[Log] Death of a Weyrwoman, Pt. 2
Who: Aelan, Aida, Br'ce (NPC), E'sere, Essdara, G'thon, Ginella, Issa, J'cor, J'sek, K'rom, Medina, Miniyal, N'ka, N'tai, Reyce, R'vain, Syn, Tavaly, T'ral (NPC), T'zen (NPC), Vanya, Yevide
When: Day 22, Month 6, Turn 2, 7th Pass
Where: Living Caverns, High Reaches Weyr
What: High Reaches' most recent party takes a turn for the horrific when Yevide suddenly collapses.
Notes: Find Pt. 1 here and Pt. 3 here.
N'tai, as an aside to J'sek, "I'll hold that for you if you want." Meaning the drink, indicated by way of a tip of his own benign glass toward J'sek's. All back to Aelan when she speaks, he smiles attentively and answers, "Boranth, actually. But that's pretty close, and he is brown, yes. I'd introduce you, but there's not really room for all the people in here, let alone dragons, and he's pretty scapegrace." He scrunches up the scarred side of his face indicatively. "Another time? --Do you dance?"
Yevide replies to E'sere with a smile - yet another small gesture put on show, raising her glass to him by way of farewell. She turns her head to watch him weave away through the crowd, one hand coming up so that she can touch the heavy gold torq around her neck, running a fingertip along the design. Her escort disappears from view, but still the Weyrwoman makes no move to join a conversation; she is enjoying playing the spectator tonight, and she is watching R'vain approach.
Syn laughs softly, shaking her head. "I hate standing around for too long." She says, pausing and blinking at the other weyrling. Her cheeks flush then. "Well, I guess we could dance, but... I probably won't be very good. I never dance much..." She takes another sip of her drink and gives a nod of her head. "True." She glances away for a moment before returning her gaze towards J'sek.
"That's okay. I'm first on that list." Tav says proudly, looping her arm with Dara's and beaming like the cat who caught the mouse. "Weyrlings cleaned up well, too. Good." Approval. "Wow.. Vanya's purdy, too. More so, I mean." Her eyes are everywhere.. There're just so many people to gawk at.
"I have already partaken, but take your time and I'll hold you a place here in my cubby hole. I've only promised one dance tonight, and I somehow think that won't happen for awhile, if at all." No indication who it might be. "I've some things to discuss, if you don't mind a little shop talk at a party?" Vanya smiles and gives Medina a shooing motion. "Get food, get drink, be sociable if you like. I'll wait."
"Boranth," Aelan corrects herself quickly, nodding once to set the name in her mind. "I'll try to remember that properly." Her smile is apologetic for the mistake, though it slips crooked with amusement at the latter question. "I dance...sort of?" she laughs. "They've put a lot of effort into training me to do it right, but I'm far from perfect. But since Dara's volunteered to take the toe-crushing stance, you might have a good chance of surviving it," she adds, hopefully.
K'rom giggles and nods at N'ka as he unwraps his arms as well to get a plate, "Wherry. Of course. I really haven't eaten much, so I am definitely hungry." Kie eys the pastries first and sighs, trying to settle on something healthy right now.
"Beautiful, you mean." Dara says, with a wistful look to the healer. "But alas, more interested in bronzeriders than cooking girls. But she's responsible for me looking my best tonight, and so she gets my first dance. Which, now it comes to that, is long overdue. Would you excuse me, dearheart, that I might drag her out of her corner?"
"Whyever would you think that?" E'sere asks as he steps free of the crowd at last and arrives at Vanya's side, casting her a warm, bemused smile. He offers Medina a quicker version of that grin as well before asking, "Would you rather I fetched your drinks--I don't mind?"
"Sir," Aida puts on a warm smile in response to the greeting to her, dipping her head politely to go with it. "Miniyal. It's so lovely to see you both." Her glass is lifted to the former head of records, and then she's taking a light sip from it. With politeness attended to with a good deal of warmth mixed in, she glances sidelong to Ginella and notes, "Yes, the weyrlings." She even sends a glance that way to indicate who she's speaking about. Still, it's only a beat before she's pulling full attention back up to G'thon and Miniyal.
R'vain is ill-accustomed to the burn of eyes upon him, or at least to being enough present of mind to feel their burn. His pace slows a little beneath the heat of Yevide's awareness, but he approaches her anyway, forcing himself upstream through the crowd until of a sudden he comes out into the conversational bubble of privacy that seems to be afforded the Weyrwoman. Without a drink, he finds his paws useless and very nearly stuffs them into his pockets-- or tries-- there are no pockets where they would be in his riding jacket. "Weyrwoman," he greets her, voice gruff and gravely, and after that seems at a loss for words.
