Taranian smiles and waves at Auralia as well. "Hey, Aura!" she calls to her happily, grinning.

Uinn's chair rocks a bit, nearly dumping her onto the floor but she catches her balance, saying "Wha ---" in a sleepy voice.

Auralia's entrance is marked by heavy footsteps, her boots clipping against the stone floor. "Tara," she greets, almost sharply, rubbing eyes that bear bags beneath them, "Others." Seat is taken, mug of juice poured.

T'las strides over from the Western Courtyard.

Nafai sets his town down on a chair before sitting in it, thanking a passing drudge for a glass of juice. "So how have you all been?"

Kayjay winces as the pregnant rider wobbles. "Hey now, be careful, we don't want to be scraping you off the floor." She shakes her head, frowning slightly as she notes Auralia's condition. "Good evening, Aura, you look terrible."

Taranian looks quite startled at the sharpness and tiredness of the woman. She stands up and walks over to her, tilting her head. "You alright?"

Niare looks around at Auralia's entrance and nods to the woman, probably unnoticed, before she goes back to cutting the fruit into smaller and smaller pieces.

Uinn rubs at her eyes and then grins at Kayjay. "No that wouldn't be very nice, would it?" she says then her smile broadens and she waves to her weyrmate as he walks into the hall.

"That, Kayjay, is just what I wanted to hear," responds Auralia to the Wingleader, words almost acidic. "I'm fine; just tired." Smile is given to Taranian, as she takes a sip from her mug.

Kayjay watches Niare with amused interest before blinking at Auralia. "Well, that is what I meant. I have a niece staying at the weyr for a while and I hooked her into babysitting for me. So if you need help with hidework, pass it my way." She chuckles. "You don't look -that- bad." She grins back at Uinn. "Pregnant ladies don't belong on floors."

T'las looks up from his head, which was rubbing his temples, and beams a smile to Uinn, walking over and planting a hello kiss on her. "What's this about scraping you off the floor?"

Taranian still looks somewhat concerned. "You sure? You look really tired.. Can I get you anything?" she offers.

Nafai looks at Taranian an nods, "yes, I could use a meatroll or two actually."

Niare glances at the floor, expression speculative for just a moment. However, with a brief grimace and a shake of her head, she looks back to the fruit.

Auralia mutters something about Uinn, and how the woman really cannot afford to end up on the floor, although it's significance, if such is possible, is lost completely. "No, thanks, Tara. I'll be fine, if I set and rest a while." She's been noticably absent from the weyrhall of late, one might note. "I'll remember that Kayjay, you're a wonder." T'las is given a vacant nod, as she notices him.

Taranian glances over at Nafai, raising a brow, but she grins, nodding at Auralia. "Sure, Nafai, I'll get you those.." she says with a wink, grabbing a couple and tossing them over to him.

Uinn smiles up at T'las, "I fell asleep. And I almost fell off my chair," she says with an expression of mock-confession.

Nafai catches the meatrolls and grins, "Thanks Tara. How's Ellath?"

Kayjay watches Niare with even more interest as she answers Auralia, absentmindedly. "Not a problem, would be nice to see your face not hidden by stacks of reports." She purses her lips. "You always eat your fruit that way, Niare?"

Long distance to Auralia, T'las, Kayjay, Taranian, Uinn, and Niare, Nafai will be back in a second, he needs a midnight snack ^_^

T'las grins and pats the tummy like all father's to be do. "You don't have any twins in your family, do you?" Ut oh, somebody's been putting ideas in his head.

Kayjay coughs at T'las and whispers loudly. "Not a good thing to mention twins to pregnant ladies."

Uinn blinks at T'las and answers slowly, "Honestly, I have no idea. Why do you ask?"

Auralia's eyes flicker towards Uinn: "I sharding well hope that there aren't, and that you aren't--ugh. Double the babies." Nose wrinkles, as she adds to Kayjay, "With any luck, it will all be over, and I can," she pauses, muttering something about retiring in peace, "Be done with it all. Belira will make a--fine weyrwoman, I am sure." Grimace.

Niare flinches in startlement and blinks a few times as she looks at the fruit. "Um, no." She puts one of the tiny slices in her mouth and chews determinedly.

Taranian chuckles at Nafai, leaning against a table, leasurely. She crosses her legs, and her arms over her chest, grinning. "Oh, Ells' well. How about you? Not workin' too hard, are ya?" she says with a wink.

V'tali strides over from the Western Courtyard.

