July 21, 2004
At Ista Hold's Turnover Gather, R'hyn meets Fort Healer Finola.

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You head up the short flight of stairs to the Main Hall.

Hands clap, feet stomp, some people give cat-calls, and still the music hasn't stopped. One, long, continuous dance number keeps those with enough fortitude still supplied with song.

Emani replies to N'thri, languidly, "I don't need to finish it -quickly-. I'll wait for the next. Maybe have someone bring me some more of - whatever this is." She peers into the glass curiously.

T'ren lifts his glass and drains down the last of the contents, setting it next to the growing collection on the table. He taps his fingers on the table idly, just shaking his head at the dance floor. He picks a couple at random and points them out, "I'll bet you, those two can stay the whole song."

R'hyn hesitates by the doorway, immediately getting in the way of a couple of giggling teenagers and their beaus, looking around - as if trying very hard to find someone he knows amid the crowd. Failing an immediate check, he hunts down a drink, sipping at the artfully made cocktail without relish as he meanders through the non-dancers.

Geraine, seated beside T'ren on the edge of the dance floor, points to another couple on the floor. "And I choose that one." She gives the Weyrsecond a sidelong glance. "What shall the winner get?"

Scay nods. "Well, I was twelve or so when I started thinking about it, but... I'm just indecisive, I guess." She gives a nervous little laugh. "I mean, at twelve, you're just a kid. It's kind of scary when you start trying to decide what to do with the whole rest of her life." She pauses, then smirks, surprisingly wickedly for her usual quiet demeanor. "Good person? Not so much once you get under this quiet, shy exterior," she jokes, grinning crookedly.

"The next song," Selvien notes, sipping at his drink and watching the remaining couples on the floor. "From the looks of it, it looks like that blonde lass and that brown-haired boy in the black shirt might last the entire song. They're swift on their feet."

T'ren gives Geraine a slow, sly smile, leaning over to whisper something in her ear.

"Well, don't drown yourself in it too early. I really think we should dance. If nothing else, we will look stunning paired." N'thri looks into the bottom of his own glass for a second, knocks back the end of it, then wanders toward the dance floor to watch the hooting and hollering.

Willa waves her hand dismissively and laughs brightly. "Oh, well, I will keep an eye on you more carefully," is told to Scay. "I'm sure you've all sorts of little things I'll need to find out. Unlike me who is quite open about everything. It's sad. Nothing to hide which is what makes people interesting, you know? I should cultivate an air of mystery, don't you think? People find that interesting. Oh. I think I said that already. Wow. You would think I'd been drinking something stronger then what I have."

Finola comes in from the courtyard.

"Look who's talking," Emani mutters, as N'thri walks off. However, he does make a persuasive arguement, she considers, then nods to Selvien. "Of course, then next one. But after that -" She pauses, turning to look back in the bluerider's direction, blinking. "Er. D'you know who that is?"

One of the guitarists has had to give up the song early, nursing his fingers by blowing across the tops of the injured digits. Still, the other three members keep the dancers spinning as long as they can until - finally - with a last, long series of beats from the drummer, the song winds down with a frenetic finale. Naturally, applause ensues.

Scay grins at Willa, nodding once. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't think I'm exactly mysterious or anything, but... Well, I don't really share things with people much." She shrugs slightly, not looking at the harper beside her a moment. On the subject of drinks, she remarks, "I usually just stick with klah, because I don't really like juice that much, and water is boring, and other stuff -- alcohol -- is just... Ick." Well-spoken, isn't she?

Finola returns to the hall alone and stands near the food tables as the harpers wind down their song and she joins in the applause afterwards. Seeing that her glass of wine she left at a table is long gone she obtains a fresh glass of white wine before wandering back towards Willa and Scay "Sorry about that." she apologizes again as she takes up her old seat.

