Going Someplace in a Handbasket [Hatching Feast]

[Kitsuneko]

Iskra was happy this evening. Nay, she was practically ecstatic. Her son, after standing at clutches fruitlessly for two turns, had finally Impressed. True, it was to one of the newer mutation colors, but still, a dragon was a dragon, and he looked happier than ever with little Blasieth, so Iskra decided she had nothing to complain about. Don't forget the other seven pairs to celebrate, Maeleth added in a coolly amused voice.

Yes, yes, there were a total of eight new dragons and their riders to add to Trelis Weyr's strength. Assuming all the weyrlings survived, that was. Last she had heard, one of them was still badly injured and possibly unconscious, though his bronze had yet to disappear, so she hoped there was nothing to worry about there. Even so, she was in an unusually good mood for her as the Feast began and she stood up.

"Welcome to another Hatching Feast, and thank you to D'tri and Chahaturth for providing the Weyr with eight more fine weyrlings." Iskra turned and inclined her head to the topazrider. "I am delighted to be able to return to Trelis Weyr, the place of Maeleth's birth, and I hope after the untimely demise of the last Weyrwoman, we can all look forward to a better future. For anyone of you who may not know, since our arrival was rather abrupt, I am Iskra of gold Maeleth, and my second is Rikula, of Majorith. Though I am to serve as Senior Weyrwoman for now, it is only until another gold is hatched at Trelis. After that, Rikula shall take my place as Senior, while I return to Telgar." She tried very hard to keep any hint of bitterness out of her voice at the latter sentence, and liked to believe she had succeeded. She was only doing so because that was the plan that had been worked out beforehand, but she didn't particularly like it.

"Enough about that, however. There are weyrlings to celebrate and wine to enjoy, and soon enough, Majorith should rise and provide the Weyr with another clutch. Let's enjoy!" Speech over, the Weyrwoman sat down, though she didn't stay for long. She wasn't particularly hungry and there'd be plenty of time to eat later. She still wanted to see B'ran, but in the meantime there were surely other people to talk to. She looked around, wondering who to address first.

((OOC: Weyrlings are allowed to attend the feast, though there's a good chance they may be too tired to do so and it's expected they won't stay long. Otherwise, just post and interact with each other. It's basically a giant meet and greet.))

[Wish]

You sure you have to go Rikula? We could just stay in here.....really we could.

No, I'm pretty sure I have to go. I don't want to, but I have to. Besides, I'm also fairly sure that if I don't go Iskra will find me later and scold me and we both hate that.

But Miiiiiine........fine.

The bit off ending to Majoriith's thought was enough of an understanding for Rikula. The rider shook her hair out from its braid as she took out the last bit, letting the brown waves fall down around her back and shoulders. It certainly felt better to let her hair loose as it were, but that didn't mean she often did it. Hair got in the way, but she could never bring herself to cut it either so back it went usually except for the few cases like these. Her fingers brushed over the dark forest green and cream of the dress she wore, a small smile brought to her lips at the familiar feeling. It always brought back happier memories, ones where her family still lived and she was young and uncomplicated by her bondmate.

I'm sorry I am such a burden on you....I try not to be.

The young woman's brows furrowed as she looked over her shoulder past the mass of hair that still needed to be tamed by comb and brush to look at her dragoness. "Enough of that Maj, you and I are together and that's how it is supposed to be. Simple. You are no more of a burden on me than I am on you." Grabbing the handle of her brush with a grip that was perhaps a bit too tight, Riku yanked the bristles through her hair and winced as it pulled. It was centering though, and little by little the tangles smoothed into silky locks. No doubt it will be back to its normal frizzy mess though by the end of the night. Riku's thought was a dark cloud on her already bitter mood, though the hatching had lifted it somewhat.

She didn't want to make any speeches, she didn't want to talk in front of people that barely even wanted her there. She certainly didn't want to be paraded around like a possession or anything else of the sort. Folding her arms tightly against her chest and letting out an undignified snort, the rider rolled her eyes emphatically and then stamped her foot letting the childish tirade go on for a moment more before stopping herself and straightening her shoulders. "I'll be back in a few candlemarks. Hopefully either I'll be able to slip away or I'll just get so drunk I won't care. Both would be fine by me..."

