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We Wear the Mask That Grins and Lies


Date:  February 11, 2001
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Central Bowl
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  The title to this log isn't precisely appropriate, in 
that there wasn't a lot of lying going on here--unless you count Kassi
promising the Masque's attendants that Is would do a strip-tease. ;)
Instead, we had a fine and exquisitely bizarre feast, beautiful 
costumes, Harper music, dancing, Pernese 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?', 
and the inevitable humor that's present at almost any Telgar 
gathering. :)  Unfortunately, I didn't manage to look at every costume
that was present; if you attended and yours isn't featured, please 
forgive me for missing it.

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The Log:

You walk north.

Merielan walks here from the south.

Keara walks here from the south.

Canus walks here from the south.

Vasha walks here from the south.

Kiani walks here from the south.

Yenne walks here from the south.

T'kar walks here from the south.


Kassima:
	Fire couldn't be called hotter than the burning shade of red sliding over
this woman's tall, slender form. Lines clean-cut and clear are devoid in
this crackling hot ensemble--jacket's leather so soft and supple as to
cling and mold to her every curve. The sleeves run tight down her arms,
finishing with a crisp top at her wrists. Gaping leather at the front
allows for much more than just a glimpse of her flesh--a smoldering view
that races down to a point between her cleavage. Tiny leather covered
buttons slide down the front, allowing the jacket to be fastened higher up,
or left to tease and tempt the way it is. Finally, matching fiery pants
slide down her legs, leather appearing to mold around their every curve and
muscle before reaching her ankle where they stop in a straight slice. Her
feet are held up at a curving angle--burning red straps wind up and around
her ankles, twirling into tiny knots there. Open-toed, the shoes are more
than the ideal conterpart for the outfit.
	Her mask is an ornate design of burning red--supported by a slender
twisted stick to be held in one hand. Polished red crackles into a strange
looking shape, like a skull with no jaw. Slanted eye holes flicker out into
tapered points at each side, inlaid with tiny chips of glittering stone.
Emerald eyes hide in shadows when the mask is held up to her
face--disguising her identity to perfection. Her black hair is pulled up
into an ornate series of braids and twists, ribbons as red as the rest of
her fiery ensemble twining through. Spiralling out obliquely from the
temples of the mask--long, tapered points that could only be called horns
add interest to the strange appearance of the design. Perhaps the shrewd
glint in her eyes might give the wearer away... but otherwise, it would
appear that she is temptation itself.


Kiani:
Covered in long swathes of shimmering white, this young woman is in a dress
that looks reminiscent of one of Daelyth's eggs in a clutch several years
gone. The ivory sisal bodice fits like a glove, emphasizing and enhancing
her natural curves. At her waist, it opens into a long, pleated skirt, the
hem brushing just above the floor, flowing in waves of gauzy material that
seems almost to sparkle as she moves. Ivory melds into slightly darker,
more golden tones, and flashes of blue can be seen as well, making each
move seem almost ethereal. Ivory gloves fit tightly up to the elbows,
leaving no bare skin to be viewed, the strength of the arms beneath the
only indication that the young woman wearing this might be a rider. Her
face is completely obscured by a mask as simple as the dress is elaborate,
the shade setting off the dark blue-grey of her eyes. Dark hair is scraped
back into a severe style against her head, save for two ringlets that frame
her face. Over it all is a veil of white tulle, held in place by a
sparkling headband, which obscures her features even further. Completing
the costume are white boots that come to mid-calf, only visible
occasionally, when she moves.
In spite of the mask, her height will likely be what gives this young woman
away--that, coupled with her eyes, and that ever-present half smile.


Merielan:
It appears as if a bird has suddenly, grown a few feet too big, somehow
dyed itself an interesting color and just about never flew. Also--no bird
ever had plumage quite like this one's! Grey-eyes sparkle back into yours
having quite a good time with this particular joke. A weyr-hide mask covers
most of the face, purple cut-out 'feathers' around the eyes, the mask
elongates into a yellow-dyed 'beak' of sorts over the nose, it's shadow
half-covering the grinning mouth as well. Spiraling brown curls have been
somewhat tamed for the evening, being held back in a runner tail down the
neck. Broad shoulders are hidden beneath a cape that sports rows of
wher-hide purple feathers..beneath that short cape though--lurks quite
interesting chest 'feathers'. The 'bird' is wearing a silk tunic with darts
at the waist to draw it in a bit to show off a slim--though pregnant
figure. The tunic appears to be missing--quite a bit of cloth though, cut
down the middle to reveal a generous swath of chest and two gently curved
sides of breasts.
 Curving over the soft swell of stomach is a pair of wher-hide pants, cut
tight enough to be lurid--but not quite. These too have a generous
sprinkling of cut-out 'feathers' of varying purple hues. As the 'bird'
turns, you notice that there is a tail as well--affixed almost like a
bustle around the lower back and providing a trailing train of a tail. When
that tail sweeps to the side a bit--following the trail of movement--you
notice that the 'bird' is wearing a pair (quite like a certain
greenrider's) of buttless pants.


I'sai:
	Painted upon his very face--streaks of vivid silver glitter wind up and
around his eyes, a curling design that finishes in ornate twists above
slanted brows. The pale of his eyes is reflected within the ice-white sheen
dusted over freckled skin. Midnight-dark smudges up his cheekbones, then
brushes around to capture his features in a stormy scene mirrored by the
designs of his attire. Weatherstreaked blond hair is slicked back, caught
up in a loose braid.
	Washing up over his jacket, the violent shades of a dark ocean's fury
merge and combine--sequins shimmering violet, jade and blue, slicing
through the black backdrop like a streak of angry lightning. A shimmer
here, a sparkle there--and the storm slips into a peaceful rest as the last
splatterings of rain-tinted sparkle dangle from the cuffs' thick folds,
embodied in irregular strings of clear glass beads. Beneath the heavy folds
of his jacket--a shirt in such a translucent sheen of white as to appear
like the glittering dust of snow. That gauze collects in drifts across his
chest, rounded neckline hugging close beneath his collarbone, only to fall
down in whispered chill about his ribs. A silver-buckled belt wraps his
narrow hips, slung low to one side to reveal a narrow glimpse of pale skin;
its matte black trous fit snugly to his legs, then drape over shined black
boots. Perhaps spotted within the dark night-black of his pants--a few
tumbling diamonds fall down to entangle their hems in a miner's dream.


Vasha:
	Glossy black hair adorns the scalp of this shorter-than-average man,
brushed back down past his ears until the hair gleams in the light. Vasha's
eyes are the grey of dark storm clouds in the early evenings, wide and
expressive. He has broad shoulders, his torso tapering down slightly into a
narrow waist. His arms seem well-toned with small, wiry muscles, with thin
wrists. His hands are rough and callused, speaking of time spent doing
manual labor. His skin is darkened, almost bronzed from constant exposure
to the sun, the same sun which seem to have given him slight wrinkles
around his eyes. His lips are full and curved up in a perpetual grin,
always quick to smile. Vasha looks to be in his late teens.
	 Soft rosey-hued pink shades the delicately tatted lace slipping over
Vasha's form. Designs of flowers and vines swirl together, dancing in a
magical shimmer as spinner-thin strands of silver mix into the lace. The
neckine rises up into a stiff collar, fastening neatly in a diagonal line
up to his throat by wayof three lace-covered buttons. Clinging tight to his
skin, the lace continues to mold over his form, then slick down over his
waist to form tiny short trunks at his lower thighs. Soft pink feathers
decorate the edges of the short-ends, andthe sleeves that cling tight to
his biceps. More feathers spin out from a pointin the middle of his
back--forming a pair of impressive wings that almost seem to flutter when
his by the breeze. His legs are bared down to the ankles, where the start
of soft pink slippers can be seen--and the huge pink-sisal claws poking out
from where his toes might be. He mask is a hand-held affair, a maroon
shaded beak stuck onto a thin, twisted pole. Tiny beaded eyes peer up from
the mask.


Yenne:
A girl somewhere in her late teens. Well above average in height, she
carries herself with confidence if not with an abundance of grace. Her wavy
dark brown locks have been shorn; she has opted for a close cut, hair being
perhaps half a finger's width long. Eyes are a bluish green, usually alight
with humor at something or another. Her red lips smile often.

Yenne is wearing a unique dress, one designed to make her look like, well,
a fish. Finely woven silvery-grey wool encases her body from her head down
to her dainty feet, and is covered by a layer of thin silver lace. The
combination of color and lace give a scaled appearance, which is
strengthened by the stiff canvas fins along the middle of her back and down
near her ankles. The skirt of the dress fits very tightly around her leggs,
to add to the illusion of the fish 'body'. Luckily, a row of tiny ivory
buttons is hidden under a flap of lacy gray wool from just above her knees
down to the floor, to allow ease of movement when needed.
Her arms are encased by additional long, slender fins of sisal fabric made
from a lighter silvery-gray color. Matching thin gloves on her hands enable
them to blend with the costume while still using them freely. Her face is
framed by fat rolls of stuffed pale gray wool, resembling the lips of the
fish. Large circles of sapphire blue sisal surrounded by a slender rim of
ebony black linen are on either side of her head, resembling unblinking
eyes. The final bizarre touch is a large metal fishhok caught in the top
lip, above her head.
A discreet leabel along an inside seam says, 'Crafted by Sr. Apprentice
Radar.'


P'tod:
P'tod is a tall young man, standing just shy of six feet. He has a very
slender build, with bone-thin arms and legs that appear almost too long for
his body. Self-conscious about his size, he tends to slump or lean against
walls and furniture rather than reveal his full height. Dark, unruly curls
constantly fall into his face, only to be impatiently brushed aside. He has
distinctive features--sharp nose, broad forehead, and well-defined chin.
His brilliant green eyes mirror keen intelligence while never losing their
impish sparkle of mischief. He has acquired a healthy tan from the Istan
sun. Angry red marks of healing threadscore on his shoulder peek out from
the neck of his shirt. He has '+detail's. 

His jet black trousers flare out at the legs, brushing against the tops of
his meticulously polished boots. They're belted in place with a broad strip
of black wherhide secured by a gilded buckle. His white sisal shirt has
long, billowing sleeves, trimmed with dark blue ribbon at the collar and
cuffs. A navy blue vest completes the outfit, its ivory-colored buttons and
ostentatious gold embroidery ensuring that P'tod's outfit won't go unnoticed. 
P'tod is 23 Turns, 1 months, and 0 days old.


Cailin walks here from the south.

Tella slides down the side of the small green, using her foreleg as a
stair. Ysyth turns and rumbles a goodbye to her.

Lyse walks here from the south.

Vasha clings to Talisha's arm, trying his best to stay behind the
protective yet small form of her body so he won't be noticed as much.


Kichevio:
	Long, sleek black hair flows to her waist, accented by a streak of vivid
gold. Is it natural? Are _you_ gonna ask her? Slanted amber eyes framed by
thick dark lashes peer up at you mischieviously from under the occasional
loose strand of hair. Her nose is small and pert, her lips full, and her
chin very distinctly cleft. Dangling gold earrings glitter against her
hair. Her skin is luminously pale, without a freckle or mole to be seen.
She's tall - five feet ten inches in her bare feet. Her figure is lean and
lithe, with small breasts and narrow hips.
	The clinging bodice shades gracefully from gold to orange to crimson to a
rich tawny brown, darkening all the way to near-black as it ends just below
her midriff. The long sleeves are shaded in the same pattern, cuffs
extending out over the backs of her hands in the shape of an autumn-brown
leaf. The skirts, which begin where the bodice ends, are full and swirling,
layers of gauze in luminous hues of red, flame, and yellow, with occasional
hints of green and brown. As she turns, you can see that the back of the
gown...is almost non-existent. Another leaf-shape, this one vivid red-gold,
is attached to the high collar and clings to the fair skin of her back.
High-heeled tan shoes with the faintest touch of gold on the buckles flash
from under her voluminous skirts. Her long hair is braided into a coronet
and pinned around her head, crowned with a weave of brown twigs and
red-and-yellow leaves. Even her mask is studded with the bright leaves,
along with a sprinkling of gold spangles. Amber eyes watch from the gilded
eyeholes with amusement.
	Kichevio is 21 Turns, 9 months, and 26 days


Tella follows the crowd, arms crossed over her stomach. An idle frown
crosses her lips as she looks from one to another.

Kiani makes a few minor adjustments to the veil and mask as she walks
northward toward the bowl. "That should do it," she mutters quietly.

Kindre walks here from the south.

Talisha slides along beside Vasha--lips still pulled up into a beaming
smile. She got a /guy/ to wear /pink/. Everything is wonderful now. "You
look so good.." she murmurs to him, steering them around the bowl.

Kichevio asks Vasha idly as she paces along, "So how _did_ she convince you
to wear that?"

P'tod walks here from the south.

Vasha sticks his tongue out at Talisha and lightly baps her shoulder with
the handle of his mask. "Oh, hist... you're embarrassing me!" He glances
over to Kichevio, and shakes his head. "She ganged up on me with Tarlo and
K'ran... faced with such daunting opposition, the only graceful thing I
could do was give in."

Kassima keeps giving her costume discreet tugs as she teeter-totters after
the others. Hips swaying all the way. Oh, the humanity. "Food would be
wonderful," she decides. "Just so long as there isn't aught too fattening...."

K'ran hovers towards the edge of the gathering, peering over shoulders and
around bodies towards plates of food -- though he does edge back over
towards Lyse, once he spots the Igen girl. "You holding up alright?" he
asks, from behind his mask.

Echo walks here from the south.

Keara overhears Kassima and gives her a decidedly wicked grin, better
perhaps for her pilate-queen alter ego. "You'll love it, Kassi dear," she
purrs.

T'kar's branches bounce around the lovely ladybird at his side, making sure
she isn't jostled in the crowd. "I am one hungry tree," he declares.

Talisha's gaze is drawn across to K'ran--and that smile only widens as she
looks him over. "Lovely K'ran!" she calls, slipping her arm away from
Vasha's to head over in that direction.

I'sai walks here from the south.

Shirana disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Kichevio agrees, quite. "They can be rather daunting when they put their
minds to it--great Faranth, K'ran, you look _great!"


K'ran:
Brilliant blue eyes, the shade of the sea after a storm and most often
touched by a pleasant, lopsided grin, stand out from handsome yet rugged,
travel-worn features -- scarring along his jawline below his right ear and
a pleasantly-ugly nose that's been broken more than once. Clean-shaven, he
wears his raven-black hair short: off his ears, tight against the sides of
his head, and swept back from his forehead save a few errant strands. He
has the lean musculature of one who enjoys physical activity and takes
pride in keeping fit, and his movements are characterized by underlying
agility and tireless strength. In his late teens or very early twenties, he
is a shadow over six feet tall and carries himself with a devil-may-care
confidence and roguish humor.

He is dressed as an insolent dance of fire against Telgar's icy climate: he
goes barefoot, while vivid licks of orange, yellow, and crimson race up the
legs of his lightweight pants and blend from his waistline into an
equally-angry inferno of colors painted onto the bare flesh of his upper
body. Toned back and chest and muscular arms are all touched by the
conflagration, which climbs until it crescendos at his mask, a full-faced
affair that projects a grin half-mischief, half-malevolence, as it trails
streamers of fire back towards the dark of his hair, soot-streaked to
simulate smoke.


Yenne sidles away from Kassima when she hears the mention of food and waves
a warning fin. "Hey now," she calls over, "Just because I've been hooked
doesn't mean I'm hear for someone's meal."

Elya walks here from the south.

Greylin walks here from the south.

Merielan looks around with wide-eyes beneath her mask and a beak that seems
to move before the rest of her. She nudges the tree next to her "Don't put
down roots love..I hear there's dancing later.." She grins impishly at her
horrid play on words "If your hungry then let's get you fed and more
importantly watered.."

Skimpily clad servers carry around platters of appetizers and drinks:
slim-stemmed goblets of white wine accompany stuffed mushrooms that look
suspiciously like eyeballs. The lightly-cooked mushrooms have been stuffed
with a cheese mixture which has had a brown, slightly tangy sauce brushed
over the opening. (Brown-eyed Mushrooms)

"Blame Tarlo," comes K'ran's voice, amusement amid flames. "Her idea. But
it's going to take sharding -days- to get all this goop off me."

Vasha steers Kichevio in the direction Talisha went off to, just 'cause he
doesn't wanna be left alone in this teeming mass while wearing this
horrific pink ensemble. With wings, no less! "Don't remind me... I hate
pink! It's horrible." He catches up to Talisha and cowers behind her. "As
soon as I can, I'm gonna take this off. I don't care if I have to be naked,
I want this off as soon as possible!"

Kassima tries to treat Keara to a plaintive look... but that mask doesn't
lend itself to plaintive looks. "Mint ice cream?" she tries. "And lots of
it? And something big, some dough sculpture, that I could hide behind
perhaps?" Glowlight gleams off of one of her horns as she turns to peek
towards Yenne. "You're safe from me," she promises wryly. "I've already
chopped m'share of fish for the Turn."

Echo follows P'tod, and her nose, absently grabbing for his arm. She blinks
and turns, trying to look at all the colorful costumes at once. "Wow," she
breathes.

I'sai sets down the sign.

Telgar Weyr> Keara says, "So what's the setup? Tables?"

Telgar Weyr> I'sai nods, tables 'round the center.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima nodnods.

Keara surveys the food going around with satisfied eyes, then hies herself
to a prime seat.

Elya leans closer to I'sai. "Harper meeting," she admits, eying the sign
he's carrying.

"If you wait a while I'll take it off for you." Talisha answers Vasha with
a mild grin, flicking a look back over her shoulder at the pink-one. "I
still think it looks nice. Maybe not as..enticing at what I'sai's wearing.
Or skimpy as K'ran's." and both the telgar bronzeriders are giving another
look.

"And that might not be a _terribly_ bad thing," Kichevio murmurs with a
grin, letting Vasha hide behind her as necessary. "Hungry? I think I see
some food roaming about."

Lyse looks at K'ran, her mouth open wide. She pats her package and tries to
hide in the crowd.

Yenne sidles over toward Kiani, waving a fin. "Ocean's duty to you," she
murmurs.

T'kar sticks a tongue out under his mask at Merielan, then promptly starts
collecting mushrooms and other foods. "Yummy."

Tella finally spots two people she actually knows. A smile curving her
lips, she makes her way towards Echo and P'tod. Looking from one to the
other, "Hello, you two."


Aisling:
	Long black hair has been braided into a multitude of intricate braids that
cascade over her shoulders. Every movement of her head is accompanied by a
soft tinkling of bells and the soft clatters of beads as they strike each
other. Close examination will reveal that they have been worked throughout
her braids, the light of the glows glittering and dancing as it reflects
off the shiny bells. A black sisal mask covers the upper half of her face,
beadwork stitched onto the surface in a swirling pattern that draws the
upward upward and then out in an exagerrated mimicry of a cat's eye.
Dangling from the mask is a sheer black sisal that all but obscures her
features, only her lips that have been coloured a brilliant red and the
whiteness of her teeth as she smiles are clearly visible behind the fabric.
	Gloves of the darkest ebony conceal her hands, traveling up her arms to be
held secure by a circlet of brilliant scarlet. Draped over her shoulders
and falling to mid-calf is a simple gown made of the same sheer black sisal
that covers her lower face, the material swishing and swirling with each
step, the deep slits on either side revealing her shapely legs. Barely
visable beneath the diaphanous dress are her undergarments of ebon, not so
much as concealing as tantalizing in their brevity. A hint of what lies
beneath, nothing more.


Kindre:
	Draped formally for the occasion, this woman is all smiles as the
festivities around her capture her wide-eyed gaze. Her auburn hair is
twisted and pinned atop her head, the sun-bleached streaks of gold more
prominent while a few of the curly tresses are left unbound to spiral
against her cheeks. Although she is hardly a staturesque woman, she has a
presense now as the spirit of the affair infects her usually demure
personality.
	She wears a Weaver-designed ensamble made especially for this evening's
event. The tall collar of this gown stands up rigidly and is adorned by
fine, silky white fur that flows up and over the back in a cascading mane.
This mantle flows around the top of the shoulder and slightly over the
bosom that has been lightly uplifted in the hug of the bodice that enfolds
the ribs. Long, delicate feathers are affixed in the seam along with the
fur, white with their tips dyed a soft powder blue. Their fluttering
fingers dance at the slightest of movements. Heavy white fabric is quilted
with fine silver thread make up the bodice, the top of which forms what
appears to be the head of a heart or twin scalloped edges. These scalloped
edges are trimmed with short white fur that is shot with silver tips. The
waist is a very low diving V, also trimmed with fur matching the top. The
skirting puffs out full from just under the bodice, like meringue escaping
from the confines of a cake to spill gracefully from hip to floor. Layer
upon layer of the wispy, cloud-like fabric is dotted with faceted beads
that catch the light like so many snowflakes. The sleeves are made from the
same gauzy material and likewise beaded. Full and puffy at the upper arms,
the sleeves narrow at the elbow only to flare again and narrow back at the
wrists where the hem is concealed in silky white fur.
	To match the dress, a hand-held mask has been crafted, anchored to a
slender staff of bleached wood. Made from hide that's been covered with
white cloth it forms the shape of a feline's head. A skillful hand has
embroidered the details clearly onto the curved replica; a small pink nose
with a felines sly curling grin. From behind the holes for eyes, real eyes
can peer out and view the world. There are what looks to be real 'whiskers'
implanted into the mask and white fur puffs out around the ears and the top
of the head.
	Small white boots with slight heels complete this outfit, ringed with fur
and dancing feathers at the ankles.
	There's a small tag in the back of the dress with the telltale mark of
apprentice Samuel, a little embroidered wave.


Vasha makes a face at Talisha, and digs his elbow - lightly - into her
ribs. "You've got a roving eye, Tali..." Shaking his head, he answers
Kichevio "I couldn't eat a bite.. if I did, this thing'd probably blow
right off of me. Plus, pink makes me lose my appetite."

I'sai nods back to Elya, "It's fine. It's - " there's his name, there in
the crowd, and pale eyes go a-searching - "And there you go, Divya's on her
way. Maybe we can convince her to tap in a little, too. How about a little
music for eating with, and then we'll play with the games when they've
gotten a little more in their stomachs? Though some of 'em, I dare say
they'll split if they have half a bite."

Aisling eyes the mushrooms warily for a few moments before shaking her head
to the surver. "No thank you." She notes with a wrinkled nose.

Elya nods. "I think we're going to take turns playing and eating, and then
go all-out for dancing later."

Divya walks here from the south.

Kassima finds herself a place to sit, even with no dough sculpture in
sight; she sets down her mask to free her fingers. "You two really look
*stunning*," she informs Kindre and Aisling alike with broad smiles, quite
sincere if embarrassment-touched. And oh, here are mushrooms. Nice
distracting mushrooms. With *alcohol* She'll help herself to both, thank you.

Keara collects her glass of wine and a small plate of mushrooms, then looks
about those around. Is she the only one sitting? She bites her lip, trying
to decide whether to stand.

Merielan walks south.


Talisha:
	THer mask however, is a masterpiece on it's own. Hiding the young woman's
identity, leaves of various green and sizes flick out from a rim of yellow
and greens beads, rimming the delicate arch of eye holes. Perhaps the deep
green shade of her eyes might reveal something, as with the curving blush
of her lips. Bright blue and pink colours form a tiny winged creature,
resting snug in a dip just above her eyes. More of these pink and blue
creatures peek out from the lower edges of her mask, complimenting the
large pink wildflower picked fresh, and pinned behind her left ear. Indeed,
as it appears, she is Lady Summer. 

	Leaves of sun-kissed green tumble over her form, crafted from the most
delicate sisal available. Each tiny leaf has been embroidered with darker
thread, veins looking almost lifelike. These leaves twirl and mix in a
flurry of summery colours--each one sewn onto her dress in carefully
arranged pattern. Sheer jade-green fabric slides over her form, clinging
tight to her every curve. Dipping right down between her breasts, the
neckline is edged with tiny flowers in bright orange, yellow and
pink--petals curling over in translucent shimmer to rest against the swell
of her cleavage. The fabric flares out from her hips in cascade of sheer
sisal, flowing back into a train of leaves and flowers. She wears a scarf
slung around her waist, darker green fabric embroidered with scatterings of
flowers, pinks and golds dancing across the jade backdrop. Wooden beads of
golden-hue and sky blue clink together around her neck and twine through
her raven tresses, which has been left in tight, shiny curls for the
occassion. Hundreds of yellow-tinted bells tinkle merrily, hemming dress,
short sleeves and forming bracelets around her wrists and ankles. She goes
barefoot for this occassion, with small vines painted over her feet and up
to her ankles.


P'tod makes a little face as his arm is grabbed, but doesn't attempt to
disengage himself. "You hungry?" he asks Echo.

A pair of harpers are setting up off to one side, tuning instruments and
laying out others, chatting cheerfully with each other.


Greylin:
Tall and lanky, this young woman smiles ingenuously at the world around
her. Her curly and fiery red hair is cut in two lengths, piled up on top of
her head in a mass of curls, and waving loose down her back, a small braid
behind each ear. Her half-mask only reveals a pair of pale, crystalline
grey eyes, sparkling with a madcap twinkle that promises mischief. The mask
itself is overlaid in pale blue satin and offset with twig branches and
green sprigs sporting pastel covered buds and blossoms portraying a sleek
amount of curve that is nonetheless appealing. If one were to ask her age,
she would say that she is 17 Turns, 10 months, and 1 days old.

Her dress is the same robin's egg blue satin as her mask, and drapes to
show off her lean figure. A lace fichu creates a high necked collar and
drapes over her upper chest, covering the flesh there while still leaving
it revealed. The satin fabric ruffles over once in a widened v-neckline
that isbarely off the shoulder, with long mutton sleeves that pouf at the
top, and taper into point over the back of each hand. The bodice clings to
her torso, darting into a princess waistline before flaring only slightly
again to bring the skirt to her ankles in a slim drape over her legs. A
simple pair of slippers, dyed the same soft blue as her dress and mask,
cover her feet.


Kiani, lingering along the fringes of the crowd, startles as Yenne
approaches, but offers a smile that's half hidden behind her mask. "Erm,
Daelyth's egg's duties to you, Ocean. That's a great costume."


T'kar:
Just a tree, a rather ordinary looking skybroom tree--nothing special or
remarkable at all.
Except--one minute there!--this tree is indoors! Trees are -not- supposed
to be indoors. Just then a pair of soft, deep brown eyes--like
well-polished sky-broom wood themselves--twinkle into yours with amusement.
The eyes are hidden behind a wherhide mask, one that's shaped and painted
with the decorations of a leaf. The leaf-mask covers the eyes and a small,
sharp nose. The proportionally small mouth is curled upwards with the same
amusement glinting in the eyes. Small cut-out 'leaves' in varying shades of
green cover the 'tree's' head as a new form of hair.
The strong shoulders, well-muscled chest and slim waist are clothed in a
sheath-like shirt of finely fit sky-broom brown wherhide. The wherhide has
been painted with a deeper brown in whorls and striations to form a 'bark'.
The 'bark' is continued downwards in a trunk of a pair of equally
tight-fitting wherhide pants. At first glance, an interesting--quite
appealing...even 'cute' costume, but nothing special. Nothing
special--until you notice the 'knot holes' that are cut out of the bark.
One knot hole is over the chest, revealing a swath of browned skin
overlaying a tantalizing and mouth-watering amount of toned muscle. The
second knot hole is cut from the side--near the hip--revealing one nicely
formed and oh-so-daring cheek.
What cheek!


Elya:
As you look at her, Elya runs one hand through her short-cropped brown
hair. Her greens eyes pass over you as she smiles your way, and she nods a
quick hello. She is dressed in a dark brown vest over a white shirt, tucked
into a pair of plain black pants. Her calf-high boots are worn and dusty.
Around her neck hangs a small wooden flute. 

Over her normal wear, Elya is sporting a black domino mask and a long,
black cloak.


Kichevio lightly tugs on a feather. "I don't know...your costume seems
pretty well-attached to me. You could probably eat a little without too
much danger."


Divya:
	Bright blue eyes, the color of a summer sky and topped with long lashes,
peek out from this young woman's face. Her straight brown hair has a couple
of gray streaks feathering out from her temples and has been cut to frame
her face and accent her cheekbones. Divya's features are delicate, bearing
a strong resemblance to both her parents. She is 5'11" tall, with slender
hips, and only slight curves elsewhere. Her skin is naturally as tanned as
an Igen native's. 
	Divya is dressed as one of High Reaches' more colorful characters. Several
small silver hoops decorate each ear, and a slightly larger one hangs from
her nose. Three silver chain necklaces of varying lengths, a silver armband
on her left wrist, and a silver ring on her right hand complete her jewelry. 
	Her clothing is simply designed, and provides a perfect backdrop for all
that silver. A skintight, long-sleeved ivory linen shirt that hugs her
torso lovingly is tucked into an equally tight floor-length, coal-black
wherhide skirt. The shirt has a deep V-neckline and decorative onyx buttons
at the wrists. The skirt has no pockets or embellishments to detract from
the line of Divya's hips and legs, save for a tiny flap skimming down from
her right hip all the way to the floor. Underneath that flap is a row of
small buttons that can be opened to allow her to ride her dragon or flash a
little leg, should she choose to do so. A scarlet-red wherhide vest with
ebony-black wherhide laces showcases her tiny waist, and polished black
leather boots with 2" heels complete her outfit. 
Divya is 22 Turns, 6 months, and 29 days of age.


Keara:
Keara can't resist showing off her shapely body, though it gives away who
she is. A strapless dress wraps itself from chest to thighs, light green
fabric only barely visible under the mass of ivy and flowers sewn to it. In
front everything ends near upper thigh, but behind vines and flowers trail
down nearly to the floor. Simple dark green shoes have a slight heel, and a
flower adorns each toe. Her strawberry-blond hair is loose in gentle waves,
and the ivy and flowers woven in follow the same pattern as the dress: from
above her forehead in front down to the ends of her hair in back. Her
outfit is adornment enough that she needs no jewelry, and she wears nothing
else but a patterned green velvet mask for the upper half of her face, and
long matching gloves. Keara is 25 Turns, 4 months, and 6 days old. Two old
Candidate knots, one Telgarian and one Istan, are woven into Keara's belt,
along with three old Baker knots: one Apprentice, one Journey, one Master.
Her newest knot is a very nice, very complicated Craftsecond's knot,
perched perkily on one shoulder. 

http://www.mushhaven.net/~fuzzy/keara.html


Yenne waggles a fin at the egg. "Thank you. Temornath insisted on it. But
she had to promise not to eat me." She winks. "Yours is rather spectacular
as well."

Greylin circulates through the crowd, dishing out a smile here and there,
nibbling on a little something, but mostly making sure she doesn't a: trip
over someone or something and b: doesn't drip something on her costume.

Vasha seems inclined to agree, but still resists the tempting offer of
food. "Is there any wine about? I could use an entire skin, myself.. might
go a lot smoother if I forgot what I was wearing." He scans the crowd with
hope for anything resembling a wineskin.

Elya gathers a plate of food and slides into a seat near Keara, giving her
a mischevious grin.