Willa laughs and turns her attention to the crowd for a moment, just looking at everyone and where they are as she listens to Scay. "Well, secrets are better. The less you tell people the less they will be able to use against you." Life Lesson One according to Willa it sounds like considering the seriousness of her tone. "But, you should always have little bits to throw out so people don't know what you are doing." Tilting her head when Finola reappears she smiles cheerfully and waves to a seat. "Oh, welcome back. It's no bother at all. We were just passing the time."

R'hyn, as the song ends, is accosted by a Hold girl only a few turns too old to be his daughter, and, handing off his drink to someone else, follows her onto the floor. "I don't--" he stammers, looking abashed. "I'm not--" The girl ignores him, waiting impatiently for the music to begin again. R'hyn glances around helplessly.

Geraine gives T'ren a rather long look, her expression thoughtful. And since both their couples survive, she merely gives him an amused and curious look as she sits there, her hands toying with the small box on her lap.

"About what?" Scay inquires blankly of Finola, before she recalls the woman's earlier disappearance. "Oh, yeah. No problem," she seconds Willa with a faint smile. She glances to the harper and nods, grinning. "Good advice," she notes.

Finola watches the dancers on the floor longingly for a moment before sitting gracefully down "Have I missed anything? Did those fools manage to balance all those glasses earlier? I didn't hear the crash outside." R'hyn is given a considering look as she watches him be hauled off by a girl "I could almost feel bad for some of these fellows."

T'ren rolls his eyes slightly and then chuckles, "Ah well, so much for that," he mutters as he rises from his seat, "Another drink for you, Geraine?" He catches the toying with the box and chuckles, "I can help you put it on if you want to wear it now, or I can hold it for you," a slight shrug is given, he's easy.

Willa rolls her eyes and says, "Like any one of them couldn't say no. People get what they deserve and it they let people stomp all over them then that is what they deserve. I don't find much sympathy for those who won't just say what they mean." Toying with the end of her ponytail she shakes her head. "He was putting the seventh on, but then there was an accident and he fell. It's been kind of boring. I mean, we've been laughing at the dancers, but that's the same thing over and over. People must not be drunk enough yet."

"N'thri, I think... N'thor, N'thi, something like that. Haven't seen him more than just in passing, anyway." Selvien gulps down the rest of his drink, then amusedly watches a bronzerider being dragged to the dance floor by a mere slip of a lass, lips tugging outward in a smile at the pair.

As if in specific counter-point to that last song, the Drummer takes up the next. This time, the half-injured guitarist begins a vocal line, the words somber but not necessarily sad. The ballad is evidently a new composition by one of the quartet, telling the story of a young woman who grows into a strong Lady Holder - perhaps appropriate given Ista's relatively new Lady Ilia? Despite the political under-current, the song is sweet, allowing a slow dance for people to catch their breath.

Laughing at some of the expressions on the face of unfortunate males, Geraine hands her glass up toward T'ren. "Get me a drink and then you can help me put it on," she decides, starting to pull the necklace out of the box.

R'hyn, by chance, catches Finola's glance, and gives her a desperate 'come save me' glance in return, though it lasts only a moment: his partner is whisking him over to meet a group of her teenaged friends, and then, into position for the slow dance. R'hyn's no dancer, but the music is slow enough for him not to trip over his own feet, though he looks properly terrified by the adoring gaze of his partner.

"There were... six or seven, I think, in the end," Scay tells Finola as she frowns in concentration, directing a glance at Willa for back-up. She smiles after a moment, making a face. "Yeah, they decided to get out there and embarrass themselves," she agrees firmly. "We're being smart and staying put, right?"

"Oh, definitely. We're here because we want to be here," Willa says firmly. "Because we do not want to look silly. Otherwise we would be. Well, we would not look silly because we could dance quite well had we bothered to learn." Giggling quietly she picks at some pastry or other and watches the dancers a bit, but a slow song is not as fun to watch.

T'ren heads over to the refreshment table, glasses in hand. He talks to the serving fellow for a moment and then waits, nodding slightly to Emani and Selvien. He drums his fingers against his leg absently, watching the dancers for a short moment.

