and twirls her around in such a way that she squeals with glee. "Herdbeast, Da'! Herdbeast!"

Alaida herds the beast out easily enough, but keeping close and instantly puts a hand near its eyes to prevent it from straying looking at any nearby dragon.

Petunia the Herdbeast bumps into a table on the way out, knocking over a few dishes...and a drudge.

With a quick flick of fingers, the older boy has the other two playing a spritely tune engineered to have toes tapping and fingers snapping. Just the thing to chase away the memories of heardbeast bedecked in ribbons. He, himself, takes up his own hand-drum, and joins in.

Fluria nods to Zynassa and gets to her feet. She moves back onto the the floor. "Zynassa, I imagine you can continue to handle what is going on in here. I'll be speaking with you candidates later this evening." She says with her voice slightly raised as she turns to follow after the beast.

Kaimi sticks close to Roul's side and smiles faintly to Shoshana, then watches the herdbeast go.

T'mren can't help a grin at the herdbeast. He's vaguely amused.

Alaida calls to the drudge. "Sorry! "

Alaida walks outside, into the bowl.
Alaida has left.

Salva peers out from behind Pulyn. "Are we allowed to dance now? Or are we in trouble?"

Petunia the Herdbeast walks outside, into the bowl.
Petunia the Herdbeast has left.

Kyrola looks down at her plate with a sigh. "I think we're still in trouble, Salva," she says.

Kaylira nods at Salva, "I think we're supposed to dance. May as well since we're going to be lectured right and proper later."

Zynassa nods to Fluria, and eyes the candidates, still simmering. Unusual for her to show such a display of temper. She tells the candidates, "I'd enjoy it now. This may be the last free day you get for a while."

Jai shakes her head, folding her arms across her chest, "We'd better not all be in trouble. Obviously most of us were in here at all times."

Fluria walks outside, into the bowl.
Fluria has left.

P'tod makes a face and collects his riding gear, then heads out to the bowl, shaking his head.

P'tod walks outside, into the bowl.
P'tod has left.

Salva sighs. "Oh, no..." She turns to Pulyn, who's closest. "Want to dance?"

Near the dance floor, a lovely greenrider with her leg in a cast gazes longingly at those dancing. It's not long before a handsome Bronzerider slides into the seat next to her, a tropical flower in hand. This brings a smile to her face, her longing eased by his attentions.

Shoshana makes a face at 'Roul, "Thanks for pointing that out, almost missed it." she says sarcastically. The apology earns itself a shrug, "Aw it's alright, I just wonder who did it...and where they found an animal that big."

Mouse just stands, uncomfortably. She looks around the Candidates - then shrugs, and goes back to eat what's left of dinner. Waste not, want not.

The Harper trio continue through their tune, running through it not once, but twice. The second time the downbeat is emphasized and played against the sharper notes of the pipes. The blonde boy casts a smirk at the dark-haired girl and steps the beat up a pace, to which she easily matches.

Quarroul chuckles to Shoshana and then nudges Kaimi, "hey, we're not in trouble, you want to dance lovely baker lady?"

Kyrola finishes her meal and makes water-rings on the table with her glass, both hands wrapped around it as the dancing is bandied about again.

Kaimi giggles at Shoshsana's expresion, "They can't think that you were involved can they? You've hardly been here long enough." Then she smiles at Roul, "Need you ask?"

Shoshana grins at the pair and winks, "Have fun you two." is her parting remark as she returns to her vacated seat. Dancing, bah!

Zynassa is quietly talking with the assistant headwoman and still glowering. She's obviously not pleased. Snatches of coversation can be heard: "Irresponsible... dangerous... poor animal." The assistant headwoman apparently has a lighter view, and is trying to lift the scowl from Zynassa's face.

A few female Candidates stand near the edge of the dance floor, watching the dancers and commenting now and again on something someone is wearing or how someone else's hair is styled. They're interrupted by a tall lad from Far Cry Hold who asks one of them to dance. As she's led to the floor, the remaining two merge together to watch them with giggly whispers.