T'las whews and lets out a breath. "Good, Temari and Leo were talking about how your -whole- family was twins and you were bound to have twin T'las' running around and I don't know if I could handle that," he says in that quick I-need-to-explain voice.

V'tali strides into the Weyrhall, shirttails fluttering, sandals slapping against the ground as he grins at everyone. He waves, heading in farther, then spies Niare. He heads her direction, calling casually, "Hey, Niare! Heard you got yourself pregant?"

Kayjay splutters on her tea and does a double-take at Auralia's comment. "What? Belira, weyrwoman? Whato on Pern do you mean?" She ignores the baby comments and waves at V'tali, then almost drops her mug at his statement."What is this?"

Niare jumps to her feet, dropping the knife and scattering the fruit - good thing no one was sitting to her immediate left. "No!" she exclaims, staring at the bronzerider.

Taranian bites her lower lip, seeming to be hiding a grin. "Woah..." she says quietly, covering her mouth to hide a smirk.

Auralia's face falls, "You're not, are you, Niare?" Her words bring relief--too many babies about as it is. "It seems possible, Kayjay. Her Feilynth is due to rise within a short enough time, and Tiarnath has not risen since K'tor became Weyrleader." Turns, in that case.

Kayjay shudders. "Oh my. She's a nice lady and all, but weyrwoman?" She shudders yet again as she looks towards Niare. "Well, are you?"

V'tali blinks and shrugs, "That's just what I heard, anyway - that you were smelling food as bad, and not eating stuff you usually might like, and acting generally pregnant. Enaeth didn't know, so I thought I'd just come in and ask, myself. So you're not? I figured it must be true - I was guessing K'vay. Or maybe K'laarn?"

Nafai chuckles, swallowing the first mouthful of meatroll. "well, I'm working hard enough, but that sand garden is doing wonders for relaxing between tasks."

Auralia responds dryly, "Believe me, Kayjay, should she become Weyrwoman, I will be retiring, on the spot, and leaving the mayhem she sews for some other luckless wonder to worry about." Glumly, she sips at her drink again, swallowing, "It is understandably fearsome for all."

Kayjay hits her hand to her forehead."If it's K'vay, I swear, I will string him from end to end and keep him in his cage." She sighs at Auralia, shaking her head. "I am sure her gold knew what she was doing when they impressed. Maybe she'd rise to the occasion, so to speak."

Uinn shakes her head at T'las, "No ... as far as I know ... no ..." she says and then blinks a surprised look as some of the other conversations drift her way.

Niare clears her throat, realizing quite a few people are staring at her. She shakes her head and drops back into her seat. After another moment, to gain her composure, she shakes her head, "No, I'm not." And as for who the father might have been, had it been true, she says nothing.

T'las turns a blinking gaze to Niare, then to Aura, then to Kayjay. Seems this happy man has been in bliss and ignoring everything else. "Err....I think we need to get out more love...sounds like a month's worth of gossip that I haven't heard of."

Taranian smiles at Nafai. "Good on ya. So it's going well, then? How far along are ya?"

Kayjay watches Niare, a slightly worried look on her face. "Is everything alright then?"

Aithne strides over from the Western Courtyard.

L'mir walks over from the Western Courtyard.

Nafai nods eagerly, "oh, it's coming along really well, I should show you sometime."

Taranian nods, grinning. "Yeah! It sounds like it's going really nicely." She waves at L'mir and Aithne.

Aithne pads into the hall, looking rather worse for wear as she mutters under her breath. Clearly she is not the picture of happiness.

Auralia's grimace seems to infuse a lack of belief in regards to Kayjay's words, although she shrugs, "It is entirely possible, I suppose." Crossing arms in front of her, she manages to catch a glimpse of L'mir and Aithne, both given a vague smile, although her weariness is clearly suppressing more jubilant reactions. "Thank the shards. Congratulations, Niare," says she, with a smile of sorts.

V'tali casts a quick wink at T'las, before continuting his line of querying. "So, Niare, if you're *not* pregnant, how come you're eating weirdly and throwing up, and going white as a sheet when you smell certain foods?" He smiles winningly at the greenrider, dropping into a seat to wait for an answer.

Taranian's brows raise at V'tali, chuckling quietly. Though she does glance again at Aithne, curiously. "You alright, goldie?" she asks her, amiably.

Kayjay looks at Aithne, interestedly. "Now, -her- lifemate hasn't risen for awhile, I mean, if it isn't Telinda, at least Aithne wouldn't burn down the weyr." SHe quirks an eyebrow at V'tali's observation.