Finola bites back a grin at R'hyn and shrugs her shoulders in a 'what can I do' sort of motion. Taking pity on him she holds up one finger to signal she'll save him after the slow dance is over, she's just not brash enough to go cut in on a girl half her age. "Why aren't you two dancing?" she asks Scay and Willa. "You are both too young to be sitting here with the old maids."

N'thri finds someone convenient for the current song, stepping onto the floor again with a flowery, wilting kind of girl - y'know, the ones that people might think are pretty but who look like they have spines of Jell-O.

Emani's brow furrows as she downs the rest of her drink and heads for the dancefloor again - apparently expecting Selvien to follow. "Sounds familiar..." But apparently, she can't quite place it at the moment - she shrugs and turns to the harper wen she's reached the floor with one of those bright, wide smiles of hers. T'ren's nod is returned as they state to dance.

R'hyn's relief at Finola's gesture is palpable, though his attention is quickly whisked away again, and he smiles - nervous as all get out - at his partner, who babbles on for a time, then leans her head down on his chest, arms wrapped tightly about him.

Geraine leans back, content to enjoy the music and the dancing on the floor before her. Her fingers tap quietly on her leg, proving that she has a decent grasp of tempo.

A few coins change hands and T'ren makes his way back towards Geraine, carefully weaving amongst the other gather attendees. He sets both glasses on the table and then looks over at the dance floor. He holds out a hand for the necklace, "Here, lets get this settled so I can drag you out there before the song ends."

At Finola's words, Scay actually laughs. "Mom always says I act old," she jokes, smirking slightly. "No, actually, I, for one, am not about to get out there and embarrass myself like them--" helpfully, she points at the dance floor "--and anyway, nobody's gonna ask me." She flushes slightly at the last, then glances at Willa. "Don't be so sure. As clumsy as I am, I don't even think I could be taught," she remarks wryly, rolling her eyes at herself.

Selvien departs after Emani again, setting down his glass on a vacant table rather absently as he strides back onto the floor and begins, once again, to dance. Hearing the lyrics of the song from the guitarist, he grins mildly. "Hmmm. Isn't Lady Ilia new?" he wonders, gaze wandering over to the singing harper. "It's a lovely tune, anyway."

Geraine laughs faintly and passes the delicate piece up to the brownrider. Leaning her head forward slightly, she brushes her short bit of hair off the back of her neck. "Yes, let's do just that."

Willa blinks and peers curiously at Finola. "Why would I want to dance? Why would anyone want to dance with me? I'm quite talented with my gitar, but appreciating someone else's work is best done on the sidelines for me. I've quite two left feet I am sure, only one looks right." Giggling brightly she glances at Scay and then asks Finola, "Why aren't you dancing?"

Keltaka comes in from the courtyard.

Feet sway slowly, shuffling over the dance floor as the sweet-voiced guitarist leads the ensemble through the slow ballad. The words turn more vague, voicing the girl's loveliness and unrequited love put aside for the good of her Hold.

Finola chuckles at the two girls "Everyone is afraid of embarrassing themselves out there, if it doesn't make you comfortable to dance fast you can always do the slow numbers." she points out to Scay. Willa gets an appreciative nod "Will we be able to hear you play today? Oh, I haven't been asked yet but I do try to get in a few dances at the gathers. At least before fools start drinking themselves silly and need a healer."

T'ren fiddles with the clasp and finally manages to get the necklace done up. He nods and settles his hands on Geraine's shoulders, steering her towards the dance floor.

Keltaka slips in, a surprisingly quiet entrance for the generally outgoing weaver.

Scay glances down at her own pigeon-toed feet, nodding her agreement with Willa. "Quite," she declares earnestly, beaming at the harper. She glances back to Finola, eyes widening at the suggestion of a slow dance. "No way!" she declares, shaking her head. "That's... worse. Or at the least just as bad," insists the girl with an affected shudder.