J'sek notices a wave directed to him, catching a brief glimpse of K'rom has he passes by with N'ka. He goes to wave in return, but stops half way when N'tai catches his attention by posing a question. "Hmm? Oh, thanks, but no need." He swirls his glass a little, showing that he's practically finished. And he does finish it, placing the now empty glass aside. Now he turns back to Syn once more, "I can't dance well either." he admits with a slight half smile, half smirk. "But if you'd like to dance, rather then stand here, I'll gladly join you." Seems this weyrling doesn't enjoy standing still long himself.
N'ka grins, glancing briefly at K'rom before his eyes go back to his plate. It is soon heaped with food, overlapping and piled high. Finally content, he grabs a glass of juice, and once more glances to K'rom. "Did you want to try and find a place to sit, or just give up and stand by the wall to eat?" N'ka eyes the crowd suspiciously and frowns. "Wall might be safer."
Suprise rarely regiaters on Medina's face, and a little quirk of her mouth refuses to be there now. She grins at Vanya. "No, I'll go." She flashes Vanya a grin. "Will we talk shop later in the evening, then? It's not nice to do it around the lay person." It takes one moment for Medina to spy the food table through the crowd. Then she's over there, finding a plate, picking through the options. "Evening N'ka, Kie.. Ah, K'rom."
"Gentlemen," offers G'thon as reply to the men out of Benden's salutes, and dips his chin a little as if the salutes embarrass him. "Benden? Ah, if they have something sweet, perhaps we'll have a try of it." He allows a swift sidelong glance, openly fond, at Miniyal upon this, then fixes his smile up for Aida, eyes bright. "And a pleasure to see you. The, ah - " He chases Aida's glance with one of his own and returns to the companions at hand with a brow lifted. "Weyrlings?" Barely a beat. "It's delightful, I think, that they're able to come to something like this so soon. They must be doing well."
N'tai points down to the gleamy-gleam-gleam of his boots and informs, "I spent the better part of an hour making these shine. So be gentle?" (Weyrlings must really work hard, huh?) To J'sek, he flashes a fellow gentleman's smile then sticks an elbow out toward Aelan, like he's oh so accustomed to leading future Ladies on to dancefloors in the middle of living caverns. "I dance well enough that no one'll laugh at us even if you're awful, so don't worry," with a wink that's meant to be reassuring.
Tavaly smiles, releasing Dara and giving her a well-meant pat on the shoulder. "Go, then. Dance, but save one for me, if you can." She beams, watching Dara navigate her way. And.. square one. She glances around her, all the milling bodies, and conversations drifting overhead. Ah. This is the perfect time to detour. And so she does. Tav once more excuse-me-move's her way through the crowd and down the stairs toward the infirmary.
"Oh, well, that does make me feel better," Aelan laughs, taking a generous swallow of her wine before setting the glass aside and smoothing a hand over her dress. "A whole hour, huh?" she asks, smile crooked with amusement as she takes the offered arm to start towards the floor. "You're lucky. These are the light slippers, so they probably won't mar it too badly," she winks.
Syn takes a drink once more and peeks over at K'rom and N'ka, she doesn't wave though, simply smiling before returning her attention to J'sek. The weyrling lets out a soft laugh and nods. "That's okay. It's better than dancing with someone who is good and messing them up. WE could mess up together and try to improve?" She asks, flushing another shade before taking another drink.
Vanya is startled for a moment, blinking at the sudden arrival of E'sere. "I ... saw you were escorting someone and thought, perhaps erroneously, you would be busy with the lady," she replies, stuttering a little. And then she smiles. "This is a fellow healer, Medina. Medina, Wingleader E'sere, but you likely already know one another." She smiles again. "It would appear that Medina is determined to brave the hungry hoard herself, which means we need only stay here until she returns. I've grown quite fond of my wall." There's a teasing in her eyes. "If you don't mind the wait. Seats are few tonight."
"Shall I go look?" Miniyal offers to G'thon at the mention of wine. It is not just an excuse to slip off for a bit. Really. "I know I can't let you go or I might never see you again." And she should be forgiven for the small amount of overt fondness in her tone as she speaks to the former weyrleader. Clearing her throat she looks back to those they've come to say hello to and nods her head. "Good evening," she offers quietly. "It's rather. . .busy. But it's lovely to see you." Someone has been practicing, she conceals any nervousness at all. It helps having an arm to hold on to.
Yevide takes her time in responding to R'vain; he is required to stand, in silence, pocketless, as she lifts her chin to look him over. For a moment she is haughty, managing despite the difference in their heights to look down her broad, flat nose at him. Thus, a brief, frozen tableau - then something unwinds, and the man before her is treated to one of the Weyrwoman's slow smiles, and the brief twitch of a brow. "Weyrlingmaster."
There's an unsuppressed shiver that runs down Issa's back when Reyce first brushes her skin, but she's not distracted from the task at hand. Even the whisper doesn't seem to have much effect other than to force her smile into a more mischievous, lopsided contour. "Oh?" she murmurs, straightening with her wineglass to take a sip. "That took less time than I thought. This really is some dress." A single eyebrow lifts as she passes her gaze across the throngs of people pressing in around them, then nears, wine held apart. "But where would we go?" she asks slowly, clearly feigning innocence.