Nafai looks up at Aithne, frowning. "Looks to me like someone needs a relaxing sand garden of their own. Evenin' Aithne, you don't look to spunky tonight."

Gaethan walks over from the Western Courtyard.

L'mir follows Aithne into the Hall, hard to tell if they came in together or not, but he's not looking the picture of happiness either. When he catches sight of Auralia, the serious face darkens, close to glaring, then the expression is replaced with a blank look.

Uinn nods at T'las wonderingly. "So it ... seems," she says with a slight shake of her head. Then she sits forward blinking at V'tali's latest pronouncement

Gaethan walks in, whistling softly. He sees all the people, blushes JUST a little, smiles, and walks in further, heading for the drinks table.

Niare reaches for her roll and bites into it deliberately, not answering V'tali until she's swallowed it. She shakes her head and tells him, "Bad fish. I'm fine, now." Whatever initial startlement there was, she seems to be back to her usual poise.

Aithne pauses midstep, glancing towards Niare. "Maybe she is trying a new diet?" She suggests before shaking her head vigourously to Kayjay, her hair flying from side to side. "No." She states firmly. "Araneth is -not- rising. -ever-."

Auralia bites her lip, then opens her mouth, wheedling, "Oh, -please-, Aithne? It wouldn't be too bad, would it? C'mon!" L'mir's glance towards her is noticed, and she responds it with a beam: evidently, she's either ignoring his annoyance at her, or just rubbing it in his face.

T'las blinks over at Aithne, taking in her appearance, then glancing around again before chuckling at Aithne. "SOmehow I don't believe you Aith..." L'mir then gets an odd look, as does Aura after him. "Shards, everyone seems off tonight."

V'tali seems almost disappointed as the 'interview' seems to come to a close, but fortunately an equally interesting victim catches his attention. He spins around in his seat to blink curiously at Aithne, saying, "Aith, hey! You don't look so great - can I get you anything? And what do you mean, Araneth's not rising ever?"

Uinn blinks some more at Aithn'es words now. Quite a night it seems. Uinn herself, seems the picture of health, happiness and all that good stuff.

Kayjay rolls her eyes at L'mir as he glowers. She mutters. "Oh do grow up and get over it." SHe smiles charmingly at Gaethan however. "Good evening."

Taranian swallows at the enlarging crowd, looking quite surprised at the amount of people. She decides to back off a bit, moving away from the main walkway and sitting down at a table a bit away from the large crowd.

"Did you know how many hides one weyrwoman goes through in an average day?" Aithne asks noone in particular.

Gaethan smiles at Kayjay warmly. "Good evening, Kayjay." He says. His accent as thick as ever. He seems to have completely reverted to that full accent by now. All work with the Harpers on a better accent gone. He slowly walks in, still clearly a bit apprehensive of the crowd, but coming in anyway.

Nafai pales under the opressing crowd. He stops by Taranian's table, looks like he's about to say something, then looks around again, frowning. He bites his lips togethern and hurries through the main doors.

Nafai walks toward the Courtyard.

Kayjay snorts again and chuckles. "Aithne, my dear sweet friend, you just -don't- have much say in the matter, if she rises or not, is up to her, not you." She grins. "Oh good a riddle. Tell me, how many hides -does- a weyrwoman go through in one day." She shrugs philosophically at Gaethan's accent.

Taranian glances up at Nafai as he walks to her table, and watches as he leaves. She decides to follow him, leaving with a wave at the rest of the crowd.

Taranian strides over to the Courtyard.

Niare retrieves her knife from the seat beside her and brushes the bits of fruit onto the floor for someone else to clean up. The last slices which mananged to stay on the table get returned to a little pile.

L'mir's dark eyes never leave Auralia as he passes her, bound for the wine skin until Kayjay's mutter is caught. He ignores her after a slight nose wrinkle, tipping the skin for a long drink. "I think I'm quite grown up, actually, Kayjay. Perhaps you've not noticed. /Some/ however, seem to to be lacking in judgment." Hmm. Was that look flashed toward Auralia? Perhaps not.

Uinn curls her legs up under her with some effort and props her chin in her hand, trying to keep tabs on everything that transpires in the weyrhall.

"About as many as a Weyrleader can, Aithne, I would guess. Although perhaps a few more--depending on the situations at hand." Auralia responds to Aithne dryly, shrugging her shoulders, "Kayjay's got it quite right. And wouldn't you rather serve yourself, than do so under Belira?" Gaethan is given a nod of sorts, before her attention is caught upon L'mir's words. "What is judgement? Quite subjective, really. I would imagine, however, that highly inflated egos are the same, one and all, and clearly obvious." Is her voice just slightly too loud? Is her gaze on him for a moment? Maybe not.