"Um, yeah - think so. Why?" Emani's obviously not listening to the music -too- closely. She grins up at Selvien as they dance slowly around the floor, nodding. "It's nice enough - but -" She listens closer, grimacing. "Shards, what is she on about?" she says, disgustedly indicating the singer. Her gaze might slip briefly around at the dancing couples, but not for -too- long.

Willa shakes her head slowly. "I played earlier. I'm not much for dance music. It's just not that interesting. I mean, it is, but people aren't -listening- to it. They're just dancing to it. It's an entirely different thing. I like people to really hear what I am doing. Or they miss some of what I do. It's vanity, I know, I was told that repeatedly, but I am still happy with the way I am." She smiles at Scay and nods her head before looking to the older woman with them, "Well, see? She's keeping me company. So I don't feel alone. And, slow songs are not dancing. It's just trying to grope each other or something. Hardly talent."

R'hyn's partner, though not visible to the bronzerider himself, glances at a friend of hers, dancing nearby, positively smirking -- look at what /she/ caught. The movement of her head, much like a nuzzle into his chest, her body pressed up to his, has the bronzerider turn a little pale, and attempt to take a step backwards, deliberately turning their motion that she has no choice but to hurry to catch up.

Geraine arranges the necklace against her dress, laughing as the brownrider steers her onto the floor. Turning about, she takes his hand in hers, prepared to let him lead her about the dancefloor.

T'ren slips his free hand around Geraine's back and, once he's caught the beat, twirls her easily into the mix of couples on the floor. He leans back slightly and nods, "Still looks stunning on you," he murmurs, giving a bit of a tug to pull her closer.

Scay squinches her eyes shut, looking profoundly embarrassed at Willa's bluntness. Sure, she might be thinking the same thing, but she's not saying it. She'll voice her agreement, though, with a muffled "Yeah, really."

Finola laughs softly at Willa's words "Not everyone uses slow dancing to try to grope someone else" she protests. Still watching R'hyn with amusement she watches the bronzerider's predictament "Well, almost everyone." Giving the pair at the table a rueful shake of her head Fin says "Well if you two are happy sitting and watching everyone you might as well have fun doing it. Are you at least keeping an eye on who leaves with whom?"

Chuckling softly, Geraine gives no signs of resisting at that tug, glancing sideways at T'ren. After all, they are the same height. "Flatterer," she accuses him before saying something in a quiet voice.

Keltaka heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

Willa smirks just a little, but tries not to do it so Scay can see. Instead she clears her throat and rolls her eyes. "I don't think so," she tells Finola. "I mean, I don't care. That's gossip-y stuff and I hardly have an interest in that. Besides, people leave with anyone at these things. It doesn't really tell you anything." She follows Finola's gaze briefly towards the dancers and asks, "Who do you have your eye on then? Why are you sitting here with us?"

"You know, I'm not entirely sure now, but that doesn't much matter, now does it." Selvien turns Emani gently around, grinning quite similarly in return and focusing his gaze on his partner now, at least for the moment.

T'ren gives a wicked grin at Geraine's words, nodding in response as he leads her around the dance floor. His reply to her gets lost in the music and general chatter of the other dancers.

Calm and soft, the ballad drifts into silence with the last refrain being about the girl growing old and tired but able to look over her people and her fields with pride for her life's work. A few people seem subdued, but the song is generally met with cheerful applause.

Rather slyly, Scay glances up at Finola, completely missing that smirk of Willa's. She shoots a speculative look out at the dancers, noting certain couplings. "Well, I don't really like talking about people that much, because I always end up feeling guilty, but... Well, I don't exactly have qualms about paying attention to things like that."

Finola has had enough wine to make the usually stuffy healer more relaxed and to loosen her tongue a bit. "I came here alone so who knows who I could end up dancing with? There is a freedom in staying unattached at this sort of gathers, you can dance with whoever you want and not offend anyone else." Scay gets a knowing look from Finola "Don't feel guilty, trust me...they would do the same to you in a heartbeat."