"Well enough," I'sai agrees with the harper apprentice as they wander,
making as if to rub his chin - though he stops before touching paint. "I'll
consult with Kassima, then," and adds a, "Looks tasty!" to Keara before
sliding off with a mushroom all his own.

K'ran looks after Lyse, perhaps a bit concernedly -- though it's difficult
to tell much from even those expressive eyes of his, all that are visible
behind that mask. A soft exhalation of breath, and he lets his gaze swing
towards the food. "Looks interesting," he remarks, amicably enough, towards
Keara before pilfering a mushroom.

Divya slinks around the bowl, and accepts a small plate of mushrooms and a
glass of wine. She sees Elya and nods a greeting to her.

T'kar has collected a few dishes and a wineskin by now, with which he makes
his way towards K'ran. "Hey. I know you." He grins widely, then happens to
hear Vasha as he passes near. "Here, go ahead and have this one, I'll find
another," he offers the skin of red.

Talisha returns the jab of an elbow to Vasha's ribs, then slips away again
to wander the bowl. She strolls up to the serving table, choosing for
herself a single mushroom and a glass of wine. "This looks great, Keara."

Keara lifts her wine to Elya, murmuring, "Bakers' duties." She crosses her
legs, pats down her outfit, and nibbles daintily on a mushroom, offering
grins to those from whom she hears compliments.

"My mother's idea," Kiani explains, then adds, "Thanks. I'm trying to
decide whether it's worth trying to eat...my luck, I'd spill something and
never be able to wash it out of all this white."

Alessandra walks here from the south.

Ekaterina walks here from the south.

Kichevio snares a passing server-person, grabbing two glasses. "Thank you,
T'kar," she says sweetly as she pours two glasses of wine. "Never met a
nicer tree."

Vasha beams at T'kar and just about tears the 'skin out of the other man's
hands. "Thank you ever so kindly!" He clutches the skin as if it's his
salvation, eyes darting about, daring anyone to take it from him.

Yenne chuckles quietly. "I'm keeping away from the food," she tells Kiani.
"First off, I think I'd burst if I ate a thing and secondly, I know myself
too well - I'd spill all over this silver lace."

Elya answers Keara, "Harper's duties." She nods to Divya and gives her a
little wave, then samples some of the mushrooms. "Oooh, this is good," she
exclaims.

Elie comes tromping up from the edge of the bowl, holding fast to her tail
-- tail? so that it doesn't drag in the dirt.

Alessandra finally makes her meandering way towards where the others are
congregating, offering smiles here and there.

Tella frowns as she isn't answered, sighing lightly, before going on agead
to get herself a bit of food,


Elie:
Elie is a young girl just entering womanhood, her body still awkward and
unused to its curves. She's grown quite a bit in the past half-turn, now
standing near five feet tall and showing no signs of stopping. Her dull
brown hair is often pulled severely back into a runnertail, unadorned by
ribbon, but she has taken to experimenting more with hairstyles lately and
occasionally wears it down, where it frames her face nicely. Her features
are plain, her nose a bit too large for her face, and too-dark eyebrows are
bushy enough that they'd look more appropriate on a grown man. She
sometimes tends to favor her right leg as she walks, although there's no
outward sign of anything wrong with it.

She's looking decidedly not herself tonight, but that's by design-- she's
wearing a floppy flannel blue dragon costume. A long tail drags behind her,
and colorfully streaked wings are pinned to her arms. The outfit is
completed by a mask that fits over her entire head, with big eye-holes to
see through, although it must be rather stuffy for her because she has it
tucked under her arm rather than on her head more often than not.

She looks about 15 Turns, 4 months, and 14 days old.


Ekaterina follows after her sister -- though instead of smiling around at
everybody, the emerald eyes beneath the white mask just look around for one
person in particular, whom she doesn't appear to be finding.

T'kar grins at Vasha and Kichevio. "I'm trying to decide whether the
evening will be easier with or without a stomachful of wine," he confides
in them, and whoever else happens to be passing by. "As I rider, I'd
imagine it is, but as a tree, I don't drink much besides rain."

Kiani nods her agreement with Yenne, with a quiet, wry laugh. "I know
exactly what you mean. Just as well I'm not hungry. How does Temornath like
the costume?" she asks her companion, as she looks over the assembled
crowd, trying to determine whether she can recognize anyone else.

Aarieth backwings for a landing.

Lyse wanders in and out of the crowd trying to look invisible, easy to do
in this riot of colour. She ends up near Kassima's seat. "Excuse me. Is
there anywhere I can change? I don't know my way around" she asks.

Vasha can't help but be overwhelmed by T'kar's mirth, and grins in return.
"Just stick close by, I'll probably need a tree to relieve myself on if I
drink enough wine." A teasing wink is slipped T'kar's way.

I'sai, as long as Divya's coming near - moves to intercept the slightly
taller woman; "There you are! And just in time for the, ah, games. You
missed Hrogar, before; is all that silver yours, or did you borrow it from
your headwoman?"

Wryn dismounts Aarieth's back, sliding the last meter or so to the ground.

A tall server calls rather stuffily, "If you would seat yourselves? This
-is- a sit-down meal." With an eye to some of the more interesting costumes
he adds, "If you must stand, stand at a place."

Kassima sips quite steadily from her glass of wine, while munching the
stuffed eyeba--ahem. Mushrooms. Evidently, for all her protests, she's not
terribly worried about popping seams on her outfit. "Lovely work, Keara,"
she calls between bites--and then she looks up towards Lyse; she offers the
younger woman a grin. "Aye, certes--there's been a tent set up over there,"
and she gestures towards a small pavilion set off to the side, "or if'n
you're shy about changing out here, the Lower Caverns would do. They're
through the Living Caverns 'twere all in a'fore."

Emelei walks here from the south.

Divya wanders around some more, moving slowly since her tight skirt will
not permit long strides. She spies I'sai and goggles for a few minutes
before grinning. "I borrowed some of it, but the rest is mine. I drew the
line at wearing that big metal collor like she does, though."

"Ah, but T'kar-trees survive better on wine than on water, I've heard,"
Kichevio teases back. "And they also fight back when embarrassed."

K'ran nibbles on the mushroom he's purloined, and even absconds with a
glass of wine as he continues to survey the gathering. At the server's
urging, he makes his way to a seat -- but one where he can reserve the
chair immediately adjacent.

Tarlo walks here from the south.

Cailin takes her plate and finds an empty seat.


Tarlo:
	Her identity is hidden behind an ornate mask that covers three quarters of
her face. Inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the white crystalline edges of the
mask arch up and away from her face, forming jagged edged icicles. The eye
holes of the mask are rimmed in frosty blue, leaving only the young woman's
dark brown eyes visible, outlined as they are with kohl and accented by
shimmering blue and silver shadow. Her hair has been pulled up in an ornate
arrangement, pearls twined through the dark brown hair, leaving two locks
on either side of her masked visage to frame it in loose curls. Perhaps she
could be identified by her pert, slightly impish smile, though her lips
have been stained a glossy berry color, or by the stubborn set of her chin
- but most can only assume that she is no more then Lady Winter, allowing
herself to be warmed briefly by company and good cheer.

	Winter is a season of little ornamentation, and indeed, the young woman's
gown is both simple and elegant. Ivory crushed velvet swaths her slim form,
square necked and long sleeved. At the wrists, the fabric darts into points
over the backs of her hands. The material clings to her torso, outlining
perhaps not a voluptuous body, but certainly a sleekly curved one. The
skirt then flares out at the hips, draping almost to the floor. A pair of
simple white slippers cover her feet, peeking out from under the hem.


Elie bounces over toward Divya, her flannel wings flopping as she moves.
"Hi!" she says brightly. "When did you get here? I didn't see you before."

With one last pat on an apprentice's arm, the journeyman harper who has
been helping set up instruments slips away to find food. One harper counts
off and then they begin a duet of light-spirited dinner music, gitar and
pipes weaving around each other.

Wryn slips down from her dragon, careful to keep her skirts gathered until
she is settled on the ground. She moves towards into the crowd, skirts
gathered in one fist to keep them out of the way. She finds herself a seat
and looks around quietly.

Divya says, "I just arrived a few minutes ago. And I like your costume!"

Elie beams at Divya. "Thanks! Emilly helped me make it."

Kerwin slips in quietly, moving with a little care for his overlong cuffs,
although he seems to manage well enough despite their excessive length.
Sheepishly, pun intended, he makes his way back to the festivities.


Kerwin:
	At about six and a half feet tall, Kerwin should really loom. He doesn't
though, he has too much adolescent gangliness about him to seem even
remotely ominous. His build is wiry -- all elbows and knees, though he's
not without an awkward grace of his own -- a kitten's ability to turn up on
his feet. And like a kitten, his movements tend to be almost hesitant,
though they've a predator's flair to them once he's committed. The
sharpness of his form lends itself to the planes of his face as well,
although he still manages a constant air of guileless innocence. His hair
is a mop of ink-dark curls, cut close on the sides but allowed to run wild
on top. Fluffy bangs tend to wander into his face, though they don't quite
obscure expressive, if perhaps somewhat dim, hazel eyes.
	Well, this is baaaad. Apparently the ever-sheepish Kerwin has decided to
attend dressed as an ovine. He's wearing an oversized coat, turned inside
out so its wool lining provides him a more or less fluffy coating. Pinned
to the back of the coat's a tag end of wool, suiting for a tail. A handful
of flour's been used in a haphazard attempt to whiten his dark curls, but
the effect is more of an ovine that's going gray on top. A black shirt,
with sleeves long enough to fall over his hands, and a pair of black pants
with the cuffs long enough to fall over his boots, complete the basics of
the affair -- mimicking hooves.


Tella chuckles lightly at the call from one of the servers as she continues
to pile her plate, then takes a goblet of wine. She then moves, glancing
around as she searches for a seat.

In lieu of a salad, large platters of carved fruits and vegetables are
placed on each table. Grape toes, melon noses, radish ears, carrot arms,
celery legs and more rest on parsley hair, with bowls of tangy vegetable
dip and smooth caramel fruit dip in the center of each platter. (May I Have
This Body Part? Salad)

Talisha pops the mushroom into her mouth, eyes bulging for a moment beneath
her mask before she swallows--and breathes again. A glance is flicked
around the bowl, and she spots Vasha a few paces away--and so watches him.

"Yeah, it's me," I'sai admits the more ruefully for her expression. "And
just as well. It might chafe..." and takes a second look at the girl at
Elie at her approach: "You -did- miss Hrogar. You two would fit like this,"
and he snaps his fingers before moving on: time to confer with P'tod.

Lyse walks over to the pavilion she was pointed to and enters to change.

Spring, Summer, and Autumn all present, now doth Winter arrive. Tarlo waves
to Tali, Greylin, and Kichevio, her three 'sisters' for the evening, and
begins to look around, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of someone amongst
the merry-makers.

T'kar engages in a few passing conversations before he turns back to
Kichevio and Vasha. "I don't know about anyone relieving themselves on me.
All that pink isn't supposed to be a canine, is it? Anyhow, I suppose
you're right Kich. I think I'll find myself a glass of white."

Aisling brightens at the salad, helping herself to a couple of pieces of
varous fruit without the dip.

Divya snitches a few toes and arms from a platter and grins at I'sai's
outfit. "I'd love to meet the weaver who came up with that one. It's one of
the most original once I've seen."

Elie wonders aloud, "Who's Hrogar? Did he mean me?"

Vasha takes a long swallow of wine, straight from the skin, and turns
around to look at all the assortments of costumes, one of his wings
accidentally beaning a server-person as the other man walks by. "Sorry," he
mumbles, and turns back to his company. "I'm not a canine!" He mock-glowers
at T'kar, and takes another drink.

Keara slips out of her seat for a moment to murmur at a server; she
circulates, offering uncarved vegetables and fruit to the squeamish. Taking
her seat again she smiles at Elya, then nabs a few toes and noses for herself.

Kassima helps herself to a nose, an arm, a leg or two, and dips them
cheerfully. "Keara," she yells, "you left out the best parts!"

Kichevio flags down Tarlo with a fried mushroom--quite an interesting
sight, really. "Tarlo, you finally made it!"

Alessandra spots Tarlo, giving Ekaterina a smile and a whispered
explanation before slipping over towards the junior weyrwoman quietly.

Kerwin manages to find an unobtrusive seat. Or rather, unobtrusively, he
finds a seat. Presumably none of the seats are terribly chaotic in and of
themselves.

P'tod smiles as he sees I'sai approaching; he's managed to lose Echo in the
crowd and is feeling much less self-conscious now, thank you. "Hey there!"
he calls to the bronzerider. "How's it going? They finally cleared me for
between." Obviously.

Keara calls back to Kassima with a wide grin, "Oh, -no-. Those are
strawberries, and they're in the kitchen with the whipped cream. For later."

Elya chokes on her food as she overhears Kassima, and has to be thumped on
the back by one of her table-mates.

Talisha lifts a hand in a wave towards Tarlo--spotting her with a grin.
"Hi!" she calls across, loudly. Her other hand pokes in the direction K'ran
is.

Emelei slips in a bit late, looking far too smugly pleased to be legal, and
edges in at a table, dropping into a seat unceremoniously before taking
part in food too. With great gusto, for that matter.

Divya asks Elie, "Are you going to participate in the skits?" Only a twitch
of her lips gives away that she is listening closely to the salad exchange.

Tarlo makes her way to her friends, "I'm so sorry...it's just that there
was a bit of a seam rip and I absolutely had to fix it, oh thank you,
Talisha." she grins. "Too bad we can't 'compete' as a set of four."

Elie glances up at Divya. "Skits? I didn't know there'd be skits, I thought
just costumes. What are they about?"

I'sai eyes the wingsecond as he nears, "Glad to see it. Crowded again
tonight - " and he drops his voice, "Listen, P'tod, look like you can use a
little more escape: that sound right?"

Tella settles into a seat, placing her plate before her. A slight frown
curving her lips, she idly picks at the food on her plate.

Divya says, "I'm not sure, but I hear people talking about them. Some kind
of guessing game."

P'tod reddens considerably. "Well, you might say, but, why? And how? You
sending me on an errand, or something?"

Kassima nearly chokes herself at this reply. But she elects to laugh rather
than die of embarrassment; maybe she's hit her humiliation quota for the
evening? "Hope they're the juicy kind," she says instead, with a perfectly
straight face, before twisting in her seat to wave on down towards her
unobtrusive cousin. Oh, good. That should delight the poor man, being
singled out like that.

Vasha nods solemnly to T'kar and Kichevio as he takes his leave of them,
wineskin clutched under his arm and mask propped up in front of his face -
he doesn't want anyone to know who he is, no he doesn't.

Elie wrinkles her nose. "I'm not so good at those."

Kichevio laughs. "We all look wonderful anyway, it's worth it," she grins.
"You should go hug K'ran or something. Either you'll melt, or he'll freeze.
It would be interesting to watch."

"It's a game," I'sai tells him. "It'll be a big help - Kassima got me into
it, look at her, she's the one wearing red and not much of it - all you
have to do is come up when I point to you. Fair enough?"

Lyse races back from the pavilion throwing her package under an empty chair
and placing herself upon it and tucking in.

Alessandra listens silently, though she does tap Tarlo on the shoulder
once. "Hey. You all look wonderful," she murmurs towards the Four Seasons.

Kerwin does indeed, look reasonably traumatized, but more in the 'further
pity for poor Kassi' department. He waves back agreeably, if sheepishly.
"Mother would like your outfit, Sane Aunt Kassi," he decides on eventually.

The pleasant duet drifts through the crowd, soft enough not to drown out
conversation.

P'tod glances at Kassima and back to I'sai, uncertain. "Well, I guess."
Agreeable, isn't he? "That's all I have to do? Is someone going to explain
the rules, or whatever?"

K'ran helps himself to a few bits of melon, nibbling absently while paying
distracted attention to the costumed figures milling around him. Evidently
he hasn't yet noticed Tarlo, yet.

"This was such a great idea." Talisha murmurs to the other three 'seasons'.
"Really great idea Tarlo." she giggles, head tipping in K'ran's direction
again. "Go on.."

"I'd say your mother is welcome to it," Kassi replies, dry as can be, "only
I don't know whether 'twould fit her. I'm nay quite sure how they got me to
agree t'this; I didn't even get *bribed*...." She pauses to wiggle a
celery-leg P'tod's way, at that glance.

"Yep. I will," I'sai grins behind his glitter, says, "Good luck," and fades
back. Towards Kassima; and, when he's near, "Think you can get people's
attention? Ah, for the game, that is?"

Greylin grins toward Tali and Tarlo and Kich. "Maybe next time, we can do
something slinky like Meri did..."

Emelei tilts her head to listen to I'sai's explanation, brows lifted with
decided interest that even takes a momentary attention away from her food,
then peers to see the target of waving before grinning briefly in greeting
and murmuring something like, "Hello, ovine man!"

Keara takes a leg of celery, crunches it gently, and smiles towards Elya.
"Harpers', did you say?"

Kichevio looks mildly insulted. "I'm slinking!" she protests.

Vasha wanders through the crowd, taking notes of all the costumes to take
his mind off the fact that he's a ludriciously pink wherry. He pauses every
few steps to guzzle some more wine.

Wryn perks up at the mention of a game and sets her mask on the table after
looking to see if there was anywhere on her person to tuck it. Not a
chance. She smiles happily, striking up a conversation with a Telgari
bronzerider.

Aisling seems to have been paying attention to her wingmate, now Skyfire
wingsecond, setting aside her dinner to give Kassima her full attention.

Divya says, "Then you could just watch and razz the contestants. I think
that's what I'll be doing."

Elya nods to Keara as she finishes eating the bite she'd taken. "That's
right. I'm Elya, apprentice at Harper Hall." She smiles, eyes crinkling.
"And you're...Keara, right? I saw you in the fashion show."

Urged on by her three co-conspiritors in crime, Tarlo suppresses a nervous
laugh, and decides it would be far more fun to simply walk past K'ran like
-she- hasn't noticed -him- yet.

Kassima slants a wry look up at the man. "I'll give it m'solemn best." And,
well, she does, climbing out of her chair and up onto the table itself,
feet teetering in those heeled shoes. A few tablemates tug their plates out
of harm's way, just in case. She takes a deep, deeeeep breath, cups her
hands around her mouth... then, in her best Wingleader-voice, yells,
"*Hey*! Everybody! I'sai's promised t'do a strip tease for us if'n you'll
all quiet down and listen t'him!"

T'kar downs a glass of wine in moments, then makes his way towards I'sai,
consuming a few fruits and the like on the way. "Thought I'd make myself
easier to find," he tells the bronzerider.

Kerwin just shakes his head after another of those involved thoughtful
pauses. "She wouldn't, no. It would be unfortunate to even try, I'd think."
His eyes widen further at the lack of bribery, "Was alcohol involved?"
There's an amused glance to Emelei, "Kerwin, though ovine-man works too."
He needs a wool cape?

Divya yells, "Woooo-hooo, I'll pay a mark to see that!"

"Vasha!" Talisha hails him out of the crowd again--not a hard feat since
he's adorningly /pink/. She strolls up to his side again, reaching to loop
her arm through his. And then she falls silent, turning sharply on her heel
towards I'sai. Hello.

Kerwin looks worried at the mention of bronzer strip shows, but the effect
is the same, he shuts up.

Tella flicks her gaze towards Kassima, her frown turning to a smirk as she
spots the woman on the table. A chuckle comes to her lips as she hears that
bit about a strip tease.

Kichevio is almost to I'sai and T'kar when Kassi's shout rings out, and she
grins widely at the two men. "Oh, are we doing that instead? I'll still be
glad to participate, of course."

Keara starts to reply to Elya but is fair diverted - mouth gapes for but an
instant, and she calls, "I'll be quiet, I'll do anything!"

Vasha blinks as his arm's taken, and looks down at Talisha. "Oh, hi, you
found me again --" he trails off, scowling as her attention's diverted by
I'sai. "Oh, nevermind, I'll shut up while you enjoy the meat." He smiles at
her, indulging her as he stands by her side, watching up at I'sai also.

Wryn looks up and grins, "Oh now, then. That'll be a show worth seeing."
She shifts her skirts and eyes I'sai with a smile.

Alessandra blinks, then starts giggling, covering her mouth with her hands.
Dark eyes swivel to watch I'sai now, eyes dancing.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima looks smug. See, Is, told you I'd get their attention. ;)

The Harpers finish their song and move into another, still soft and easy on
the ears.

Elie made the mistake of dropping her tail; it's promptly stepped on, which
she doesn't discover until she tries to move away. With a yelp, she puts
her hands to her rump, then grabs her tail and yanks to free it from under
some rider's boot.

K'ran glances absently back towards Tarlo as she steps past him, despite
Kassima's bellow, and for a moment -- just a moment -- stares. "Ah," he
says, very softly. "When'd you get here?"

Divya puts her empty wineglass down and starts a very loud chant. "Strip,
strip, strip, strip, strip, strip!"

T'kar thumbs towards I'sai as Kichevio approaches. "Don't get me involved
in this. My clothes are staying put." He grins though, eyes merry behind
green leaves.

Tarlo turns, and smiles at K'ran, stepping up torward him. She leans in
close to murmur her reply, not wanting to disrupt Kassi's request for
attention.

Cailin glances in the direction of the chant then sips her klah.

Emelei stops eating at Kassima's hollering, eyes widening again before she
sits straight up and attempts to search for disrobing riders, nodding
absently. "Ovines are good," she repeats in distraction. "I'm Em," she
adds, then beams briefly at the chanter, as if tempted to assist.

Lyse joins in with Divya's chanting. "Strip, strip, strip."

P'tod helps himself to a few of the mushrooms as one of the servers passes
by, munching quietly.

Ekaterina snickers softly, then starts pounding on a table lightly, taking
up Divya's chant. "Strip! Strip! Strip!"

Greylin lets loose a whistle in the middle of the chanting.

Aisling may not be speaking, but she is not exactly quiet as she watches
all those around her, the sound of bells and beads betraying each movement
of her head.

"Fair enough," I'sai says to T'kar and then, only then does Kassima's shout
sink in - and he goes quite, quite white behind the face-paint. "Ah, no!"
he hollers in return. "That was just Kassima's, ah, little joke. She's very
funny that way. What I need _instead_ is for..." and he points to T'kar, as
being nearby; then, more randomly, to Wryn - "You, in the black and silver
- P'tod, you too - and... over there in the tree who's not Merielan,"
that'd be Tella, "C'mon up. We're going to play a little game." A glance to
Keara, "Not that kind of game."

Elie blinks, looking concerned. "Who's stripping?" she asks those nearest.

P'tod sets down his food and starts to make his way through the crowd
toward I'sai.

Kassima climbs down from the table now, looking as innocent as she can,
which doesn't say much at the moment. "You *asked* me t'get their
attention," she reminds I'sai with widely guileless eyes.

Divya makes a big deal of being disappointed, but her twinkling eyes are a
giveaway. She finally quiets down and works her way over to Kassima to
quietly ask, "Think we could get him to strip for us?"

Tella blinks, looking towards the bronzerider. Raising a hand to her chest,
almost as a question, she chuckles lightly. She then rises, leaving her
plate behind, making her way towards I'sai as well.

Hard to discern reaction beneath K'ran's mask, but he does lift his
shoulders in a mild shrug by way of answer to Tarlo. "I'm -cold-," he
chuckles, his gaze once again wandering out over the gathering. "Game?"

Kichevio steps back as the victims--um, volunteers, come up, watching with
interest behind her golden-leafy mask.

Kassima shakes her head to Divya, a slow gesture of regret. "I'd offer him
marks if'n I thought it'd do any good," she murmurs. "If'n only because I
thought I could make a profit on how many marks the women present would
give me in thanks."

Wryn points at herself and murmurs, "Me?" She chuckles softly, "What, no
striptease? Shells, I was so looking forward to it." But she gets up and
moves towards whereever it is she's going, skirts swishing heavily around
her legs.

Talisha wrinkles her nose. "They shouldn't get us all excited by saying Is
is going to strip when he's /not/ going to do it." she complains, leaning
against Vasha.

T'kar clambers up beside I'sai on the stage, sorting out his barky leafy
self. He turns a wide grin on the audience.

Divya nods and chuckles. "What if you offered him glowbasket brandy? I
still have the bottle we never drank that could be used for bribery."

Okay, Kerwin looks a little relieved that there's not going to be random
nudity this evening. Well, not yet at least. He munches on his food a
moment, and watches the preperations with interest, nodding then to Emelei.
"Well met."

"At least ten from me," Keara calls towards Kassima, amused eyes on I'sai.
She glances towards the emptying fruit and vegetable platters and frowns
thoughtfully, turning to search the crowds for her servers.

Vasha chuckles softly and scratches his chin with the beak on his mask,
then twitches so that his wing brushes against Talisha's back. "Don't
worry, I'll make sure you get a strip tease of your own.. ah, later." He
winks at her.

P'tod follows T'kar up, glancing down and about-- much easier to see the
crowds from up here. "I feel kind of out of place," he confesses to the
Telgarians. "I didn't bring a costume."

Elya shrugs and turns away from Keara, murmuring something to the rider on
the other side of her.

Aisling rolls her eyes, the motion that much more apparent against the
blackness of her mask. "For Faranths sake." She mutters before shaking her
head, bells echoing her bemusement.

Kassima purses her mouth in thought. "I don't think he drinks, but--I'll
check." She reaches to try and snag a corner of I'sai's spangled jacket,
the better to tug on it. "I'sai? Would you strip in exchange for a bottle
of brandy? And some marks? I'll throw in some marks."

Rheinth backwings for a landing.

Tella steps up after P'tod, a smirk on her lips. "Don't worry, Tod. You
look fine." She rests her hands on her hips, coming to a stop beside him

Leelson walks here from the south.

Emelei makes a rather quiet raspberrying sound, leaning back in her seat
lazily. "Ah well, it got -my- attention," she mutters brightly, shifting
her gaze to the victims chosen. "I can probably get the bottle of brandy,"
she offers ever so helpfully.

Tarlo offers softly to K'ran, "Do you want a cloak? I didn't realize we'd
be having it in the bowl, honestly." her eyes alight. "But you do look
-very- good."

Terryll slides down off of Rheinth's back, using the blue's bent and
extended foreleg as a brake before hopping lightly to the ground.

Brees walks here from the south.

Shilarra walks here from the south.

Wide shallow bowls of vegetable broth are carried carefully and expertly
without any spills, and as skillfully placed on the tables. A large ravioli
footprint pasta floats atop the broth, filled with the herb-cooked
vegetables which usually would be in the soup. (Footprint Soup)

P'tod grins at Tella. "Nabbed you too, did he? D'you know what this game's
about?"

"Oh really?" Talisha murmurs absently, glancing sidelong at Vasha. She
steps forward as his wings brush her back, then swings them around and out
of the road of the servers still wandering araound.

Wryn hikes up her skirts and climbs up on stage, smiling at her
fellow...contestants before clasping her hands behind her back and peering
quietly at I'sai for more instructions.

Tella shakes her head, looking from brownrider to I'sai with a shrug. "No
idea, actually."

Brees skips in holding Lee's hand. She looks about at everything with wide
eyes.'

Vasha meeps, twirling 'round with Talisha and ends up well out of the path
of the food, and beams down at her. "Thanks, I had no idea they were
coming... these stupid wings make it hard to look back."

T'kar pats P'tod's shoulder amiably. "No worries. I haven't yet decided
whether it's more or less embarrassing to be wearing a costume. Oh, and I'm
T'kar," he says to Tella and Wryn with a wide grin.

Leelson walks over from the sourthern bowl holding Brees' hand tenderly
while his other arm is linked with Shilarra's.

I'sai narrows a look at Talisha - then he calls explanation as he makes
room for the others, "Slight change in the rules, see. But if you listen,
Keara'll get you a very special, um, soup." Especially since it's shown up
already. He turns at the yank, and informs, "I'd have to drink it first,
Kassi," before continuing on. "-Anyway-. You, you audience, as in, not
these people... as I wander around, you'll get to give me things -
whispered phrases, like 'Slithereth's sharding shells, 'pink feathered, uh,
fish' or _actual_ things, like your shoe, or a knife, or whatever... and
I'll pass 'em up to our lucky four performers, who'll make up a story for
you incorporating them. The catch is you can't let them see before they get
it, so it'll be, um, a secret. Sort of. And the more wine we all drink the
funnier it'll be. Any questions?" He _would_ have to ask.

Kichevio sees the Igen contigent come in, and waves from her seat close to
the impromptu 'set'

Shilarra breaks away from Lee almost immediately, cutting through the crowd
to Terryll's side. "Ryll! Hi. I was hoping to see you here."

Keara asks sweetly, "Would you like some wine, I'sai?"

The harpers let the last note drift away into the evening air, then set
their instruments aside, standing up and heading for food.

"I think this is more body parts than I've ever seen served before," Kerwin
murmurs, considering the soup with interest before turning a bit to listen
to I'sai's explanation.

Brees looks over to see where Shil went and then runs over. "Ryll!"

"Will you drink the bottle of brandy now?" Kassi *would* have to ask. "And
oh--oh--quick, does anyone have a scrap of hide? Charcoal? This outfit
doesn't have any *pockets*...."

Wryn hehs softly as if introducing herself was the last thing on her mind,
"Oh, sorry. Wryn."

Alessandra listens silently, rather distracted as she attempts to hear
I'sai's instructions.

Leelson finds himself rather unceremoniously deserted by his family and
smiles softly, chuckling. He starts to walk over quietly to join them with
Terryll.

"/Change/ in the rules?" That's P'tod talking. "But I don't know the rules
in the first.. oh, we make up a story? What kind of a story?" He frowns,
looking more and more nervous to be the object of so much attention. "I'm
not going first," he declares.

Another shrug, and K'ran pulls out a chair for Tarlo. "I'll be alright," he
assures, softly, his gaze wandering momentarily back towards the game set,
and those near there.

Terryll turns and smiles brightly at Shilarra, "Hello yourself! Glad you
could come up here. We need some sane people around here." She grins and
winks, then her grin widens. "Brees! Hi there sweety!"

Talisha sighs lightly, wiggling one finger in an attempt to tickle Vasha's
ribs. "They're nice wings." she tells him. /Tells/ him before tipping her
attention back up to I'sai.

Tella glances towards Wryn, as she hears the name, smiling ligtly. Then to
P'tod, "Looks like we know now." She glances out over the crowd, peering
through her mask.

Divya says, "I do, Kassi!" She digs down into her padded cleavage and pulls
out a piece of hide. "Now all we need is the charcoal."

Vasha smiles down at Talisha and impulsively tips his head to plant a
little kiss on her mask and returns his attention to the ongoings. "This
should be fun," he declares.

Shilarra grins broadly, resting a hand on Brees's shoulder. "How have you
been. Decided to skip the costume?"

Wryn smiles back at Tella and then hmms, "So we make up a story using an
item or phrase that you get from someone...out there...? Sounds
interesting..."

Aisling considers Divya for a moment before her gaze drifts downwards. "-I-
should have thought of that." She notes to herself before considering
thoughtfully.

Fire_Feline walks here from the south.

Masked_Avenger walks here from the south.