Just be careful, please Mine.

Aren't I always?

----

Inali took a deep breath again, her dark hair a veil around her as she let her head rest in her hands.

It came and went, the ease of the bond with the hardship of recognizing just what it meant. Ever since Rudith had entered her mind it had been like this, a constant war between complete bliss and terrible pain. Shutting her eyes closed as tight as she possibly could the weyrling took in a breath that was more of a hiss. .....they want me to go to the feast...I'm sure they do. I should go shouldn't I, it would be good to see how low this place has sunk since I left. Yes, I'm sure I should go...T'rian....he'll most likely be there too. It would do good to get him on my side again I suppose, to find allies.

Yes, that would be for the best LittleOne.

Rudith's calm voice slipped into Inali's head, burning away the uncertainty until only she remained. In the same way that the green's voice was invading her, the dragonet's head nudged through the curtain of wavy black hair until it settled on her lap in Inali's hands. Blinking up at her, seemingly innocent, Rudith gave a soft croon and licked a tear that ran down her rider's cheek, her eyes betraying her emotions though in a calm mixture of blue and green. There was nothing about this that alarmed Rudith, it was to be expected the green supposed that Hers would find the transition difficult, but Hers would make it simply because she was a grown woman and could handle herself. Rudith also just did not make mistakes, and her choice in rider was definitely not a wrong one.

Getting to her feet the young woman wiped her eyes with the corner of her sleeve and shook out her hair, pulling it away from her face and narrowing her gaze. Yes, things were to be planned and dealt with, Inali needed to keep herself together. Steadying herself against her green's mind, Inali took in a deep breath and nodded to Rudith who was curling back up in her little nest. "I will be back later." Blue, grey eyes met swirling ones for a moment before the dragonet replied with the slightest tilt of her head.

I will never be further than a thought away.

-----

Well now, feasts were certainly fun weren't they?!?

AraMine, don't forget the Hatchling! Avirith's bugle got Ara back into focusing on the present as she turned from the looking glass and gathered up Jarali into her arms humming a happy little tune. Feasts and babies, babies and feasts. Kayath'sOwn is still with that new Bronzeweyrling....are you not bothered by this? Alyara paused mid-step, her gaze darkening slightly as she held Jarali tighter to her chest, the baby letting out a little crying gurgle in protest. So, the weyrling was still unwell and her weyrmate was still with him....so what....it was normal for J'dol to worry, the poor lad had feinted and had been mauled after all. They were lucky he was still with them and his dragonet too.

Yes but this is the same one he searched...the one that he was acting so friendly with...don't you worry? Avirith's voice again brought into Ara's mind worrisome thoughts that the rider shook off. No, no Avi....J'dol....I have Jarali, I will always have a part of J'dol with me, he loves her and he loves me. He may be hard to hold onto and I may dislike how....comfortable, he can be sometimes with others, but it's the life I chose to live with him. Ara shook head sadly, knowing full well that it still bothered her whether she wanted to admit it or not. It was true though that she couldn't, and didn't want to, control the things her weyrmate did. Jarali reached up to pull on her mother's hair, the baby's green eyes searching Ara's similar ones for whatever was making her upset. She might only be months old, but a child could tell when their mother was upset; they could feel it in the way they held them, in that invisible link that was from one to the other.

"Come on you, let's go to the feast now darling."

---

Sevrin and Kaya had picked a nice little dark area in the corner of some abandoned table that no one seemed to want.

Yep, that was the ex bronzerider and his firelizard for you. Or, well it was the ex rider at least because Kaya was currently having a temper-tantrum about the fact that no one was there to pay her any attention. The firelizard hissed for perhaps the twentieth time in that few minutes as she narrowed already red eyes and lashed her tail behind Sevrin's back. "Easy girl, honestly how do you expect anyone to come and see you if you act like that?" The man leaned back and kicked up his feet on the next table, listening half-heartedly to the speech Iskra was making.