K'rom grins as he piles his plate and manages to sneak in a couple of pastries. Kie does manage a quick smile towards J'sek, but ods at N'ka, "The wall would be good for nw." He nods at Medina, Greetings Medina. How are you?"
And up to the small group, healers and Wingleader, comes Essdara. As she approaches, E'sere's presence gets a slight, quickly-hidden, smirk from her. "Well, I was going to ask for that dance I was promised, but I see you have managed to find a better offer." She turns to Medina, "Perhaps, then, you would grace me, Medina? Otherwise, I shall feel quite the fool for coming all the way over here, and I am sure you wouldn't want that."
J'sek smiles crookedly and lifts his shoulders up in a light shrug, but moreso in humour then anything else. "Too true, Syn. I do need to improve, I suppose." There's a quiet pause from the weyrling, before he moves a little closer to her. "Well. When you're ready and if you want, Syn, I'll join you in a dance. No matter how bad we say we may be." With his attention now mostly focused on the other weyrling, he's not really paying much attention to others around him or other conversations for the time being.
"Or here," N'ka notes, bobbing his head at Medina as she arriveds. He scoots himself just far enough to be out of the way of the food, sets his juice on the floor between his feet, and sets to work on his plate, manner thrown to the wind. He's ravished, and he's not afraid to show it.
"See, you're not really exciting my confidence. You're supposed to say something about how Keroon's Blood is generations of grace and agility," chuckles N'tai with a surreptitious peek down at Aelan's shoes. At the edge of the dance floor, he halts the pair of them to let some sumptuously dressed someone-or-other swirl by while he finds the thread of the current song. "I'll give you another glass of wine if you manage to pull a feather out of that woman's shawl without getting caught," he whispers out the corner of his mouth, sweeping Aelan in to the steps and nodding at a particularly fleshy woman in a particularly avian ensemble.
"No, I don't believe we do, actually," E'sere remarks absently as he watches Medina depart. Then, glancing back to Vanya and offering again that broad, warm smile of his, he shakes his head. "She's let me off my leash for a little while," he notes, amused. "Which is fortunate, as I have prior commitments to mine to--her." The last word falls distracted from his lips, as he turns to take in Essdara, still grinning. "Essdara, good evening. You look lovely--both of you do, better than even the other night," he tells the pair, glancing between them. "I don't mean to intrude on either of you, though, so if you'll each settle your debt with me, I'll leave you be," is his suggestion, accompanied by a quirk of a brow.
"I'm well, K'rom. And how are you and Iusath?" Medina pauses for a moment, as she selects some morsels, and a glass of that Benden elixir. "She must be growing at such a rate!" She stops, if she didn't have both hands full she would be fiddling with something, maybe smoothing her hair back. She smiles over at N'ka.
Aelan's grin broadens, positively wicked as she steps into the dance and looks over her shoulder towards the shawl in question. "You think you can finagle another glass of wine out of the servers?" she asks with an arch of her brow in return, her steps more graceful than she gives herself credit for. If the pattern of the dance is a little mechanical, she makes up for it with a certain natural athleticism, quick to compensate for mistakes. She lowers her voice then, not quite managing to compose her expression to innocence.
Syn laughs softly, "I think I need to." She offers and she finishes off her drink, blushing more as J'sek moves closer. She sets aside the glass and gives a small nod. "I'd like to, it'd be something to do than just stand around.." She peeks at him then, quirking a brow. "I bet you're better than I am, at least..."
T'ral and Br'ce take their seats and resume their chatting, T'ral with a long look in Ginella's direction before his attention is back on his wingmate. The goldrider spares them a quick glance before turning back to nod at G'thon: "I believe there is a dessert wine among them?" Aida gets a brief glance and an: "But wh-- okay, I guess." G'thon gets a nod: "It must be a welcome diversion from the barracks." Miniyal's greeting gets another smile similar to the earlier one: "Very busy! Lovely to see you as well, of course."
Reyce has retreated back to his wine, taking a heavy drink from it while he listens to Issa's response. The properties of her dress earn a brief pause from his alcoholic gulping, and a raised brow as he answers drily, "It isn't predictable." Surprisingly correct in his treatment of the wine glass, he curls his fingers lightly around the stem and lets it lower to his side while he surveys the crowded room with grim displeasure. "Doesn't matter," he mutters. "Anywhere that's not here." The wine glass gets transferred quickly to the other hand as he moves around Issa and loops his arm through hers, giving a gentle pull to see if she'll follow his lead towards the lower caverns.
K'rom nods slowly at N'ka as he moves beside the brownrider, nibbling at his food. He nods at Medina, smiling even more, "Yes, Iusath is growing a lot and I am continuously suprised by it. She is beautifyl. Kie beams and noda at Medina, "And thank you for asking."