Quarroul reaches for Kaimi's hand and slips off to the dance floor with her, pulling her a little closer than is really needed as he begins to dance.

Natalee walks over to Jai and hands her an almost empty jar of lotion. She has the nerve to say, "Thanks! It really helped my skin. And it smells great, too, don't you think?"

Jai sighs and pushes her hair over her shoulder again, "That was so unkind to do. Not only to that animal, but also to everyone at this party that people worked so hard to plan." To Natalee, she glares, "Keep it. You should have told me you were going to waste it on a herdbeast. Very sad."

Kaylira makes a disgusted noise, the brunt of it directed at Natalee. She doesn't deign to comment though.

Even as the spritely tune is finished, the trio move smoothly into another, this tune bearing resemblance to the first only in the jaunty measure of it. The tones are lower, and the downbeats softer. Still, its a tune for dancing to, not one for slow motions or quiet talks. It fair begs a person to get up on their feet and follow the music!

Kaimi casts a smile at Shoshana as Roul draws her out to the foor, "Well at least they still didn't stop the dancing." she steps lightly into the dance matching her partners steps with the practice of one practiced at the art.

Kyrola asks quietly, "Can we be nice to each other for one evening?" Her query is almost a plea.

Natalee senses she's found a friend and plops down beside Kyrola. "I think that's a great idea!"

Chittering and churring, a fair of firelizards darts out of the lower caverns, finding perches on chairs and tables. Cocking their many colored heads to the side, they add their own voices to those of the performers, accenting the dance music in their own unique way.

T'mren plops down into a seat near the candidates, "Let's all be nice, hm?" He suggests.

The younger boy of the Harper trio picks up the chitter of firelizard with fluttering beats over his hand-drum. The sounds are light and punctuate the merry tune tht is already playing.

Quarroul swings Kaimi into a playful spin and then yanks her back as he changes directions and continues to dance along with her. It's clear he's been practicing a great deal from the grace in his steps and movements.

Jai rolls her eyes at Natalee, stating plainly, "I haven't been not nice at all. I've just been sitting here with Mouse. Personally, I think it was mean to do that to a herdbeast and to the people who worked so hard to plan such a lovely evening." She sighs, rising to her feet, "Excuse me, please." She moves away from the group, feeling as if her place there is no longer desired, and moves to the far side of the dance floor to sit there alone.

Salva looks after Jai, then back to Natalee, concerned that her two friends are fighting.

Mouse finishes her last piece of food - and then, startled as Jai leaves, moves to follow her quickly.

Jai watches as Mouse makes her way to her, frowning, "I'm sorry. I'm ruining all your fun. And you looking so nice in that dress!"

Natalee looks at Salva and raises an eyebrow. "So which camp are you in? Mad or amused?"

Kaimi laughs softly at the spin, and follows Roul's lead enjoying the rare oppertunaty to dance.

T'mren looks thoughtful, "I dunno about anyone else, but...I'm sort of amused." he says, secretly, to the candidates.

Salva sighs. "I don't know. I don't want extra chores, but it /was/ funny..."

Kyrola smiles toward Natalee for a moment. "There shouldn't be any camps," she reminds gently.

The blonde Harper holds his hand flat and turns it to one side; as he does, his and the dark-haired girl's music gently fade out, leaving only the youngest member of the trio playing his fluttering beats for several measures.

Mouse shakes her head. "You are /not/! I just didn't want to see you go sit by yourself. And it's just a dress."

Zynassa has a rare moment to take a seat and does so. The scowl has been relieved somewhat, and a toe taps to the music. She does keep an eye on the candidates, though she can't hear conversations over the music and general noise. A bluerider has a seat next to her and the pair begin chatting quietly.

Jai gestures to the empty seat next to her, "Then please sit with me?"

Salva looks around, searching for a dance partner. "Anyone want to dance? Please?"

Quarroul laughs happily when Kaimi keeps up with him and turns sharply to the side, drawing her with him as he dances up one side of the floor and down the other.

Mouse plops down in the chair with a smile. "Okay. It means I don't have to dance, either. I never learned well."

