Turn's End Celebration

[Invisible]

The party had started in the bowl while there was still sunlight to warm people. As evening came in even the bravest, and drunkest, realized it would be folly to spend the evening celebrating outside. Best to leave the dark nooks and crannies of the bowl to those who could heat themselves up with a partner of choice. The turn’s end games at Telgar had no clean sweep. Each wing had acquitted themselves well with Frost, Blizzard, and Hail coming out on top together. Whatever concerns there might be about stores having enough to last the winter had been set aside for the evening. Wine casks were tapped, kegs were brought out, and the best food had been prepared over the course of two days to feed not only the Weyr, but anyone else who might arrive to celebrate.

Extra harpers had been commissioned from the hall to make sure there was music playing not just throughout the night, but past dawn should anyone wish to stay up so late. Cold it might be, but on occasion the party would spill out into the night when a group got too rowdy. J’fel had made an appearance and he was expected back by some. His words of the weyrwoman not feeling well this evening rang true enough and those that still believed their romance to be on the right course thought it quite romantic for the weyrleader to forgo partying with his wing to spend time at Aderes’ side. Those of a less romantic nature were laying bets as to whom the boy weyrleader would be seen with sneaking into the shadows later.

For now however there was wine and dancing enough to keep even the most curious busy. Even the weyrlings were out in force having been given the night off by H’gar. Some of the weyr’s populace were making trips back and forth to the Caminar gathering although as the night wore on it was less likely to be the case since it would be too cold to travel across the bowl. There were even a few Caminar inside celebrating with those of the Weyr. These days there was almost always a Caminar in sight so it was not unexpected for some to come enjoy the Weyr’s hospitality in welcoming in the new turn.

Because of its humble beginnings in the bowl the party inside was an informal one. No one had bothered dressing up with few exceptions as it was more important to be able to eat and drink one's fill while comfortable. While those who had chosen to dress up were not unwelcome they could expect ribbing from their wingmates or friends. Tonight was not about being a spiffy dresser so much as it was about cutting loose and celebrating the end of a difficult turn.

[Slim]

First arriving at the party was always the hardest part of the evening. Emeni hated the awkwardness of coming alone only slightly less than she hated the neediness of finding a friend to arrive with her, so she'd come alone. She'd dressed up only a touch, wearing a lovely, flowing skirt that would make her mother proud and her friends snicker a bit, but hey, sometimes a girl just had to be a girl.

Lifting one hand to her throat, Emeni touched the cameo necklace with her great aunt's profile on it. Since she was nicely dressed tonight, her jewelry got to show instead of being hidden under her shirt like it normally was. The contact with her namesource emboldened her a bit, and Emeni straightened her shoulders. Time to go find or make some friends!

First stop: the food table. Everyone liked to eat, so there was bound to be somebody there she could talk to. Emeni strode over here with a little spring in her step, keeping her gaze up and eyes bright in case she made eye contact with anybody on the way over there. Wouldn't want to be caught with a nervous or mopey expression, oh no; that was no way to spark conversation.

[Invisible]

The last place K’mar wanted to be was at the celebration in the living cavern. He had never had much use for turn’s end celebrations before impressing and thought there was no need to attend now he had. Except Volsteath wanted him to attend. Wanted his rider to get out and meet more people and get involved in things. So, despite his desire to not be here the brownrider was here. The weyrling had found clean clothes that for once matched. It wasn’t so hard with his all black ensemble. He’d even asked his mother to press the wrinkles from them for him. She’d been ever so pleased to do so and remarked about how many nice young women were sure to be there.

Volsteath, having no use for a cold winter night, was happy to remain in the weyrling barracks where it was warm. He conversed with his clutchmates finding them more agreeable than K’mar did their riders. K’mar had promised him he would go so the brown knew his rider would do just that. He would never break a promise to Volsteath. The tricks he’d used always to drink more than anyone suspected would do well tonight. His half-empty ale cup traveled the living cavern with him never empty, never full. He had to talk to someone. It was expected of him and besides if he did not his mother might interfere. Ugh.

He ambled towards the food table because, well, people gathered there right? Looking for someone he knew, or at least thought he could stand to talk to, he spied a familiar face. What was her name? The girl from stores. Emeni! S’lyn’s daughter he should remember her name. He altered his steps so he might wind up getting to the tables the same time as her.

[Xinnai]

Freedom's taste was sweet and Salina was intending to enjoy all of its various flavors in the miraculous night that she had off. The goldrider stole from the weyrling barracks with a lingering backward glance, as if worried that it was all an illusion and H'gar would be calling all the weyrlings back, saying he'd been joking or testing them.