Gaethan waves to Uinn, as well, and makes his way over to the main table.

Uinn's eyebrows slowly begin climbing up her forehead at L'mir comment and Auralia's rejoinder. Gaethan earns a cheery smile and wave, before the greenrider's eyes snap back to the various dramas unfolding.

V'tali nods at Aithne, "Lots of hidework, but Araneth'll probably rise again, she can't help it, she's gold. They do that." His eyes flick toward Gaethan, brows furrowing slightly as if in confusion at the fellow's words, then shrugs and turns his attention back to the junior weyrwoman. He keeps his fingers entirely out of the weyrleader/weyrsecond - Auralia/L'mir pie, poor Niare forgotten for the moment.

Aithne sighs and straightens. "You don't want me." She states firmly before eying L'mir for a moment. "How would you have time?" She asks, her mood clearly reflected in her caustic tone.

Kayjay rolls her eyes, looking at the roof of the hall for guidance. "Oh pleeeeeeeeeze, L'mir. If your pout was any bigger, people would be tripping over your lip."

T'las looks very much like his weyrmate, ears perked up and listening while he makes the odd comment or two towards Uinn. "You'd think L'mir'd be grateful, since he's going to have to break in a new second when you get grounded."

Gaethan sits down, looking a bit lost as he tries to pick up what's happening.

Uinn says quietly to T'las, "I'm already grounded darling ..."

Niare starts in on the pile of fruit tidbits, largely ignoring - or seeming to - everyone else. Since she sliced the fruit so small, she pops several pieces into her mouth at a time, interspersed with bites of the quickly disappearing roll.

Auralia agrees with Aithne, voice suddenly more tired than ever, "No, we don't. We want Telinda--but if that's not going to happen, I'd rather have you than Josy or Belira."

Kayjay does note Niare's bizarre eating habits and tries to get a good look at the rider, shifting in her chair, her eyes wandering down to Niare's midriff area. She sighs in agreement with Auralia. "We can't have Belira. The place would burn down in a sevenday and then were would we all be?"

L'mir clears his throat, holding the wineskin cradled in his arm as he finds a seat nearby. "And just /how/ is K'run doing? I'd expect it would be interesting, working with someone who babbles all day long about next to nothing. Ah well. Best for Uinn. She's not trying to hold down two jobs, hmm?" The rest of the comments are basically ignored. For now.

V'tali blinks dark eyes several times. "Waitaminute - What's wrong with Telinda?" His expression draws into a deep frown, "Why wouldn't Telinda be out Weyrwoman?"

Uinn's eyes hone in on her wingleader, brows furrowing up. Yet she says nothing.

Aithne offers Uinn a quick grin as she spots the greenrider, "How are you feeling?" She asks before shaking her head. "Tiarnath will rise. Albanth will catch. All will be as it should be." That is her story and that what she will stick too.

Auralia's voice raises again, although her face shows nothing less than a tired smile: "K'run is actually doing quite well; I would never advocate him for Weyrleader, besides the fact that he doesn't ride bronze, but he is learning a lot. I am sure Cloudchase will gain a lot from the experience of K'yae riding Wingleader, and K'run gaining in experience." She doesn't sound sure of herself--but she'll say it all the same. "He actually has a lot of interesting matter to talk about." Aithne is given a grimace: "Albanth will not. K'tor'll just retire again. Phht."

Kayjay makes another rude noise at L'mir's grumblings and scrapes her chair on the hall floor as she deliberately shifts so she doesn't have to listen. She sighs, looking at Aithne, saying softly. "Do you really honestly believe that Albanth will catch again? And Tiaranth hasn't risen in turns." She nods in firm agreement with Auralia, once again. "Besides, you can keep close tabs on K'run."

Niare looks over at V'tali as she apparently takes note of his question. She glances around to see who he asked it of while she chews.

Gaethan whispers, a general inquiry. "Is something wrong with Telinda?"

Uinn smiles as Aithne addresses her. "I'm just fine thanks Aithne. In fact, I'm better than fine -- happy, healthy and feeling very good about myself and the world right now ... except that I'm getting round and Emeleth's ridges never were very broad," she says holding her hands out to demonstrate. "Which is making it a touch difficult to lead drills .. not that I can Between anyway," she concludes with a wry grin.