T'mren grins at Salva, "Dance?"

Salva beams. "Sure!"

Natalee has got a friend in T'mren! She snuggles up beside him ands says, "Well, I'm glad you were entertained. Not that I had anything to do with it."

Jai laughs and nods, relief seeping into her gestures as she relaxes a bit, "Oh, dancing can be fun if you have the right partner." She shrugs, "I don't understand why everyone thinks I'm a side to be taken? I'm just stating facts." She smiles again and sighs, "I just don't want to get into trouble. Went through enough of that way back when I got here."

T'mren grins at Natalee, "Course not." He pats her arm reassuringly and stands, offering his arm to Salva, "Shall we then?"

As the youngest boy plays his drum, the gangly one steps forward and speaks loudly over the general cacophony of the cavern. "We're going to slow things down for the more...sedate... members amongst you. I'm Brelan, and with me are Kelsey.." -the girl nods, drawing her pipes to her lips in preparation - "..and the young one here is Jolad - his first time at a dance!" With that Brelan picks up his own pipes, and the trio move into a slower ballad, one that is commonly played at such gatherings.

Kaimi chuckles softly as she keeps in step, She mutters to Quarroul, "You've been... off... bit... you.... know..."

Salva giggles, taking T'mren's arm and picking up her skirts. "We shall!"

Shoshana settles back in her chair, watching the dancers peacefully. Watching their feet mostly, trying to pick up dancing skills from observation can't hurt her lack of skill anyway.

Zynassa applauds the harpers with the others. The bluerider has managed to charm a smile from her, and she continues to talk quietly with the man. After a moment, Lasora joins the pair. And Zynassa promptly loses the young man's attention. Oh well. Easy come, easy go. And everything's easy in Lasora's case.

Aunties and Uncles join right in the fun, recollecting their younger days and retelling tales that keep a group of youngters intrigued. A few of the old folk make their slow way out to the dance floor as an old familiar ballad begins to play.

T'mren slips his arm around Salva when they reach the dance floor and grins at her. "Here we go!"

Mouse nods to Jai. "My brothers, they say I should get into trouble. They say I'm too boring and adult already - especially Donal and Conal, the youngest. They turn eleven Turns the same day I turn eighteen."

Quarroul nods and laughs, He mutters to Kaimi, "... I have.... you... feelings for... with you.... excuse..."

Christine finishes off her klah, and walks out quietly into the bowl.

Jai crinkles her nose, shaking her head, "Boys. Who can figure out why they seem to enjoy being in trouble?" She grins, glancing over at the Harpers as they play.

Kaylira gets up and goes over to sit with her friend, now that Zynassa seems to ahve calmed over the earlier incident.

Christine walks outside, into the bowl.
Christine has left.

Salva is grinning happily as T'mren dances with her, occasionally darting a nervous glance at her long skirts.

T'mren swings Salva gently around as his hands guide the steps, chatting idly to her, "You dance pretty well!"

Quarroul pulls Kaimi a little closer and tucks her under his chin as his arms move around her to fully enjoy the slow song.

Riclair enters from the narrow corridor.
Riclair has arrived.

The soft, nearly mournful tones of the ballad sweep over the caverns, filling the nooks and crannies of the place with light sound. There is a hint of blown breezes to the tune, and clear nights spent hand in hand.

Salva giggles. "You're just being nice...I've never really danced before. And not in these dratted skirts!"

Mouse shrugs. "They're ten. They like trouble." She counts on her fingers. "What day is it today?"

An older auntie holds the arm of a boy in his pre-teens, both looking over at a quiet woman seated alone. He nods to the auntie, leaving her side to make his way to the other. As the older woman watches, the boy asks the quiet one to dance. With a blush, a smile, and a nod of approval, mother rises to dance with her son.

Riclair strolls inside, pausing to lean against the doorframe and survey the room.

Kaimi blushes slightly and smiles at the close contact, She mutters to Quarroul, "... night means... lot... me... I'm... your... tonight."