Terryll laughs. "No, I'm going to change into mine later, Shil. I want to
beable to move for a while without being afraid of tripping and breaking
something ... or someone." Then she looks down at Brees, "Can you see from
way back here? If not, I can call Rheinth closer and you can sit on his
shoulder." she offers the girl.

Give Kassi credit: while she's no doubt a bit leery of using hide that's
been in someone's cleavage, she doesn't make a protest, instead snagging a
piece of charcoal from a helpful fellow greenrider nearby and using it to
scribble furiously. The resultant note is folded, creased, and offered to
I'sai with a beatific smile. "Thankee, Divya," she notes in the meanwhile.
"You're a lifesaver." Wint-O-Green, even.

Fire_Feline makes her way through the crowds, thankful to the
Masked_Avenger's arm. A faint blush creeps up her face as she sees a whole
lot of people looking at her.

I'sai wanders 'round, pausing by a pair of which one is dressed in white -
he shakes his head at first at her whisper, and then laughs, agreeing
before moving on; the non-lady in red's next - note accepted - and then the
woman in her leaves. And Divya, brows arched in inquiry.

"Body parts? In the soup?" Emelei pauses to stare at her bowl a moment,
then pokes at the ravioli in it before exhaling a sigh of brief relief.
"Don't -do- that," she instructs Kerwin before starting in on it anyway
before peering with interest at Divya's hiding place. "Isn't that
uncomfortable, miss?"

Flower_Garden smiles warmly. "That's sweet of you. Hey, you haven't seen
Lee in a while, have you? It's so nice to have us all together again."

Masked_Avenger grins proudly as he and Fire_Feline manage to capture the
glances as they enter the crows arm in arm.

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "My eyes are starting to cross."

Greylin absently finds someplace to sit, once more out of the way,
fidgeting once more with her attire.

Keara murmurs to a drudge, then sips placidly at her broth after easing a
fork into the pasta to test its doneness. After a few moments the drudge
returns with a parcel which is tucked carefully on Kea's lap.

Divya grins and whispers quietly to I'sai.

Telgar Weyr> Aisling giggles and knows the feeling.

Tella nods towards Wryn. "Yeah.. I think that's what we do." She glances
towards those who are busy giving I'sai their suggestions. With a chuckle,
she shakes her head, looking towards P'tod. "So. Having fun yet?"

Kassima sparkles a smile at him, something which can bode no good, and only
then does she reach for and sample a bowl of the soup. "This should be
*good*," she murmurs to those sitting nearest.

T'kar turns in towards the stage, not wanting to catch any of the secret
objects. "You all do this often?" he asks the other performers.

P'tod is fidgeting uncomfortably on stage. "I guess," he says
unenthusiastically. "Uh. You?"

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo says, "Too bad we couldn't do 'places' just for the
evening."

Divya chuckles and says, "Well, I needed a little help tonight for my
costume. Hide makes good padding, and there's always plenty around a weyr."

Brees shakes her head to Ryll. "That's okay." She grins and fingers one of
her petals.

"Don't do what?" Kerwin has to ask, sounding rather decidedly puzzled. But
then he's puzzled all the way around, trying to watch all of the costums
and chaos, and not gets his 'hooves' in the soup.

Telgar Weyr> T'kar says, "Oh well :)"

Fire_Feline sighs as she looks around. "Can't really see a thing, what's
going on?" She looks over towards Lyse.. "Tell me what have we missed?"

Telgar Weyr> T'kar says, "That's what improvisation is all about ;)"

Wryn chuckles at T'kar, "I'm not much of a performer...but I like to put on
a show once in a while. When I'm proddy. Which I'm not, so this should be
fun."

I'sai consults with Keara, and then wanders back to the so-lucky
performers. "P'tod," he decides in a voice pitched to carry, "You're an old
auntie. What's your name?" this of Tella, "You're a smith. A big ol' burly
smith. And... you're a little with an itch, and I missed your name too," he
admits to Wryn. "T'kar, you can play Keara, can't you?"

Talisha tips her head to one side at the kiss from Vasha, then blushes
beneath her mask. "C'mon, are you gonna get up there and try that?" she
motions towards I'sai and T'kar, then takes a few steps back.

Fire_Feline blushes again, her name, Fire Feline seems apt as she coes
close to Wryn. "Do you have to mention the P word?"

After laughingly submitting a suggestion to I'sai, Tarlo murmurs softly to
K'ran again.

P'tod snickers. "You have to be Keara!" Well, it could be worse for him,
couldn't it?

Water's_Fall steps up to Terryll and reaches out a hand. "It's great to see
you. And see you doing so well."

Aisling scoots a bit closer to the stage, all the better to listen with.

Keara lifts an eyebrow at I'sai as she splits her ravioli open and spears a
forkful of vegetables.

Lyse turns and stares up at Fire_Feline. "Huh. Oh not much. The fashion
show is over and the game is abut to begin." She looks puzzled. "Who are you?"

T'kar narrows his eyes appraisingly at Keara, all the while grinning.
"Hmmm...as long as the audience is plenty imaginative about my body..." he
muses to I'sai. "But sure, I can try it."

Tella lifts her shoulders in a light shrug. "Same here." Then looking to
I'sai, her lips curve in a smile. "/Me/ a smith?" She chuckles, lifting her
arms to playfully flex. "Oh, yeah."

Vasha blinks at Talisha, the hand holding his mask in place lowering, his
face bare for a moment before he quickly replaces it. "What, are you
kidding me?! Get up there? No, thank you!"

Masked_Avenger straightens his posture to peer about the crowd to the
goings on. He listens to Fire Feline and glances about to get oriented. He
noteces Tella and Kichevio and offers them each a dashing grin and a wink.

"Say there's people in the soup, what else?" Emelei points out plainly,
waggling a spoon. Her attention is rapidly pulled towards the front then
with a grin.

Brees looks around at all the costumes grinning and bouncing on her heels.

Terryll nods to Brees, smiling. "Well, the offers open if you change your
mind, sweety. And did I mention you look lovely?" Then she turns towards
Water's_Fall, keeping that smile. "And you ..." Hmm, maybe she _should_
have worn her costume.

Fire_Feline giggles and leans over to whisper in the little girl's ear. She
mutters to Lyse, "... fingerroot...." 

Wryn giggles, "I'm Wryn." She then begins to squirm about, obviously in
some discomfort...or so it would seem. Her face wrinkles up and she begins
trying ot maneuver her arms around to scratch her back. Which effectively
tightens her bodice. And those tight sleeves don't help either. She stomps
her slippered foot.

Divya waves to the Fire_Feline, and calls out a cheerful and
ever-so-slightly inebireated greeting.

Soylent Green is made of peeeeople! Thankfully Kerwin doesn't think of
that, he just ohs quietly. "I meant the little shapes. My mother likes
vegetables to be in little body part shapes, but her boss doesn't really
like her shapes. This is why I chop the vegetables."

"Imagination's what she's about," I'sai agrees with P'tod, then adds more
quietly, "...from Kassima." He then labels T'kar's comment as from Tarlo,
Wryn's from Kichevio, and Tella - that mysterious parcel from Keara herself.

"I don't have to go first, do I?" P'tod pleads. "Make one of them go first."

Kassima confides sidelong to Kerwin between bites, "Keara told me that the
shapes your mother would like are still in the kitchen. Cut from
strawberries. T'be dipped in whipped cream." Oh, the horror. The horror!

Water's_Fall laughs softly at Terryll's lack of words and leans to give
Flower Garden a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to see what else is going on,
love."

Talisha keeps walking backwards with Vasha, "I think I need to sit down."
she says, lips pulling into a smile beneath her mask. Her gaze is drawn
towards the fire feline for a moment, then shifts back to Vasha. "Enjoying
yourself?"

Flower_Garden smiles warmly, nodding. "I'm going to just spend some time
with Ryll, if you don't mind."

K'ran leans back towards Tarlo, his gaze still wandering amongst the
gathering, and remarks, quietly, "Too many people." A grin beneath that
mask. "You see who else is here? Few folks from High Reaches -- I think I
saw Yenne and Kiani about someplace."

Lyse blinks and gapes. "No." She stands and looks around. "Are you here
alone? I would never have guessed it was you. You look amazing and we made
the right decision."

Kichevio somehow overhears Kassi's comment, and starts snickering.

T'kar begins to mull over his line, swinging his hips a little as he steps
back and forth.

I'sai teases, "You're making a good auntie, P'tod, whining already.." and
tilts a hopeful glance toward the others.

Keara adds towards Kichevio, though her eyes stay on T'kar, "You're welcome
to borrow a few."

P'tod shoots a Glare Of Death at I'sai, grumbling something under his breath.

Vasha escorts Talisha as she moves back, and nods. "I'll sit with you...
let's just find a place." He looks about for open seats, and nudges her
towards two. "I guess I am enjoying myself, now that everybody's seen me
and is morare more interested in what's happening up there." He ssits down,
tugging Talisha into the seat next to him.

Tella blinks, eyeing the parcel. She glances inside, wrinkling her nose.

Divya finally spies the giant fish at the edge of the crowd, and bursts out
laughing. "Oh Shells, I wonder if I'sai has seen her?"

Kerwin's eyes widen at Kassima's explanation, and his expression is rather
disturbed. "Whipped -cream-?" Okay, apparently the shapes aren't scary, the
whipped cream is? "Mother would -really- be enjoying this evening. Between
some of the clothes, and the potential for people to strip, and suggestive
desserts."

Aisling turns her gaze from the front, people watching as it were for the
veil makes eating rather difficult. Only a soft tinkling accompanies her
consideration as her gaze rests on various groups of people.

Gray_Canine walks here from the south.

Fire_Feline smiles. "You make a wonderful runner, Lyse. And thank you, I've
not dressed up this way for a long long time. I must admit my back is
getting a bit chilly, however." She looks over to see where the masked
Avenger wandered off but can't see him in the crowd. She shrugs, content to
be by the young girl.

Flower_Garden spies Lyse and waves, the petals around her wrists flowing
gracefully.

The servers set a plate in front of each person with a bit of a clatter. On
each plate is a molded meatloaf in one of two easily-recognized faces: the
Weyrleader and Weyrsecond. Both have hair of thin strips of tuber peel,
Lex's charred slightly. J'lyn has chunks of green pepper for eyes, and
A'lex stares with black-peppered hunks of white fish. Accompanying this
frightful entree are long stalks of asparagus, sauce-striped to vaguely
resemble the appropriate knot. (Evil Duo Meatloaf Entree)

Divya mutters to Kassima, "If... can... sign an... strip... front... us,...
donate... of... to drink..."

Divya whispers "If you can get I'sai to sign an agreement to strip in front
of us, I'll donate the bottle of brandy for him to drink first."

Ekaterina silently excuses herself, then steps out. "I'll return later."

Canus disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Ekaterina goes home.

Talisha allows Vasha to tug her down into the seat next to him with a grin.
"I'm glad, see.. your not the only one in a strange costume." she motions
around the bowl.

Elya eyes the plate in front of her with some pleasure. "This is better
than what we eat at the Hall," she murmurs, and digs in.

Telgar Weyr> Aisling snickers at the meatloaf.

Wryn has obviously hurt her delicate foot in the stomping process and ends
up hopping on one foot while attempting to scratch her back. Which leads to
her losing her balance and falling into the big strong smith.

Water's_Fall nods to Flower Garden and wanders off to see everything he
can, greeting people as he goes.

Telgar Weyr> Keara basks. ;)

Kassima overhears Kichevio's snickers right back, and waggles her brows
once, visible with that mask down on the table. "Better'n marshmallow
sauce?" she hazards for Kerwin's benefit. "But aye, 'twas tempted t'be
suggesting it... oooh." The meatloaf comes around, and she must stare. "I
can't eat them," she decides. "I just can't. Oh, Divya, I *like* that
idea." She doesn't clarify what the idea *is*, but her smile is toothsome
and terrifying.

Vasha just shakes his head, "I still can't believe I let y'all talk me into
wearing it. I must be nuts." He places a hand on Talisha's knee as he tries
to lean back. That fails when the wings on his back hit the back of the
chair, and he sighs loudly, forced to lean forward a little. "At least
nobody else is a pink wherry."

"Well, yes, but they're still vegetables. I mean, how dismaying can that
get?" Emelei peers at Kassi with torn interest. "Whipped cream on body
parts? Huh, sounds chilly," she decides, then stares down at the next
course for a long moment. "More people. I don't know this man," she
decides. "Will he mind being dinner?" Her attention returns to the
performers, though.

Gray_Canine wanders, looking quite lost, the tail of her costume in one
hand as she twirls it idly in a nervous gesture.

Fire_Feline blushes yet again as she overhears the whipped cream
conversation. Hiding her discomfort in a tiny little cough, she looks to
the runner costumed girl. "Have you eaten yet?"

T'kar sashays across to the center of the stage. "The baklava's done!!" he
calls to the other folks.

Tella lets out a shreek. It seems as if this big, strong smith isn't so big
and strong after all. Hand tightening on her parcel, she goes down with
Wryn. Oof.

"Better than marshmellow sauce," Kerwin agrees after a long momen't
consideration. He has to consider everything at length, even marshmellow
sauce. He peers at the meatloaf with wide eyes, "Someone put a lot of work
into those."

Terryll finally figures out who's behind the water fall, and grins at
herself. Then she turns back to her flowery companions, "Were you here for
the fashion show?" she asks.

I'sai, at that glare, abandons the four in favor of retreating back into
the audience for other phrases or objects - he pauses by Emelei and... not
Ekaterina, after all; make that Alessandra.

Ealia walks here from the south.

P'tod just stands there, looking confused. "Is my line supposed to have to
do with what they did?" he hollers. Maybe he just needs a little more time
to get in character.

Flower_Garden shakes her head, grinning. "No, we just arrived."

"Methinks they could deal with being eaten," Kassi decides, absently and
quite blithely oblivious to any double entendre there. She's watching
I'sai, you see. With predatory eyes. Which turn less predatory, thank
goodness, as they turn towards the performers, polite confusion registering
in her expression.

Kassima adds, in a whisper to the nearest folk, "What did I miss, what did
I miss?"

Masked_Avenger wanders away from the mask making booth and looks through
the crowd to find Fire Feline. Spotting her bright garb, he makes his way
over.

Baby_duck. blends in a little into the crowd.

Water's_Fall blinks as he stands in conversation with some Telgari. "A
giant baby, you say?" he says incredulously.

Divya grins back and makes her way over to the Igenites. She greets the
Fire_Feline, "Hey there, stranger. How're you doing?"

Alessandra looks up, startled out of her reverie to blink uncomrehendingly
at I'sai. "I'm sorry, I was talking with Kiyoth..."

Gray_Canine glances around, nervously, now wringing the cloth tail in both
hands. "Err," she murmurs. "Erm."

Wryn giggles and tries to untangle herself from her skirts, "I'm sorry, big
strong Smith, sir. I was trying to scratch my..." She trails off and then
pulls out her bit of paper and looks at it. She sputters with laughter,
"...my Silver Sparkly Face Paint."

Lyse waves hesitantly to Flower_Garden, unsure of who it is. "Terryll" she
whispers softly. "Huh? Some but you're welcome to this course. I don't
think I could eat food that looks like people that much."

Keara bites into J'lyn-meatloaf with relish, watching T'kar with intense
interest and some amusement.

Baby_duck. spies Lyse and walks over to her, touching her arm. "Hi!"

I'sai lowers his voice. He mutters to Alessandra, "Any... don't... phrase
or maybe... your costume?... Kassi's... she... it, really." 

Orchid looks over at Baby_duck and waves giggling.

Fire_Feline giggles at Divya. "Umm, how did you know I was an Igenite? "
She tries to lower her tone to a sultry purr. "I'm a creature of the
jungles tonight." She looks a bit relieved as the Avenger comes along. "At
least we don't quite stand out."

Flower_Garden wrinkles her nose. "I don't much care for meatloaf, anyway.
but I'm not really hungry. So, Ryll, want us to come with you while you get
changed?

Emelei looks up from the meatloaf faces before her to blink up at I'sai as
well before offering a sheepish grin, although she has to snicker at the
stage. "Oh, no! Itchy!"

Water's_Fall laughs quietly before waving to his current company and moving
on again, giving more greetings.

Baby_duck. waves to Orchid, all giggles. She attempts to make a duck sound.

Tella blinks, straightening her own skirts. See.. no one saw that bare leg.
Nope. She chuckles lightly, affecting a low booming laugh. Her character's
a big man, after all. "Your face paint, eh? Shouldn't it be on your..
face?" Brow raised under her mask, she pushes herself to her feet. "It's
not broken!" she says as she peers into the parcel once more.

Kassima sets down her soup spoon in order to focus on the group up front,
snickering. "I hear that Silver Sparkly Face Paint can itch something
awful," she agrees, attempting sympathy.

"Anyone have any tea?" Tella adds.

Masked_Avenger grins at Flower Garden as and Water's Fall as he passes by.
Standing beside Feline, he smiles and points out. "Thats a cute duckling
there.. don't you think?"

Alessandra blinks, looking down her dress, then runs her fingers through
the mane of plumes. "Um... I could probably detach one of these plumes?
They're long enough to be props..."


Baby_duck:
A bright, cheerfully little duck. 

Brightly colored feathers, are attatched to arms and legs and even the top
of the head, covering up most of the curly hair. A homemade duck bill has
been made too and her feet look a little silly..
She seems to be 6 Turns, 1 months, and 15 days turns old.


T'kar makes his (her?) way over towards Wryn and Tella. "What's going on
here? Hello there..." He examines Tella thoroughly. "I just put out some
baklava. And I've some buttless greenrider pants, if you wanted to try
those on..."

"Right. It's a very original costume." Talisha says to Vasha with a smile.
She tugs absently at one shiny curl of hair, then pushes it back behind her
ears.

Divya says, "Konnnevath told me when you arrived, and that you were on a
very pretty green. He actually recognized her and was very proud of it."

Kerwin watches the performers with interest, if not quite comprehension.

K'ran picks idly at his meal, his eyes on the performers.

Wryn grins, "Um...no...I fell on my...Silver Sparkly face paint and
it...um...got on my back. Now it itches. What didn't break? Can I see, can
I see, huh, huh?" Her eyes light up and she bounces on her toes, all the
while scratching at that itch.

Terryll nods to Flower Garden. "I was kind of hoping you had seen it.
Rheinth and I didn't get off duty in time for it." Then she seems to think
of something, "Oh, how's Lyse doing? I got a message from her from K'nan;
he said he ran into her. Is she here, do you think?" Then she grins. "I'm
not going to change yet, but you're welcome to come when I do go."

Telgar Weyr> Keara applauds T'kar.

Kassima cups her hands 'round her mouth to yell towards T'kar, "Wiggle your
butt more!"

Vasha pulls the wineskin he'd been hauling around all this time out of
under his arm, and offers it to Talisha. "Wanna drink? I got this earlier,
and with all the commotion, I forgot I still had it."

Lyse turns to Baby_duck. "Hiya. You I know. You look great. Did your mother
help you make it?"

Aisling's attention moves towards the performers, watching them with an
considering look, expression hidden behind the veil.

Fire_Feline wrinkles her nose. "If you like ducks, I suppose." She looks
around the tables and murmurs. "Wonder if they have any wine, I could use a
little glass." She chuckles at Divya. "Ah, well, Konnevath would know, such
an intelligent lifemate you have." She winces with sympathy Wryn's way.

Water's_Fall approaches Vasha and Talisha, bowing a grand greeting to them
both. "How are you both this evening? Isn't it a lovely night?"

Kichevio adds a suggestion to Kassi's. "And comment about teacups and
whipped cream!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima buries her head in her hands. Things I never thought
I'd hear Kassi say....

I'sai murmurs back, a frankly heartfelt, "Please. It can't last too much
longer... oh, shards," and now he's laughing.

At length, Kiani finally finds a seat, though it's a ways away from the
bulk of the crowd. Though food is offered to her, she wrinkles her nose and
shakes her head, murmuring a quiet thanks, but no thanks to the 'messenger.'

P'tod half bends over like an old lady and shuffles toward the others.
"Give it a squeeze!" he quavers encouragingly. It may not make sense, but
that's what he was told to say, darn it.

Flower_Garden smiles, nodding. "She's right over there," she says, pointing
towards a small runner."

Gray_Canine skitters to and fro to avoid bumping into people, for once
having released her cloth 'tail.' The left ear of the mask keeps flopping
about, while the right one seems to stay stiffly upright for some reason or
another.

Vasha blinks up at Water's_Fall as he holds the wine out to Talisha, and
looks him up and down. "Hello," he murmurs. "You look -really- nice in that."

Tella shakes her head, her hair falling back into place. "Nope. It's a
special order for the Lady." She looks towards T'kar, surpressign a grin.
See, since she's not a greenrider at the moment, she can't try on the
pants, want though she might. "Hmm.. I think I could make those.." Sure she
could.

Masked_Avenger grins fetchingly to Fire Feline, "Would you like me to get
one for you?"

Baby_duck. nods her head quickly, a feather falling off and floating away.
"I'm my baby duck!" she teels Lyse. "This is fun. I asked my mommy to come
and she said yes." she leans over, whispering. "I think she wanted to talk
to Auntie Schmitt alone."

Alessandra snickers, then reaches under and detaches a plume carefully -- a
shiny black one, nearly two feet in length -- and hands it over to I'sai.

Fire_Feline slightly curtsies as she gets into the spirit of things. "I
would be ever so grateful, sir. Benden, if they have any?"

Talisha blinks a few times, glancing up at the strange watery creature in
front of her. "Ahh hello there. Duties to the water." she pushes at a bit
of hair, shaking her head to the wine. "No thanks."

Wryn covers a laugh with both hands, and then regains her childlike
composure, "What'd you do with buttless greenrider pants. Greenriders have
cooties." She is still looking at that lovely parcel, "Yeah, squeeze it!"

Water's_Fall beams happily to Vasha. "Why thank you! That's a fine
compliment. That's...quite a fine outfit yourself." He winks and turns to
Talisha. "You are looking quite nice yourself m'lady."

Emelei grins up at I'sai wickedly, murmurs something in return and offers
him something small and amorphous in shape.

Tarlo sits doing much the same as K'ran, and laughs heartily at the
introduction of the buttless pants into the scene.

Vasha nods at Talisha and lays the wineskin down by the chair and attempts
to sit back in the chair, but once again, these sharding wings get in the
way. "Want to trade costumes?" he asks of Water's_Fall, looking quite
innocent.

Masked_Avenger puts a fisted hand to his chest, and the other behind his
back, bowing to Fire Feline, "It would be my pleasure. Benden it is." With
that he strides off, as best he can in the crowd, toward the beverage table.

P'tod purses his lips and frowns at T'kar. "Young woman, don't you think
you ought to be wearing a little more than that? You'll catch your death of
cold."

Terryll grins, chuckling quietly. "Oh, that's a cute costume. Come with me
while I go say hello?" She looks between Flower Garden and Brees.

Divya says, "The refreshments are a bit unusual tonight, Fire_Feline. I
believe Master Keara is responsible for them."

I'sai pockets the item with a grin that's all mischief, murmurs thanks to
Emelei - and to Alessandra, attempting to tickle her nose with the plume as
he accepts it and starts for the performers again.

Orchid nods to Ryll grinning and giggling as she bounces.

Flower_Garden nods, taking Orchid's hand and falling into step with Terryll.

Ealia looks around the party

T'kar raises an eyebrow over at P'tod, and on suggestion, twitches his butt
a little more. "Not when I've got a nice warm Smith here..." He sidles
closer to Tella, tracing one of her biceps lightly with a sweet smile.

Alessandra squeaks, rubbing her nose, then sticks her tongue out at I'sai
impishly. That little bit of immaturity done, she settles back to watch the
fun.

Keara turns her attention for a moment to the newly arrived costumes,
grinning slightly before jerking her attention back towards T'kar-Keara.

Fire_Feline quirks an eyebrow at Divya but that is hidden behind her mask
of course. "Unusual you say? And Keara?" She calls back to K'ven. "Take a
small sip first to see if it's edible?"

Aisling takes a step backwards as she watches the performers, a smile
tugging on her lips all but hidden behind the veil of darkness.

Lyse grins at Baby_duck. "I hope you had an easier time trying to get
permision to come than I did. You wouldn't believe what I had to promise to
so I could."

Tarlo leans in and murmurs to K'ran. "Where did you see Yenne and Kiani?"

Elie walks south.

Canus walks here from the south.

Tella snorts at the idea from P'tod. "Oh hush. This from the person who
says to squeeze china. Hah!" She shakes her head before looking to T'kar.
She takes a step away. "Oh, I'm not nice and warm. I'm gruff and cold!" She
nudges Wryn. "Ain't I?"

Gray_Canine glances around, fighting down a wave or two of anxiety. Crowds
really aren't her thing.. she shakes her head and glances around, mind
whirling to come up with some kind of recognition for anyone here. She
fails, but catches sight of someone in a feline costume and a few others.
Hesitantly, she drifts over, if anything just to escape the central throng.

Canus wanders back into the crowd once agian without a costume.

Divya nods and says, "The theme is body parts. I must say that the logic
behind that escapes me."

"More! More!" the brownrider who earlier wanted to see teacups chants to
T'kar. "Shake that sexy thing!"

Kerwin's brows lift as he continues to watch the performance. He blinks at
Emelei's handing something over, and looks briefly amused. "Why am i afraid
of that that might have been?"

"Thank you.." Talisha murmurs in response to the waterfall man, brows
twitching into a frown as she tries to make out the person beneath. "Lovely
costume..very original."


Water's_Fall:
	All shades of blue have been incorporated into this costume designed for
Water's Fall. From glassy duck egg light blues to deep dark midnight blue
matte, Water's Fall has been transformed into almost every kind of water
imaginable. Covering his's eyes and much of his cheeks is a flowing mask
made of hardened weyrhide that /almost/ literally drips from his eyes like
tears. 
	His tunic isn't so much a tunic anymore as it is an amalgamation of
velvet, weyrhide, dyed cord, and sapphire shaded embroidery. The strips of
fabric are all tapered like long thin raindrops, exquisitely sewn together
as a seamless meld of shifting texture and shade. Sharp glossy blues
contrast with the soft, light absorbing hues to create the effect of a non
existent piece of clothing - he seems to be simply plastered with the
essence of water.
	The dyed cord and embroidery is seemingly random, cord sewn in to generate
rivulets of water that streak down the arms and legs of the outfit while
the embroidery exhibits swirls and pools of the life giving liquid. His
collar and cuffs are soft velvety royal blue that shimmers slightly as if
wet while the shoes that complete the costume are a dark ocean, three
gleaming silver buckles fastening both wells of this spring to him.


Baby_duck. quacks some more, turning round and round to look at everyone
passing by her. She turns back to Lyse and grins. Which is hard to do with
the makeshift duck bill on her mouth. "I think my mommy was dis..traction
when I asked. And I had someone else ask and I came with lots of people
from igen." another quack. "This is lots of fun. Everyone looks so funny.
But I like what you wear. You look beeutiful."

P'tod hisses at Tella in his normal voice, "But I had to! That's what they
told me to say."

Ealia looks over at T'kar "Very nice costume.

Wryn watches T'kar and Tella with wide eyes, and them grins, "What's gruff
me? But your cold, yeah. Cold. Can somebody scratch my face paint? It
itches sumpin awful." She sidles up next to P'tod and offers him her back,
"Auntie, ma'am?"

Terryll weaves her way carefully through the crowd over to Lyse, reaching
out, then pulling her hand back. "Lyse?" she asks of the little runner filly.

Water's_Fall grins at Vasha's suggestion and shakes his head. "I think if I
changed out of this, everyone would find out who I am and this is rather
fun, I must say." Water's Fall glances around. "I've never been to
something like this before. It certainly /is/ something." He blushes a bit
at Talisha's comment. "Thanks. I had help from the Flower Garden over
there." He points to Flower_Garden. "Well, enjoy yourselves. I should say
hi to some more people." He bows deeply again and heads off in the
direction of Kichevio.

P'tod coughs and returns to his character, lifting an eyebrow at Wryn.
"Yeeees?"

Emelei leans back in her seat with a grin of utter evil, then wrinkles her
nose at Kerwin. "I'll share some with you later too, if y'like," she
offers, then chokes a laugh back at the stage. "Aww, poor itchy scratchy."

Fire_Feline smiles as the canine costumed Igenite comes along. "There you
are, I wondered where you got to?" She blushes deeply as the brownrider
starts her chant."You know,I wonder,I think I have been out of the loop for
too long."

A grin at the squeak - and a pause to murmur greetings to the Avenger and
the Feline, even Orchid and and the Garden and others with them, and that
Canine coming to and fro - and I'sai eases the rest of the way through the
crowd; he pauses by 'itchy' Wryn to hand her that plume with a whispered,
"From Alessandra, all yours." Poor P'tod's his next stop, with a, "From
Divya," T'kar getting the phrase, "From Terryll." And he investigates the
amorphous little object himself.

Canus's eyes wander through the crowd, as if in search of someone./

Wryn smiles, "Couldja scratch my face paint? Its right about there." She
stretches her arm around to motion at the small of her back.

Elie walks here from the south.

Baby_duck. giggles. "A canine!"

Tella sticks her tongue out at P'tod, winking at him. "Yes, of course,
silly." She pats his cheek. "Of course, if you /want/ to scratch something,
scratch it." With that, she turns back to the 'greenrider'. "Hmm.." She
opens the package, finally revealing the teacup.

Gray_Canine cants her head to one side, the ear flopping comically.
"Hello?" she asks softly. Too many people, too much going on! She shakes
her head, setting the ear to waving madly. Taking up the tail of her
costume, she wrings it nervously. "Err. Are you who I think you are..?"

After clearing dishes, the servers come back around with dessert, serving
each person three or four of these small pies. They're pastry shells with
different fillings, each shell sculpted to look like a finger with a round
smooth fingernail of frosting on the end. Some have rock-candy rings on the
other end, and some have licorice-shavings hair between the joints.
(Telgarian Pie Dessert)

Elie ducks back into the crowd, bumping into people left and right. "Excuse
me! Sorry! HEY! Get off my tail!"

Kerwin's brows lift again, and there's a decided snicker. "I think I'll
reserve judgement on whether or not to take you up on that until we all
find out what it was, but I appreciate the offer." He ruffles through
flour-whitened curls a moment, getting a white smear on the black of his
'hoof'. He perks up a bit at the dessert, oohing quietly. "This is festive."

Elya leaves off chatting with her table-mate and grins at the dessert set
in front of her. "Oh...this is delightful."

Telgar Weyr> Aisling oohhs. I like the pies, Keara. ;)

Fire_Feline chuckles and nods. "Who do you think I am? "

Keara looks a bit smug as the teacup appears, reaching for a finger-pie
without really noticing.

Telgar Weyr> Keara says, "Thanks. O:) Idea came from Daryan though."

Lyse smiles widely. "Thank you. I wasn't sure if I'd got it on right at
first. You know nobody's going to be able to tell you and your baby duck
apart when you get back." She turns as she hears her name. "Terryll?" she
asks. She steps close to Terryll. "Did you get my message?"