At the mention of the younger goldrider however the man's gaze switched from one woman to the other, his eye brow cocking as Rikula seemed to shrink back in her seat and blush like a hold girl. Sevrin simply smirked at that and tilted back his head to gulp down half the pint of wine he had taken. Yep, certainly was going to be an interesting night this one! His gaze shifted from the young goldrider to another nearby table where another familiar form was hiding in the shadows with an equally known white haired weyrling. Tk'ri and Miyaka together as usual, conspiring supposedly or some such nonsense. Sevrin curled his lips up into a sneer that he sent his old friends' way, nodding briefly to Tk'ri even.

It was times like these that he missed Panille the most. Miyaka was no Pan, and without her their little trio simply had faded apart.

[Zirin]

J'dol liked not having to be responsible for the speeches. They had been a pain in the butt to begin with, and the few he had been in charge of were enough to last a lifetime. By the same token, he wasn't entirely keen on this newbie goldrider coming in from no where and taking over. Trelis had seen such takeovers before in the form of S'vrin and Ar'rex, though things had eventually smoothed out. Still, he was rankled about this goldrider. At least Maelath's came with her. Kayath had been a grump since the loss of her rank, though she still proclaimed herself the best queen around. She was right though, J'dol trusted Iskra slightly... even if she had run from Trelis and left them in the hands of two barely graduated riders. He knew Iskra though, and that was a small comfort at least.

Dressed in his finest clothes, J'dol was confident he looekd the part he was supposed to play today, and he didn't mind this time. The cooler weather was much more tolerable now. Strutting into the gather, his eyes quickly found Sevrin and offered the man a playful wave before heading off in search of a rather important person; one he hadn't gotten to see much of today, as he had come to the gather straight from his office. Spotting the greenrider and their daughter, J'dol moved quietly up behind them to wrap his arms around Ara, his chin quickly moving to rest on her shoulder.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you, beautiful lady?" He whispered, kissing her neck before looking down at Jarali, his voice taking on a louder coo as he spoke down to her. "And you too my little princess!" For all that he was still a horrible flirt, J'dol knew he would never care for anyone the way he cared for Ara, even if it didn't always show.

[Wish]

I miss not teaching the little dragonets too, do you think Syphraelth's own will let us now and again? Just to maybe help out a bit?

I don't know Avirith, the deal was that I'd play candidatemaster and he would take over the weyrlings. I did say I'd help him if he needed it though. Besides, candidates are generally working on chores so it wouldn't be hard to slip in and help once in a while.

The green seemed pacified enough by this, the dragoness curling up again and snoozing a bit as her rider wove through the crowd until she finally found a decent place to sit. It wasn't long after she had eased into the chair that J'dol was there behind her, the kiss he left on her neck sending thoughts into her mind that Avirith chortled at. Hush you! "And I love you as well my dashing J'dol." A gentle hand moved from Jarali to her weyrmate's face, caressing his cheek before she kissed it afterwards. "I think she's been missing you love. Perhaps you should hold her?"

The little girl cooed happily as Ara offered the child to her father to take, the tiny hands making grabbing motions as she gurgled nonsense words to the topazrider. "So, how is he? Doing better I hope.....and did you see? Inali came back...she impressed." Ara's eyes glazed slightly as she remembered what she had seen, a chill running down her spine. "T'rian is seeing to her now I think.....she didn't seem to be having an easy time. I'm surprised Iskra hasn't seen her yet either." Sighing, the greenrider shook her head still trying to wrap her mind around it. A dragonless rider re-impressing, it had happened before in records but one hadn't been seen for in a long matter of turns; and it was a once Goldrider to a green no less.

She is like us now.

Avirith's recollection made Ara even more uneasy, worrying for her friend. "I don't know if I should see her or not........oh! Should we invite her to come sit with us...she's all by herself." Ara, unfortunately as per normal, had stopped mid-stressful thought having noticed Riku sitting by herself. To make it a bit clearer that she had gotten off topic, the greenrider nodded in the goldrider's direction which only had the young woman shifting uncomfortably in her seat and narrowing her eyes slightly at the little family.