Kyrola hums softly to herself along with the ballad, apparently not aware of it, a thumb tapping against her glass of juice.

Jai thinks about that for a moment, turning back to smile at Mouse, "The first, right?" She recrosses her ankles and shifts so she's facing Mouse a bit more and can watch the dancers glide past.

T'mren grins, "You're dancing fine,a nd your skirt looks nice!"

Zynassa sighs faintly at Kaylira. "I wish Brin could've made it." Lasora has, in the meantime, made herself a comfortable new chair. Bluerider seems to be the primary construction material.

Mouse grumbles. "Of course it's a new Turn, how could I forget? Their Turnday's the second. So's mine, actually."

Kaylira nods at Zynassa. "Sweeps?"

Quarroul smiles sweetly, He mutters to Kaimi, "... that I'm... explain... much... these... we... the... place.... be so..."

Jai blinks in suprise, "So, it's your Turnday tomorrow? You'll be eighteen, you said?"

Rhianwen enters from the narrow corridor.
Rhianwen has arrived.

Salva beams, starting to relax and enjoy the dance more. "Well, thank you!"

Mouse nods. "And do you know what that means?"

Seemingly as quietly as it began, the ballad comes to its conclusion. With so many couples on the floor, swaying with the remnants of soft sound, the trio opts for yet another slow song, this one less familiar, perhaps because of its more formal structure.

T'mren swings Salva by the hips, humming the tune.

Jai blinks once more, considering the question. She says tentatively, "It means you are older than me?"

Rhianwen wanders in, looking tentative for the space of two seconds before she claps her hands in delight at all the dancers, eyes sparkling.

Mouse waves a hand. "No. I told people that I was going to tell people what my real name was on my eighteenth Turnday. And get a new nickname - I'm tired of being 'little Mouse' and when I turn eighteen I want a new one."

Kaimi sighs softly, She mutters to Quarroul, "... true. It would... if... been... but at... are where... get... each..."

Jai ahs and smiles, "So, will I be the first to hear your real name or do I have to wait until tomorrow?" With a flip of her head, she tosses her hair back over her shoulder again.

Pulyn gets up from his new meal; eyes scanning the crowd for a prospective dance partner.

Zynassa nods to Kaylira. "I assume so. What an evening. Oh, and Chezroth won Herath's flight, in case you were wondering. I won a bit, but not as much as I lost. Three whole marks on Taralyth. But then, I guess I'sai's worth it." That assistant headwoman returns, and has a hurried conversation with Zynassa. "Shells. yes, I'll be right there. Sorry, Kay. Duty calls. One of these days I get to go to a party without having to be in the kitchens for part of it!"

Mouse admits, "I promised someone else they'd be first and they're not here. Tell you what - if they show up, I'll say, otherwise tomorrow."

Drudges move about the cavern with plates of hot food, fresh glasses of wine, and clean dishes, making sure the serving table is kept full. Apparently, there's food as long as the harpers and dancers are out.

Shoshana covers a little yawn with her hand, and rises quietly, waving faintly at the roomful of people, adding an extra wave at the two bakers...if they'll notice that is, before hurrying out of the door.

Shoshana walks down the corridor.
Shoshana has left.

Kaylira laughs at Zynassa. "Oh, don't let him hear you say that, or he'll be full of himself. I wagered a flight to the next hatching with I'sai myself, though Faranth only knows when I'll get to collect."

Kyrola turns her head as Mouse speaks and grins. "You know we're gonna hold you to that," she says with a wink.

T'mren grins down at Salva, as he sashays her from side to side, "Having fun!?"

Jai laughs and nods, patting Mouse's hand in a friendly way, "Of course! I'm willing to wait until after your friend." She glances at the dancers once more.

Rhianwen bounces across the floor, her eyes on the dancers - which is a bad thing, because it usually means she isn't watching where she is going and might run into something. But the attraction of the swirling and twirling couples is too much for her. She doesn't get out much.

You cautiously push through the Kitchen door, careful not to run into any of the drudges, cooks, and cooks assistants bustling about.

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All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern™ is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!