R'hyn blanches, as his partner, at the conclusion of the song, seeks to grab him off to a whole collection of fifteen turn olds. "You HAVE to meet Esha, and HER boyfriend, Kerikos," she insists, clutching to his arm. "And they've all got to meet you!"

Emani mirrors Selvien's grin, quiet til the end of the dance, when she draws back and applauds along with the other dancers. She nods to the harper, widening into a smile. "Thank you. Try to find me later, maybe?"

N'thri bows to his willowy partner. To be fair, neither of them look terribly impressed with the other: She trots off to a cluster of girls, and he shakes his head, sort of diving through the crowd toward the lady in red.

Willa leans back and glances out at the crowd witha bit of a bored expression. "This is boring," she vocalizes a few moments later. "I mean, not you two whom I find entirely charming and interesting, but I'm rather bored of the rest of these people. They're not exciting anymore. I think I will go for a walk or something."

Finola bites her lip as she overhears R'hyn being dragged off by an adolesent girl and with a quiet "Excuse me" to the other two at her table she moves quickly to the bronzeriders side and gives the girl a fake smile "I'm sorry, he's already promised me a dance."

Geraine pulls back from T'ren at the end of the song, giving the brownrider an amused look as she applauds. Oddly, she makes no effort to answer whatever it is he said to her, moving toward side of the dance floor, the ribbons and skirts of her dress flaring as she heads.

"Yeah, I know," Scay agrees drily, rolling her eyes. She glances to the floor, eyeing in particular R'hyn and his gaggle of admirers. "I hope those aren't any of my friends," she remarks idly. She doesn't seem too concerned about him, though, as she quickly turns back to Willa and Finola. "Oh. Okay," she tells the harper, half turning to watch Finola's rescue attempts.

T'ren applauds at the end of the song, then follows Geraine off the floor. He picks his glass up from the table and takes a long, slow drink from it. He doesn't sit back down, turning to check out the crowd for a moment instead.

Willa stands up after finishing off her drink. She smiles brightly at Scay and says, "I'm going off. Maybe I'll find someone who'll give me a ride home. I doubt it, but I don't want to be stuck here another night. Will you be alright?" Finola's abandonment is met with a brief wave of her hand, if she's leaving to be silly then silly she is.

R'hyn attempts to school the relief from his face, feigning - badly, it's true - disappointment. "It's true, I did. I'm so sorry--" a pregnant pause, "my dear, but a promise is a promise. Er..." Embarrassedly, he shrugs, "Maybe another time?" The girl, eyeing Finola up at down, scoffs beneath her breath. "Obviously I can't compete with /old/ women." She flounces off. R'hyn turns to Finola with visible relief. "Thank you, so much. Er-- I'm sorry. About her."

"Me? Oh, yeah. Definitely," Scay replies to Willa, inflecting some measure of confidence into her voice. "I'll just sit here until my friends finish accosting all these new people and can take me home," jokes the girl.

Geraine is taking a long drink of her own wine, her eyes roaming over the dancefloor as she stands there. One hand comes up to lightly finger the necklace she is now wearing, her lips curling into a faint smile.

"Quite welcome - and of course. If I can find you through all these crowds before it's time to return home. " Selvien offers his applause to his colleagues and a small smile to Emani as he withdraws with a prompt 'Excuse me, I'm a bit hungry," going off to find him some yummy munchies.

Willa nods her head to Scay and smiles once more at the girl. "Well, alright. So long as you are sure." With a final wave she detours by the pastry table for a snack to tide her over until she can track someone down to bring her home. Whistling under her breath she weaves through the crowd and towards the doors to get out and away from the crowd. When she reaches the door she stops and melts back into the crowd as a small group of men wearing badges from Southern hold come in. Willa waits patiently for them to leave the door and then she hurries out even faster, scowling over her shoulder before she disappears.