Kassima quips, keeping a wary eye on the performance at the same time that
she helps herself to a share of the finger-pie, "I'm *afraid* t'see what
T'kar will do with that teacup. I suppose t'be in character, he should put
it down his pants or something... this looks delicious."

Kassima appends, hastily, "The pie, that is t'say. Nay the teacup down
T'kar's pants."

Gray_Canine glances up at the feline, squinting slightly. "Err," she says
noncomitally. "Are you.." She shakes her head and trails off. The voice is
familiar, but not quite familiar enough. "Hm."

Orchid grins at the Canine bouncing and waves. "Hi!" She giggles. "How are
you? Not blushing." She winks and gigles more.

Baby_duck. giggles at Lyse. "I can't stay like this silly." she looks to
the canine and bouncies over to it's side. "Hi!"

Water's_Fall smiles brightly at Kichevio as he makes his way over to her.
"Hello!" he calls with good cheer and holds out a hand for her.

Divya tucks a lock of hair behind her metal-fringed ear and just grins. She
knows who the feline is.

Gray_Canine whirls, nearly jumping. She lands on her tail and, ergo, almost
lands flat on her face after tripping herself up. "Yow! Who--?" She stops
and stares at the Orchid. "Err? Who's that..?"

P'tod looks from one to the next of his fellow actors in succession,
waiting for someone to say something.

T'kar shoots a withering glance at Wryn, after a confused pause. "Look now,
can you see the paintbrushes in the soup over there? Why don't you get them
for Auntie P'tod. And I'll warm up our Smith, if he's so cold..." He
reaches out a finger to trail along the teacup's edge, rump obediently
twitching back and forth. "Did I tell you I make great baklava?" he asks as
he leads Tella off towards the side of the stage.

A ripple of bells accompanies Aisling's darted glance towards Kassima, her
lips curling into a grin at the correction. "I was going to ask just how
much wine you had had."

Wryn ooohs softly as she is given a new toy to play with. And its long and
stuff. The better to scratch with my dear. She uses the plume to scratch
her 'itch' and then turns to tickle P'tod under the chin with it.

"Teacups are probably too crunchy, Sane Aunt Kassi," Kerwin decides after
another of his involved, and thoughtful pauses. He continues to watch the
performers with interest.

Kichevio looks steadily at Water's_Fall's face for a minute as she takes
his offered hand. Then she smiles in recognition, grinning. "Fallen off any
dragons lately?"

Baby_duck. giggles at Orchid. "Hi! Are you from Igen too?"

Gray_Canine squints some more. "Brees?" she states incredulously. "Is that
you..?"

Divya chuckles at T'kar's performance and says, "He does a good Keara
impression."

Fire_Feline shakes her head at the canine and smiles over at Divya. "Quite
a menagerie we brought, don't you think?" She tries -not- to look at T'kar,
especially a certain part of his anatomy but it's a bit hard.

Orchid nods her head at the Canine and giggles as she bounces. "Yep!" She
grins over at the duck.

Flower_Garden leans closer to Terryll, saying softly, "I'd like to go say
hello to your blue. See you in a bit? Brees seems to be fine in here for a
bit."

Canus continues to search through the crowded area looking this way and that.

Tella chuckles, keeping a good grip on the teacup as she's lead off. This
big, strong smith starts to warm up, playfully flirting with the bakliva
making greenrider.

Masked_Avenger returns with some effort through the thick crowd, to Fire
Feline with her glass of Benden wine. He happily reports to Fire Feline,
"Its edible." and hands her the glass.

Water's_Fall laughs and shakes his head. "If I did right now, everyone
where I live would cheer the rainfall." He winks playfully, raising the
hand up to kiss the back of it playfully if he may. "It's such a great
evening, isn't it?"

Wryn looks up, "Paintbrushes in the soup?! That's silly." She sticks the
plume into her bodice, however and wanders to the edge of the stage,
looking down into someone's soup bowl.

Gray_Canine grins. "Brees! Finally, I've found someone who I recognize."
She turns back to the Feline. "I'm not sure about you.." She pauses,
struggling to try and guess who it is. "Err."

Kassima manages, somehow, a straight-faced nod of agreement to Kerwin; she
even manages to turn her head before breaking into snickers. "Only two
glasses," she promises Aisling, holding up one hand. "Only enough t'be able
t'stay in this without blushing all the time; nay more! Hopefully there'll
be a pause later, for changing into the sane one... look at T'kar go. Meri
will be sad, t'have missed this."

P'tod SQUEALS and stumbles backward, attempting to get away-- is this part
of his character, or-- no, he's quite ticklish it would seem. He stumbles
off the edge of the stage and falls headlong into the crowd which rapidly
parts to make room. THUMP. Pause. "Works every time," a faint voice can be
heard from the ground.

Baby_duck. quacks at Orchid. "Oh, it's Brees! Hi."

Terryll nods to Lyse. "Yes I did, and K'nan was rather confused when he
delivered it, too." She grins. "My responce, my little friend, is that you
will get as good as me, and most likely better, since I've fallen out of
practice." She would hug the girl, but seems a little - nervous, reticent?
Whatever, her smile lights and warms her grey eyes though. "I've missed
being able to give you lessons, you know." Then she nods to Flower Garden.
"Ok." She reaches out a hand, "Alright? Or is it just the crowd?"

Kichevio nods, brushing a loose leaf out of her face. "I'm having a great
time--even though I fear that I'sai's going to kidnap me next for another
game."

Rheinth lumbers south.

Orchid giggles and leans closer to Canine. She mutters to Gray_Canine. 

Wryn glances over as P'tod falls headlong into the crowd and winces, "Did I
do that. Whoops."

Gray_Canine leans closer and narrowly avoids tripping over her tail again.
She mutters to Orchid, "... that... there in the..." 

Elie turns about abruptly as someone yanks on her costume and narrowly
misses thwapping Canus in the face with a blue wing. "Oh! Hello. I remember
you."

Orchid nods her head grinning. "Yep!" She says to canine.

Water's_Fall grins at that and nods. "Well, I'm sure many men around would
like to kidnap you for games, Ki'. I should say hello to I'sai actually.
Last time I saw him, he wasn't in a very good mood."

Gray_Canine positively beams, but it's hidden by her mask. "Hey, your
costume looks great, Brees! Who made it?"

Flower_Garden blushes softly, smile a bit sheepish. "Um, well, you know me,
Ryll." Giving Orchid's shoulder a squeeze, she slips south.

Emelei considers her soupbowl, and starts to reach for it to pass down the
line to the stage and to Wryn helpfully, then gives up and dissolves into
laughter at the slapstick falling. "You could wear a teacup as a hat? Well,
maybe not, but they could," she suggests, gesturing at the stage.

Flower_Garden walks south.

Kichevio shifts her bright skirts in a graceful curtsey. "You're very kind.
The most polite waterfal I've ever met."

Gray_Canine ooop's and covers her mouth. "Oops." She grins. "Err. Oops.
Sorry."

Divya laughs as her line is used in the skit.

Lyse hugs Terryll quickly and steps back looking for a look to say she
didn't do something wrong. "I missed your teaching too."

Orchid grins. "Shil did. It kind of goes with her costume." She giggles.
"And I guess kinda with Lee's if you think about it right."

Semeth lumbers here from the south.

Gray_Canine squints at Orchid's costume again. "Err." She shakes her head.
"Shilarra's here? And Leelson? I haven't seen them. You're pretty much the
first person I've recognized." She grins.

Semeth bellows as he comes charging across the bowl towards his rider,
who's by now getting to his feet. "Ow! Semeth, stop! Be quiet!" P'tod's
scolding him. "I'm fine, I just /fell/. I'm not hurt. Sheesh, calm down,
you'll scare people."

Kassima finds, from someone, a new and non-cleavaged piece of hide and
begins to write something as she watches this game seem to wind down. "I...
do solemnly swear... in front... everyone... in exchange for..." she
mumbles as she drafts. This is a good sign, really.

Baby_duck. wanders off into the crowd.

I'sai caves in to a sequin-glittered sigh of relief, and then walks around
the stage to see whether those performers are still intact - "Wher-du...
er, P'tod, could you please... really, just want you four out to get some,
uh, applause. They won't throw things at you, really, Keara's desserts are
just too good. Applause?"

Gray_Canine yelps and leaps back and away from where the dragon's charging,
eyes wide through the eyeholes of her mask.

Wryn settles on the edge of the stage, swinging her feet, watching P'tod,
"Ooh...I made the big dragon MAD."

Terryll smiles softly as Flower Garden leaves, a little bit of worry in her
eyes. Then a delighted smile wreaths her features at Lyse's hug. No, she
definately didn't do anything wrong. "Well, I'll just have to remedy that.
I think Rheinth and I can sneak down to Igen on a more regular basis to
visit."

Elya winces as the dragon appears. "This looks like it's going to get ugly."

Tella blinks, glancing back towards P'tod and Wryn, a chuckle coming from
her. She shakes her head, noding to the former 'greenrider' before heading
towards I'sai and the others. Once there, she holds out the teacup. "I
think I'm done with this."

Water's_Fall smiles warmly at Kichevio and bows again. "I can very easily
turn from a light pleasant shower into a raging storm, don't you forget."
He winks and turns to watch the various performances for a while.

Kassima sets down her charcoal to obediantly and enthusiastically clap,
adding in a wolf-whistle for Butt-Wiggling T'kar and Squeeze-Encouraging
P'tod.

Emelei rapidly starts to bang her hands together in response to the request
for applause after jumping visibly at the storming dragon. "And everyone
lived happily ever after," she murmurs, trying to hide the fact that she
was momentarily startled.

P'tod flushes bright red. "Fine.. Semeth, go back and curl up with the
others, would you? There's a lot of people around here." He gives I'sai an
apologetic glance, and Semeth, who's been stalled by the crowd from getting
as close to P'tod as he'd like, calms at least somewhat, lowering his head
and whuffing indignantly.

Tarlo applauds dutifully, cheering for the participants.

Kerwin aplauds cheerfully, after all, it is always good to applaud those
more daring than yourself.

Divya applauds the poor suckers for surviving the madness of the skit.

Masked_Avenger stands quietly near Fire Feline with a bright smile on his
face while he quietly watches the festivities.

Tarlo enters the mask-making booth.

P'tod glances at Wryn. "He's not mad, he's just all paranoid since I got
Threadscored."

Tella looks towards P'tod, chuckling lightly. "Him too? Ysyth's the same way."

Baby_duck. applauds because everyone else is.

Fire_Feline blinks, stepping back a few steps as she watches the dragon and
the players. She mutters to Masked_Avenger, "... just... to me,... you...
get... to... by..." 

Wryn chuckles softly as it seems P'tod isn't seriously injured and she
climbs back up, plucking the plume from her bodice to hand back to I'sai,
"Oh that was fun." Back to P'tod she glances with an, "Ah...that I can
understand."

Tarlo exits the mask-making booth.

T'kar pauses at the edge of the stage with a little bow. "Good to act with
you all," he calls to Tella, Wryn, and P'tod. "Thanks all! And my apologies
to Keara. I'm not half as appealing as she is, I think." He winks towards
the Baker, then hops down and looks for some wine to relax with.

Lyse claps. "Yes. Then I can show you what I've done but don't get in
trouble for it."

Keara laughs towards T'kar, lifting her glass in salute, then saunters off
and disappears into the crowd to flirt.

Orchid grins looking around. "Shil was just here. I think Lee went to talk
to people he knows form other places." She grins at the canine bouncing.d

Telgar Weyr> Keara has to scram. :(

Water's_Fall laughs easily and applauds well for the performances before
looking around, eyes sparkling like sunlit water. "Who else can I say hello
to..." he muses.

Masked_Avenger mutters to Fire_Feline, "... thinking the... So... no,...
didn't... to..."

Gray_Canine shakes her head and slumps in a sigh. "Pathetic, I'm just
pathetic. Err? No, I haven't seen any of them."

Ealia walks over to T'kar. "nice costume" she smiles.

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Thanks for the great feast - and for being
inspiring! ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Keara wiggles her teacups. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snugs a Keara! The feast was great, the modelling was
great, the teacups were... memorable. ;)

P'tod nods at Tella. "I better get him out of here," he says, and waves
before pointing Semeth toward the southern part of the bowl. "C'mon, let's
get out of this crowd, mudlump."

P'tod walks south.

Semeth lumbers south.

I'sai trades little pieces of sour candy to Tella, and then to Wryn for the
plume - and then the other two, what with those missing injuries. Next - a
glance after disappearing Keara, leaving him to dandle the teacup without
her - "Kassi? Kichevio, Ais... c'mon up. And you, and you," with a nod to
sour-candy Emelei and Elie-of-the-Tail, too.

Fire_Feline sneaks a meatroll off a side table and passes it discreetly to
the Avenger. "I had a bit to eat before I left. Salad." She grins. "I do
wonder if there will be much energy left with everything going on, to
dance,that is."

Tella waves after P'tod and Semeth before taking the sour candy with a
grin. "Mmm. Looks good." Towards Wryn, she chuckles. "You did a good job."

Kichevio looks mock-horrified. "Me? Oh Faranth, I knew my day would
come..." But ambles on up to the stage grinning widely.

T'kar grins brightly at Ealia. "Thanks! My weyrmate made it. Your dress is
nice, too. I can show you the mask-making booth, do one of those and you'll
fit right in."

"Me?" Kassi asks, startled, but she obediantly abandons her
contract-writing and tippie-toes on over. "You called, O Master of Glitter?"

Orchid grins at the canine. "That's Ryll." She nods toward the appropriate
person. "She used to live in Igen before she got searched and got a dragon."

Ealia smiles warmly. "My ribbons don't cut it?

Kerwin watches as Sane Aunt Kassi, and poor Em are hauled up to the stage,
turning fully to watch the lunacy to unfold, his expression thoughtful.

Emelei starts perhaps more than she did at the dragon-abounding, eyes
widening in brief horror, before she coughs. Nobody saw that. She's cool,
really. "Oh, sure, yeah," she agrees, getting up and giving her vest a
quick pull before to trail after the others. "What do we do?"

Wryn grins at Tella, "I wouldn't rather had the big strong Smith. Sorry
about that little stumble there. Completely unscripted." She looks at her
candy with curious eyes and smiles, "I haven't had anything like this in
ages."

Gray_Canine cants her head to one side, making a canine-like whining sound
for the amusement of Brees. "Errf?" She grins. "Not only do I look like
one, I can act like one." She laughs, the sound muffled behind her mask.
"So, is there anything in particular you'd like to do here?"

"Me?" Elie skips forward, at once pleased to be singled out and
apprehensive about what might be coming. "What'm I supposed to do?"

T'kar grins. "They're fine, it was just a suggestion. Care for a glass of
wine?" he asks as he pours himself one and works on a new plate of food.

Ealia grins. "Wine is good...

Tarlo excuses K'ran, suggesting softly that he get a cloak before he
freezes with a soft laugh, and meanders her way through the crowd, eyeing
costumes critically.

Orchid looks around. "Want to go look at everyone's costumes? Maybe we can
figure out who they are." She grins at Rinya.

Gray_Canine nods. "We can do that. Give me your hand, before I lose you in
the crowd." The ear flops crazily as she nods her head.

Tella chuckles lightly, poping one of the candies into her mouth. "Mmm..
Neither have I. It's rather good," she says around the piece. With a
chuckle, "I don't think any of it was scripted." She looks towards the new
cast members before saying, "I think we should get of the stage. You?"

I'sai hands out bits of that sour-candy all 'round: "The last thing before
I am freed of a certain debt and we can all dance. Or drink. Or sleep. Or
something. Get on your harper-shoes, because it's time to rhyme: I'll pick
you a costume, and you make up a little four-line rhyme, or a limerick, or
... or something like that. And," there's that sudden, wicked grin, "It
doesn't have to be -good-."

Fire_Feline blinks at I'sai's suggestion. "Harper? Err where is Divya?
She's good at these sorts of games."

T'kar pours another glass for Ealia. "So how's Tillek?"

Elya grins and looks around, peering past people.

Divya says, "Uhhhh, don't look at me. Nuh-uh."

Orchid takes the canine's hand and skips off beside her.

It takes Aisling a few moments to realize that her names was called, so
engrossed with people-watching was she. She pauses to blink a couple of
times at I'sai. "Does the limerick have to be connected with the costume?"

Water's_Fall turns his attention to the stage and laughs at the ordeal set.
He folds his arms across his watery chest and grins brightly out at the
participants. "This should be good."

Kichevio says dryly, "Oh, _that_ takes some of the pressure off!"

Kassima near-purrs, "Nay quite free, Is. I've a little agreement for you
t'sign yet--" And all this as she takes a piece of that candy and tucks it
into her cheek. Oh, good, now she's a fiend with a sourness-induced pucker.
"Doesn't have t'be good is a relief."

Ealia says "Did I mention I was living there?""

Gray_Canine glances over at I'sai, head canted. "Hold a minute, Brees, this
looks funny." She grins.

Wryn nods at Tella and hitches up her skirts once more to slip off the
stage. Again the problem of nowhere to stick things in this skin tight
dress gives her pause as she weaves her way through the crowd to settle
with a sigh. She takes an offered glass of wine and sips with a smile.

Kerwin turns his chair a bit so that he can abuse the advantage of his
height to watch this. One 'hoofed' leg is tugged up so he can sit half
crosslegged, and peer at the would-be songsmiths.

Emelei takes one of the candies and pops it in her mouth with a brief grin
of unconcern that fades in a moment of nonplussed dismay. "Uh, harper
shoes?" She glances down at her boots, then furrows her brows at I'sai to
listen to the rest of the rules before a grin appears of great mischief to
peer at various costumed folk.

Fire_Feline grins. "Oh come on, Divya. You could win this with both hands
tied behind your back."

Tella moves to climbs down as well, glancing about the crowd once more for
familiar faces. Not finding any, she moves after her fellow ex-castmember.
"Mind if I stick around you? Seems not to many people came from Ista."

Elie trips up to join the others, holding fast to her tail and flipping
wings back out of her way as she walks. "Which costume? Any one? Do we get
to pick?"

T'kar raises an eyebrow towards Ealia. "Oh, did I mistake you for someone
else? I thought I remembered you from a visit there. It was quite a while
back, though, I could be wrong."

Orchid grins and nods at the canine stopping to watch while bouncing.

Gray_Canine glances around, Brees' hand in one of her own hands, the
costume tail in the other, fist white-knuckled as she holds onto it tightly.

Masked_Avenger grins from Feline to Divya and glances around the crowd
seeming completely entertained.

"That's the thing," I'sai says sadly, "She'd be too good - it wouldn't be
fair." No pressure indeed. He doesn't dare so much as squint at Kassima:
"And of course, based on the costume... and I get to pick. So it's a mix,
y'know, you're not all going for the same one, see?"

Wryn chuckles at Tella, "Have a seat and enjoy the rest of the show. I'm
from Fort, and I don't see a familiar face about, either. My weyrmate was
suppose to come, but he got caught by work."

Divya says, "Yeah, I'sai's right." A little flattery takes even a
bronzerider far. "Besides, I have something else to talk to him about later
anyways."

Aisling nods her head, sending the beads and bells a'swinging as she
glances over the audience, trying to think up a limerick.

Alessandra listens silently, a bemused smile on her face as she watches
those on the stage, eyes occasionally straying this way or that by a
particularly delightful costume.

Tella plucks up her own glass of wine before taking a seat next to her.
"From Fort? It's been a while since I've been there." She glances towards
the stage, smile quirking her lips. "What kind of work?"

Kichevio starts studying costumes thoughtfully.

Gray_Canine shakes her head, trying to fix the mask without letting go of
Brees or the tail - it seems like holding onto that tail with a death-grip
is the only thing keeping her sane, or at least keeping her wits about her.
The ear flops about crazily, finally landing down and canted off to one
side to give the mask a comical, inquisitive look.

Kassima draws herself up to full height, the ribbons in her hair gleaming
as she tips her head back to survey the costumed throng. "I do enjoy a
challenge," she murmurs, a grin already starting to tug her mouth into an
impish curve.

Lyse tells Terrilia "You don't need to practice. You'll always be the best
and I've still got your box. Where's your costume?"

Wryn chuckles softly, "Head Steward work. A shame too. He was coming as
Rukbat. We would have made a splendid couple."

Terryll slips off, after murmuring to Lyse that she'll be right back.
Probably to go change herself.

Elie drops her tail again-- it's safe enough up here on the stage, away
from the crowd, and anyway, her neck itches. She lifts her mask to scratch.

"All's fair in puns and war," Emelei decides, still peering at individual
costumed folk with distinct and intense interest.

Fire_Feline sips delicately from the wine glass and grins. "It's safe, it's
wine." She sighs and looks about her. "This truly is a bit of an odd
evening, better than staying home I suppose, huh. Avenger?"

As the players start studying the crowds, Water's Fall blushes and bites
his lip before looking away sheepishly.

Tella looks back towards her, raising a brow as she looks over her costume.
With a chuckle, she nods. "Yes, you would have." She crosses her legs,
looking back to the stage.

"Puns, this is going to be dangerous," Kerwin decides quietly to himself.
settling back a bit, hooves crossed over his chest as he watches in interest.

Gray_Canine glances down at Brees. "D'you have any idea what's going on..?"

I'sai points vaguely in the direction of the crowd, eyeing them one by one
- to Emelei, "How about, for you, that ovine over there," Kerwin, speaking
of dangerous; "Aisling, that Waterfall fellow, Kichevio, the
white-dress-girl," that'd be Kiani, "Kassima, there's a Gray Canine that
seems just your style, and... Elie, try Tarlo over there. Also in white,
but with that mask."

Gray_Canine stifles a yelp at her name being mentioned. "Who..? What...?"

Tarlo grins, raising her hand obligingly for Elie.

Midnight_Sky comes wandering through the crowds, a smile on the lips below
her mask,a nd stops near a little runner-girl.

One of the Harper Masters gestures to Elya, who excuses herself from the
people she'd been chatting with. She threads her way through the crowd
towards the spot that the harpers have staked out, and begins setting up
her instruments, tuning them and leaning them.

Fire_Feline looks utterly relieved. "I am safe for now."

Cailin wiggles in her chair as several gazes rest on her then move on.

Elie gives Tarlo a long contemplative look and chews her lip, thinking hard.

Speaking of doomed? Kerwin really is in trouble, isn't he. His eyes widen
in alarm, and he tries to slink down a bit in his chair. Too bad he's
really too tall to make much of a hiding job of it.


Gray_Canine:
     You see someone wearing a cloth mask of a canine, gray in color, with
holes for the eyes and loose floppy ears. They're wearing a gray dress and
tunic, with coarse gray gloves on their hands as well. Despite their short
stature and the crudeness of the costume, the canine's visage seems to look
almost real when caught in the right light.
     The mask itself is coarsely stitched, somewhat droopy but serves its
purpose. The muzzle cants off to one side, making it look curious, and one
ear flops over. Black boots complete the odd ensemble, and a scrap-length
of gray cloth is sewn onto the back to make a tail of sorts.


Emelei glances sidelong at I'sai's indication, then straightens to peer
over at the crown before a truly wicked grin appears. "Oh, hello,
ovine-man. I'll be kind. Not," she offers cheerfully, then folds her arms
over her chest to think, studying the poor young man.

Masked_Avenger's eyes scan the crowd and he grins and nods, "I agree
Feline. Odd, but better odd thank ... normal, right?" he grins and winks.

Orchid smiles at the Canine reassuringly. "They're just gonna make up a
rhyme about you."

Gray_Canine's eyes slide over to Fire_Feline, a paralyzed-with-fear
expression fixed on her face behind the mask. "Er-r-r-r-r.." she trails off.

Safe? "And I'll take the orangey feline over there," I'sai decides.

Aisling chews her lips thoughtfully as she considers the water fall.

Kichevio looks at Kiani for a minute, then sings out clearly into the
audience, "There was a rider dressed all in white, who'd never give any a
fright. She was dressed as an egg--but why, may I beg? Perhaps for her
private delight."

Baby_duck. stands near a small group of people, watching what's going on.

Kassima draws her lower lip between her teeth, eyes picking out the canine
in question and narrowing in thought. Oh, dear. One can just see the evil,
toothed gears in her head spinning now.

Water's_Fall blushes intensely now and seems to almost try to hide from
Aisling.

K'ran returns about this time, a jacket thrown cavalierly about his
shoulders. His course back to his seat carries him past Kiani, as I'sai's
gesturing her way. "What on Pern is he on about?"

Midnight_Sky smiles at Lyse, and winks one grey eye, miming drawing. "Think
I'll be recognised?"

Gray_Canine remains rooted to the ground. "Why don't you go find Shilarra?"
she asks of Brees, letting go of her hand to wring the costume tail madly.

Wryn woohoos loudly at Kichevio's poem, "Oh, that was a good one."

I'sai pauses in eyeing the feline to swing his gaze over to Kichevio -
slowly, slowly - "Sweet shards, Kitschy. That was fast. And... yeah, what
she said: good. Maybe I'll back out after all."

Tarlo applauds loudly for her seasonal sister. "Good one, Kich!"

Kerwin applauds Kichevio's rhyme, with a quiet chuckle. Okay, so far, this
is reasonably safe.

Orchid giggles and claps her hands. She mutters to Gray_Canine, "...
doing..."  She shakes her head. "I want to hear these.

Fire_Feline chuckles softly to the Avenger, not catching I'sai's comment.
"Well, it's better than discussing the latest gossip of the nursery with a
four turn old." She grins. "Being an adult is rather nice once in a while,
don't you think?"

Alessandra cheers for her wingmate, stepping closer to the stage to
applaud. "That was nice, Kich!"

Kiani grins behind her mask at Kichevio, applauding with gloved hands.

Fire_Feline grins at Kichevio's poem. "Oh dear. Glad she didn't spot me."

Kichevio sweeps a graceful bow to all her supporters.

Elie wrinkles her nose, frowning, and suddenly her expression clears. She
steps forward to announce, "I've got my rhyme ready!"

Water's_Fall seems to forget about hiding and applauds Kichevio. "Oh, well
done, Ki'!"

Tella chuckles, watching Kichevio for a moment before looking towards Elie.

"Me, too!" Kassi informs Is, though she adds apologetically, "Though 'tis
likely naught t'Kich's."

T'kar stuffs himself with meatloaf while he watches the goings on. He
laughs lightly at Kichevio.

Masked_Avenger grins at Kichevio and then looks to Elie at her announcement.

I'sai casts a grin sideways - but then it's time to turn Elie's way, and
stifle those murmurs of 'what rhymes with ack.'

Gray_Canine blinks, sasying nothing as she wrings the tail even more.
"Err." she says quietly.

Lyse looks at Midnight_sky then grins at Gray_Canine. "They'll be nice I'm
sure unless they get a bit stuck."

Tarlo perks, -very- curious to hear what Elie comes up with.

Wryn sips her wine with a silly grin, popping a candy into her mouth as
well. She puckers a bit at the taste before her grin returns.

Gray_Canine glances over at Lyse. "Who're you..?" she manages to squeeze
out. "Err.." she repeats again. Apparently, it's a nervous habit.

Greylin goes up to find something else to nibble on before retreating to
her seat on the edge of the festivities.

Elie grins as she clears her throat and calls out her rhyme just loud
enough to be heard over the noise:
"There once was a lady in white
Like the snowfall of first winters' night
Her touch was so cool
When she jumped in a pool
Everyone else moved to the one on the right!"

T'kar claps for Elie, laughing again.

Aisling chews her lower lip, even her bells sound nervous as they jangle
this way and that.

Tarlo laughs, and applauds, toasting Elie from her spot at one of the tables.

Ealia smiles warmly. "Nay, twas most likely me..I guess I didn't remember
everyone that comes through there... Forgive me?

Wryn giggles at Elie, "Oh very...interesting. And I'd do the same. Brrr...."

Fire_Feline applaud. "Oh, that's wonderful. So quick, I could never do that."

Midnight_Sky looks over at Elie's poem, laughing and clapping. "Nice one!"
she calls out.

Baby_duck. claps her hands loudly.

Kichevio smiles, applauding for Elie. "We think alike!"

Kassima laughs with delight at that, bringing her hands together in
applause. "Oh, I *like* that! Even if'n it does make me wish rather for a
coat."

Elie's cheeks pink at the laughter and applause, and she catches up her
tail again to run down off the stage and disappear into the crowd.

Kerwin applauds for the newest rhyme as well.

Gray_Canine laughs nervously and quickly at the ditty.

Masked_Avenger grins at the poem and Elie adn applauds with a whistle as a
cheer.

Cailin clap grinning broadly

Emelei glances up to grin at the other rhymes, applauding as well brightly.
"That's great! Oh, yeah, ready here too."

T'kar grins. "No worry at all. I must confess, I don't remember the name.
I'm T'kar, although you can call me Tree if you prefer."

Divya laughs and applauds Elie's limerick.

Water's_Fall claps and calls out "Encore!" to Elie and her rhyme.

Elya grins over at the amateur poets as she finishes tuning her gitar.

Tella chuckles lightly, adding her own applause into the mix.

Ealia smiles brihtly. "Ealia," she holds out her hand. "Well met..Tree."
she winks.

Lyse shakes her head. "You have to guess as I don't know who you are. I
just know you know Orchid. See another non-nasty poem."

Gray_Canine blinks down at Lyse. "Err. I don't recognize you.. you know
Orchid?" She shakes her head. "I don't know who you could be.." She resumes
wringing the cloth tail.

Midnight_Sky moves off through the crowd, stopping here and there to
exchange greetings with people, but seeming to be looking for someone she
can at least recognise! She pauses at looks at a 'Tree' for a long moment,
then shakes her head. Couldn't be. Could it?

Fire_Feline blinks as midnight sky makes her appearance. "Oh my, now that
is a costume." She shrugs."Some people are creative, the rest of us are the
audience, I suppose."

Gray_Canine errs and drifts over to the feline, wringing the tail. She
mutters to Fire_Feline, "Are..." 

Kassima asks, peeking towards Emelei who had also announced her readiness,
"Who's next, then? I can wait, if'n you're set--mine's nay the best.
Limericks without kilts or pink lace or aught just seem unnatural."

Masked_Avenger chuckles at Fire Feline and shakes his head, "I like your
costume." He looks over at Gray Canine and smiles curiously at her muttering.

Orchid grins bouncing on her heels her petals bouncing as well.

T'kar grins at Ealia, then turns his grin on a darkly-clothed lady as she
looks his way. "Don't recognize a clutchmate? Come here, meet Ealia from
Tillek. Ealia, this is...or can I say?" he looks to Midnight_Sky
questioningly.

Aisling takes a deep breath before she begins, her voice shaking
slightly,"There once was a gentleman going to a ball, A diguise he must
design to fool them all, So what should he think but something to sink,
What better to masquerade than a water's fall?" She pauses, her gaze
resting on the poor watery one.

Ealia smiles. "Hello there...

Fire_Feline grins at the canine. "What made you guess?"

Kerwin applauds Aisling's poetry as well, half-grinning to himself.

Emelei gives Kassima a somewhat baffled shrug and a grin. "Any of us could
go," she offers, then beams at Aisling and waits to applaud until the rhyme
is done. "That's great!" she offers.

Orchid giggles over at the feline.