L'mir's lips move as he mimics a few of Auralia's words. "I certainly hope you find him much more to your liking, Auralia. I have heard that he seems to be your.. favorite." The oddest look is shot to Kayjay, then a muttered, "I thought you were /my/ friend?"

Uinn -stares- at L'mir over that last and her brows knit together more forcefully.

Auralia catches right upon Kayjay's words: "Exactly! It is much easier, this way!" Gaethan's words are noted: "Nothing. It's Tiarnath that isn't rising, the sharding gold." Eyes turn away from the young man, facing squarely at L'mir. "My favorite? K'run? As much as I'm yours, L'mir, if not less."

"There is a concern that Tiarnath will not rise." Aithne replies. "Telinda may decide that its time to retire. If she does, then the next gold to rise will become Senior. Which would be Belira." She states matter-of-factly before nodding to Uinn. "Maybe you should convince a certain bluerider to pamper you a bit?" She asks with a grin to T'las. Her moods seems to change faster than a spring breeze.

Kayjay looks over her shoulder back to the bronzerider, her frown deepening. She mutters to L'mir, "... your... boorish, juvenile... of... -man-... your... it... and get... Frankly,... disappointed in... looked at... rolemodel.... I'd be... Karel... your..."

T'las blinks in that confused bluerider way of his, head swiveling back and forth before Aithne mentions a keyword to catch his attention, and grins. "Hey, I pamper her. NOt -my- fault she's sleeping in the weyrhall and not in bed like she should be."

Gaethan just nods, slowly. "Ah..."

Kayjay says "shivers. "No, not Belira. Please? Can't you introduce your lifemate to someone who would catch her fancy, so to speak?""

V'tali glances to Gaethan as Auralia seems to reply to him, brows knitting, as he apparently didn't understand a word of the fellow's question. However, he understands the answer perfectly, and the frown deepens, creases forming on his forehead. "Of course she'll rise. Just because she hasn't in a while, doesn't mean she's all done! She's not that old... she'll rise again." His expression clears, as he seems to relax with the conviction in his voice.

Uinn gives L'mir another bettle-browed look, before she turns, laughing toward T'las and snakes an arm around his waist. "I know you do love." To Aithne she says, "HE's doing a fine job, Aithne dear ... really he is. I'm a bad little greenrider, who's too used to padding about the weyr barefoot and doing for herself."

Gaethan pauses..."Um, Is something wrong with Belira?" He asks Kayjay.

"Exactly" Aithne states in agreement with V'tali. She pauses to stare at Kayjay, eyes widening. "Is this just something you have against bronzeriders?" She asks, that caustic tone returning. "Or just ones not C'ley?"

Auralia turns her gaze away from L'mir--it's far too nice a gaze to waste on the bronzerider--and places it upon Aithne. "You know Belira as well as the rest of us. You're going to -let- this happen?" Desperation makes one act oddly enough, indeed. She wraps her digits about the edges of her mug, holding it within her hand.

Kayjay hmms, and scratches her elbow as she thinks of an answer for Gaethan. "She's a nice enough lady, really she is. But she tends towards being slightly less than graceful at most times." She sighs at Aithne. "L'mir is my friend, yes. But right now, his behaviour because he is disappointed at Auralia is .. less than admirable."

L'mir's brows raise to full height, caught in Kayjay's whispering. The look that takes over is, well, unique, as the overwhelming emotion plays itself to an extra loud harumph, dark eyes turning something of a smouldering, steely grey.

Niare turns and looks at T'las for a moment. "And well she should, if she wants to," she says, though with all the confusion, it's hard to tell what she's talking about.

Uinn's brows draw together again as she notes her wingleader's expression and quietly, she gets to her feet and pads over to the bronzerider, reaching one hand down to rest on his shoulder, though still she says nothing.

Auralia drains her mug, murmuring, to no one in particular, although it is loud enough to be heard by those about her, "His behaviour is certainly not that of one I would ever consider to promote--I am glad my sense took me elsewhere this time."

Gaethan pauses again, then says, "V'tali never taught me about no need to be graceful to be a Rider..."

Gaethan says "When I was a Candidate."

Gaethan adds.

Kayjay doesn't seem put out at all. With a toss of her hair, she sniffs and sips at her tea. She mutters to L'mir, "You aren't... child anymore,... you... be a... abilities... disappointment... good are..."

Kayjay hmms at Gaethan. "Well, err, Belira is a nice lady, all in all, but she does need help now and again with certain aspects of .. her daily duties."