Willa heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

Finola has heard worse things coming from teenaged girls and she doesn't even bother to mask the amusement on her face "She doesn't bother me, I have a son a few turns younger then she is in fact." Joining in with the applause she shoots the bronzerider a daring look "I'm Finola, journeyman healer out of Fort Weyr" she introduces herself, offering a hand to R'hyn in greeting. "Will I be getting the next dance so I don't turn out to be too much of a liar?"

The Harpers take a few bows and the Drummer says, "Thank you all. We'll have a little pause, and then another quartet will take the stage. Happy Turnover!" People on the dance floor break for refreshments as the evening wears on.

Scay nods firmly once more to Willa, watching the retreating harper until she vanishes outside. Once she's gone, Scay returns her attention to the dance floor, watching the little dramas being acted out there -- namely, R'hyn, Finola, and company.

"Well - find me when you get back -" Emani pauses and grits out, "Home." A dazzling smile for the harper, as she adds, "See you 'round, Selvien." She turns in time to spot N'thri as he makes his way towards her - she smirks at the bluerider. Then, the Harper's announcement; "Denied. Want to wait for the next one?"

R'hyn laughs quietly, hazarding a glance across the room to where a whole group of teenagers is gathering to comfort - and probably mock - the jilted girl. "Ah, then that would make you accustomed to it. I've a few turns yet, thankfully; my daughter's only four, and will hopefully have a little more... decorum." He's flushing, a little, though it may just be the warmth. "R'hyn, Arisvath's rider from Ista. And not," he notes, quickly, "transferring to Fort." He shakes her hand, adding, "It would be my pleasure, Finola."

T'ren turns to the lady at his side as the Harper's make their announcement of a break, "I think I'm in need of a bit of air," he murmurs to her quietly, "would you care to join me, or would you rather stay and," he glances around the room before continuing, "mingle for a little while?" He drains his glass and toys with it while he waits for a response.

Like, three steps shy of Emani, N'thri stops short and turns toward the Harpers with a frown. "I really begin to feel singled-out," he says drily, but offers his arm to her anyway. "Come and I'll buy you a drink while we cool our heels for a bit?" he offers, tossing his head toward the beverage table.

Finola is watching the cluster of girls herself and offers R'hyn a crooked smile "I think she was a bit more..hmm..agressive then most. Her father should marry her off quickly before she causes too much trouble." As the pair shake hands she says warmly "It's a pleasure to meet you R'hyn of Ista. So tell me, why aren't you transferring to Fort? You don't want all the beautiful sleet and freezing rain?"

Looking about the room, filled with laughing and talking people, Geraine shakes her head slightly. "No, air seems like a good idea this point." She places her now-empty glass down on the table then nods toward the exit. "Come."

Emani's smirk shifts to a full smile, and she takes the bluerider's arm. "Not an offer I'd lightly turn down," she says, agreeably. "I'll put up with you for a bit longer - especially if you're buying." Flicking her hair back over her shoulder, she looks up at him expectantly. Lead on.

"She-- certainly seemed that way to me. Is that normal, these days?" Nodding quickly, R'hyn agrees with Finola, noting, "She kept going on about how I should take her back to the weyr so she can Impress. I think a husband would be a good thing, to calm her down." Smiling, he adds, "And a pleasure to meet you, too. That, for certain - who could leave weather like this? - but really, my family's at Ista. It's a shame, to see so many friends leave, but I couldn't leave my daughter, or my mother. Are you Fortian, by birth, or is it a posting?"

T'ren places his empty glass on the table as well and starts making his way towards the exit. He passes by Finola and R'hyn, pausing only slightly to give the healer a bit of a smile and nod in greeting, before continuing on his way outside with Geraine.

Finola shakes her head, as baffled as R'hyn over the attitudes of the teenaged generation "I have no idea, the only girls I see that age are usually the apprentices and if they were so...ah, inclined..they would have not made it as far as the hall." T'ren's passing with Geraine is noted and she gives the brownrider a civil nod before continuing her conversation with R'hyn "I'm only posted at Fort at the moment, I was born just outside Lemos Hold. I can't really blame you for not leaving, with weather like this. I've never had the priveledge of being posted so far south to enjoy the warmer weather."