Gray_Canine errs and her glance shifts around. "Br--err, Orchid gave me a
hint or two."

Divya chuckles and applauds Aisling's poem before quietly making her way to
herlifemate.

Kichevio laughs and applauds, eyes dancing between Ais and the Waterfall.

Alessandra slips through the crowd, slowly making her way to the other side
of the gathering.

Fire_Feline blushes. "I wasn't fishing for a compliment, just .. well, some
people have more marks and creativity. It's lovely and a joy to just look
at the all the costumes."

Wryn bites her lip against a giggle and applauds before picking up her mask
and hiding behind it for a while.

Kassima beams and applauds this one, too. "And 'twere worried!" she teases
the other greenrider.

Divya walks south.

Fire_Feline giggles at Aisling. "Oh, clever."

Aisling swallows hard before nodding quickly to Kassima's words, her gaze
moving towards I'sai for his reaction as well.

Gray_Canine grins a little, one side of her face twitching in nervousness.
She mutters to Fire_Feline, "I'm... nervous in crowds,... much... a... I?" 

Midnight_Sky grins at T'kar. "Thought that was you. And yes, you can say,
but quietly. I'm enjoying being somewhat anonymous for a while. She turns
to Ealia and smiles, "Well met, and Telgar's Duties."

Kassima then nods to Emelei, and takes a breath. She begins to recite:
"There once was a lady in grey, t'whom all the young men yelled, 'Stay!'
For her ears were all floppy, her coat furred and moppy, and with a dried
bone she would play." And, just for the heck of it and for the sheer
surreality factor, she does a little jig at the end. Jigs go with
limericks. It's required.

Ealia smiles. "Very nice costume..

Tarlo quickly applauds for Aisling and Kassi, cheering loudly for the
greenriders.

Masked_Avenger chuckles and winks at Fire Feline, "Sure -" and he almost
says her real name, but quickly corrects himself, "-Feline, I know how much
you like compliment fishing." he is obviously joking and shows it by
chuckling again.

Kichevio grins, and sweeps a bow toward Kassi. "That was great. Of course,
I have to say that because you're my Wingleader, but it was still good."

Kerwin applauds Kassima's poetry as well, with another of those grins,
"Yaaay Sane Aunt Kassi."

Gray_Canine erks and, if it could be seen, turns stark white under her
mask. "Err-r-r-r-r.." She trails off and wrings the tail furiously, now
going quite red (but also invisible) beneath the mask. "That's.. me.. isn't
it?" she manages to force out.

Fire_Feline shakes her head at the canine. "You're doing well." She winks
behind her mask. "Just don't ..." She blinks at Kassima's poem and clears
her throat. "Well, that was interesting." She giggles and applauds,
watching to make sure the target of the limerick is in one piece. "Yes, you."

Canus walks south.

Cailin laughs and applauds the preformance

Emelei falls off applauding to listen, before her eyes widen in
appreciation and further applause, then bursts into snickering at the
little dance. "That's fantastic," she agrees with Kichevio, then glances
towards I'sai briefly.

Midnight_Sky adds her applause to the rest. "Hope no one picks me. Though
_you_, T'kar, would make a fun poem." she teases.

Aisling giggles at Kassi's jig. "Nicely done!" She calls over.

Orchid grins at the canine and nods. "It was good. So was the one about Le,
Um the waterfall."

Gray_Canine manages quiet applause, nodding to Kassima with a barely
whispered "Well done."

Water's_Fall blushes and hides a little at the poem concerning him.

Kassima starts to take a bow, catches herself, straightens with a tug for
her neckline, and offers a sheepish grin to those applauding instead.
"M'ankles will never forgive me," she confides to Ais, before darting a
wink towards the victi--err, subject. "Thankee; most kind!"

I'sai, caught taking a nice glug of that wine he'd made off with, applauds
in turn - and lifts the 'skin in toast, the better to encourage the others on.

Wryn laughs out loud at Kassima's poem...or was it at the jig. Anywho, she
laughs. And then sucks on her candy some more as she adjusts her heavy skirts.

Masked_Avenger chuckles at Kassima's poem and applauds, looking at the
Canine character, "Well done."

Emelei takes a deep breath, then jumps in and exclaims a little too loudly,
fists on her hips.
"There once was a guy tall as dared
All fleecy and floured-up hair
He thinks his aunt's sane
Even dressed in hide flame
Telgar, men're real men, and ovines are scared."

Wryn laughs out loud at Kassima's poem...or was it at the jig. Anywho, she
laughs. And then sucks on her candy some more as she adjusts her heavy skirts.

Tarlo almost falls out of her chair, she laughs so hard at Emelei's
contribution.

Tella chuckles lightly, shaking her head at the poems.

Kichevio bursts out laughing at Emelei's poem. "I'll second that! Hear, hear!"

Talisha gets up from her chair after a while, hands dusting off her
costume. "Excuse me." she smiles, pushing past several people on her way
towards the southern bowl.

Fire_Feline laughs outloud, spluttering at Emelei's pose and her prose. "Oh
my!"

Talisha walks south.

I'sai mimics, "Baaaah." And claps.

Vasha walks south.

Well, Kerwin did know he was doomed. His ears slowly go a very bright red,
although he does applaud, snickering quietly.

Cailin applauds laughing

Gray_Canine's eyes shift from person to person, and she struggles inwardly
to keep herself from fleeing the merry gathering.

Masked_Avenger chuckles at Emelei's poem and shakes his head.

Aisling laughs, her bells jingling cheerily as she applauds. "Well done!"

T'kar grins widely. "Right, this is Terryll, Ealia," he says, quietly
although it's not as though anyone could hear in the noise. "I liked the
jig too Kassima, can we add that to drills?" He laughs at Emelei's as well.
"Anyway, yeah. I dread what they might say about me too, if they keep
going. Meri made this costume, in her traditional plenty-of-skin style."

Kassima quips most innocently, "Well, I feel sheepish... hard t'be
competing with that. Nay baaaaaa-ad!" It was inevitable someone should say
it, after all. While applauding, she yells to T'kar, "Only if'n you men are
willing t'do it in heels too!"

Emelei blinks at the various reactions and laughter, before a slow,
delighted grin appears. Uh-oh, addictive sensation here. You're all doomed.
She does step back then, beaming. "Baaah," she agrees cheerfully.

Ealia holds out her hand. "Well met

Kerwin can't help but groan quietly at the assorted puns, shaking his head
slightly. "Ow," he announces cheerfully of the puns. "Those were awful.
Puns are -supposed- to be, but still...they were."

Wryn sputters a bit at the lately poetic masterpiece and then nearly chokes
on her candy. She coughs a bit, recovering quickly. Her lips curve into a
delighted smile beneath her mask.

Water's_Fall sighs heavily and looks around before finding a mug of punch.
Taking a small sip, he wanders off in the direction of the lake.

Water's_Fall heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the
central bowl area of the Weyr.

With merry being made at the expense of Telgar's men, K'ran sinks back into
his chair, nursing a glass of wine in front of a tiny, amused smile.

Midnight_Sky laughs, again adding her applause to the rest, and calling out
a "Well done!" Then she nods back at T'kar. "I should've guessed. I was
tempted to compliment you, but anything I said would probably make Meri mad
at me for a sevenday." She grins mischeviously, eyes twinkling behind her
mask.

"I couldn't help it, Kassima. I was afraid I was going to be fleeced,"
Emelei explains rather seriously to the greenrider, eyes wide with feigned
innocence.

Fire_Feline groans outloud at Emelei's pun. "Oh dear."

Kichevio was recovering, but collapses into giggles again at that pun.

"Don't ewe ram the puns down our throats, now," Kassi replies, all drollness.

Aisling manages to work one of her beads free in order to aim it towards
the Thunderbol wingleader. Another groan meets Emelei's words. "Shards"


I'sai mentions in a low voice to that fire-feline as he passes her way, "To
copy some of the others: 'There once was a feline in gold, who wore a dress
quite.. uh, bold; the dress had no back, made everyone gack, but all -she-
did was catch cold.' ...Er, not that you _should_, mind, but it rhymed."

"Can I hide under the table now?" Kerwin has to ask the area in general,
ruffling through his floured curls with a 'hoof' once more. "Or is it not
safe even there?"

Gray_Canine sidles closer to the feline, wringing furiously on the tail. "I
think I need to go somewhere less crowded," she manages to rasp. "Err. I'll
be right back."

Kassima catches the bead neatly, and smiles at Aisling as though she'd been
given a fine present. "Good verse, I'sai," she approves meanwhile. "First
time I've ever heard someone rhyme 'gack.'"

Cailin giggles uncontrollably at the Rhymes.

Fire_Feline blushes and grins at I'sai. "Thank you for being kind and it is
a bit chilly, but I am sure things will warm up once the music begins?"

Gray_Canine manges to slip out, hopefully unnoticed, towards the lake. She
wrings the tail of the costume the whole while.

Gray_Canine heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the
central bowl area of the Weyr.

Masked_Avenger grins from I'sai to Fire Feline and chuckles, "It is a nice
costume.." he comments.

Elie gradually shoves her way through the crowd toward Canus. "Hi!" she
says in his ear. "I thought you were going to be wearing a costume?"

Wryn gives I'sai a quick round of applause for his rhyme and then sips at
her wine once more before commenting to her Istan companian, "Should have
been harpers, all, doncha think?" She winks merrily.

Orchid watches the Flower_Garden go past and grins. "I'm gonna go find
Shil." She announces before skipping off.

Orchid heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the central
bowl area of the Weyr.

Tella gulps down the rest of her drink, tucking away the last of the candi
in some hidden place. Looking to Wryn, she chuckles, nogging in agreement
as she claps. "That I do."

"Which should be soon," I'sai may hope, with a nod to the harpers - "Excuse
me, please?"

Kichevio steps quietly down off the stage, still smiling, and finds herself
a glass of wine and a spare fingerpie. She definitely deserves it.
Extemporaneous poetry takes a lot out of a person.

Aisling wrinkles her nose slightly at Wryn's words. "hardly." She notes,
her eyes sparkling as much as her mask.

Greylin finishes nibbling on her snack and hunts down another one.

Baby_duck heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the
central bowl area of the Weyr.

Emelei applauds with the others just as loudly, grinning from ear to ear as
she hops down and heads back to her seat, pausing near poor Kerwin with an
attempt at clapping his shoulder briefly. "Sorry about that, ovine man. It
really is a cheerful costume," she assures, then flops into a seat.

T'kar laughs at the Midnight Sky Woman. "Oh, Meri'll be mad if I'm just
talking with pretty girls, no way to avoid that. Anyhow. Are you both
enjoying the feast?"

Merielan walks here from the south.

"Don't forget t'come back, though, Is," Kassi bids, raising her finger.
"I've still that agreement for you t'be signing a'fore your debt's up."

Ealia nods. "VEry much so.

Midnight_Sky smiles and nods to T'kar. "Of course. Been a while since I've
been out and about." Then she murmurs a quiet excuse to her companions,
before slipping gracefully off into the crowd. Her course, while seemingly
random, has a purpose, and she pauses long enough to say to I'sai,
"Wonderful costume. It suits you."

There's a pause from Kerwin. It's a pause that can serve in place of a
long-suffering sigh, really. He simply nods, with an amused half-grin.
"Thanks, and no apologies needed, it was a clever rhyme. And as for the
costume, it was quick. I didn't have a great deal of warning. Hopefully I
won't get herded by the canine."

A group of harpers take their seats, pick up instruments, and converse
before beginning a lively dance tune. Gitar and pipes weave together over
the bass thump of a heavy fram drum.

Merielan makes her very purposeful way towards her weyrmate. She may have
been mingling about for quite awhile, but now that the dancing is starting
she's got -quite- a clear objective. "T'kar!"

Tarlo turns big dark eyes towards K'ran and asks, "Dance?"

T'kar grins brightly at Ealia and Terryll, then stands and waves at the
bird-like woman making her way towards him. "Hey there beautiful!"

Cailin perks up as the music starts.

Masked_Avenger casually looks over at the recently arrived woman in bird
costume, but does a double take as she passes him by, revealing butless
pants. He groans and looks over at Fire Feline akwardly.

"Hey, at least you had some warning, and you're a lot warmer than lots of
folks here," Emelei points out with a shrug, leaning forward to snag her
dessert and taking a large bite from it. "I'd like to -see- a canine try to
herd you," she adds, turning to regard the dissipating costumed folk.

"Ah." K'ran rises from his seat, favoring Tarlo with an easy smile. "I...
have a question I need to put to someone, first." He slides a glance across
the gathering, towards Kiani. "You can have the next one?"

Fire_Feline takes one look at Merielan and the Fire feline lives up to it's
name once again. A slow flush starts, making it's way to full red as she
realizes what the rider is -not- wearing. "OH my, oh my."

Elie walks south.

Merielan wraps an arm through T'kar's and smiles at Ealia politely, giving
Ryll a wink. "My love..the dancing is starting..might I steal you away?"

Aisling turns her attention to the harpers, eyes brightening as the music
begins.

Tella glances around once more, her smile quirking at a few of the outfits.
With a chuckle, she looks over the people she can't recognize. Turning to
Wryn, "Know any people behind those masks?"

Tarlo flicks her eyes over to Kiani, and then back to K'ran. "Sure." she
agrees quietly. She gives him a grin and steps away, perhaps scoping for a
potential partner for this round of dancing.

Wryn shakes her head at Tella, "I don't think so. I recognize a few folks,
I think, but no one I know really well."

The music dances through the air, around the whirling couples, and fades as
it drifts across the bowl.

T'kar waves with an apologetic grin to the two women he had been chatting
with, not having much choice in the matter. "Of course, dearest." He dances
his way over to the general dance area with his sexy avian weyrmate.

I'sai hesitates as the midnight woman nears - and then tries on a smile,
"Thank you. That is - yes. Katlynn's. She chose it, and I walked around in
it, and I'd think she'd be glad for the advertising if you'd like something
similar?

Tella ahhs, her foot idly tapping to the music.

Kerwin climbs to his feet from his chair, since that seems to be the
general occurance. "This is a point, I'm more than plenty warm." One hand's
absently run across the fleecy surface of his turned inside-out coat. "It
would have to be a larger canine, I think."

Lyse watches the dancing carefully, her eyes following the movements and
her feet hesitatingly copying the odd step.

Kichevio watches the dancers, a little wistfully.

Ealia walks around looking for a partner to dance with,

Merielan wraps her arms about her equally sexy tree-ish weyrmate. Her feet
move gracefully along with his, right into the movements of the dance.
Passing by Kich she grins and waves to her friend.

Midnight_Sky grins, grey eyes dancing. "Well, if there's going to be
another masquerade sometime soon, I'll be certain to look her up." She
turns a little to watch the dancers, smile fading a bit, and hugs her arms
to her chest.

Wryn sighs as the dancers begin there whirling. She smiles at Tella, "I
think I'm going to retire early. Maybe I'll get lucky and can bring my
weyrmate back with me later. Well met, Tella. Perhaps we will met again."

Fire_Feline taps her toe to the music and looks around the group of
dancers. She moves to nudge Lyse. "Look like fun doesn't it?"

Tella looks back towards Wryn, smiling lightly. "Hopefully, you can. Well
met, Wryn. I'm sure we will."

K'ran steps across the congregation to Kiani's side, and offers her a
polite hand. "Hey," he says, quiet. "May I, ah..." He indicates the dancers
with a tilt of his head. "Have a dance, and, if you're up to it, a quick
talk?"

The harpers grin at one another as more and more people stand up to dance.
Their toes tap along with the beat, and the journeyman who is playing the
drum stands up and begins to shimmy in place as he pounds out the enticing
rhythm.

Lyse looks up at Fire_Feline and grins. "It does but I don't think I could
do it. It looks awfully complicated."

T'kar twirls along with Merielan, murmuring with her under the noise of
music and conversation that fills the Bowl.

Fire_Feline mutters to Masked_Avenger, "Can I... out..."

Kassima abandons the question of the agreement for a moment, slipping off
into that pavilion suited for the changing of clothes. Her expression as
she goes that way is one of relief: finally, finally, a chance to get out
of this *leather*.

Alessandra hums softly as the music starts, swaying slightly from side to
side. One hand reaches under to touch, to check, making sure the mane of
plumes is still relatively intact.

Masked_Avenger stands watching the people begining to dance and turns about
and grins at Fire Feline, "I was just going to ask you the same. Of
course." he offers her a hand.

"Don't know whether someone will dare," I'sai somewhat ruefully admits,
tugging at his jacket's sequined collar - then, catching something of her
expression, "...If you're cold, there's mulled
this-that-and-the-other-thing; or if you'd like to dance? It's quick enough
to catch your breath."

Wryn swings by to give I'sai a quick, "Fort's duties to Telgar," before
slipping away to her dragon and mounting carefully to avoid tripping in her
skirts.

Wryn mounts Aarieth with the help of the riding straps and a proferred
foreleg.

Aisling's laughter is filled with delight as she watches the drunner, her
own fingers beat a gentle tattoo against her thigh as her bells and beads
add another dimension to the music.

Aarieth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her
aloft.

Tella wrinkles her nose lightly, leaning an elbow on the table before her.
She looks around the crowd, frowning. Directing the question to no one in
particular, "Anyone want to dance?"

Kerwin tucks his hands lightly behind his back, padding over to the
outskirts of the dancing to watch in absent interest. A glance is cast
after Kassima, and it's a wryly entertained one.

Fire_Feline giggles. "Excuse me for not being quite ladylike in waiting to
be asked. I just haven't danced in ages!" She takes his hand and starts
towards the dance floor. "That music is so contagious just makes your feet
have to dance and the rest of you to follow."

Kiani, who's still sitting in the same spot she was during Kichevio's
rhyme, looks up at K'ran, though her expression is hidden by both the veil
and the mask. In spite of the skirts, she rises smoothly to her feet, and
inclines her head. "If you like."

Terrilia walks here from the south.

Water's_Fall heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the
north.

The harper journeyman catches Aisling's eye and nods in the direction of a
tambourine, grinning widely.

Merielan's eyebrow goes up rather high at something T'kar's said to her. "I
promise.." She murmurs, moving a bit closer to T'kar in a possesive
manner--but still within the steps of the dance.

Flower_Garden heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the
north.

Emilly wends a path through the crowd, skirts trailing, eyes scanning faces
hidden by masks, a slight smile on her face.

Midnight_Sky glances at I'sai. "It's been turns since I danced ... since
before I first arrived here actually. So ... only if you want to chance
getting your toes stepped on." She smiles warmly, humour returning to her
gaze.

Kichevio chuckles toward Aisling. "Go be a musician, Ais. Or flirt with
that journeyman."

"I'd like," fire laughs, and takes a slow step backwards into a polite bow,
with hand extended towards Kiani.

Terrilia wanders over from the Southern Bowl, her eyes wandering over the
colorful crowd. She smiles softly as she walks a little closer.

Water's_Fall walks arm in arm with the Flower Garden back from the
lakeside. He mutters to Flower_Garden, "... Dancing...would you...
dance?... can... and just... quietly... the..." 

Masked_Avenger grins and walks Fire Feline to the dance floor. "Don't worry
about it. I don't blame you, its been a while for me too, so watch your
toes." he winks.

Tarlo makes her way over to Alessandra, giving her a smile. "Having fun,
sweetling?"

Kassima, when she returns from the pavilion after a suitably long time, is
green to the prior red, relieved to the prior embarrassment, relatively
comfortable to the previous high-heeled teetering. But one thing's the
same, and that's her movements in getting up on one of the tables--with
more difficulty, with such a long skirt. "Excuse me," she calls out, loud
enough to carry over the music. "I fear I can't promise I'sai stripping
this time, but if'n you'd pay heed for a moment... don't forget t'be
placing votes for your favorite costumes and such in yon box over there.
Gives you a chance t'be honoring the originality and effect of all the
wonderful Weaver-works you've seen tonight, hey?"

Ealia sits and looks around for a dance partner


Kassima:
	Green characterizes this woman's costume, beginning in the dress: pale
sisal, not so far from white, drapes her slender frame in the barest kiss
of that color by means of a strapless sheath. The shimmering material
clings to her from bodice to floor, but not unbrokenly--slits travel
halfway up the narrow skirt, allowing the occasional flash of ivory skin
from one of the long legs beneath. Most glimpses are hindered by the edging
of richly green velvet that starkly contrasts all that pallor. Stylized
mint leaves, contrived of the fine material, begin just above each opening
and continue down the sides in a gentle, overlapping cascade.
	As for jewelry, she wears none; adornment is instead present in a choker
of real mint leaves yoked together by lustrous thread, and in the matching
marriages of herb and cord that encircle her wrists before spiraling up,
up, up each arm to end in an embrace below the shoulder. Yet more grace the
fall of her hair: long ropes weave their way through blue-black, halting
their descent at the point midway between calves and ankles where tresses
likewise end. Velvet slippers of matching verdancy peep out from beneath
the hem from time to time. The perfume of mint that accompanies her is too
much for the leaves alone to account for; peppermint oil is the culprit,
daubed onto pulse points to add to the costume's effect.
	The crowning touch is found in the mask she wears, a fanciful thing of
elegantly-cut leather dyed green to which yet more of the soft leaves have
been affixed. Her eyes behind the mask are nearly a match in color, alight
with festive spirit on this merry occasion.


Fire_Feline waves with her free hand as she spots Terrila then lets herself
be swept away by her escort. "Well I am a greenrider, I've learned to be
fast on my toes."

Tella hmphs lightly, leaning back in her chair. Her arms cross over her
stomach, idly watching the dancing couples. See.. she tried.

J'lyn walks here from the south.

Lyse sighs as she watches Fire_Feline leave for the floor. She sits down to
watch the dancers, her eyes trying to follow the footwork.

Telgar Weyr> Merielan yeah's "Jaly! My muse..my inspiration!"


J'lyn:
As your eyes slide down J'lyn's hard muscled body, all you see is tanned
flesh, black leather and silver glints. His dark hair is covered with a
black bandana of leather, held shut with a plain silver clasp. Whereas
J'lyn is usually clean shaven, he's sporting a closely cropped dark beard.
Buckled around his bull-like neck is a wide collar that could be used on a
very large canine, half-inch silver spikes studding the collar and winking
in the torchlight. A matching harness crisscrosses his massive chest, studs
flashing every few inches, leaving his torso mostly bare, save for a thin
sheen of perspiration. Wrapped around each of his bulging biceps is an
unadorned two-inch band of black. An intricately worked silver belt holds
up skintight black leather pants that would stay right where they are, even
without benefit of the belt. The bottoms are tucked into calf-high plain
boots, crafted from thick leather, chains wrapped around the heel and
ankle. Silver tips flash from the boot's toes. Something seems wrong with
the pants, however, like they're not complete. Around the tops of his legs,
you catch small glimpses of the same bronze skin of his chest. As soon as
the massive greenrider turns around, you can barely see the thin strip of
leather embedded in J'lyn's backside, and the tight, tan backside itself,
without benefit of covering. The harness continues around onto his back as
well. As he turns around to flash his dazzling smile, you notice that his
usually gold earrings have been replaced by thick silver hoops.


Telgar Weyr> J'lyn mwahahas.

"As long as you'll chance my stepping on -yours-," I'sai confirms, deal for
deal... and offers the woman both his hands, the better to - wait for it,
wait for it - pick a gap between two couples and swirl into the dance.

Gray_Canine heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

Alessandra looks up, then grins over at Tarlo. "Yeah, I am, actually. You
look good!"

Terrilia blinks as she's waved at. She frowns at the dancing Feline a
moment, and then a slow grin works its way across her face and she waves back.

Kiani puts her hand in K'ran's, the faint smile visible even behind the
mask. "Lead on, then."

Orchid heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

Telgar Weyr> Canus beans J'lyn with rotten fruit

Aisling wrinkles her nose as she edges closer towards Kichevio. "I can't
carry a tune if my life depended on it." She notes.

Flower_Garden narrows her eyes with brief confusion, then just nods, taking
the Water Fall's hand and allowing herself to be led.

Ealia smiles at J'lyn. "would you like to dance?

Gray_Canine heads in nervously, looking like she'd rather be shrunken
against the wall and creeping along in shadows.

Telgar Weyr> Merla puts her hands on her hips. You leave my J'lyn alone!

Tarlo chuckles. "So do you." she assures. "We both have to dance with I'sai
before the evening is out." she say gaily. "But I'm having the hardest time
picking out a single best costume."

Kassima having delivered her message, she steps down from the table to find
a place to sit out of the way of the dancing. "This is the part," she
murmurs to no one in particular, "where I get t'relax and drink wine."

Kichevio points out "It's a tamborine. Tunes aren't required, just a sense
of rhythm. And you have that."

Telgar Weyr> T'kar snickers.

Telgar Weyr> Merla on the other hand, beans him with fruit as well. He
promised to make me a cabinet, and then forgot all about it ;).

Emilly gets an elbow in the stomach and lets out a soft "Oof!" of surprise
as she bumps into a rapidly turning crafter with only a mask for a costume.
"Excuse me ... so sorry," she murmurs and pauses for a moment to catch her
breath.

J'lyn wanders in and vaguely overhears Kiani chatting with K'ran. With a
distracted, "No thanks" to Ealia, he veers towards the youngsters. "having
fun, children?" he asks, eyes flinty green, looking decidedly
sherriff-with-a-gun at K'ran.

Midnight_Sky laughs lightly. She mutters to I'sai, "... you look
positively... change? Besides,... a... bit... how you... for..."  She grins.

Terrilia spots Lyse and heads over toward her, picking up a glass of wine
on her way. She looks a bit hesitant in the face of such a crowd, though
she casts a wistful look at the dancing.

Water's_Fall leads the garden over towards the dance area, but a little to
the side of the main group. Whatever the speed of the music, he leads her
in a slow dance, keeping general time. He murmurs softly in her ear while
they move gently in a close embrace.

The journeyman sighs, exagerating his disappointment. He catches Elya's eye
from where she's standing, waiting her turn, and nods. She grins, and comes
closer. The journeyman tosses his drum to her between beats and she picks
up the rhythm with no skips. The journeyman heads for Aisling, a smile on
his face.

Masked_Avenger also waves to Terrilia as she arrives and resumes dancing
with Fire Feline. His dancing is actually quite smooth and he dosn't step
on her feet once. "Oh is that the secret?"

With a flashing grin, K'ran pulls Kiani in to dance, leading with graceful
steps and keeping to the Harpers' rhythm without too much trouble -- that
is, until daggers are glared his way by the Telgar Weyrsecond. Then he
skips a step or two, and it takes him some time to get his bearings again.

Alessandra blushes slightly, shaking her head--and sending the mane of
plumes a'dancing. "I probably won't get a chance, he has so many people
wanting to dance with him. You might be able to, though."

Tella sighs, pushing herself to her feet. She glances around once more
before turning towards the southern bowl, slowly walking towards it,
suddenly reluctant to leave.

Orchid grins at Gray_Canine. "Looks like people are gonna dance."

J'lyn smirks at the young bronzerider. "Be good to her, and you get to keep
your legs in working order."

Gray_Canine nods and erks under her breath. Dancing isn't her thing.. and
no one knows her here. "Err. No one knows me here, and.. well.. err."

Kerwin pads over to Kassima, managing somehow to never trip on his overlong
'hooves', although it always seems as if it might just happen. "That looks
a lot more comfortable, Sane Aunt Kassi." There's a pause then, and he
adds, "Don't you dance, instead? Remember what alcohol does..." Gets you
pregnant?

Fire_Feline giggles, enjoying herself as she is guided across the floor.
"Well, you seem to have learned the secret as well." Her hair falls free
from the braid and cascades down her back as she twirls. "Rather lovely.
And did you notice how lovely Lee, errr, that water guy dances?"

T'kar pulls Merielan off the floor as one song ends, needing a break.
"Should we get something to eat or drink?"

Tarlo tsks. "If I dance with him, I'll secure a spot on his card for you."
she promises.

Cailin smiles at Tella as she starts to pass "HI"

Terrilia frowns slightly at the Masked Avenger her friend is dancing with.
She doesn't seem able to place him, and shakes her head. "Hey Lyse--I like
your costume."

Orchid grins and looks around for someone she knows that isn't dancing.

"Yes, Father," Aisling calls back to J'lyn before offering the harper a
bright grin. "Good Evening." She greets, her bells ringing a soft
accompaniement to her words.

"Portrait?" and I'sai's boot nears that fine black slipper of hers as they
pirouette just shy of T'kar and Merielan's departure; "...man doesn't ...
memorable - watch out, dizzied-up crafter off the starboard bow - " that'd
be Emilly's.

Flower_Garden sways gracefully with Water Fall, leaves and petals
fluttering as if in a gentle Brees. She mutters to Water's_Fall, "...
about... to... seemed... out..." 

Kichevio steps back from Ais and her journeyman, smiling. And still looking
rather wistful. All the men seem to be occupied.

Alessandra looks away, then shakes her head again. "No, it's okay, honest.
Don't worry about me, Tarlo, I'll be just fine."

Gray_Canine sidles sideways to escape the crowd and accidentally bangs into
a young woman. Beneath the canine visage she blanches, offering very hasty
and very many apologies. "Oh, I'm sorry, so sorry, won't do it again.. uh..
I.. err."

The journeyman harper bows low to Aisling. "Good evening. I trust you're
having a good time." He smiles. "Care to dance?"

Orchid grins and smiles over at Gray_Canine before starting over toward
Kichevio.

"'Tis that," Kassi confirms with relish. "It might be silly, it might look
edible, but shardit, 'tisn't red leather and for that I'll give it twenty
points. But nay, I don't dance." Her mouth twists into a cross between a
smile rueful and a smile sardonic. "Can't. I never learned when 'twas
young--nay anyone t'teach me--and now, as you so audibly pointed out
earlier, I'm *old*." She sounds more amused at that than anything.

Masked_Avenger grins brightly at Fire Feline, "I had to, to keep up with
all you greenriders." He watches her hair fall from the braid and comments
on the obvious, "Your hair is down. - i- it looks good that way though." he
grins. Then looking around for Water's Fall as they dance across the floor,
"I wasn't taking notes, this time."

Kiani easily falls into step with K'ran, and bites back a grin at J'lyn's
look, as she catches it. She lifts a hand to wave to the Weyrsecond,
briefly, before she turns her attention back to her dance partner.

Merielan frowns gently at something's T'kar's said earlier. Grey eyes
search the crowd, a smile crosses her lips as she wiggles her fingers to
J'lyn, twitching her 'tail' at him in tribute. "Where is this person T'kar?"

Midnight_Sky consentrates on keeping her balance as I'sai helps then avoid
near-disaster. She mutters to I'sai, "... I... kept... collection?"  She
doesn't add that he's already memorable ... though probably not for an outfit.

Lyse turns round sharply. "Terrilia. You're here."She looks down at
herself. "It's good isn't it. Shilarra helped me with it. Are you going to
dance?"

Tarlo leans over and murmurs softly to Alessandra.

J'lyn snags a glass of Benden White from a wandering server and plants his
feet to watch little Kiani with that lecherous bronzerider. Ohwait, was
that a reiteration there? Oh well.

Water's_Fall smiles softly and shakes his head. He mutters to
Flower_Garden, "... nostalgic.... for... crowds... into... barracks... sooo
many... the place...." 