Vanya smiles up at E'sere, and there's a warmth and pleasure in seeing him. "May I inquire as to her identity? She's quite striking. I'm flattered you would desert her for me," she says, looking up to see Essdara. "Of course you'll have your dance. I've promised only two people tonight. Any other dancing I do will doubtless be complete happenstance." She gives Dara a warm smile. "Medina is in quest of refreshment, and I'm a place holder for us till she returns." She then stands up, and tucks an errant strand of hair back in place on Dara's head. "Are you turning heads, dear?"
N'tai answers confidently, "I saw a /girl/ with drinks on the way over here. Could probably get the whole stock if I had enough time." He glosses right over the top of any of Aelan's missed steps, matching athleticism with familiarity of steps and natural grace. "Watch yourself now. We're about to enter her orbit." That he has the lead and keeps his partner just beyond arm's reach of the tantalizing flutter of feathers is simply unfortunate coincidence.
N'ka finishes another mouthful with an audible swallow, and grins. "And curious to boot," he notes, bobbing his head towards K'rom. "I still have only gotten to see her once, you know. But is Sevath speaking with her? I told him to." And he goes back to eating, eyeing Medina with a curious look. "Healer, right?" he asks, his gaze paused on her arms.
J'sek smiles widely and politely offers his arm to Syn when she accepts to dance with him. And for a brief moment, his nervousness reappears as he glances towards the general direction of the dance floor. What's he getting himself into? Deep breath is taken in and let out as a light chuckle. "Are you truly betting, or is that just a figure of speech?" he teases slightly to Syn. "Because its been a long while since I've attempted dancing, so even if I was good, I'd be rusty." Or so he says.
A faint pink across her cheeks at Vanya's fond gesture, and Essdara shakes her head, "Nah, not really. Like I said, people like you or Tava or Aelan, that's where heads turn." A smile to E'sere. "And I will, of course, fulfill my duties to you, wingleader. I am not one to turn away from dancing." A glance back to Vanya, a bit surprised. "That's Yevide, darling. Our Weyrwoman." A sudden grin. "I could introduce you if you like, she's very approachable."
"They are, I am certain," Aida comments agreeably, bringing her glass up for another sip and offering another smile. Now, her attention stays on those nearby. That smile takes on a touch of a reassuring note for Miniyal, and she comments lightly, "It is busy. Practically overwhelming, don't you think?" She just smiles to Ginella's almost question, one shoulder lifting in a light shrug. (Essdara)
Aelan catches her lower lip between her teeth in a mischievous grin, her steps coming lighter and with greater grace as she concentrates on something else entirely. "You're cheating," she notes in a low voice, stifling a laugh as she tries to press N'tai a little bit closer to the woman with the shawl, overstepping once. There's a snatch, catching nothing but air and bringing a laugh that almost gets her caught before she waits another spin, determined.
Syn blushes a bit more and takes J'sek's arm. She chews on her bottom lip once more and glances at the other weyrling. "Figure of speech, I don't like to bet." She offers, giving a shy little smile. Her gaze moves around quickly and she casts another smile towards K'rom before returning her attention to J'sek.
Dressed for the occasion, but looking haggard despite himself, J'cor at last enters the Living Cavern at a time that could, if one were generous, be termed 'fashionably late.' Like the Darwinian ape, the Weyrleader has grown straighter with every step until, at last, his arrival at the party makes him fully human. Alone, his Weyrwoman having arrived with another escort, he must make his own way into the social pleasantries, starting at the door with scattered greetings for familiar faces as he moves, smiling only wanly but shaking hands firmly as he picks his way along the edge of the room.
It's several long moments later, and very slow progress, indeed, that see Tavaly's return from the infirmary down below. At her side, the wounded bluerider T'zen strikes a rather promising pose. His clothed in a fine shirt of satiny blue, tucked into a pair of loosely belted breeks whose hems tuck gently into a pair of soft boots with sturdy soles. His hair is neatly combed and still appears a little wet. One arm is slung around Tav's shoulders and the girl holds them both straight. As regal an entrance as they can make, considering the bluerider's extensive injuries, and the bumpy road that's brought them to this moment. Upon reaching the top step, Tav instantly veers the man over and into a comfortable seat in the corner of the room, right of the stairs. Nice and quiet, out of the way, yet still able to see everything. A few whispered exchanges pass between the two before Tav sets off at a rather brisk pace to find something that T'zen /can/ eat.
"You do yourself a disservice, Essdara," remarks E'sere, with a small smile for the cook. "Half the battle of turning heads is /thinking/ you will do it, and carrying yourself as such." He glances between the two women, then back over his shoulder to Yevide, cocking a half-smile as he watches her, before turning back to present company. "So she is," he agrees with Essdara. "Now, which of you would lay claim to me first? Or shall I be relegated to place-holder while you two go gallivanting off together?"