V'tali's frown returns, persistant. He shakes his head, tousled dark hair falling silkily across his worried eyes. "No, Tiarnath will rise again. Don't worry. Tiarnath's not used up. She's a bright old girl, she'll go up." He hears his name, and his head swings up toward Gaethan, but apparently it's the only word in the sentence he was able to understand, because rather than respond, he complains, "All those harper lessons, and I can't understand a word you say still!" He stands up, looking distressed, and turns to walk out of the Weyrhall.

Auralia pipes up again, adding to Kayjay's comments to Gaethan, "She's an idiot, and we all know it." There.

Gaethan looks at V'tali and says, voice totally clear, no accent. "Its a matter of pride, V'tali. But i'll speak more clearly in front of you."

"Well, there is grace and then there is Belira." Aithne observes to Gaethan before nodding to Kayjay.

Gaethan does not seem like he's a big fan of V'tali.

Kayjay blinks wide-eyed at Auralia. "I wouldn't exactly put it that way."

V'tali walks toward the Courtyard.

Gaethan lapses back into an accent as he looks at Auralia, although not quite as heavy...he clearly can modulate it now. "I see...and she may be the senior weyrwoman next? Has anyone asked Telinda what she thinks?"

L'mir looks up at Uinn quickly, a hinted flash of smile given that seems to say 'ah yes, a true friend'. "It has absolutely nothing to do with disappointment, and Kayjay, you have surely changed from this afternoon when comforting seemed to be your stance. And," he pauses, "I'd not even consider any sort of promotion, thanks. Moonsweep's comandeered my /full/ attention right now, and we're doing just fine."

Niare looks up and stares at Gaethan, "It is a matter of pride to speak so that no one can understand a word you say? To flaunt the fact that the harpers screwed up? That's just... rudeness."

Auralia responds dryly, "I would. Remember, I went through candidacy and weyrlinghood with her. She's more than slightly empty headed, as well as being clumsy. In the extreme." Mournful eyes return to the table: desperation is hers. "Which is why you're huffy at me, L'mir? You do display your emotions in a rather odd way, I must say."

Uinn squeezes the shoulder beneath her hand just a little, perhaps an indication to keep calm ... who knows, the greenrider still isn't talking.

Yarthan flies over from the Western Courtyard.

Gaethan pauses a moment before answering Niare. His voice comprehendable, but accent still clearly there. "Its a matter of pride in where I am from to speak as those from my Hold do. Don't you have pride in where you were born?" Touchy touchy...

Kayjay sighs. "I said exactly the same thing I said to you then, now." She blinks, looking confused at her choice of words. "I thought you heard me, obviously, you didn't." She bites her lip, blinking back what supiciously might look like tears if you didn't know her. "Fine, feel the way you do, I leave you to it."

Kayjay blinks once and blinks again at Niare.

Aithne sighs as she sinks into a seat. "This is just ridiculous. You're no better than children." Of course, she was the epitomony of maturity. She just eyes Gaethan and Niare for a moment.

Uinn looks over L'mir's head at T'las for a moment, eyes rolling a little bit as if to say, "What's gotten into this Weyr?"

Niare answers flatly, "No, I don't. But if I did, I wouldn't choose the ignorant parts to be proud of. Instead, I'd choose some other aspect of the Hold to honor."

L'mir reaches up to cover the hand on his shoulder, but his eyes remain toggled between Kayjay and Auralia. One hand tugs the hem of his jacket down as his back straightens. "One would have thought that the choice would have gone to one who juggled not one, but two jobs to keep things going, always loyal to his weyr and the duties it needed. However." There's a very long silence from him before he finishes. "That seems to have no count in the matter."

Gaethan pauses again before answering. "I mean no disrespect, Rider, but I disagree that it is ignorant...it is how we speak...we are no less schooled, no our Teaching Ballad no less...shards, my cousin is Harper CraftSecond and he speaks with a thicker accent than I do!" That last part was a bit loud, with clear pride. And then he blushes and seems to retreat a little.

Kayjay sighs, tugging at her hair nervously as L'mir speaks. Genuine disappointment slumps her shoulders and she sniffs suspiciously as she sips at her tea yet again."

Yarthan flies over from the Western Courtyard.

"One would have thought, equally, that the Acting Weyrleader might well be allowed to choose her 'second without being doubted by her peers. However," she, too, pauses, before finishing, "That is obviously not the case, as I can see." Eyes blaze, and she stands, "Excuse me." Straight backed, and lipped, she departs, head held high. Utter rudeness from bronzeriders.

You walk over to the Courtyard.