Emilly rubs at her side still, where that crafter's elbow scored and stands
up on tip-toe trying to see over the heads of those taller than she, the
shifting bodies on the dance floor. It's an overwhelming sight.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Oh my holy god, what a spamfest..."

Tella slows, turning to reply to Cailin, but she's banged into. With a
light oof, she turns to peer through her mask. And finds a canine.
Apparently, the light is just right for her to actually think it's a
canine. She jumps back, startled for a moment, but it starts appologising.
With a light smile, she replies, "Oh.. I'm sorry.. Should have been
watching where I was going..

Telgar Weyr> Midnight_Sky says, "What'd you expect? :)"

"It's very festive," Kerwin says, after a moment's consideration of the
constume in question. "It looks a lot less likely to make you fall over and
have parts of your anatomy run rampant across the countryside." And he says
this so -solmenly-, too. He has the grace to redden a bit, "Oh. Well, erm,
yes. There is that. Mother's old too though, and she still does new
peo...things all the time."

Aisling returns the bow with a graceful curtsey, her skirt swirling about
as she moves. "I would be honored." She replies sincerely, offering Emilly
a wave as she spots her and then her attention returns to the harper.

Telgar Weyr> Greylin says, "I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition!"

Fire_Feline blushes and admits. "I do too, this backless dress the weavers
talked me into makes me feel a bit vunerable. It's nice to hide behind my
hair, old habits die hard." She grins at K'ven and chuckles as they barely
skim past another couple. "Oh, I've been watching Water's Fall' progress
for over a turn."

Terrilia grins at Lyse and nods. "I like it--it's very good. Not like
mine..." She looks down at her dress and shrugs. Looking back out at the
dance floor, she says, "I'd like to, but it seems to require a partner. Are
you having fun?"

Gray_Canine erkks and tries to scuttle sideways, but instead comes against
a wall of people. She remains rooted to the spot. "Sorry again.. my name is
Rinya.." She shrugs, the ear flopping comically on her mask. "UNder the
mask, of course."

T'kar winces. "Oh, don't worry about it, love. Did you have any of that
fruit? It's delicious. And did you see my acting?"

Telgar Weyr> Canus chuckles

Telgar Weyr> T'kar obliges. "Yeah, yeah...nobody expects the Spanish
Inquisition." :P

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn smirks. There's a whole lotta leather goin' on, that's
for sure. :)

Flower_Garden continues to dance with light steps, nodding seriously. She
mutters to Water's_Fall, "... me, then." 

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn also beats his forehead. Great. Filk running thru head...

Tella looks towards that wall of people and back to Rinya. "Well met. I'm
Tella." She lifts her own mask to show her face with a grin.

I'sai has Katlynn's face-paint - and a growing weariness - to credit for
his lack of blush, as they angle backwards with the beat; "Perhaps," he
admits. "Perhaps...," and more softly, "...recognize? ..."

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Earlier was even spammier. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Midnight_Sky is trying not to look at too many descs too
closely. You seem to have rubbed off on some people, J'lyn.

Alessandra mutters to Flower_Garden.

Gray_Canine casts an anxious glance around before lifting her own mask,
blue eyes flashing with nervousness. "Well met.."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn beams. O:)

Some of Kassi's amusement is replaced by a quiet bitterness in that smile;
she turns her head way. "Let's talk of other things," she suggests. "Than
age, specifically mine. Just as well, with the anatomy. 'Tis amusing: the
*women* seemed t'like it; the men looked appalled--but yours, now, I like
yours. 'Tis clever, and Emelei's verse was apt, don't you think?"

The handsome journeyman harper takes Aisling's hand and leads her into the
crowd. The performing harpers glance at one another with delight and begin
playing with even more zest than before.

Emilly grins and waves toward Aisling, then tosses a goodly handful of her
skirts over her arm and set off through the crowd again, dodging bodies and
the strange outcroppings of the occasional overly zealous costume.

"I saw you..you were wonderful." Meri smiles for a moment, before her
eyebrows crease together once more. "Fruit sure..but I left some wine in
Alerith's saddlebags..we ought to go and get it."

K'ran's smile turns a bit more tremulous beneath his mask, and he gives
Kiani an incongruously solemn nod. "Do," he urges her, very softly. "Do."

Water's_Fall glides like a liquid to the side, sweeping the garden with
him, about to say something when someone steps forward to speak to her. He
pauses and stands back a moment.

Gray_Canine wanders off with a quiet, "I need to find a way out of here.."
She offers Tella a wave.

Orchid skips up to Kichivio. "Hi!"

Tella gets that far away look often found upon the faces of riders.
Snapping out of it, she waves to the canine before hurrying off towards the
dragons.

Tella walks south.

Alessandra looks over at Tarlo, nodding slightly, then slips an arm around
the girl's waist and leads her away to the side where it's less crowded.
"How'd you find out?" she whispers, head canting to the side slightly.

Masked_Avenger grins and nods to Fire Feline, "He seems to be doing well."
He makes a connection as he suddenly notices something about her dress, "Is
that /the/ dress? The one I didn't get to see before?"

Cailin sighs at the dancers.

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Good luck!"

Ealia disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Flower_Garden takes her companions hands and indicates for them to continue
around the dance floor.

J'lyn smirks, having turned into the den-mother for the Weyr,
hiswine-sipping very limited. Wouldn't do for the den-mother to be
obliterated tonight, nosireebob.

Midnight_Sky chuckles, though makes note of the weariness. "Want to head to
the sidelines?" she asks. Then, lowering her own voice, "... rather ...
didn't ... no one ... expecting ..."

Kichevio smiles--well, when a flower says hi to you, you can't help it. "Hi
there--you're Brees, I think."

T'kar nods thoughtfully. "Sure, ok then. Let's go get it!" He leads his
feathery female south.

Merielan walks south.

Orchid nods her head and grins. "I heard you have a dragon now. That's
nice." She giggles.

Lyse nods. "I'm having a great time. I saw the fashion show which was funny
and the game which I didn't understand and now the dancing that I can't do.
Hmm. well I'm having fun anyway." she finishes with a grin. "And I've not
been in trouble once."

Fire_Feline blushes slightly. "Umm, the dress?" She asks coyly. "I don't
know what you mean."

"People seemed to like it an awful lot. There was a lot of applauding,"
Kerwin agrees after a long moment's consideration of Kassima's words. He
pats at one coat sleeve, "Thanks, it was an entertaining verse, certainly.
And, well, I generally -am- scared, so it was apt too I guess, yeah. It was
a quick thing, since, well, costume parties aren't something I normally
wander around prepared for."

Aisling glances over at the harpers as the pace picks up, her feet moving
squickly into the rhythm before she laughs indelight. Every footstep is
accomapnied by the cheery jingle of the bells and the beads entwined in her
braids.

Kichevio nods back. "I do. The best dragon in the world."

T'kar walks south.

Kassima murmurs, with a shake of her head, "You're kind, Kerry. Anyway.
Aye, 'tis the ingenuity that's impressive... how'd you do the hair? Flour?
You'll have a *shard* of a time getting it out, I hope y'know."

Terrilia grins at Lyse. "A fashion show and a game? That does sound like
fun--sorry I missed it. And I'm sure you haven't." She sips her wine as she
watches the dancers whirl around.

Orchid grins. "That's good. I can hardly wait till we have baby dragons
again at Igen."

Emilly finally nearly bumps headlong into a rather stocky fellow with a
rather elaborate shipfish headdress on, dressed all in shimmery blue-grey.
"Gir! There you are!" she exclaims with a laugh. The shipfish turns around
and beams, enfolding the mer-lady in his arms.

As the fast-paced song comes to an end, the harpers launch into a slower
waltz, smirking at their dancing journeyman.

Kichevio smiles. "It's always a fun time. Think you might want a dragon
someday."

Kiani sighs quietly, ruffling the veil that she's wearing, though she keeps
in step, almost as if her body and her mind were functioning separately.
She clears her throat, a few times, then says, "I will. But not now." As
the song ends, the mask hides a relieved look, and she remarks, "I think
you've promised your next dance."

Water's_Fall smiles and retakes the garden in hand, dancing slowly with
luxurious movements that seem to accentuate their combined costumes. He
mutters to Flower_Garden, "... told you... all... stuff that... up...
love.... just... reason. It's nothing, okay?..." 

Masked_Avenger grins at Feline and his eyebrows raise, "It is the dress.
Did I mention its a nice dress? Weavers did good." he compliments as they
continue dancing.

J'lyn scans the crowd to find Kassima. A low whistle escapes his lips.
"Looking good, Kassi, especially for the mother of 80 bajillion children!"

Fire_Feline looks towards the watchers and sighs reluctantly. She mutters
to Masked_Avenger, "I wonder, I... but... we... let... a..."  As the dance
music slows, her tempo slows as well. She blushes at Avenger's compliment.
"Umm, yes, you have,a couple of times."

"Then I shan't," I'sai confirms - and as the dance lightens, swings his
partner a breath higher as they 'round the measure, pale eyes possessed of
a certain amused gravity ... till the music shifts, yet again, in turn.

The journeyman harper draws Aisling a bit closer as the music slows down,
murmuring something about how lovely she looks this evening to her.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn smoochies Kassi. You love me. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snickers.

Flower_Garden sighs, turning under and finishing with a cursey as the song
finishes. She mutters to Water's_Fall, "Have... said... Alessandra yet
tonight?" 

Orchid grins at Kichivio. "If one wants me. I'm gonna be a healer though."

As the faster-paced dance draws to an end, K'ran steps back from Kiani with
a courteous bow. "I have," he answers. "But this one'll be memorable. Thank
you." And then he's backing into the crowd, his gaze drifting from the
'Reaches bluerider and searching for someone else.

Aisling lets out a soft sigh, half relief half disappointment as she pace
slows. She doesn't pause otherwise as she moves smoothly through the dance.

Alessandra blinks, looking up and over Flower Garden when she hears her
name. Blink.

Emilly grabs on tightly to G'rad-the-shipfish's hand. "C'mon .. this is a
-slow- song. You can dance to that!" she says gaily and drags her weyrmate
onto the dancefloor. The shipfish lets out a sort of soft yelp, but follows
as he is dragged and the pair soon sway back and forth like some marine
display amidst other colorfully dressed attendees.

Kassima makes a rude sound at J'lyn, though she grins. "'Twould have been
flattering without the qualifier," she chides, shaking her finger at him.

Lyse taps the table in time to the music and sways. " Do you want to go
dance?"

Gray_Canine looks around, eyes shifting from face to face. "Err." She
glances around again. "Err-r-r-r."

Cailin looks around to see if anyones free.

Midnight_Sky smiles and nods to I'sai. "I will, though it'll be the one
I'll be having tonight. Can't be muddle headed tomorrow, and I think I'm on
dawn sweeps."

J'lyn beams at the other greenrider. "You love me."

"Flour," Kerwyn agrees rather sheepishly. "It'll turn to glue when I try to
wash it out, I know. I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I realized
-after- I did it what a mess it would end up being. But, well, it seemed
like a good idea at the time. I guess a lot of stuff does, though."

Orchid waves over to Gray_Canine. "Rinya, come meet Kichivio!"

Water's_Fall shakes his head slowly and leans his forehead against the
garden's. He mutters to Flower_Garden, "... if she's here." 

"Being a Healer is good," Kichevio concedes. "But so was being a
seamstress. And being a rider is the _best_."

Gray_Canine errs and glances over to Orchid, reluctantly walking over.

Flower_Garden meets her companions eyes, nodding towards one end of the
area. "Yes she is."

Masked_Avenger smiles at Feline and nods. He slows and soon stopps dancing,
"Alright. I guess that'd be a good idea." he also seems reluctant.

Once the dance is over and K'ran has walked away, Kiani straightens her
shoulders and makes her way over to J'lyn.

Terrilia glances back at Lyse and smiles. "Let me just finish my wine." She
holds up her half-full glass.

"Nay quite," Kassi replies with an amused headshake. "Nay quite--there're
very few who could make *that* claim in truth, and all of 'em
blood-relatives now." Oh, good, so she's into incest? "The red leather
seemed good at the time," she agrees with Kerwin, matching sheepishness for
sheepishness. "I have nay idea *why*. Mayhaps they dosed me with fellis or
some such thing."

Fire_Feline smiles and takes Avenger's arm as they make their way back
across the dance floor towards Terrilia and the rest.

I'sai sketches her a smiling bow, pale eyes gray to silver - and lifts a
hand as if to sweep away her veil, at the last moment instead to brush her
cheek. "Your wingleader will be most pleased," and then he's off through
the crowd, off for a change.

The waltz moves through the air like smoke, hanging over the crowd,
swirling around the dancers, drifting between people, tickling their skin.

Fire_Feline mutters to Masked_Avenger, ""That was... out... all night,...
time?""

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn oys, and read that as Naked_Avenger instead of
Masked_Avenger. Bad bad dirty-minded me.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima dies!!

Orchid grins at Kichivio and nods. "Being a kid is fun too, cause you get
to play." She grins at Gray_Canine. "Kichivio, this is Rinya. Kichivio was
a candidate at Igen once."

Gray_Canine waves shyly to Kichevio, stalking over, if nothing else to
escape the crowd.

It's a flock of ovines! Kerwin just nods, "See, it looked like a bet to me.
But still, there was a lot of applause, so it must have been festive. And
the green is very pretty." He considers a long moment, "Temporary insanity?"

Tarlo continues chatting softly with Alessandra and those around her.

Kichevio offers a leaf-patterned hand. "Glad to meet you, Rinya. Your
costume is adorable."

Alessandra watches Water's Fall and Flower Garden, half-listening to Tarlo,
murmuring quietly back to her.

Gray_Canine grins lopsidedly, the ear flopping. "Err. Thanks. Well met,
Kichevio."

I'sai returns some time later, otherwise-garbed, otherwise-masked, anything
but flamboyant - but perhaps it's something of a giveaway that, after
initial hesitation, he slips between the others towards where Alessandra,
and Tarlo, sit.

Midnight_Sky watches I'sai leave, smiling a bit, then slips off the dance
floor to grab herself a cup of wine. "For you." she murmurs in a little
salute/toast. Then, wine in hand, she heads off with purposeful steps after
getting a far away look to what can be seen of her face for a brief moment.

K'ran rejoins Tarlo and Alessandra, finally, and crouches down as if to
insert himself into their conversation. "Ladies," he says, with a ready
grin. "Both visions, and I'm torn over who I should ask to dance first."

Water's_Fall bites his lip gently and doesn't look when the garden nods. He
mutters to Flower_Garden, "... other troubles besides... you... me....
it... be... if I just...left... drift..." 

Midnight_Sky walks south.

Kassima repeats, "You're kind," but with a broader, brighter, and
altogether more sincere smile after it than earlier. "And I still want
t'know why the *women* did all the applauding. That seems just oddly
backwards t'me, given the nature of that particular get-up. Temporary would
work, except we're insane all the time at Telgar--aren't we, Jal?"

Kichevio says "What do you do at Igen, Rinya?"


I'sai:
	Human meets avian - meets alien: the mask's acute curves carve sharp brows
and bones about a nose that's hooked as a beak, the whole polished in the
lightest of silvery enamel that owns no seams, no fractures to its own
singular integrity. What skin shows has been powdered white, even to the
sardonic curve of his lips, with not so much as a freckle showing; already
fair hair's been further paled likewise, drawn back in an austere queue
accented by its glitter of mica.
	The mask is the only deviation from working wear, the man's other garments
neatly tailored but hardly showy: there's a dust-blue tunic of sisal-soft
but faded wool, that cuts a single sleek line from broad shoulders to
narrow hips over a trim white shirt and gray trous. Six strings' worth of
embroidery trace the keyhole collar, and from the loose, silver-buckled
belt hang a small pouch and a wineskin with quite the fine vintage marked
on its broken seal. The young man's thin-soled felt shoes are suitable for
indoor wear, and he wears no knot - though one shoulder bears an unfaded
spot of blue, Harper blue, through which a narrow white thread still twists
as if from its badge's removal.


G'rad keeps his eyes on his feet, moving very carefully indeed. Emilly
meanwhile, seems to be murmuring the beat to her weyrmate, to keep him on
track, smiling fondly all the while at her shipfish-clad fellow.

Masked_Avenger mutters to Fire_Feline, "... that'd be... good idea. When
we... around... some..."

Gray_Canine's eyes shift from face to face. "Me? Well, I work the chores..
haul water.. I'm a resident there."

Masked_Avenger grins and chuckles to Feline.

Tarlo smiles as both I'sai and K'ran join them. "Well, so long as I'sai
keeps whichever one of us you don't pick company, it should all work out
fine."

"Well," Kerwin informs Kassima, in a carefully considered tone. "There are
women who like other women sometimes, an awful lot." And he says these
things in such a deadpan tone, as if he really thinks Kassima might not be
aware of this. "Or maybe they wanted to wear the costume themselves. I
think that's what Emelei said."

Fire_Feline quirks an eyebrow at the Avenger but turns to Terrilia. "It's
lovely out on the dance floor. I haven't danced since .. well, more than a
turn."

Alessandra tears her gaze away from Flower Garden and Water's Fall, smiling
at both K'ran and I'sai both. "Hello boys, take your pick."

Flower_Garden kisses Water Fall's cheek tenderly, then takes his hand and
starts leading him to where she indicated earlier. She mutters to
Water's_Fall, "... probably would... rude not to at least... hello...
make... talk... a minute.... on,... go..." 

Terrilia grins at the Fire Feline as she sips her wine. "I bet it is...I
haven't danced in a long time, either." She looks the costume over. "That's
really something."

A Harper Master taps the dancing journeyman on the shouler, motioning for
him to rejoin the others. The journeyman nods, looking dejected, and bows
to his dance partner before taking his leave.

"I'd scarcely liken you to leftovers," that light tenor rejoins; I'sai
adds, "Come, Aless, I owe you, though Winter may yet have her due."

Kichevio smiles. "No craft yet? Or maybe waiting to be Searched?"

Masked_Avenger looks at Feline and chuckles at his own expense as he
reolizes what he said sounded odd. He shakes his head and sums, "We'll have
to do it again." He thinks for a moment, "I think I'm going to go find some
water. I'll be back in a few minutes." He walks off into the crowd.

Water's_Fall eyes the garden he's with with a rather strange look as if the
flowers had all turned into firelizards before he nods slowly. He holds her
hand tightly a moment before just letting her hold his as they make their
way over to K'ran, Alessandra, I'sai and Tarlo.

Aisling darts a curious look towards the southern bowl then towards
Kichevio, her eyebrows knitting thoughtfully before her expression clears
into a grin as her attention is pulled back to the journeyman and she
offers him another graceful curtsey.

Aiming a deliberative glance towards I'sai, K'ran draws a breath and lifts
his shoulders in a mild shrug. "I should defer to a wingsecond," he says,
with feigned gravity. "Tarlo? Shall we see if fire melts ice?"

"I know. But most of those women didn't." Kassi pulls a disgusted face. "I
still think people keep mistaking me for a man somehow." Don't ask *how*,
in that prior costume. It defies all logic save Kassilogic. "I get ruddy
sick of it, but what can you do? I could hang a big sign around m'neck
reading 'I'm a Woman, Shardit,' but methinks that may be too subtle. D'you
ever get mistaken for a woman? 'Twouldn't think so with that *height*,
but.... That last would make sense, at least."

Gray_Canine squeaks. "Searched? Me? No, no no."

Masked_Avenger walks south.

The waltz comes to an end, and the harpers shuffle places and begin a
faster song as more couples flock to the dance area.

Alessandra looks over at Tarlo, eyes dancing merrily, then lifts her skirts
enough to curtsy playfully to I'sai. "Why, kind sir, I've been wondering
when you might ask me."

Orchid grins over at Gray_Canine. "Why not?"

Fire_Feline watches the Avenger disappear into the night and shrugs,
philosophically. 'Well, one mustn't have too much excitement in one's life
at once, I guess."

Tarlo's brow arched above her mask to her hairline, but she responds in a
wicked tone, "I'm all in favor of seeing if you can make me melt." she
places her hand in his and lets him lead her out to the dance floor.

Elya stands up, stretching, and wanders off.

Gray_Canine errs. "Me? I've never been really anytone important.. not..
really.. Search material, you might say? Err. I'm just.. nervous, I
suppose.. err."

Kichevio laughs, the leaves in her crown fluttering. "Why not? It's not all
_that_ impossible--_I_ got Searched."

Water's_Fall glances at his companion. "They're going to dance, we should
just let them be now."

Emelei walks here from the south.

A look of utter dismay covers G'rad's face as the pace of the music picks
up and he starts to shake his head. "Um ... uh ...." he says uncertainly.
Emilly only laughs and squeezes his arm nodding. "Right you are. Time for a
drink," she says, and hooks her arm through her weyrmate's as both retreat
for quieter climes ... like the serving table.

There's a long pause from Kerwin, and a longer pause, and a -really- longer
pause then. "Trust me, Sane Aunt Kassi. Nobody thought you were a man in
that costume. It was more like they were waiting for non-male parts of you
to leap gleefully for the hills, and attempt to escape." He considers, "If
I ever get mistaken for a woman, nobody's ever pointed out that they were
mistaken. I lack, after all, the bits that wanted to roam free."

I'sai extends Alessandra a hand, though he says more quietly, "The music's
sped up - are you able, just now?"

Flower_Garden catches Water's arm, eyes moving between I'sai and
Alessandra. She mutters to Water's_Fall, "... we'd... take... turn around..." 

Lyse yawns. "How can you say you mustn't have too much excitement? That's
what it's all about. Danger, adventure, Men."

Elya disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

And K'ran is more than happy to let Winter lead, out onto the dance floor
and beyond. "Thank you," he says to her, serious though from behind a
brilliant grin.

Alessandra takes his hand, nodding slightly as she steps over to join him.
"I'm all right, if this is the only one I do. Lead away, kind sir."

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo says, "Who's emitting the harpers?"

Water's_Fall shakes his head. "No, I'd rather sit this one out if you don't
mind. Take a little rest, get a drink. Can I get you anything by the way?"

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Elya was, but we're negotiating a changeover. ;)
Otherwise it'd be the Song That Never Ends..."

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "It just goes on and on, my friends..."

Telgar Weyr> Fiora fears.

Flower_Garden looks slightly disappoint, eyes moving back towards the dance
floor. "Um, no, I'm fine."

Telgar Weyr> Midnight_Sky baps I'sai and K'ran. I just got that song _OUT_
of my head!

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo grins and requests something slow and throbby. (Probably
because 'The Mystic's Dream' is currently on my CD player)

Kassima can only turn red, and red, and redder at this particular line of
conversation, and can't refrain from glancing down at herself and the
portions of her anatomy that might be plotting rebellion. "But I don't want
that t'happen," she protests, plaintive. "It sounds *painful*. I mean, I'm
kind of attached to, uh, them... and mayhaps we should change topics
again." Before she just spontaneously combusts here and now. Still, she
can't quite refrain from noting, "You could *pretend* t'have the
free-roaming parts."

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio oooohs. Good choice, Tarlo.

Water's_Fall brushes softly at the leaves in Flower Garden's hair as if
they truly were part of her person. "I'm going to grab another mug of punch
and do a bit of voting. I think I saw the voting box just over there."

Telgar Weyr> Canus says, "Slow and Throbby? Thats J'lyn for ya"

Telgar Weyr> Aisling has been listening to her current obsession of the
moment, Susan McKeown ;)

Emilly drops into a chair, settling her skirts and nods as G'rad slips off
to fetch food and drink. She leans back, eyes scanning the crowd again, a
smile playing across her face now as she enjoys the multi-colored panorama.

Telgar Weyr> Midnight_Sky eyes Canus. Slow and proddy, maybe ...

Telgar Weyr> K'ran isn't so sure J'lyn's 'slow'. Throbby, maybe, but dunno
'slow'.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima was listening to Devil Came Down To Georgia, but
doesn't know what to listen to now. I don't have any mint songs. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio just _laughs_...

Orchid bounces and grins as she listen and watches.

Telgar Weyr> Talisha says, "Is it still mega spammy down there?"

I'sai shapes his free hand to her waist with quiet care, and murmurs,
"...Those plumes of yours," as they proceed to the floor.

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo says, "Well, the Devil came down to Georgia, and was
lookin' for a soul to steal..."

Water's_Fall picks up a mug for himself and sips quietly as he makes his
way towards the voting box, smiling gently at people he passes.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn !! "HEY, now!"

Kerwin's head tilts at the strange color reactions from Kassima. One brow
arches up. Interesting? Wait, wrong genre. "See, that is why it is a good
thing that you changed clothing. The other thing involved a lot of effort,
but it was too close to free-range anatomy." He ahhs then, sheepish once
more, "I'm not terribly good at this conversing thing, am I? You keep going
all funny colors, red and green and all." Christmas-Kassi!

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn is all about slow and throbby.

Telgar Weyr> Aurian peers.

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo giggles and is waiting to pose until after we get
something from the harpers, lest I end up being all quick when I should be
slow. ;>

The faster song at least proves to be short; it spins into one that's more
traditional, a slow gone-away tune with the melody picked out in one
harper's soaring, wordless soprano.

Telgar Weyr> Kichevio grins. That's quite a statement to join the knot on,
Auri. ;)

Flower_Garden casts her eyes around for a moment, then weaves between
people to a free chair, sitting lightly.

Gray_Canine glances around, nervously.

Alessandra giggles softly, cheeks pinking just a bit. "I've a bit of an
eccentric taste. Oh, they changed tunes! I like this one."

Telgar Weyr> Midnight_Sky suggests, for the bennefit of us with sick minds,
that you guys quit picking on J'lyn over the knot. Too tempting to say
something nasty. ;) Hiya Aurian.

Fire_Feline quietly skirts around the dancers. She mutters to
Flower_Garden, "I... I'm... I don't... so much... lovely , but... dance...
tonight." 

"You inherit that from your *mother*," Kassi explains, absently tugging at
the neckline of this dress too. It's Pavlovian. "She always discusses
things like free-range anatomy and whatnay over dinner. The frightening
thing is that I get t'*keep* that; nay certain what I'll do with it. Use it
t'scare innocent young holders?" Now all we need is tinsel.

Water's_Fall returns to take a seat with Flower Garden, smiling friendily
to the Firey Feline as he does.

Orchid grins at the Canine.

Gray_Canine casts Orchid a sidelong glance. "Err. I don't see anything
funny.."

Tarlo grins and leads only for a bit, long enough for K'ran to get the hang
of it. It's a lovely tune, and she seems perfectly content as she swirls
around, occaisionally orbitting her partner like a moon when the dance
calls for it.

Flower_Garden smiles at the Feline, nodding. "Have you been having a nice
time, at least?"

"Oh dear," Kerwin murmurs, sounding honestly disturbed. "That's a bad
thing, inheriting things like that from my mother, I mean." He considers,
and then adds, "At least we're not eating, that's a start, right?" He
considers a moment, "Use it to bribe people?"

Gray_Canine jumps at her name being mentioned. Paranoid? Naah. "Who--?" she
yelps. Turning, she studies Flower_Garden closely. "Who..?" she repeats,
her wits about her this time.

Emelei edges back into the crowd after having slipped away again,
hesitating on the fringes to rest her hand on one of the tables and survey
the dancing and congregating, and just appear generally baffled, then does
a brief double-take at a nearby Kassima and Kerwin, and primarily Kassima's
dress. "You changed," she points out, then has the grace to erk. "Sorry,
hello. Excuse me," she offers, then starts to edge away to leave folk in
peace.

Telgar Weyr> Alessandra caves and pops in her copy of the MasterHarper of
Pern.

Fire_Feline blushes just a little. "I really have had a lovely time. Was
nice to get out and dance again. It's such rarity."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima oohs. *I* know. *Hunts for her copy of Incense and
Peppermints.*

Orchid smiles at Gray_Canine. "You only have to be happy to smile. I'm
happy." And bouncy.

Emilly smiles as G'rad returns, and claims a seat beside her, handing over
a mug of juice. "There you are love," he says and lifts his own mug to his
lips. "Lovely costumes aren't they?" Emilly nods by way of answer. "Oh yes
-- look at that one there!" She indicates a man dressed up in layers of
purple velvet. "Amazing isn't it?"

That pale regard turns thoughtful behind its mask, as it rests upon her;
I'sai tests her gently to the dance's measure, hands and balance measuring
whether she'll readily manage a swirl to spin out her dress, a sway within
his arm.

Telgar Weyr> Canus says, "Everyone need a copy of Sittin on the Dock of the
bay..."

Another man, this one dressed as half a bovine, winks Emilly's way as he
escorts a woman clad in milky white; she tacks on a sweet, "Such a nice
visit!" as they join the throng.

Kassima's voice shows signs of worry: "Bribe people? With...?" Does she
really want to know the answer to that? "I've changed," she confirms for
Emelei. "Quite a relief, don't you think? Nay real reason to at this late
hour, but those shoes were *nay* comfy t'be walking in... come and sit with
us, if'n you like?"

Flower_Garden smiles warmly at the feline. "We should try to do things like
this more often.

Cailin streches and slowly moves off.

Alessandra can manage that, and more tricks and turns yet. Her voice is
soft, meant for the bronzer's words along, though they carry a challange --
"I wasn't born a caravaner's daughter for nothing, I'sai, I doubt there's a
dance you could lead me in that I couldn't match you at." Her eyes twinkle,
crinkling merrily behind that mask.

The journeyman's voice shows no signs of fading, her fine soprano joined by
a low bass within the chorus: faraway seas, boats lost, others sailing on.

Cailin disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Water's_Fall smiles at Fire_Feline and stands up, holding out a hand. "You
know, Miss Feline, I know many of your like are fearful of water, but I
hope I may be able to disuade you of such unfounded ideas with a dance?"

Kerwin perches on one of the chairs, tucking his hooves lightly beneath it.
"She wanted to range less freely," he informs Emelei with wide eyed
solemnity. "Sitting's a good thing, there's an entertaining view of all the
dancers costumes from here."

Lyse stands and wanders away without saying a word.

Lyse walks south.

Kichevio just watches the dancers, humming to herself.

And with Tarlo leading -- or playing, or teasing -- K'ran lets her skirts
swirl about him, his smile broadening by degrees. "Thank you," he repeats,
earnest, as he matches her steps.

"A'course," Kassi points out, with wide eyes and a chin propped up by her
hand, "you two could dance, instead of observe, if'n you both happen t'know
how?"

G'rad grins and nods. "Or look at that ..." he points out a firey-hued
feline costume. And he keeps right on looking and looking and looking ...
until Emilly nudges him slightly in the ribs with her elbow. "Yes. Very
nice," she says giggling a little at her weyrmate's expression.

Emelei regards the dancing rather dubiously, then glances to Kassima and
Kerwin before coming to a decision and all but bee-lining it to a seat,
sinking down with a sigh of gratitude. "Thank you. And if you mean the
parts and bits possibly falling out, I don't blame you. It looked a bit
dicey, although leather's good. Why red?" she wonders simply, then nods at
Kerwin. "And -watching's- fine," she agrees with a nose-wrinkle.

Orchid yawns and looks around. She wanders to the edge and sits down
leaning back and dozing off.