"I trust you would be able to find your way to someplace we could meet," asides G'thon wryly to Miniyal. To Ginella: "Precisely my desire. We'll have to go find it." A pause, then, and the former weyrleader regards Aida a bit long, a bit thoughtfully. Clearly there is more he wishes to say, more he wishes of her; but in a moment's time he decides not to press whatever matter that might be now. "We'll go find it. Thank you for the advice, weyrwoman." A dip of his chin first to Ginella, then another for Aida, and the old man turns so his young consort may see clear the path away and toward the tables offering wine.
Ginella nods her agreement to Aida: "Indeed. If you'll all excuse me for a moment? I've been meaning to speak with the Weyrwoman." She smiles politely, and extricates herself, aiming for Yevide. "Weyrwoman," she greets her warmly, turning a polite smile on R'vain. She knows who he is, certainly, even if they haven't really -met-, "Weyrlingmaster. Good evening. I was hoping to speak with you about that last hide I borrowed from you," she begins, trailing off and looking at Yevide, who ought to know what she means.
"Healer. Caucus student." Medina confirms. She glances down at her arms, sees the faint red stain on them anew. Grimaces. Finally decides what do with her drink and food, takes a gulp from the wine-glass, then sets it down, just as N'ka has done, at her feet. Watches it warily for a moment, then picks at the food on her plate. "N'ka. How are you and..." She pauses in that way that welcomes someone to fill the gap to avoid an uncomfortable silence.
Issa, for all her teasing verbal resistance, shows nothing but eagerness to follow along with that gentle pull, fingers pulled more tightly around her wineglass to counteract the jostling. "How did I know," she whispers up to him as she adjusts her step to his, "that you'd find some way to avoid dancing with me?" There's a brief pause and she deals out a tug of her own, urging them into a roundabout route. "Go this way. Avoid my mother, or she'll snag us." Indeed, the harper in pink has already begun to scan the crowd for her daughter.
N'tai says gravely, "It's not cheating, miss. It's just adding another layer of difficulty." The next pass into the woman's orbit is a quick one-- mandated by the song and not just amusement at watching Aelan snatch at air-- though a slower, sweeping turn is written in to the steps before too much longer. In a whisper, he hastens to add, "She's got twenty pounds on both of us put together, so don't get caught." Then loosens his hand at Aelan's back to give her a nudge in the right direction amid all this whirling.
Blinking, Miniyal peers at G'thon, but since he seems willing to extract them from the conversation she simply nods her head. Aida is given a brief smile. "If we might talk soon? Clearly it won't be tonight, but if you've a moment tomorrow come speak with me?" This then, is her farewell and she allows the turning and sets her eyes on the prize. "I am perfectly capable of getting wine on my own," she reminds G'thon with a wry smile. "And I promised a dance so it's not as if I will flee." A pause and then the hint of teasing enters her voice. "Until after."
"Perhaps after I have managed to keep from trampling E'sere's courageous feet," Vanya replies to Dara, smiling. She looks around for Medina but doesn't see her. "I shall claim you first, if Dara will be kind enough to serve as place holder -- Ah, Medina returns triumphant. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to dance before I lose my nerve, and simply pray I don't damage my gallant Wingleader too much to spoil it for all the other ladies who come after me." She looks then to E'sere. "I place myself in your most capable hands, sir. Be gentle with me, I beg."
"Weyrwoman." R'vain has said this already, so that makes twice now, once a request for her indulgence and this time, an acceptance of it. He steps forward a half-pace, that he might speak very quietly, and for once what he says is lowly enough spoken that only Yevide might hear-- if, of course, Ginella weren't nearing. "I owe you an apology," is what the Weyrlingmaster says so quietly, and then startles to hear the Caucus goldrider's voice. The man's jaw sets hard and he backs up that pace once more, and as he has no pockets crosses his arms over his chest. This does nothing good for the fit of his jacket. "Weyrwoman." He's getting a lot of mileage out of the word tonight.
"I know." J'sek says in reply to Syn, chuckling again. "Which is why I figured you meant it simply as a bit of humour." With her arm now in his, he carefully guides them both towards the dance floor, moving slowly enough and not in too much of a hurry, it would seem, to join those already dancing. He tilts his head a little towards Syn. "Not too nervous?" he says, loud enough for her to hear but hopefully quiet enough to be reasonably private. "Want to join in now or wait for the next song?" A slight smile follows as his gaze moves to the dancing pairs on the floor, the weyrling already trying to pick out the beat of the song. Oh, this will be interesting.
K'rom smiles and nods at Medina, "Sevath. Brown." Kie grins at Medina and then smiles at N'ka, "Yes, Sevath is talking to her and she is excited by it. Tells me a lot of the conversations." Kie smiles and nods again, looing at Medina, "Iusath is definitely curious and still has lots of questions...." Kie catches Syn's grins and smiles back, then takes a couple more bites of food.
Essdara motions the pair away, with a soft laugh, "Go, enjoy yourself. I'll find someone around here who wants a dance, never fear." A stretch, and she backs away carefully, with a polite curtsey. Turning, then, she's off into the crowd. Still, lacking any more friends to greet, she returns to her previous hobby - stalking R'vain. And so towards him and his goldrider compantion with a small grin.