"I figured you'd have a response like that," says N'thri with his most brilliant smile in place. He leads Emani off through the crowd, getting a little bumped along the way, but making idle chatter as he goes. "What happened to your Harper? He seemed to drop you awful fast after that last dance. Step on his toes or something?"

"Do you know her?" Geraine can be heard saying as she heads out the door.

Geraine heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

T'ren heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

R'hyn glances after T'ren, a curious expression present upon his face for a before, before his attention is returned to Finola. "We've our share of silly girls at the weyr," R'hyn admits, self-consciously, "but I'm old enough that most of them leave me alone, now. Ah, Lemos - rather different from here, to be sure. How different is it from Fort? I don't head north all that often, I admit."

Scay, busy people-watching (or, as Willa so accurately termed it, idiot-watching), watches curiously as T'ren and Geraine as they depart together. She cants her head, then shrugs slightly, settling herself more comfortably where she sits out of the way of the crowds.

Emani blinks at N'thri with wide blue eyes as they walk along. "About the drink, or the putting up with you?" she asks. "And you made a good arguement, sort of; I mean, you're not near as pretty as I am, but we make do with what we have. Lucky me." A glimmer of a grin, then, "So I said I was dancing with you next, though I had to ask who you -are- - And I only step on people's feet on purpose."

Finola takes the few steps to her table to reclaim her glass of wine and ignores the exit of the Fortian junior goldrider and T'ren and chuckles "Well, it is silly of that girl to think that she could Impress that way, though I'm sure she wouldn't be the first to try." Cynical after her years posted at Weyrs around Pern she watches the girl giving her dirty looks from across the room "Lemos is a bit flatter then Fort and with more plainslands. It isn't that much different besides the landscape outside of the winters aren't quite as harsh. We used to get more snow and less wind. I've lived at either Fort Weyr or the Hall longer then I ever lived at Lemos though. How about you? Born and raised at Ista?"

His tone a blatant pat on the head, N'thri says to Emani, "Few people are as pretty as you are. Lucky you." He deposits her at the table of drinks, glancing over the spread with a critical frown. "Ah, did you?" he adds suddenly, a bright grin blooming into face. "Asked the Harper who I was, then? And what'd he tell you?"

R'hyn follows, and nods, slowly. "Oh, absolutely. Unfortunately, it happens - every young person seems to know of a cousin's friend's sister who got picked up by a handsome rider, and went on to Impress. It's probably mostly untruth, but they believe it." A flush colours his features as he notes the dirty glances, and he turns his head away quickly. "/Snow/," he says, in the tone of one who hasn't seen such a thing often. "So you've been at Fort Weyr a long time, then? You must have... seen a lot. Oh, yes, mostly. Born at Ista, though I Impressed at Southern. Posted there as a Harper."

Finola turns so the looks from the adolesent group aren't in her general line of sight "I just got reposted to the Weyr a few days ago actually. I was posted there twelve turns ago for a couple of turns and now I'm back for another round. Last time was at the very beginning of the pass and it was interesting since we had records on how to treat threadscores but nobody had actually done it yet. Southern? I've never been on the southern continent before, is it as beautiful as people claim?"

Emani ignores the condescension - after all, it is the truth. She watches him look over the drinks, brow furrowing. "Er - Did they -do- something to you?" Then, perhaps a bit defensively, "Well, you didn't exactly introduce yourself when you started insulting me out of nowhere, now did you? He wasn't entirely sure on your name." A pause, then, absently, "Know it from somewhere - don't know why."

Dragon> Arisvath bespoke you with << I was just looked at by Trinity. >>

"It must be hard, to be moved around like that," says R'hyn, thoughtfully. "Or do you choose where you go?" He leans up against the back of a chair, adding, "I'd never thought of it like that. We had to fight thread knowing the theories, but not, exactly, what it was like - but it was just as bad for you healers. I hadn't actually graduated, yet, when thread started falling, but I'd Impressed." He bites down on his lip, considering. "Yes, it is beautiful. It seems very... unclaimed, even though there are people around. More jungle than here at Ista."