[Zirin]

He chuckled, moving to catch her lips in a soft kiss instead before grinning down at Jarali. She had already grown so much in the short time since her birth, it was unbelievable. J'dol found himself anxiously awaiting the day he would get to truly play with her.

"Ara. you make it sound like I've been gone for weeks!" He nuzzled into her. With paperwork keeping him up late into the night, J'dol had taken to sleeping in the spare weyr in order to not wake Ara and the babe up. Sure, he snuck in to see them both every day, and he slept in their shared weyr as often as possible, but it felt like he hadn't gotten a good chance to truly spend time with them lately. The feast was a perfect opportunity to take a break from work and shower them with love.

"Perhaps I should! And maybe I should hold my favourite woman later too hmm?" He winked as he sat down in his own seat and carefully took Jarali into his arms. At least he had become more comfortable and natural when it came to holding her. He tickled the palm of her hand with one of his fingers, grinning with delight when her tiny hand gripped him strongly.

"He's awake, and just as energetic as before, I think. He'll have some coping to do it seems, but I doubt it'll hamper him much. It appears we should consider teaching the candidates to stand a bit farther apart huh?" He still couldn't believe how many young men and women had been injured by one scared little blue!

"What kind of Weyrlord am I, I don't even recall most of the hatching." He mumbled sheepishly. He had been so focused on the injury, that he only recalled the first few impressions. He smiled softly, ignoring most of what Ara said. "You're doing that thing again, Ara, where you worry about everyone else around you. Things will be fine, just relax and let the world run its course. It works wonderfully I promise." In truth, J'dol cared little for the woman who claimed to be Inali. She certainly wasn't the woman who had earned his respect as a weyrling, and he most definitly felt nothing but disgust for her now.

For all that J'dol was not the best weyrmate, his daughter came before all else. He would never willingly do something to harm her, and he felt that that was something expected of parents. Inali though.. she had abandoned one daughter and dragged the other off to the dangerous Rebellion, from what he had heard. She had abandoned her family, her friends, and her home. No, this was not the Inali he knew, and he cared for her as much as he cared for wherry dung. Besides, he didn't quite get what all the hubbub was about; re-impressions had happened before. Shards, less than a Turn ago Dalrian - D'rian again - had found himself a second dragon. The shock and surprise running rampant in the Weyr would die down soon enough, just as it had for the bronze-turned-bluerider. Given the time, people would forget all about it as their daily lives demanded their attentions.

J'dol glanced up and followed the suggested nod to the goldrider, returning her narrowed look with one of his own. It was a short lived look though, and all too soon he was back to cooing nonsense words back at his daughter. He gave only a noncomittal grunt in response to Ara's suggestion. He didn't well feel like playing nice for the higher ups; he just wanted to spend some quality time with his family.

"If we should be spending time with anyone else, it should be our beloved godparents, don't you think?" He grinned a goofy little smile down at Jarali once more. "i bet step-daddy misses you just as much as I do every day, isnt that right my adorable little lady?"

[Kitsuneko]

I want to go to the Feast with you, B'ran, I really do. I just...feel...really tired right now. Even as Blasieth spoke, his mouth opened wide in a yawn, making B'ran smile.

"I don't think you'll be awake enough to really enjoy it, Blasieth," he said, stroking the ebony's head apologetically. "You go ahead and get some sleep. I won't be gone long." He wasn't even sure he wanted to go to the Feast, but he knew his mother would want to see him, and he had to admit he'd like the chance to get to know some of his fellow weyrlings better before the weyrling lessons started.

As soon as Blasieth was curled up in his bed, he was already starting to doze off, and B'ran headed off to the Hatching Feast. He'd arrived late enough that he'd missed the speech, which was certainly something he wasn't upset about. It looked like Rikula wasn't too happy about it, though, and he hid a smirk. It must not be very fun, being in the spotlight.