There's a lifted eyebrow in response to that look from G'thon, but Aida just smiles up at him, lifting her glass when he and Miniyal move to depart. "Enjoy yourselves," she tells them. "I will come and speak with you soon, Miniyal, certainly. Tomorrow should be just fine." And then Ginella is moving to go, and she's nodding. Of course, go. And then she's left to stand by herself and actually breathe. So she does, in the first moment. In the second, she's sending a smile back to Br'ce and T'ral, slipping over to speak a few quiet words, lots of smiling and sipping from her glass to finish it off. Once it's empty, she abandons the company again, heading off to find herself another glass.
E'sere just beams in answer to Vanya, offering her his hand as he takes a couple of steps toward the dance floor. "Excuse us, please," he tells Essdara first, before glancing back to the healer. "You needn't worry," he reassures her. "I'll be gently. Just remember what it felt like in your room, without anyone watching, and without you thinking about it, and you'll do fine, I know."
Reyce's lip quirks slightly at her mild tease, but he makes no response. Instead, he just follows the altered path she indicates, a brief frown at the reminder that Issa has a mother, and she's here - which is all too close. Successfully dodging her, however, the pair of them duck out into the lower caverns.
N'ka answers, "Sevath," only half a beat behind K'rom. He smirks, bobs his head, and kneels for his juice. The plate is balanced successfully, and he stands with both in hand for a quick sip. "And we're doing well, considering. We managed to make it out of Threadfall untouched, surprisingly." He grimaces, and there's a more somber note to his voice when he adds, "It's thanks to Sevath's quick wing." Another gulp of juice, and the glass is replaced back on the floor. There's little left that N'ka hasn't devored in his earlier hast, but he picks at a few greens hesitantly. "He doesn't say a thing to me," is noted towards K'rom, rolling his eyes. "But I'm glad he's speaking with her. I think he's amused."
Aelan misses twice, once in a snatch that catches air again, and once in that faster spin, but she seems determined to win the bet. The nudge gives her the perfect opportunity, and she even grasps a loose-looking feather close to the shawl giving it a short jerk. Unfortunately for Aelan, whatever tailor made that monstrosity knew what they were doing. At least with a needle and thread. The shawl is snatched away entirely, leaving a very surprised Aelan holding it by the feather. Quickly, the girl drops it to the floor, spinning back into N'tai with a stifled laugh. "Go, go, go!" she whispers through a giggle, trying to look like she hasn't even noticed.
Yevide listens to R'vain in silence, replying just as sparingly as she greeted him; she lifts one brow at what he says, tilting her head briefly to one side. Again, he is made to wait through several moments of silence. "I should have said so," she finally agrees. Her tone is warm, her smile intimate - to any outsider, who could not hear the words, the conversation would look friendly, intimate. She turns her attention briefly from R'vain to shoot Ginella a smile; her lips are pressed together again, a faint suggestion of strain in that greeting. Again, her hand comes up to fiddle with the torq at her throat, and lifts from there to rest on her forehead for a moment. She blink, swallows, and it would seem this restores her. "Good evening, my child. You're quite right, we must speak of it. What the Weyrlingmaster has to say to me will only take a minute, I should think." And with that prompt, she cocks her head towards him attentively.
Syn ohs and gives a nod of her head. She moves along beside J'sek, letting out a soft sigh. "Still nervous.. But, not as much as befoe. Thank you again, J'sek.." She lets out a soft hum, shrugging. "I think waiting until this one is over will be better." She offers, glancing around idly.
Vanya can't help but feel slightly nervous, but at E'sere's reassurance, she nods. "I remember," she says, leaning a little close so she'll be heard over the music and crowd. Her hand is relaxed in his, and she smells of lavender and roses, her cheeks a little flushed and she hasn't even started to dance yet. "The music is faster, but I think I can keep up. "I appreciate the gentleness, and I promise I won't panic and freeze if I make a misstep."
Ginella nods politely at R'vain's greeting; she seems to realize she has interrupted, but is not ready to back away apologizing just yet. She waits until Yevide has acknowledged her, and then smiles at the Weyrwoman, nodding: "And I seem to have interrupted him. Excuse me, I think I will go find another drink, before we speak. Can I get either of you anything?"
Medina smiles at the pair of them, but can't think what to say. She looks around the room, looking for conversation. She sees Vanya, finally dancing with E'sere. "Great party, don't you think? She directs back to the dragonriders. Her eyes continue to scan the room, she picks out Essdara, heading.. somwhere. She is in the line of sight, just, so Medina waves at her, a sort of, 'hey, I'm here, come on over' sort of wave. "You two been here long?"
Gans is peered at, and graciously seems to not bother to notice. "So what do -you- intend to speak to Aida about?" Droll, because he has his own agenda. Rhetorical, because halfway to the table offering wines he has another idea, and stops their progress abruptly to bring it up to her. He crosses a hand over himself to pat at her fingers on his arm, then leans his head in toward her, some affectionate delight bright in his eyes. What he whispers there is for her ears only, but not long after the pair start moving again - not to the wine, but back to the lower caverns passage from which they arrived.