Fire_Feline smiles. "I'll see you two later.'

The swift smile beneath that avian's mask is Alessandra's 'Perhaps - ' and
I'sai guides her into a set of painstakingly exact steps, the better to
show off those marabou-accented slippers beneath the swinging, satiny bell.

Emelei pauses to peer at Kassima blankly. "Know how? To dance? Uh...sure?
How hard can it be?" she adds dubiously.

Fire_Feline walks south.

Orchid disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

"It was not something I would look good in." Aisling offers as she moves
close enough to comment. "But I thought it was stunning on Kassima."
Stunning works, along with many other adjectives.

"Watching's not a bad thing," Kerwin decides after a long moment, although
he doesn't seem to share Emelei's distaste for the activity. "It was a very
nice bright red." There's a pause, "You've never danced either?" He's
confused, he's surrounded by non-dancing people, the world is a strange and
surreal place.

Alessandra's nose crinkles lightly, the girl grinning back at I'sai. She
falls into silence now, content to let the steps speak for them both;
taking an obvious pleasure in the way her dress flares out just -so- with
certain twists and turns.

Kassima's bare, pale shoulders lift in a shrug. "Why nay red? 'Tis what the
Weaver had in mind, and I'm fond of black and red as colors besides. And
I've heard red's supposed t'be pretty," she adds a bit wistfully. "You'd be
surprised--I usually injure someone. I nearly caused a Weyr-Hold incident
when 'twouldn't dance with Lord Tenefel for fear of breaking his foot and
having the Guard down on me." She steals a wry grin sidelong at Aisling.
"The world's just full of complimentary relatives and women," she teases.
"There's something terribly funny about that. Sit with us?"

"So, Uncle J'lyn," Kiani asks at length, as she sidles up to the
Weyrsecond, "do you like my costume?" As she asks this, she runs a gloved
hand down the skirts of her dress.

Gray_Canine glances around, searching for a familiar face -- or voice.

Tarlo grins and enjoys a similar pleasure to Alessandra's, but is perhaps
even more content when a spin or a twirl lands her right back in her
partner's arms. She lets out a soft laugh of pleasure, and lets her
movements turn a bit coy, tempting. Maybe the mask is making her brave.

Singing on, dancing on: the harpers' chorus repeats, for all that it begins
to slow, as if foretelling an end close to come.

Flower_Garden looks around the room for another moment, then rests her eyes
on the dancers.

In the hubub of the dancing music and conversation, Water's Fall's
invitation to the feline must have been lost as she heads on her way.
Shruging to Flower Garden, he looks around curiously a moment. "If there's
anyone who would like a dance," he calls out softly "But finds few men
around to dance with, I would gladly step in to show them what they're
missing."

"Thank you, I think I can sit without wrinkling to badly." Aisling notes
before adding. "The dress, not me. I'll just get a glass of wine."

"Oh, watching's great," Emelei allows rapidly, then shifts in her seat a
bit uncomfortably. "Uh, sure? I mean, who wouldn't know how? It's just sort
of edging around without smacking into people, right?" she wonders, then
coughs. "No, I never have, though. It never came up. She grins unabashedly
then. "Is it that easy to injure someone?" she wonders, then grins at
Aisling in agreement.

Terrilia finishes her wine and looks up with a bright smile. She studies
the costume a moment before replying, "I'd like to dance. Been a while,
though."

Kichevio hears the sounds of a Water's Fall, and looks briefly up. "If you
don't mind leaves, I'm free."

This way, that way - the next way, and as the music slows, yet before it's
stopped, I'sai guides his partner lightly towards the arena's outskirts,
that area frequented more by Belior and nearly-as-full Timor than those
greener glows.

Kerwin turns a bit as Aisling addresses Kassima, eyes widening -just- a
hair. "It's a good place to sit and watch all the people dance, ma'am." He
manages not to chuckle at Emelei's words, with the hint of a smile. "It's a
little more complicated than edging, or at least it's a little more
complicated for me. But it's a long way from my head to my feet, so it
takes a while for the ideas to get down that far. So maybe it's that easy
for other people. It's...patterns."

Water's_Fall blushes a bit as he receives not only one acceptance, but two.
"I, ah,...alright. Well, how about I dance with /this/ lovely woman here,"
He reaches for Terrilia's hand. "And then I can finish the dance with you,
Ki? Is that okay?" Lee looks a bit apologetic actually.

J'lyn finally finishes his drink and gets another glass of it and settles
against a large post to watch the festivities and make sure nothing gets
too out of hand. He knows his riders well.

Kassima suggests with a slow, slightly wicked grin, "If'n 'tis so easy...
why don't you show us? If'n Kerwin would be willing? I assume with 'Wynne
as your mother that you can't help but know how, although I don't think any
of the dances with the pelvic thrusting would be terribly appropriate. I
always found it *terribly* easy. Injuring, that is, nay dancing." She muses
whimsically, "Mayhaps 'tis all the knife-training; there you're *supposed*
t'injure someone."

Emilly continues to sip on her juice until it is nearly gone, then hands
the mug off to a drudge. A whispered word from her weyrmate, and she nods,
getting to her feet, quietly following the bronzerider-turned-shipfish off
somewhere more peacable

Kichevio smiles, and gestures Terrilia onward. "Please do..."

Tempt him? K'ran steers Tarlo towards the stage, where fewer gather, and is
inclined more to keep her in his arms once she's there.

Emilly disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Flower_Garden smiles at Water's_Fall, tilting her head. "You'll save at
least one for me?"

The raven-crowned greenrider follows I'sai willingly, Alessandra content --
and, yes, perhaps a little more winded than she might be were she not in
the condition she might be in -- to slow down.

Terrilia glances at Kichevio and the Flower Garden and smiles. "I promise
I'll pass him along to you next," she says, standing and following Water's
Fall out to the dance floor. She tilts her head to study his mask, a faint
smile on her lips.

Gray_Canine casts a glance over to Terrilia, beseeching and quite anxious.
"Terrilia!" she yelps, resisting the urge to go running towards her.

"Aisling." She automatically corrects before adding, "Its my name, you see.
I like it even. I suppose you could say its just a bunch of patterns with
music thrown in for background. My mother thought it an important skill for
a proper young lady, you see."

Water's_Fall turns his head back to Flower_Garden. "I save everything for
you." Turning back to Terrilia now, he takes her gently in his arms. "Just
tell me if I'm really bad." He winks.

At length the music shifts to a new song, that soprano stepping back to
take up her drum instead; the bass has his gitar, and they've begun to
strum a bright tune, a swinging tune, the more athletic - or not
long-gowned - of the dancers daring a circle's worth of kick-dance.

Terrilia pauses a moment and looks at the Gray Canine, frowning before she
recognizes the girl in the costume. "In a minute?" She smiles at her dance
partner. "Wouldn't matter if you were--I know I am."

Tarlo seems quite amiable, and rests her head briefly on the shoulder of
K'ran's jacket before the pair finally find a spot to settle. "I'll give
you fair warning," she says breathlessly, "I adore dancing and could
probably do so all night." To whit, she looks at the circle dance
enviously, but the length of her skirt obviously prohibits participation.

Kerwin has to, yes, consider this a moment. "I -think- I'm willing,
although I admit, if bone breaking's going to be involved, I'm going to
suddenly develop a severe allergy to dancing. Having my bones broken is not
something I generally want to have happen." He pauses, "Or, well, ever for
that matter." He ohhs then quietly to Aisling, nodding, "Well met, Aisling.
I'm Kerwin, or Kerry, or well...a lot of things." Ovine-Man, with
Baaa-Ram-Ewe Action Grip and a wool cape.

Flower_Garden smiles at Terri, then casts her eyes about again a bit
restlessly.

Water's_Fall laughs and guides Terrilia with him into the dance, grinning
at the speed. "Don't worry about the skirt," he murmurs gently. "Just let
yourself float on the water." He leads her, but not into a kicking style of
dance, but a quick spinning swing out style, Terri's skirt flaring elegantly.

I'sai's fair head tips to those higher, bobbing plumes, and he gestures
briefly towards the floor - and one set of women who, by their daring
moves, might be well worthy of Kerwin's worry.

Emelei starts to protest, then blinks at Kassima at the challenge in
astonishment before squaring her shoulders. "Of course I can," she repeats,
dusting off her vest, then getting directly to her feet and jerking her
head. "C'mon, ovine man. Oh, well met, Aisling ma'am," she adds with a
brief, sincere smile at the other woman, then peers back to Kerwin. "Let's
go. Of -course- we can do this."

Alessandra listens silently, but shakes her head just once - no.

"All night?" Perplexion joins with mischief in K'ran's smile, in his eyes.
"Seems a bit ambitious." He runs a hand back through her hair when she
rests her head on his shoulder. "You'll tire me out."

Terrilia indeed looks worried for a moment as she hears the music, but
smiles delightedly as she follows the lead of her partner. She grins and
actually giggles a little as they move around a few other couples who are
having difficulty. "Faranth, I should do this more often!"

Kassima's smile holds elements of smugness and wistfulness brewed together
in one big chaotic smiley stew. "Have fun," she bids sweetly, grinning at
both. "And don't hurt each other. Kerwin's m'cousin," she adds to Aisling,
"so pity him, that he must also thus be related to the lunatic fringe
that's m'family."

"Will you?" I'sai inquires then, in lieu, moonlight carving impassivity
from his mask if not the line of jaw below.

There's a briefly amused look from Kerwin at Emelei's insistance, but he
climbs up to his hooves, with a bemused headshake. "Well, adventure's good
for you, right?" This last is directed at Kassima and Aisling, before he
agreeably moves to head to an outside edge of the dancing area, that way
there are fewer potential people for Emelei to break.

Water's_Fall grins widely behind his mask and dips Terri low before
swinging her up in his arms and back down on his other side. "You've just
got to let yourself go with the flow" he says in a throaty voice.

Kichevio decides to take matters into her own hands, and moves with a swish
of skirts and rustle of leaves toward a certain person who's all silvery
and sparkly tonight. Lightly stepping up behind the bronze- and greenrider,
she waits for any conversation to be finished.

"Kerwin." Aisling repeats to herself before eying Emelei for a moment. "Ais
is fine, Aisling as well, but no Ma'am. Please." She offers before raising
her glass to the pair. "You are to be pitied or she?" She asks, mishcief
dancing through her eyes.

Tarlo makes a point of putting on an expression of consideration. "Almost
all night." she clarifies. "We'll make sure you have just enough left
over." she promises, her grin briefly wicked as she looks at him. "But are
you having a good time?"

Terrilia studies her partner's mask closely as the dance continues, the
part of her cheeks that's visible rosy with exertion. A broad smile breaks
across her face. She mutters to Water's_Fall, "Lee? Is that you?... a..." 

No signs of the harpers' letting up: kick kick kick! and the line dances
past Terrilia and her watery-clad partner; and, Kerwin? Emelei? ...Incoming.

Gray_Canine skitters sideways, glance shifting around the room, and she
casts a wistful glance at the lake before deciding that no one's going to
be missing her. She sidles out silently.

Gray_Canine heads in the direction of the shimmering lake, leaving the
central bowl area of the Weyr.

"Adventure's very good for you," Emelei agrees firmly with a sharp nod,
then adds briefly, "I'm Emelei, and excuse me. I have to prove this," she
explains, then starts off with Kerwin, trying to hide the gratitude for the
more open area. "Okay, let's do this," she insists, awkwardly holding out
an arm, oblivious to the impending line of doom.

Water's_Fall takes no notice of the dancing line. It's all about two people
dancing. "Maybe, maybe not" he whispers and winks, dipping Terri low again,
their bodies close.

Greylin doesn't join in the dancing, but seems to be watching everyone,
eyes roving the crowd restlessly.

"Oh, him, him!" Kassi assures, nodding out towards Kerwin after winking to
the same at his question about adventure. "I can nay be pitied, because I'm
as crazy as any of them, only the poor lad doesn't seem t'realize this. He
calls me Sane Aunt Kassi. It's somewhat surreal."

I'sai doesn't hesitate - "And?" but then there's Kichevio at their
shoulder, that gold-stranded hair swept high; after a moment he turns one
faded-wool shoulder, inclusive.

Flower_Garden watches Terri and her dance partner, gaze sharpening
slightly. After a minute she gets up and wanders around the area again.

J'lyn finishes glass number 2 and decides to head back to his weyr. All
this merrymaking is enough to last him for a good long time.

J'lyn disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Terrilia laughs and shakes her head, obviously enjoying herself. She
glances toward the Flower Garden and tries to keep a reasonable distance
between herself and her partner, though it's rather difficult with such a
fast dance.

Kerwin tosses the sleeves of his hooves back again, proving that he does
indeed have hands. Considering a moment, he moves to take Emelei's arm,
simply shifting into a standard dancing position. He ducks back then with a
"Whoah, okay, this is dangerous and you're not stepping on me." He then
attempts to lo, dance. And despite the trailing pantlegs, he's reasonably
graceful, once comitted.

"And what?" Alessi responds, voice still soft. "She knows that if she goes
somewhere without me knowing it, I get edgy. She's trying very hard to earn
back my trust. And, I'sai, I'll admit -- it's hard. But I -want- to trust
her again."

"Mmm." K'ran pauses for a moment, only to pull the mask from his face. "Hot
under here." Smile broadening yet further, he lifts his shoulders in a
shrug of cultured ambivalence. "It's been fun, yeah. Wish we could host
more of these kinds of things."

Water's_Fall picks up on something and slows, standing back a bit. He
mutters to Terrilia, "I'm just trying... sure... time.... hard... enjoy...
without... of... partner.... sorry." 

Kichevio says quietly, aiming somewhere between the woolly shoulder and the
feathery plumes, "I don't mean to interrupt anything...I was hoping to
steal a dance?" She almost backs away again--this _is_ a conversation that
doesn't involve her.

Emelei's nose wrinkles again decidedly as she's taken, then all but yelps
as getting out of the way is an issue, staggering along. "Hey, look out!"
she declares at the line in general, then harrumpfs and turns back to
attempt to dance with determination, staring at her feet and..well, she's
got rhythm and enthusiasm, that's a kindness. Too bad the enthusiasm aims a
firm foot-stomp on Kerwin, and a shin-kick a moment later. "Like this?"

Terrilia sighs, missing a beat and struggling to find the rhythm again.
Once she does, she says quietly, She mutters to Water's_Fall, "It's...
it's... right,... But I don't want to worry... a good..." 

Water's_Fall's ear is taken by a conversation across the way between a
greenrider and a bronzerider. He frows quite thoroughly and looks down at
his feet a second before glancing over at Kichevio. "Kich, I think I may be
free very soon if you'd like to join me, I'd love to have you. I-I mean
dance with you...*blush*." And he was doing 'so' well.

Strum-strum-stamp-swing: a fifth rousing chorus from the harpers - one
fellow even lifts a wineglass when not busy with his own large drum - with
another left to go.

Tarlo chuckles. "I'm a clothes-runner - not that this should be surprising
at all, of course. So any excuse to dress up." She then lowers her tone,
expression briefly concerned as she murmurs to him.

Gray_Canine heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

Gray_Canine hesitantly edges back into the bowl, gaze shifting this way and
that.

Flower_Garden speaks quietly with a tree for a moment, laughing a couple
times, then nods and wanders off again, this time heading towards
Alessandra, I'sai, and Kichevio.

Kichevio takes that option immediately, backing away from Is and Alessi and
anything else she might have unwittingly overheard. "Thanks...I'll wait
right here."

Kerwin does not -quite- manage not to yelp at the stomp, and there's a
muffled 'yow' at the shin be-kicking. He doesn't fumble too far. "It's
close, yeah. Too bad you're too tall to stand on my feet, like my littlest
sister does, see, that's easier. I think though that might be a little
tricky. She's really teeny." He's trying to be polite, and not sound
pained, really.

Aisling's finger taps lightly against the glass, she seems unable to hold
still for any length of time. Her gaze flights across the various dancers,
lighting for a moment on I'sai and Alessandra before moving along. "You
said that they were your kin?" She asks as her attention moves back to
Kassima.

"There's somewhere and somewhere, knowing and - " but I'sai stops. Says,
sincerely, hand still supporting Aless' arm, "I'd like to dance with you,
Kichevio. Tonight, and if not tonight, within the sevenday. The better if -
" and then he's silent again, silenced.

"So far," K'ran assures Tarlo, his smile softening just a touch. Then a
long-suffering sigh. "Well, Kich, I -suppose- I could help you out..." He
gives Tarlo's shoulder a fond squeeze as he steps forward.

Emelei can't help a vaguely worried look towards a few other pairs that
seem to be doing this rather gracefully, then narrows her eyes at poor
Kerwin's chest and deliberatly makes an effort to smooth her movements out,
probably earning him another stomp on his foot. "Well, yeah, I'm hardly a
little kid. I guess it -might- be easier." Stomp smack. "Hey, this isn't so
bad at all, is it?"

Water's_Fall finishes a few more, half-hearted dance moves with Terri,
something distressing him clearly. He puts on a big smile and reaches to
pull Terrilia's hand up to kiss it gently. "It was a pleasure, miss. We
must dance again. Please, enjoy your evening." WIth that, Water's fall
heads over to Kichevio.

"Lucky Kich," Kassi murmurs, watching this saga. "Three men at *once*,
goodness... hmm? Oh, aye--the lad is, nay the lass. He's m'cousin's son.
She's someone I picked up at Winecraft, as it happens--staying with family
here, methinks."

Alessandra looks up suddenly, spotting Water's Fall heading their way.
"Leelson," she states, simply, eyes unreadable from behind that mask.

Terrilia smiles reassuringly and steps back from her dance partner, nodding
to Kichevio as she moves to the edge of the floor and looks around. "Thank
you," she says simply.

Tarlo notes archly to I'sai, "Leave a space for me on your dance card too,
I'sai." she winks to take the severity out of her tone.

Flower_Garden hangs back, not joining Alessandra and I'sai, nor any of the
other quietly conversing clusters. Her eyes flicker to Leelson and back
Alessandra, gaze mild with just a hint of something else beneath the surface.

Not so bad for -who-!? Surely Kerwin's feet are -really- unthrilled. He
manages to suffer in relative silence for this particular round of
mistreatment, with only the faint hint of a quickly exhaled breath at the
stomping. "Not little, no. And not so bad, ah, um, no." Poor guy, he's
trying to be polite, but he's also trying to manage to avoid being maimed.

Wow, three offers. It never rains but it pours. Kichevio takes the Water's
Fall's hand with a smile, nodding to K'ran. "This nice waterfall and I'sai
have prior claims, but I'd love to dance with you later."

Gray_Canine catches sight of Terrilia and seems to drift over to her like a
magnet or something. "Terrilia!" she squeaks, nervousness starting to get
the better of her.

Water's_Fall nods to Alessandra after hearing his name. No mind paid to
disguise now. "Alessandra," he returns, equally cryptic. "I'm sorry, I have
a dance date with Kich. If you'll excuse me." Lee bows and moves to take
Ki's hand. "Shall we?"

Terrilia turns from scanning the crowd of people standing to smile at the
Gray Canine. "Yes? What a great costume!" She arches an eyebrow. "Something
wrong?"

Flower_Garden smiles at Kichevio briefly, teasing gently, "If you get to
many dance offers, throw one this way."

Gray_Canine nods, too eagerly and clearly nervously. She mutters to
Terrilia, "... wrong.... of crowds! I've... times... it..." 

I'sai makes light even as Kichevio moves off, "We can always ask for
another swing dance if we're to play all... four? Five? Seven?" - "Done,"
says he to Tarlo, and tells both Alessandra and the man she calls Leelson,
"Are you lot going to explain why this is so awkward? I'm thinking it might
be safest for me to duck out now."

Kichevio half bows to the Flower Garden. "Of course." Then, smiling, she
steps gracefully into Lee's arms and into the dance.

Alessandra shakes her head slightly, lifting her skirts up and starting to
step away. "Kiyoth informs me that Whinde's back, with Jhilin. I -need- to
see my son." And there's an ache there, an old ache. "If you all will
pardon me?"

I'sai doesn't question her wording, merely steps silently aside: "Easy as
you go," says he, and gently so.

Terrilia frowns, tilting her head to one side as she regards the Gray
Canine. She mutters to Gray_Canine, "You... you come... scared of..."  Her
eyes flicker back out to the dancers.

Tarlo looks up and over in concern. "Of course, Alessi." she says, eyes
dark with concern.

"Interesting steps." Aisling notes as she watches Kerwin for a few moments.
"He seems nice enough."

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo is a graduate from the Redundancy School for Redundancy.

Another long-suffering sigh, and K'ran takes a step back, rejoining Tarlo
near the stage. Through a smile, he asides, "See, you go -out- of your
way..." He cuts off abruptly to give Alessandra a solemn nod. "Take care of
yourself, Alessi, hm?"

Water's_Fall nods to Alessandra. "Say hello to Naiad for me, will you?" he
says, something in his tone when he gives the name. He then removes away
from the group with Kichevio in his arms, though there's something missing
from his step now. It gradually returns with the music.

Emelei actually goes several turns around without attempting assault,
although a chair does get kicked into a nearby table. "I could actually get
to like this," she muses, then peers up severely. "Don't you go repeating
that, okay?" she instructs, then glances to the side again, a step and
light kick going straight for Kerwin's other shin. "See, I -told- them this
wouldn't be that hard. I mean, we haven't hit anyone else at all yet."

Kiani walks south.

Flower_Garden steps over to Alessandra, eyes oddly sympathetic. She mutters
to Alessandra, "... things.... here... perhaps... have fun... by dancing
together. Seriously,... I..." 

Aisling just watches Alessi thoughtfully, her raised eyebrow hidden behind
the mask.

Kichevio smiles gently and murmurs to the Waterfall as they dance.

Flower_Garden's eyes fly to the Waterfall at his comment, brow twitching
and smile growing flat.

Kerwin offers the chair an apologetic look. Who cares if it's furniture? He
can empathize with the poor thing at the moment. There's another of those
muffled yelps at the additional kick, and apparently for a moment hopping
is part of this dance? "No, no, we haven't very good point. Still, we
wouldn't want to overdo it, on your first attempt and all, right?"

Kassima agrees as she watches, "He's a good sort, or seems it--I don't know
him *well*, you understand; I've dozens of cousins, hard t'keep track of
all of 'em, but he's turned out remarkably sane given who his mother is.
I've nay seen him carve one vegetable into something lewd."

Alessandra pauses suddenly, looking over at Flower Garden. "I'm really glad
you came," she offers, a sincere smile about her lips. To the others, she
just nods. "I will. But it's been two Turns since I saw Jhilin last.
He's... growing up, without me. That, I can never forgive her for. He's as
much my son as he is hers." And with that, she's gone.

Flower_Garden nods to Alessandra, a small smile returning, then she just
sighs after the woman leaves, not really looking anywhere.

And the music ends likewise - on a beat, on a *thump*, and then suddenly a
shower of clapping hands. Not that the harpers don't seem set for the next.

Gray_Canine errs and sidesteps, glancing at the floor. She mutters to
Terrilia, "... K'ven... me,... kind about taking... he took...
Graduation... didn't have to... that... still..."  She gazes up at Terrilia
at this last sentence.

Water's_Fall spins with Kichevio but he seems to be losing energy rather
quickly eventually he sighs heavily and pauses. "I'm sorry," he says as the
song ends. "I'm really sorry, Kich. I'm not much of a dancer after all."

Alessandra walks south.

Kichevio stops on the beat with a swirl of skirts, then gives the Waterfall
a brief, affectionate hug. "It's all right. Go on back to your flower garden."

"Last time I checked, Jhilin's Jav's son." She mutters to the greenrider's
back.

Emelei's head bounces in time to the hopping for a moment before she grins
gleefully and hops in time as well, other foot swinging precariously at
knee level. Wham! Biff! Bang! "Oooh, the music's over anyway," she agrees,
momentarily crestfallen before she clears her throat, hesitates, then pulls
back a step, peering up. "Uh, thanks. You're good at that, y'know? We
should go sit back down," she adds firmly, reaching out to try and drag
Kerwin back to the table by a coat sleeve.

After something of a breather, the next song begins as a lilting tune, a
sea chantey sung on reed pipes alone.

Greylin lets out a slight yawn, rising to her feet. She stops by the
remaining Seasons and wishes them a good night.

Terrilia looks back from the dancers to the Gray Canine quickly. "Ah, I
see." She sighs softly. "Well...I tell you what, it won't be long before I
have to get back. Just wait over there and I'll take you, all right?" She
nods toward an out-of-the-way chair and smiles.

Flower_Garden shakes herself out of some reverie, then smiles at I'sai,
asking, "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."

Water's_Fall shakes his head. "No, I promised you a dance, and you'll have
one. If you want one with me." He bites his lip.

Tarlo suggests, "Snag Kichevio - or ooh, Greylin, before she goes, and I'll
go after I'sai? Greylin you sure you don't want to have abit of a go before
you say good night?"

Gray_Canine nods. "Thank you!" She all but dashes over to said chair and
sits down with a *thunk* as the chair nearly tips in her eagerness not to
be noticed..

Kerwin really is doomed, and then some. Owww! The end of the song garners
the harpers a look of total and utter adoration before he offers a nod to
Emelei, "It's over, sitting down's good. And thank you. You were getting
the hang of it there, certainly." He allows himself to be hauled back to
the chairs, where his feet are safe.

Kichevio sighs. "I do. But not if you're distracted by that certain person
who doesn't concern you ever again," she says, a bit dryly.

Greylin hears her name and turns back, her mask all but hiding the
inquisitive look.

Terrilia briefly smiles and shakes her head slightly. She looks around once
more, tapping her fingers to the beat against her other arm.

I'sai, once he's seen Alessandra off - and Kichevio swept on - stands there
for some moments, till after the music's silenced and resumed; once his
expression's composed, he turns a smile towards that garden-clad woman, the
fainter for being beneath that mask - still, the tenor's light as ever;
"Well enough. Busy. Busier, sometimes, than I'd like. How's Igen treating
you?"

Kassima murmurs to Aisling, "'Tis like T'kar and Meri considering Erika
T'kar's daughter, I suppose. I can never really understand that... but I
do; aren't the twins nigh as much their fosterers' as mine now? And the
other three as much 'Maeva's?" As the duo return, she grins up at them.
"So? How went it? You looked well out there."

Water's_Fall shakes his head again and reaches to hold Kichevio's hand.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm just being reactionist. I'm okay now. There's...some
stuff you don't know about I don't think." Lee seems to be emploring
Kichevio. "Please?"

Tarlo gives Greylin a brief squeeze if permitted and says, "How about it?
Care to dance with my weyrmate?" she dares the redhead playfully.

Flower_Garden smiles, and if she has half an ear on another conversation,
it doesn't show. "Oh, we've been busily getting ready for the next batch of
candidates, but we are mostly ready now."

Aisling shrugs. "That is J'var's problem, -not- mine." She notes before
grinning at the newly returned. "I think you might have made it in one
piece, both of you."

Kichevio hesitates, but lightly rests one hand back on the Waterfall's
shoulder. "All right, then," as she begins to sway to the soft reedflute.
"Lead on."

K'ran's brows climb. "Don't I get a say in this?" he asks, with a laugh.

Greylin smiles slightly at Tarlo's question. "Thank you, but no. One, I
don't know how to dance, and two, I wouldn't dance with someone's weyrmate
even if I did know how."

I'sai's far less shy than she about angling a look at that other pair: "Are
you? Good for you. Poor K'tyn, to have Prometh take him to sands after
sands after sands... not that it isn't good for his bones, I imagine the
uncles would say. - And no, I can't quite hear what they're saying. Pity,
isn't it?"

Emelei finally sets the coatsleeve free and drops into a seat, grinning
with all due pride. "We did it, of course. It wasn't hard at all. No
problems, right ovine man?" she wonders of Kerwin. "We didn't even smack
into anyone else," she adds, rather pleased with that. Not that someone's
knees and feet would agree with that.

Kassima drawls with great amusement, "Oh, now, see, I must be sheepish.
Since that makes my inability even *more* pitiful... your toes are all
intact, Kerry? None broken, none splintered?"

Water's_Fall smiles softly and guides Kichevio in a slow swaying dance,
holding her gently in his arms. "I still remember washing dragons with you
here with fondness, even it did result in a painful shoulder dislocation."
He sighs and tentatively rests his head down on Kichevio's shoulder.

Flower_Garden quirks an eyebrow, then a soft laugh escapes, a gentle humor
briefly flickering across her face. Instead of answering, she nods towards
the dance floor and holds out a hand. "Shall we?"

K'ran sticks out his lower lip in a pout. "You wouldn't dance with -me-,
Greylin?" he pleads. "You already almost -did-, at graduation."

Kerwin is only walking a -little- funny as he returns to his seat, sinking
down onto it. It's a good thing the long black pants cover his legs, lest
they show up black and blue. "All in one piece, yes." It's just as-is sales
for this one piece. "Just a chair." He considers a long moment, wiggling
one hoof. "Um, I don't -think- anything's broken. A little squished, but
all in the requisite number of bits."

The pipes's tune begins to change, even as a deeper set joins it with the
original version to make a round; with the third time through, a drum taps
in, light accompaniment that's little more audible than the dancing feet.

Tarlo doesn't argue with Greylin - she's long since learned her lesson
about that. "Alright, then." she says amiably, "Good night to you and
Kheprith." she then catches K'ran's words and grins wryly. Let him do the
persuading; he's good at it.

Terrilia glances over toward the Gray Canine and back out to the dancers.
She walks over to find another glass of wine, not quite ready to leave.

I'sai may glance over to Aisling and Kassima, to Terrilia beyond them - but
then he simply agrees, "Why not?" and accepts: palm to palm, step after
step, 'round into the dance.

Leelson nods slightly with his head on Kich's shoulder, gently swaying still.

"Huh? Oh, I didn't mean to say -that-, no. I mean, right, I kicked a chair
pretty hard," Emelei agrees with a sharp nod, then hesitates, peering at
Kerwin. "-Squished-?" There's a brief look of mild horror before she coughs
to cover it. "Uh. Well, shards, I...sorry 'bout that. You're gonna be okay,
right? Maybe it was the music. We'd to better to other music."

Kichevio whispers something back to her partner as she sways gently,
running one hand brifly through his hair.

Greylin turns her gaze upon K'ran. "I'm a former Benden Hold guard cadet.
They didn't bother teaching us how to dance. If I tried, they'd most likely
have you making really good friends with the healers. Good night, K'ran,
Tarlo." With a sigh, she takes off her mask, revealing her identity to
those who may not have gessed it by then, absently fingering her hair's
tangles out. Her expression shifts into something unreadable, devoid of any
positive emotion, as she heads toward where her large brown is waiting.

"That's good," Kassi solemnly agrees. "Wouldn't want t'be ending up with
spare bits. How would I ever explain that t'your mother? She'd *throw*
things at me, disturbing things, cheese that she'd been *doing* things with
as likely as nay." Eyes twinkle green as she turns them towards Emelei.
"Nay doubt 'twould be. Slower music, mayhaps."

Greylin walks south.

Flower_Garden smiles softly, although the expression waivers a bit when she
eyes another pair. But she quickly pulls her gaze back to her dance
partner, smiling into his eyes for a moment as they turn around the floor.