He hadn't been there long, but already the crowds were starting to get on his nerves; he didn't like being around so many people he didn't know. He tried his best to ignore the way it set off his paranoia. He looked around, searching mainly for people, candidates or weyrlings, that he'd recognized from the Hatching, but failing that, he sighed to himself and set himself up at a small table out of the way, carefully ignoring the people around him and trying not to draw attention to himself.

[twitchie]

Yes. She was here.

And she hated it.

Mae stood in a rather obscure corner, watching this display like a ghost. Her blue eyes were dim, glazed as if dreaming. Perhaps of what she longed to have but could only hope for. She hurt, but felt numb. Her heart quaked but yet she was filled with chilly steely calm.

Broken, broken
Glass covers the floor
I thought I knew this world

What I am
What I was
I am unsure

How would I know
What you are looking for?

She wanted to be angry, but...... S'bel had lessened the fire. He was who she cared about. If no one else gave her a chance, he would - and did. If she had to please anyone it would be him. And if she wanted anyone to value her, Mae, it would be him.

Perhaps her lifemate had not been here. Not this clutch. Perhaps not ever. But.... Woe to the man or beast to say otherwise.

The feast looked happy, but Mae still felt.... What was the word? Hollow? Empty? Like your joy seeped out of your soul. She'd be happy.... Later...

[Wish]

"I think the lack of lessons period probably was part of the issue. With all the worry going on about...well, there just wasn't a lot of time to squeeze in lessons about what to do and what not to do. Not to mention he was new and hadn't been here long at all before the hatching happened."

It wasn't that Ara was defending herself or her teaching, she was just trying to state the facts. With Iirla's passing and the confusion that followed there really had not been much consistancy in the lessons, and it seemed that Ara hadn't exactly gotten off on the right foot with it all either. She had been late for the touching even! Blushing and hiding it as she quickly looked away towards Rikula again, the greenrider sighed and shook her head. "I know I worry too much J'dol....I grew up with Inali though. Of course I worry, and Rikula is supposed to be our next Senior. You should say hello at least, she's honestly not that bad, just a bit stiff around new people."

She shrugged her shoulders, waving to a large form that moved toward the goldrider making her visibly cringe away. Sevrin had been watching his favorite couple in the Weyr and had not missed the looks they sent the rider's way. Of course it was his job to pester the young woman in that case! "Oi' you seem to be all by yourself her little missy. Now, why would that be?" Leaning against the table she was sitting at, Sevrin gave one of his non-to-pleasant smiles and smirked. The goldrider in turn narrowed her eyes again and shifted away uncomfortably. "I prefer to be on my own...." "Well, that won't do at all!" Grabbing the rider, and yes he was just a bit tipsy already, he shoved a wine goblet into one of her hands and dragged her to the table where J'dol and Alyara were sitting with their daughter.

"This 'ere's J'dol and Alyara, and that thur's meh god-daughter Jara!" Slurring his words just the slightest bit, Sevrin gave a goofy grin and ignored Kaya's chirp as he moved to touch the babe's head tenderly. Rikula looked awkwardly from the mother to the father, finally blinking and realizing she should probably say something when Majoriith gently nudged her mind. "Uh...uh...hi....." Blushing, and oh Faranth that wasn't something easily done in Riku's case, the young woman grabbed the goblet she had set down and quickly chugged about half of it down...took a breath and then decided to drain the rest of it for good measure. "This is going to be a very long night," she muttered under her breath as she bit the edge of the goblet.