"What? The drinks?" N'thri wrinkles his nose, straightening up from the table a bit. "Offended my delicate palate. And you didn't exactly give me a chance to introduce myself before you offered to hop into the sack with me, if you recall. Obviously, names aren't a priority for you." He flashes a smile, then finally takes a cup off the edge of the table.

"It all tastes the same after the first four or five anyway," Emani says of the drinks dismissively, wrinkling her nose over at N'thri. 'Delicate palate' - whatever. She does, however, take a cup of the same ilk as the bluerider's. "I'm not good at remembering all the time," she says, blithely. "And no, not always a priority, but you always seem to be around."

"We go where we are needed" Finola explains as she thinks about R'hyn's words "I can't say I was ever posted somewhere that I didn't like, once I started not liking a post a couple of turns in but I was transferred out when I said something to the craftmaster so it wasn't too bad." Taking a sip of her wine she swallows and nods before talking again "I remember thinking when thread started that everyone was finally equal for one long moment, we all were ignorant of what was coming firsthand."

N'thri smiles over the top of his cup, saying, "Like I said, I don't have a lot to do." He pauses, taking a drink with a merry look in his eyes. Swallow. "Besides get around. Should we get a table or some air or a table with some air?"

R'hyn nods, uncertainly, and pauses to purchase a fruit cocktail from a passing server. He holds the drink gingerly, as he pursues, "But it means you can never really be settled. You can leave behind friends - family, even. You said you have a son? Does he keep moving with you?" He transfers his glass from one hand to the other, adding, "That's a good way of putting it, I think. Are we still equal? I like to think so. We all perform services."

Emani doesn't ask about the extra time on N'thri's hands - not this time, anyway. "Lucky me," she says again, dryly. Waving a hand magnanimously, she says, "You decide. The least I can do since it looks like you might have missed your dance."

Finola takes another sip of her wine, making an approving sound at the taste before answering "You are right, we never do settle down unless we retire to teach or wish to settle perminently at a post. My son has moved with me to Fort but when he was really young he was fostered at the Hall or with his father. Despite moving around and having his mother in and out all the time he has grown up remarkably stable." Back to the subject of theadfall she nods eagerly "I do think we all are still equal when it comes to thread, we have all had time to get used to it and predict what it will do. Wingleaders can judge what type of a fall it is by sight in the first few moments, a healer can tell at a quick glance most of the time if a rider has dislocated his shoulder in a fall. During an interval we may never have met or started talking but during a Pass we learn to work side by side and grow a respect for what each does." Suddenly Finola laughs a little, covering her mouth "I'm sorry, I'm babbling from too much wine."

N'thri drops his jaw, assuming a dramatically flattered expression. "Wow. I am so lucky to have your doting attention." He nods toward the doors presently, starting to steer that way. "Let's have a bit of air, and maybe they'll do another show in a while, and you can make good on the dance, hm?"

Emani is easily steered, eyeing the crowds, carrying her drink with her still. "Well, it's good you recognize that," she points out, then nods. "Sounds like a plan..."

Emani heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

N'thri heads out the large doors to the courtyard.

"I suppose it's not as though I'm always there for my daughter, even though I do live in the same place as her," R'hyn reflects, his nose wrinkling slightly. "We lead busy lives." He listens in silence as Finola talks, and his smile broadens -- quickly, he nods his head. "No, don't apologise, I think you're quite right. We all need each other, so we learn to work together."

Finola puts down her wine glass, deciding she has reached her limit for the evening "Well, as long as the children grow up well and we do our best by them..." lifting her hands in a 'what can you do' sort of gesture she adds "It looks like the harpers are going to take longer then usual in this break, would you like to take a walk?"

"It would be my pleasure," says R'hyn, with a smile, as he offers his arm - and off they go.

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