N'tai's eyes widen impossibly when the shawl comes off. The woman and her partner stare at the fallen frock with faces full of confusion. "I said a feather, not her whole dress," hisses the weyrling, swallowing a burst of laughter as the shawl proceeds to get stepped on by a couple tailing himself and Aelan. Hastily, so hastily, he sweeps Aelan across the dance floor in a series of steps that don't seem physically probable, will probably cost his boots many scuffs, and culminate in him stumbling off the edge of the dance floor near where E'sere and Vanya have just entered, one arm still latched around Aelan's waist.
J'sek reaches out with his other hand to possibly pat Syn's arm lightly, in a friendly gesture of reassurance, provided she doesn't pull away. Not exactly typical of him, that's for certain, but perhaps his own nerves and the large crowd is partly to blame. Right. "You're welcome." he says, before nodding his head. "Good choice, this song seems a bit much." The attempted feather snatching by Aelan is caught by J'sek and the weyrling can't help but chuckle heartily at that and masks the following grin with his hand as if he's coughing. "How long do you think this song is?" he then asks his dancing partner.
Miniyal is not the sort of girl who will turn up a chance to flee a party. Especially on the arm of the man she arrived with. And so, the pair do indeed leave. Exit, stage left.
A wave distracts Dara from her goal of R'vain, so instead, she moves in the direction of the greeting. Stopping back by Medina, she offers the woman a smile, though there's a bit of tenseness to it. "Heya, Medina. How're you? It's a good part, isn't it? Very crowded, though, and I admit I think it's starting to get to me." A soft laugh, "That, and everyone I planned to dance with have found other partners. How about you? Care for a dance with a lonely cook, Medina?"
"Good," says E'sere as he leads Vanya to the dance floor. "I know you won't." He sounds quite confident in that fact, and without further ado makes his way onto the dance floor, the wingleader mostly watching his partner, but not above shooting a mildly inquisitive look to the pair stumbling past them, N'tai and Vanya. Shaking his head, flicking Vanya a bemused look, he weaves between a few groups and then takes up a place near the middle of the floor, reaching to pull the healer closer. "Ready?" he murmurs to her as he settles easily into postion, sliding a hand about her waist.
K'rom finishes the last of a pastry, sighing as he reaches for his juice and takes a sip of his juice, smiling at Medina, "No, we haven't been here that long and haven't made rounds. Have you been here long?" Kie giggles and glances at N'ka, "Well, Iusath loves to talk, so she tells me a lot."
"Who would've guessed the fardling thing was that well made?" Aelan snickers, a true laugh escaping as she stumbles quickly through the steps led by N'tai until she makes it to the edge of the floor. "I don't think she realized it was on purpose?" she says hopefully, unable to hold back her broad grin as she tries to catch her breath.
"Yes," grunts R'vain, and flashes Ginella a strange, desperately grateful look. Yes, /very/ yes. "Anything." Back to Yevide then, and he retakes the step forward. He cannot help but look at her fingers upon the gold at her throat, and this sight seems somewhat to restore him. Teeth begin to show. He fashions, slowly, his cheshire grin, then looks up and finds her eyes, strengthened. What he says next is lower yet, his voice so roughly suppressed that even Ginella will have only a few syllables to take away-- the clearest of them 'sorry.'
Aida has found a new glass of wine, to add to what she has had here, and what she may perhaps have already had before arriving tonight. She seems entirely comfortable in the busy cavern, stopping to chat with a few individuals -- one of whom happens to be a small blonde woman in a red dress that most would not recognize. Hi, Clare. It's all smiles and warmth, though. Chat chat chat. From where she's settled to stand, she can watch the dancing, her eyes drifting from here to there as she watches this bit or that.
N'ka shakes his head, following K'rom's spoken negative. "Just got here. Can't tell by our famished faces?" he asks, grinning. The plate is set upon the edge of the serving table, hopefully unnoticed. The last of his juice is swallowed, and as Essdara arrives, he grins widely. "Good, I was going to feel bad about leaving Medina all alone." His glass is balanced upon his abandoned plate, and he turns to K'rom. "Kie. Dance?" So he's not that eloquent. Oh well.
Syn flushes a bit and gives another smile as he pats her arm. "I appreciate it... I'm not running away for once..." She notes, peeking at J'sek as he chuckles. She shrugs it off and glances around. "I don't have any idea..."
Of course, that is not the sum total of what R'vain says. No. He shows his teeth and finds spine enough even in such a pressing crowd to hiss in his horrible way, "I'm sorry I ain't had another chance at you since, Weyrwoman."