It seemed that it had been in all seriousness though as Telgar's younger weyrwoman alighted within the bowl, noting those who foolishly lingered. Foregoing a few of the drunker slurrings for companionship, she was soon in the warmth and festivities of the living cavern, hungrily drinking in the sights and sounds and smells as if tonight were her last.

She stood poised before the entrance, searching for someone she might know. In the chaos, it was unlikely to find anyone, even someone with hair as bright as Ez'ki's. The queenrider smoothed hands over the light, golden colored skirt she wore, adjusting the hem of her same colored tunic. She adjusted the black wherhide jerkin over it and let out one deep exhale. It was only fair she represented and she looked casual enough.

The weyrwoman slipped into the crowd, absently fingering the feather tied in her hair-a present from months gone. She came upon the drinks then and took one, sipping at it experimentally, pleased to find it was klah and hot. Salina cradled it eagerly in her hands, taking another sip, feeling the warmth chase out the chill that the biting air left.

Have fun, my darling. I'll be okay, I think. Ez'ki and Z'dayi should be here soon.
Within the barracks, Deoneth responded sleepily, slipping out from a conversation she'd been in. You have fun as well, Salina, but do be careful. I will still keep an eye on you, of course. Especially when you are around Tremaith's and Jordeth's.
Just don't watch too close. You might not like what you see.

They broke contact then and the little weyrwoman began winding her way toward the food table. People had to eat, didn't they? Perhaps she'd meet someone to talk to there. It'd be nice to get something to go along with her klah as well.

[Slim]

And K'mar did wind up arriving at the tables at the same moment as Emeni, but she had been so busy looking around at the people in front of her that she didn't notice him coming up alongside. When - suddenly - there he was, she jumped back a little, and then quickly stumbled forward when she wound up stepping on the toes of the person behind her. Poor Salina.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Emeni said, twisting around to address the goldrider, but just as quickly facing forward again to look at K'mar. While she did so, she kept one hand pressed back towards the young weyrwoman, indicating that she hadn't forgotten her either. What the heck do you do when you're supposed to be facing two places at one time! If you're Emeni, you get rather flustered and try your best to struggle through it. So much for her composure. At least she had a good head for names and easily recalled the brown weyrling she'd met in the stores.

"Whoa, hey, K'mar! Didn't notice ya there, guess it kinda caught me off-guard. I must look awful jumpy right now, huh?" And then, unintentionally making herself look even more jumpy, she tucked in another apology to Salina, looking over her shoulder to do it. "Sorry again about your toes. I shouldn't'a worn these dumb heels." Trying to make room for both of her conversations, because she lacked the wisdom to deal with them one at a time, Emeni stumbled back a step so she could keep both weyrlings in sight at one time. Of course, at the moment, she wasn't looking at either of them, too busy glaring down at the accursed heels that had somehow become the scapegoat for this silly situation. They hardly qualified as heels at all, they were so short, but for Emeni they were unusual and were therefore to blame for an unusual reaction.

[Invisible]

He really was going to try to talk to Emeni. K’mar had a smile ready and had rehearsed in his head several different sentences. All he managed to get out was, “Happy turn’s end, Emeni,” and then the steward’s assistant was stepping on someone else’s foot and the brownrider noticed whose foot it was. Backpedaling a bit he nods to both women and says, “Excuse me. I think I see my mother.” Then he’s hurrying off despite the protests of Volsteath in his head. I’ve no problem talking to her K’mar tells the brown as he disappears into the crowd. It’s when her little groupies descend and decide to yell at me for daring to speak to her high and mightiness who is better than me and how dare I deign speak to her I don’t want to deal with. K’mar, I think you are overreacting[/color] Volsteath offers back. I am not wasting the only free evening I am likely to have for the next several months letting those slackers pick on me. The weyrling was firm on this and sank deeper into the crowd to find someone safer to speak to.

At a table with his wingmates G’tet didn’t notice the goings on by the food tables. Not that he would have done anything anyway as he saw no reason to interfere in the conversations of others. That he left to his sister. Kal? Remind Anquilith to remind Genet to tell Aleda where I am please. Out on a ledge curled up between her wingmates Kalpeth sent her rider a sigh. I thought you already told her. I remember you telling her. G’tet laughed and shook off the curious glances of his wingmates. Fine, fine. Enjoy yourself. Kalpeth had no answer for that already engrossed in the conversation she’d been having before being interrupted.