[Zirin]

"We've met before you know," J'dol gave a lazy shrug, "When the two first arrived. I had to hand over Weyr Leadership to them, remember? Kayath hasn't stopped whining about it since." Well, if Ara was insistant upon them playing host, then J'dol would have to comply, even if he didn't necessarily want to.
　
J'dol looked up, a smile on his lips as Sevrin, of all people, lead the goldrider over. Oh and look at that! It seemed the man had gotten into his wine... J'dol liked it when Sevrin got drunk; fun was always sure to follow. he wondered how open him and Ara would be to another round of their little game.
　
"Oooh can we take him home with us Ara?" He winked, speaking loud enough for the group to hear. He made sure to allow the man to touch Jarali, though he didn't hand her over, he wouldnt until he made sure Sevrin wasn't drunk enough to drop her. "SevvyBabe, you really should come bursting into the weyr sometime. It's been far too long." He gave a mildly worried glance at Rikula before covering it up with a fake smile. He was uncomfortable enough with handing over the Weyr to someone they didn't know... why did she have to be so shy too. J'dol might not have felt so uneasy about everything if she had been more outspoken and confident.
　
"Beautiful Lady, drink like that and you won't last the night! Come now, relax and have a little fun, I promise we don't bite... hard." He gave Ara a knowing glance, well aware that she had left him with more than one faint scar. He lifted an arm and hailed over a drudge with another wineskin, two actually, if Rikula and Sevrin were any indication of how much wine they would need.
　
"Ara my love, should we perhaps find someone to take Jarali for the night? Our campanions seem to be up for a night of heavy drinking and I think it would do us both good to join them."

[Wish]

The greenrider couldn't help but laugh when her weyrmate suggested, well she blushed at the thought of what he suggested and smacked Sevrin's arm when he smirked knowingly as well. "Behave, both of you or I'll take Rikula here else where and....well, never mind that, you'd both probably like that more." Sighing, the rider shook her head and turned to the goldrider who was still looking back and forth between them with her eyes cautiously. "Really, it's okay, you're among friends here Rikula."

Finally the younger rider seemed to relax somewhat, slipping into a seat and gladly taking the skin of wine and gulping a few mouthfuls down. "Riku...please." She finally managed to get it out before taking one more drink and passing it to Sevrin who nodded and took a good mouthful and passed it on to J'dol, Ara busy with handing the child to Inoria as the little girl appeared out of no where, apparently called by Avirith. "Go take her back to our weyr okay 'Ria? Avi will show you pictures." The girl nodded her head and moved to hug J'dol first before taking the child and leaving.

"Now that our responsibilities are gone, drinking definitely is in order!" After all this was the last time they could before work started so to speak. Or, well it would be if Ara had to deal with the weyrlings, which she reminded herself sadly she did not. Turning to the goldrider again, she tilted her head and poked the girl's leg making Riku jump slightly and Ara laugh. "So, you're from High Reaches like Iskra?" The young woman nodded her head, staring at the greenrider until she realized she wanted more information to be given up. Finally sighing and taking another few gulps of the wine, the hunter let go of any thoughts of Weyrwomen and Goldriders and just let herself be Rikula again.

"I was born in a minor hold....uh......Lord Holder's daughter. I...ended up in the Weyr later on and impressed to Maj."

[Zirin]

J'dol grinned mischieviously as he too noticed Sevrin's knowing smirk. Perhaps there was hope yet for this night! "Perhaps we would. I think I'd rather like a show, since you got to watch the last time we had a little rendezvous. By the same token, I wouldn't mind giving a show again." He winked, recalling the memory rather fondly. Ah the good ol' days!
　
"Oooh Ara, are you going to behave tonight? You're so wild when you drink!" Taking the wineskin and handing off Jarali, J'dol was only too happy to knock back a fair bit of the wine. No responsibilities for the night huh? It sounded beyond pleasant, though J'dol figured he would drink slow enough to not lose his head. He might need it tonight. That was when the women decided to launch into a little personal history-fest, which was something J'dol had rarely found exceptionally exciting.
　
Groaning a little to himself at Ara's idea of fun, J'dol grabbed up the skin again and knocked back a fair bit of the stuff, causing himself to choke a little before he finally stopped. Winehead be damned, he was going to need to be drunk if he hoped to have fun!
　
"Oi Sevvy, let's let the pretty womanfolk have their talk of pasts while we have all the fun. You haven't been around much. Finally found yourself a bed buddy or have you just been avoiding us?"