"As I'll ever be," Vanya confesses, looking up at him as he slides the arm around her waist. Her own hand goes into his, the other on his shoulder, and she smiles warmly. "I believe I shall thoroughly enjoy this," she murmurs, the pleasure on her face unmistakable. "I've actually been looking forward to it, E'sere. I'm rather surprised at myself, and I may even be tempted to try the Benden wine afterwards. How scandalous of me!"
To answer the bronzerider's look, N'tai pantomimes the tip of a glass over Aelan's head, followed by a helpless shrug. What's a guy to do? "Let's go--" Somewhere else. While the woman is trying to dust off the damaged shawl, he disappears himself and Aelan in to the crowd aimlessly, snagging a pair of glasses fast enough that the wine server won't have time to muster a complaint. "You didn't think to let go when it started to, y'know, /come off/?" he asks around a continuing bubble of laughter, thrusting a less Grail-like glass toward Aelan.
J'cor does not linger in any of his conversations tonight, simply sweeping by with the barest of greetings exchanged. Somewhere in the process, he picks up a glass of Tillek red, and while his drinks from it are delicately taken, with all the formality that typically characterizes this Weyrleader, those paying attention may notice that he's not spacing them out well, and after only a few minutes has drained the glass through. By this time, he's within Aida's area of surveillance, and he offers a nod to the Headmaster's assistant and her chattering comrade as he looks around for another passer-by to mysteriously furnish him with wine.
J'sek grins lightly. "No, you're not. And hopefully you won't, because that mean I'd have to go with you." And he lifts his arm up that is holding hers ever so slightly. "See? I told you you'd be fine." he says, just as the last song comes to an end and a new one begins, its tempo lively but not overly so. J'sek nods his head to Syn and begins to slowly lead her onto the dance floor. "Ready?" Or not. With the beat in mind, the weyrling begins to carefully go through the movements, not doing too badly save for the occasional hesitant or awkward step here or there.
In answer, E'sere strengthens his smile, nodding once to Vanya. "I'm glad to hear that," he tells her, half-teasing. "I'd hate for you to have been dreading it. I can recommend a good vintage, if you like?" Then, once they're properly arranged, he takes up the steps of the dance, relaxed and unfaltering as he fits his movements to the harpers' tune.
Medina has finished with her plate, and sets it down on the side of a table, close to N'ka's. She bends down to gather uyp her wine, but as she does so, her elbow knocks the plate and it is sent flying. The resultant crash can barely be heard in the din, even by those next to her. Two bright spots of colour burn high on her cheeks, but it is the only notice she takes of the whole event, or the ceramic shards that a serving girl now comes to sweep away. Her glass, of course, is intact. She takes a sip, larger than intended. "Enjoy your dance, K'rom, N'ka." she turns to Dara, gives a shrug. "I will. Just let me finish this glass, first." She takes another sip, the third one this large. "How have you been, anyway? I haven't seen you in a while."
"Hey, it was fast," Aelan laughs, taking the glass with a grateful grin. "And I saw that," she smirks at the drinking gesture, even as she takes a sip. Still grinning, she looks over her shoulder towards the dance floor, making sure she's not being followed for chastisement. Letting the adrenaline fade with a soft chuckle, she looks back to the weyrling. "So where're you from, N'tai?" she asks, sipping again.
Chattering girls, or a nearby J'cor. Aida excuses herself promptly from the blonde woman's grasp, giving a gesture off away and murmuring a few quiet words. Whatever it is she said, it sends Clare off in the direction she pointed, leaving Aida free to take the few steps needed that she can offer a quiet greeting to J'cor. "Weyrleader, sir," she offers. There's nothing daunted to her demeanor, all polite smile and light cheer. If there's a hint of concern there, well, it's light enough to pass unnoticed.
Yevide looks up at R'vain; she is not listening to Ginella, and she has not noticed Essdara's aborted approach. She is swallowing again, one hand lifted to press against her forehead. Something has distracted her momentarily, and again her lips press together. She steps forward suddenly, reaching to wrap one hand around the Weyrlingmaster's forearm; her gaze shifts, head thrown back abruptly as she suddenly cranes to watch G'thon's departure, then swings her head to where J'cor stands - it would seem his arrival has not gone unnoticed. From there to E'sere, where he stands on the dance floor with Vanya, whose blood red dress draws a widening of the Weyrwoman's eyes. But finally, her blue eyes shift around to rest once more on the Weyrlingmaster's face. And then, quite simply, she crumples, fingers unfastening from his arm as she folds at his feet.
The sound from the bowl can be heard even over the roar of the living cavern. Even as Yevide is falling to the floor, in that second, Igen's melancholy queen is wrenching herself into the sky with a noise far too like a scream; as she vanishes between for the last time, riderless, Reaches' dragons set up a keening that seems to shake the stone of the Weyr itself. Around the living cavern, riders drop their drinks, clap hands over their mouths, react to the grief their dragons communicate to them. Whatever the population of the Weyr thought of their Weyrwoman, their dragons are mourning the loss of a queen. It takes only a moment after that for the shouting to begin, and realisation to spread, amongst the riders at least: she is dead.