K'ran's expression twists in a grimace at Greylin's reaction, and as she
departs, he breathes a soft sigh. "Shards. I wish she'd just... relax."

"Interesting." Aisling says once again to someone's back. She is good like
that.

Leelson smiles gently at Kichevio after a moment, moving away from her,
still holding hands. "THank you" he says softly and leans to give her an
innocent kiss on the cheek before heading away towards the south. As he
walks past Shilarra, he sends her a look and mouthes something before
disappearing.

"Different music," Kerwin's willing to agree. He's a polite sort, and not
wanting to offend. There's only a hint of terrified ovine in his eyes. He's
being good. "And it was a first time, and the first time's complicated." He
nods with wide-eyed solemnity, "Or bread. She likes throwing bread
that...bread." When in doubt, keep it simple. "Interesting?" He echoes,
considering Aisling.

"She doesn't even try." Tarlo's voice is somewhere between pity and
annoyance. "It's like she prefers to be miserable and alone."

Aisling offers Terrilia a toast with her wineglass, "I don't believe that
we have met, When not in black, I am Aisling." She nods to Kerwin. "Haven't
you ever just sat back and watched people, just to see their reactions?"

I'sai whispers to that Flower_Garden as they spin, so quietly as to be for
her ears alone, "Getting him jealous, are you? Great look, if you are, keep
it up... if you don't think we'll run into anyone, anyway, and lean in a
little."

Leelson walks south.

Kichevio says something to Leelson as he leaves, then swishes off the dance
floor, that affectionate smile still on her face.

Kassima, overhearing Tarlo and K'ran, raises her own glass of wine in a
toast to the departed brownrider with a small, grim smile--which disappears
beneath one brighter as her table wins attention. "So I've heard," she
agrees with Kerwin. "And certes I did m'worst damage dancing the first
time... I can imagine what the bread's been doing." And to judge by her
shudder, wishes she couldn't. She flicks Terrilia a friendly smile as
Aisling addresses her.

Gray_Canine shifts position uncomfortably, though it's not the chair
bothering her.

"Slower music means less kicking," Emelei muses thoughtfully with a nod at
Kassima, then blinks at Kerwin. "She throws bread when you've gone missing
bits? I hope that isn't too often, I suppose, then perks up at Aisling.
"Interesting?" She ahhs then, and nods affably. "Oh, sure. Folks have great
reactions," she agrees with a quick smile at Terrilia as well. "Does
dancing get better, then?"

Flower_Garden gives Leelson a slightly confused glance when he mouths
something to her, then returns her attention to I'sai. Laughing softly, a
soft blush touches her cheeks in response to something he whispers and she
leans closer. She mutters to I'sai, "... I've... those lines... but...like
this?" 

Kichevio walks south.

There's a moment's consideration, and Kerwin nods to Aisling, "Yes,
sometimes. If it's a big enough crowd, certainly. And it's been hectic here
tonight, a good time for it, especially with all the costumes." He mmhmms,
"Yes, Sane Aunt Kassi, you can." He shakes his head at Emelei, "Well she
doesn't usually throw bread at me, just other people. And I don't generally
mislay parts of me."

Terrilia lifts her own glass back to Aisling and smiles to her, Kassima,
and Emelei. "Terrilia, blue Cyameth's from Igen," she says, rather quietly.
"Well met--I like the bells." She smiles more brightly at Kassima and
glances around, taking a sip of her wine.

K'ran lifts his shoulders in another shrug, and slides an arm around
Tarlo's waist. "I doubt she'll stay alone and miserable forever," he
mutters, still staring off after the brownrider. "Not with her looks."

"-Precisely- like that," I'sai says on an admiring note, ducking past a
seacrafter and his mate with a hastily whispered, "Close one." Even if it
was his fault to begin with. As quietly, "...Don't look; I'll try and see
if he's looking, here..." whirl, whirl, "...Can't see him. Bother."

Tarlo says softly, "I hope so. She should be happy." she slides her mask
off takes a pin out of her hair, letting it tumble down haphazardly over
her shoulders. The mask and pin are laid carefully to the side, and Tarlo
lets her head rest against K'ran, seemingly uncaring if she has a red
smudge or two on her cheek. Her eyes start to follow I'sai, and begin to
crinkle in amusement.

"We've met, methinks?" Kassi questions, tilting her head. "Once or twice
now--you're welcome t'join us, if'n you wish. We evil greenriders are just
ribbing these fine young people about their dancing." She grins
mischievously to the fine young people in question. "She throws scary
bread. Ask Kerry for a full explanation sometime when you're nay in public;
'twould be awkward here."

"I don't think I've ever seen anything -quite- like tonight," Emelei admits
with a briefly gleeful expression. "My mother is going to be so horrified.
It's -wonderful-," She decides, then grins at Terrilia. "I'm Emelei,
of...uh, here I guess. Winecraft a few days ago, though. Why do you call
her 'Sane Aunt Kassi', ovine man?" she wonders then.

"This is Kassima." She introduces. "Her kin, cousin's son, to be exact,
Kerwin. And someone from the vintners that she picked up, Emelei?" She
notes adding a questioning look to each as they are introduced. "Throw
bread? I'll have to remember that."

Flower_Garden moves gracefully with I'sai, only smiling at the close call.
Her cheeks flush a bit further and she duck her head down, forehead briefly
touching the man's shoulder. She mutters to I'sai, "... I..I... about we...
the... I've actually never danced with... know." 

Kerwin offers an agreeable wave to Terrilia, looking sheepishly amused at
the various introductions. "Awkward's a good word for it, yes," he agrees
with wide-eyed solemnity. There's the hint of a grin at Emelei's question,
"Because compared to the rest of the family, she's the sane one. She must
work very hard at it. She says I'm doomed though, though I'd like to be
sane too." He nods, "Throwing bread. It could be a lot worse. She could
throw rocks or something."

Terrilia arches an eyebrow at the comments about the bread, but heads over
toward Kassima and the others with a smile and a nod. "We have, a few
times. Good to see you again." She nods to Emelei and Kerwin, too. "Well met."

"Mmm." K'ran watches the tumble of hair appreciatively. "She does. We all
do." Again, he lifts a hand, this time to toy idly with the collar of her
outfit.

"The dancing wasn't that bad!" Emelei protests immediately. "I only
squished him a little. Right?" she adds to Kerwin, then listens to the
explanation with interest before lifting her brows and gesturing at the
coat. "Sane is relative, I suppose. If nothign else, you're fleecy." She
nods at Aisling then with a smile. "I caught a ride here, yes. I'm staying
with my grandmother."

Kassima offers, propping her thumbs behind her chin, "You might end up as
sane as me, Kerry, at least potentially. Most people wouldn't call me
*sane*, is the thing... 'tis a purely relative sanity. I don't do illicit
activities with bread or cheese, however. So if'n that's sane, you're home
free." Hopefully. "What's going t'be horrifying your mother, Emelei? The
pleasure's mine, Terrilia. Are you looking t'dance, or will you be a
wallflower with the rest of us? Except these two, a'course, who aren't,
they're just a bit battered right now."

I'sai's mouth curves, marvelling - "If you're certain," he then accedes,
and even dares to try and pluck a bloom from her garland when that chestnut
head ducks low. Around and around, the better to bell her green skirt
bright; the music can't last forever, but for now -

Gray_Canine is still casting nervous glances around the room, as though the
mob's gonna creep up and bite her. Paranoia and fear of crowds aren't
pleasant things.

"Well met," Kerwin echoes warmly, before patting at his coat sleeve as
well. "Fleecey, yes, I can manage that. And it wasn't um..that bad, no."
His eyes widen, this time looking pleased, "Ooh, see that is heartening. I
was afraid I'd end up like mother, eventually."

Terrilia takes another sip of her wine and nods. "I'd like to dance a
little more, before I go. Not that it's not nice chatting with you..." She
grins, glancing at Kerwin and Emelei. "That kick-step dance was pretty
fast." She's /not/ looking in the direction of the Gray Canine right now.

And the music indeed doesn't last forever - but in presaging the end,
rather than slow it speeds.

"Quite understood. Most people like t'dance," Kassi agrees, that
wistfulness back, combined with amusement this time. "Those who can, or who
have young gallants seeking their hands out and all that bother. Or nosy
relatives t'push them. Kerry, that you're *afraid* of being like 'Wynne is
a sure sign you won't be, methinks--inhibitions are strong things."

Flower_Garden's head only raises slightly and her smile broadens, a touch
of honest delight in her eyes. She seems to almost miss a step, but quickly
compensates, spinning with I'sai and letting her eyes dart down to see the
leaves of her skirt fanning out.

Emelei taps her finger in absent time to the music on the table, then rolls
her eyes in brief amusement and utters a quiet snort. "I guess I can see
waht folks see in dancing." Yes, beating your partner. "Why don't you want
to be like your mother?" she wonders then of Kerwin, then grisn at Kassima.
"The costumes. The poem. The dancing. Take your pick. Mother would be
traumatized by any of it." She nods at Terrilia then. "Enjoy, it's great
music."

"Dancing's a lot of fun," Kerwin replies, and he's kind, and doesn't even
add 'normally' to that statement. He stays safe, lest he bruise a certain
ego the way his shins have been. "It's a scary thought, being like mother.
So fear's a good thing?" He shakes his head slightly at Emelei, "She's kind
of scary. She's nice, and a good mother, but scary."

Terrilia shrugs and smiles at Kassima. "I do enjoy it--don't get too much
of a chance...You don't dance?" Her gaze moves to Kerwin, curious as well.

A moonlit laugh that's compliment as genuine - and the spin takes them
'round and 'round till, as the last bars are measured, they've reached the
tables' edge and... "_Aha_," says Is, in triumph: and he points out to that
flower-clad woman, "Found the wine."

Kassima explains in an undertone to Emelei, "His mother's the hostess with
the mostest--which is t'say, the mostest lechery and lack of inhibition. Am
I right, Kerry? Terribly nice person, though, beneath that." She laughs
then, admitting, "My mother would, too. Some things never change. Don't,
can't; don't because I can't. I'd probably hurt people. I've gotten pulled
onto the dance floor a handful of times, but it usually ended in bruises
and disaster and gouged-out eyeballs on the floor."

Flower_Garden smiles brightly, looking reluctant to leave the dance floor
and allowing her hand continue to rest in I'sai's. "Oh, perhaps I'll have
some juice." Turning her face to his, she says sincerely, "Thank you for
the dance."

Tarlo chuckles. "I gather you like the dress?"

Terrilia winces at Kassima's comment and smirks. "Well, guess that ought to
be avoided, then. Though I'm all for getting people to try it." She shrugs
and glances over toward the Canine to see how she's doing.

Gray_Canine seems to have calmed down considerably and is watching the
goings-on with an air of detachment.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima gets a surreal version of 'Counting Flowers On the
Wall' in her head: "Gouged-out eyeballs on the floor, they don't bother me
no more...."

Kerwin considers this a long moment, simply because thinking of anything
quickly isn't something he does normally. "That's a very good way to
describe it, yes. She's a cheerful lech, though." His eyes widen, "Gouged
out eyeballs? -Really-?"

Telgar Weyr> Aisling acks! Kassi!

"Oh, yeah, I can understand that. My mother's good too, just scary as well.
Well, that and she still thinks I'm a kid," Emelei adds, as if this were
the world's gravest offense, then rubs absently at her eyes before blinking
at Kassima with a lack of comprehension. "Good for her? Hostesses are
supposed to be nice, I s'pose. What does lechery have to do with
inhibition, though?" she wonders, honestly.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn backs SLOWLY away.

Terrilia looks relieved and smiles as she turns back to the group, sipping
her wine and listening.

"You're very welcome," I'sai returns as warmly - and then his grin's all
mischief, diverting to brush that stolen bloom across the back of her hand;
whispered, "In case he's still watching." And, "Think you might do me a
favor, please, pass on a message to Macami? Though if it's too late in the
night to remember well, just say so, for M'kon's sake if not my own."

Telgar Weyr> Terryll whoos and high-fives Kassi.

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Eyeballs in a jar, Kassi, eyeballs in a jar. ;)"

Kassima explains in the least subtle terms she can manage, "She has nay
inhibition against using cheese as a bedroom plaything. Just for an
example. And so I've *heard*; I mean, 'twouldn't actually know. She's a
*woman*. And m'cousin, and all that." Let's just all shudder together now,
shall we? "Nay *really*," she then admits, all sheepishness. "Just bruised
legs, mashed feet, but it sounded good, didn't it? Have you ever gouged out
an eyeball while dancing, Terrilia?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima *howls*. You get a gold star, Is. ;)

Flower_Garden's cheeks color to match some of the blossoms in the wreath,
eyes trailing along the one I'sai touches to her hand. "Um, of course. It's
not all that late."

Terrilia shakes her head, her cloth mask wavering. "Um, no, can't say I
have. There've been plenty of those mashed feet, though." She grins.

"I like the woman in it," K'ran answers, with an easy laugh -- and he leans
down to press a kiss into Tarlo's hair. "Whatever she's wearing." A
moment's pause, and he says, softer now, "She didn't say, one way or the
other."

Kerwin doesn't shudder, he just nods in the sort of stoic fashion he's
gotten used to. After all, he's used to his mother's horrors. "Oh, okay. I
see, it did sound neat, it was a myatery how you'd accidentally do that.
Like slipping, and trying to catch onto someone's face for balance, and an
eye ending up out or something."

"Thank you," I'sai says as if it -were- an honor, even so; "Just... mm,
it's a pity that he thinks so well of her, can't just make anything and
everything up," he teases; "Just, about Schmitt and all. He'll drop by
again, once we're recovered from tonight - and now, I promised Tarlo a
dance, and she's been looking this way; but if you'd rather that juice than
wine, I do believe there's some over Kassima's way? Not that she's -quite-
as much the standout in green rather than red, but close. Close."

Emelei nods sagely, head bobbing until the confusion is apparent.
"-Cheese-?" Behold, the power! "That'd smell up the bedroom. Besides, it'd
probably get messy to sleep with," she muses, then lifts her brows in
interest. "You've gouged out eyeballs? Really? How?" she wonders
enthusiastically.

Tarlo nods solemnly to K'ran, and as she rises, leans over to murmur
something to him quickly before joining I'sai for a go-round the dancing area.

Flower_Garden raises her eyes questioningly when I'sai mention someone
thinking well of someone, then she tilts her head. "Um, wait, you want me
to tell Cami that Schmitt...that she what?"

Maylia walks here from the south.

Aisling begins to ask, then resolutely snaps her mouth shut. There are just
some things that you don't want to know. Her gaze moves towards I'sai and
Tarlo. "You know, I'sai should start charging for dances."

"Well," Kassi sighs, philosophical, "at least I'm nay alone in m'lack of
gouged-out eyeballs. And 'twould be with a wing, y'see--I went as a wherry
once, and m'wings hit people. I know Ofira got smacked. Mum would be
appalled that here I am, smacking Craftmasters." No, she's not *here*
smacking Craftmasters, at least not at this *minute*, but the thought is
there. "I don't remember stepping on aught that squished, so the floor was
probably eyeball-free." And here she'd no doubt flash I'sai a grin, could
she but hear.

Gray_Canine glances over and watches Flower_Garden idly.

K'ran exhales softly, his smile returning in response to whatever hushed
words Tarlo offered. He watches after her, head tilted, eyes lit with
affection -- up until the moment he notices Maylia. Immediately he
straightens, and offers her a grave salute, despite the occasion and the
ridiculousness of his dress. "G'd'eve, Weyrlingmaster."

I'sai diverts a brief smile toward the white-clad woman, then clarifies:
"About, you know, her. And Schmitt. And her no longer being -with- Schmitt.
Or so we'd heard. I guess he wants to be nice, or something," with a quirk
of his mouth to say what he thinks of -that-.


Maylia:
A slender young woman appearing about 29 turns, Maylia carries herself with
confidence. Tall and somewhat long-limbed even still, she has become
strong, yet gently muscular over the turns since she Impressed Tierth. Her
figure however, has turned distinctly maternal, a softness to the muscles.
She has dark green eyes, set in the rather heart-shaped face so
characteristic of her family. Her dark brown hair has been arranged in
curls and ringlets, held up to display her graceful neck. A silver ribbon
winds through the arrangement, adding glitter. 

Moonshine clothes this woman in a shimmering gown of silvery sisal. The
fine weave, floating in breezes, hints at what lies beneath -- though it's
not, the suggestion is of transparancy. With every step, swirling skirts
part at a long slit to reveal an anklet of silver, twisting curls of liquid
moonlight. Around her shoulders, where the dress is secured with thin
straps of silver tooling, and floating behind, is a length of fabric
similar to that of her dress, only this is truely diaphenous, allowing
smooth skin to be seen through it. After this, the mask which conceals her
features is unremarkable, pearly shimmers of silver and white curled in a
simple mask - honest and pure, yet posessing a secret. Around her fingers
glitter two rings, a golden one on a finger of her right hand, and one of
silver set with amethyst adorning a finger of her left hand. (+detail is
available)

 She appears to be 29 Turns, 6 months, and 2 days old.


Kerwin considers Aisling's words, and glances over in that direction as
well. "He's done a lot of dancing, and hasn't kicked over any chairs."
Which, let us hope, is considered a good thing. "A wherry? Did you wear a
hat?" Okay, maybe it's late, and he's gone nuts?

I'sai adds on a hopeful note, "'Sympathetic'?"

Terrilia chuckles. "A wherry. I'll have to remember that for next time..."
She finishes her wine and sets the glass down.

Emelei glances up at Aisling's comment, then grins and nods at the woman.
"He probably should. It's the outfit, I'll bet," she suggests, then
absently rubs at her eyes again, then exhales a sigh. "Ah, well, I suppose
it's best, people would probably get upset without their eyes. Wherries are
fun. Tasty too," she adds absently, then lifts her brows. "Do wherries
where hats?"

Moonlight floats across the bowl, as Maylia makes her way with two other
riders from the southern end of the bowl. Greetings are exchanged as she
nears, and to K'ran, a salute is given. "Evening, K'ran," she greets with
an amiable tone. "Enjoying the festivities?"

"Good evening, Weyrlingmaster!" Tarlo calls from her spot near the dance
floor. Diverted only momentarily, she waits patiently for I'sai."

Kassima snickers belatedly at Aisling's observation. "All the women do seem
t'be after his hand," she agrees, shaking her head in mirth. "Poor man.
He'll be so *tired* in the morning... g'deve, there, May! Faranth's soul
afire, May, who makes your dresses?"

Flower_Garden's furrows her brow a bit further. "Who's 'he' though, and
what message should I convey about them no longer being together? Just his
sympathies?" With a quiet sigh, she adds, "Cami has been a bit of a wreck."

Another grave nod. "Very much, Weyrlingmaster," K'ran answers. His smile
turns a bit self-effacing as he glances down at his 'costume'. "I missed
the fashion show, unfortunately, but the meal was fantastic, and the
dancing's been quite nice, too."

Kassima then shakes her head again, this time fervently. "I didn't, nor
funeral shroud either. ARen't you proud of me? 'Twas a heavy dress,
Terrilia, and awful for dancing in, but 'twas good for disguising
pregnancy. Wherries being plump and all."

Maylia calls a "Good evening," to Tarlo, then flashes a grin for Kassi.
"You forget, I've a sister at the weavercraft Hall." A hand waves, and the
woman shakes her head. "Now mind, it's not mine, not for keeps. Though
Tasayli's vtol outfit'll be around to be handed down to the next little,
did you see her buzzing around?"

Aisling raises a gloved hand to offer Maylia a wave. "Evening May!" She
calls over, accomapnied by a clattering of bells and beads.

"Eyes are generally useful things to have," Kerwin has to agree, quietly
solemn. "And they don't -always-, but sometimes if you have weird
relatives, they do." He glances in Maylia's direction as Kassima greets
her, "Oh wow, that is a nice dress, a neat color." He nods once more to
Kassima, "I am, indeed, very proud. That was very sane of you."

"Sympathies, right, and that he'll be stopping by to see her again like
last time - that is, Myk will, M'kon, she'll know who I mean," I'sai
agrees; he teases, then, "If I was confusing this time too, we'll ask Tarlo
to translate, fair enough?"

Flower_Garden giggles, giving I'sai's hand a brief squeeze. "It's probably
me, not you, but I'm sure the message will be appreciated." More solemnly,
she notes, "She has been feeling rather alone of late. Well, I won't keep
you from Tarlo. Thank you again."

Terrilia smiles at Kassima. "I guess that'd work--still a good costume
idea, though," she agrees, then turns to nod politely to Maylia. Her eyes
move up and down and she nods again, admiring the dress.

Emelei's eyes widen at the Weyrlingmaster's dress as well, with a quiet
murmur of impressed reaction. "That's really pretty," she agrees less
eloquently, then ahs and nods. "I should tell mother about that. She griped
a lot when she was pregnant about clothes. And sane is good," she agrees
vaguely, then manages a yawn, looking surprised by it.

"And I have a cousin, but he's never made aught like that," Kassi sighs.
"Well, just as well; white was never m'color, but 'tis fine on you, May.
Sit with us, crush a cup of wine? Nay literally, you understand. Tired?"
That's to Emelei; she did, yes, catch the yawn. "Thankee, Kerry. I do try."

"I guess it's kind of later," Kerwin notes of the yawn. Which, well, is
always going to be reasonably accurate. Now is always going to be later
than before, no matter when now is. "A lot later."

Tarlo comments to Shilarra once she and I'sai come near, "I've actually
been meaning to compliment you on your costume all night long." Her own
mask has been since abandoned, hair down and slightly disarrayed. There's a
smudge of red on one of her cheeks, she seems to know it's there, but
happily doesn't mind.

I'sai explains, "When I _do_ make promises, I try to keep them," not that
his to Tarlo had necessarily counted; he brushes his thumb over her palm in
return, light as that blossom she'd given, and then steps aside to Tarlo
and her unbound hair.

For all that Maylia's used to standing infront of weyrlings lecturing, the
sudden attention does make her shift a little uncomfortably - but only for
a moment. "I had to miss the show too, K'ran," she calls. "Tasa decided to
buzzzz off towards the lake, and I had to follow lest she decide to be a
water-vtol. Thanks, Kassi, that would be wonderful - my, you're all making
a fuss over my dress, but honest, there are some wonderful ones. Look at
Aisling's!"

Emelei ducks her head bit, although with minor annoyance more than any
embarassment. "Yeah, maybe a little. I guess I'm still settling in," she
offers to Kassima wistfully, then nods at Kerwin. "Painfully late. I
suppose I should head back to the cavern and find my cot," she muses.

Flower_Garden smiles at Tarlo with a look of pleased surprise. "Oh, thank
you. Yours is quite lovely as well."

K'ran, straightening, exhales softly and begins moving through the dancers,
towards Tarlo. When close, he offers, softly, "I have -got- to get warm,
and get this paint off me. I'll see you in just a bit?"

Telgar Weyr> K'ran has got to get to bed, folks. Kassima, I'sai, this was a
real good time; we should do this sort of thing more often. And feel free
to enlist me to help, for the next one. :)

Kassima belatedly notes, "And I do think I saw Tasayli, but only briefly.
'Twas while 'twas teetering on the table yelling about I'sai's strip tease,
and I *still* haven't gotten him t'sign--well, it can wait." Laughing
quietly, she nods to Kerwin and Emelei. "The hour does draw late. I'm glad
you could be making it, though, Emelei; 'twas a pleasure t'hear your ovine
rhyme."

<Weavers> Katlynn yaaawns and thinks it's time she headed off to make
dinner for her SO. Bye all.. Kassi, Is.. thanks for a fun time :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima grins and thanks, K'ran. :) Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

Tarlo pauses a moment to kiss K'ran. "Of course." she says to him warmly,
and now her nose and lips are dotted with red paint too. Thankfully, it
smudges off, at least a bit, but it does leave her looking somewhat like
she has a winter's flush and a cold.

<Weavers> Kassima grins and snugs. Welcome! Glad you had fun, and thank
*you* for the desc of supreme evilness. I'm sorry that I didn't carry it
off in a more drool-inspiring fashion to add to your legend. ;)

Flower_Garden's eyes flicker to I'sai once more, then soft blush returning
to her face which deepens as her gze shifts curiously to Kassima.

Beaming, now, after that kiss, K'ran withdraws from the revellers, headed
back towards the south end of Telgar's bowl.

With talk of cots and caverns, Terrilia's eyes stray back to the Gray
Canine. She sighs and straightens. "It was nice to meet all of you, and see
you again--" This to Kassima-- "but I'm afraid I should go myself. Enjoy
the rest of the evening."

"Asiling's dress is really impressive, yes," Kerwin agrees with a
lightning's moment grin. "There have been some really amazing costumes
tonight, that people must have worked very hard on." He nods to Emelei,
offering a wave, "Have fun, and good night." He nods as well to Terrilia,
"A pleasant night to you."

Gray_Canine perks up at this, rising and scratching at the back of her
neck. Sharding itchy mask. She mutters to Terrilia, "Is... time... to..." 

Aisling offers a grateful smile first to Maylia then to Kerwin. "Thank
you." She offers to each before taking a sip of her wine.

Terrilia waves to the group and walks toward the Canine, nodding. "Yes,
sorry to keep you waiting so long."

"Always a pleasure," Kassi agrees to Terrilia, her smile evincing
sincerity, "and I hope you'll visit again. Clear skies t'you and Cyameth,
a'course." She flicks a glance towards the dance floor, and happens to
catch that curious gaze; she lifts an eyebrow in return, curiousity for
curiousity.

Emelei gets to her feet easily enough, since no one kicked her a half dozen
times, and sketches a wave in the air. "You folks have a good evening,
okay? Ovine man, thanks for the dance. We'll have to do it again sometime,
to better music." All the music's fault, yeah. "Nice to meet you," she adds
to Aisling and Terrilia, then turns and heads off towards the living cavern.

Emelei walks south.

Gray_Canine walks south.

I'sai twitches a glance over at the sound of his name from such lips - and,
"Whatever she said, don't mind it," he quickly tells Shilarra, tucks her
flower neatly behind his ear, and says: "Tarlo. Let's dance. Before your
nose gets any redder. And is that Maylia's voice I heard?"

Terrilia smiles and waves to everyone again and follows the Gray Canine,
pulling off her mask as she goes.

Terrilia walks south.

Aisling offers Terrilia a quick smile before she levers herself up from the
chair, bells announcing the movement. "I think I will head to my ledge, I
think it may take me a while to gets these things out.

Maylia nods a polite salutation to those talking of leaving, while she
swirls her wine in her glass - carefully. Wine and her dress wouldn't be a
good combination. "Well, if you saw two littles bopping about - one a
trundlebug and the other a vtol, that was Zerra's lad and Tasa." Her eyes
scan over the dancefloor, with curiosity. "The evening's going well, I take
it?"

Flower_Garden pull at her lower lip with her teeth, then smiles at I'sai,
eyes following the blossom with gentle warmth. She inclines her head
slightly, then winds her way towards a distant table, checking several
pitchers before settling on one and filling a mug.

Tarlo grins. "Step on out." she says, and takes his hands. "Yes, and when
we whirl about you should see her dress. It's lovely." She wriggles the
aforementioned red nose.

"Better music," Kerwin can't help but echo, leaning down at last to get a
chance to rub at his battered shin. Maybe Emelei was threatening him? He
nods then to Aisling, straightening up again. "Have a nice night as well,
it was a pleasure to meet you."

Aisling watches the dancing for a moment before she slips our, skirt
swirling about her legs and each step accompanied by the sound of bells and
beads.

Aisling walks south.

Kassima muses, "Don't *think* I saw the trundlebug. But it's been a full
house, or Bowl--you wouldn't believe, May! Seems like half of Igen was
here, and a quarter at least of High Reaches, a dab of Ista. Nay much Fort,
surprisingly. And a few other visitors from all around. You should've
*seen* what Is and Hrogar and Katlynn wore for the fashion show, too." She
waves after Aisling, too late.

"Is it?" and I'sai dares an interested look that-a-way, partner or no -
"Can't _see_..." but the dance is calling, and with a light touch he guides
her on in, cutting past that seacrafter pair and into the swift-spinning
stream.

"The fashion show was startling," Kerwin decides after one of his slowly
thoughtful pauses. "I felt sorry for the poor man with the rattle." He
climbs then to his 'hooves'. "If you'll excuse me though, ladies, I think
I'm going to sneak off to sleep too, before it gets too late, I fall asleep
out here, and someone tosses me into the feeding grounds."

Maylia frowns slightly, her attention returning to Kassi. "Not Fort? Well,
they've their weyrlings to fuss over I suppose. Didn't they fight Fall this
afternoon? Or is that tomorrow? Shells, not hopping weyrlings all over Pern
makes me loose track of Falls outside of Telgar." A wave gets tossed to
Aisling, but she was very much too late. "Ah well - I don't see her half so
much as I used to. Those three at the fashion show? What'd they wear?"

Flower_Garden leans back against the table hazels eyes following the
movement of the dancers while she sips her juice. After only a few moment,
she touches the mug to her lip, then furrows her brow, blinking into an
empty mug with almost comical surprise.

Kassima agrees, "Startling was a good word... oh, a'course, Kerwin; better
safe than mutton. Dream sweet and nay of cheese, hey?" A wry grin to Maylia
then. "Well, there was a greenrider--Wryn, methinks I overheard someone
calling her? She was here. Was part of one of Is's skits, in fact."

Kerwin offers a slight bow, an inclination of head and shoulders, in
agreement. "No cheese, Sane Aunt Kassi, exactly. Have a nice night." And
with that, he tucks his hands lightly behind his back, and slips out.

Tarlo oh's, "It's late, you should take it off." Tarlo says lightly, and
lets I'sai spin her. "Thank you for dancing with Alessandra by the way, she
was being awfully shy tonight."

Kerwin walks south.

"Night then," Maylia says, twisting her neck to offer the words to Kerwen,
before Kassi's comment makes her blink. "Did you say part of one of Is'
skirts?"

Kassima nearly chokes on wine, and must spend time clearing her throat
before she can correct, through snickers, "Skits, skits! Nay skirts; he
hasn't worn a skirt tonight, I don't believe... pants that didn't come up
all the way, but nay a skirt."

"It's the least I could do," I'sai returns with muted sincerity, using the
dance's turn - this way by that seacrafter pair, that way as a loop of
littles stumbles in their direction - to taper off in speech; and if he
misses a step while passing Maylia in her moon-shimmered silver, what of
it? When they've found again a clearer stretch, "And I will. Later. You and
yours, they're well?"

Flower_Garden covers her mouth, petals draping over much of her face, but
the way she scrunches her eye and moisture touches them makes it clear that
she's hiding a yawn. With a last look around the Bowl, she sets down her
mug and slips out.

Flower_Garden disappears down the tunnel that leads out of the Telgar Caldera.

Maylia pulls her own skirts away from Kassi's throat-clearing, lest wine
and moonshine mix. "Oh! Well, you were talking about the fashion show, I
figured those glowstruck weavers might've come up with a way to make people
into garments. So, skits eh?"

Kassima points out with crinkled nose and mischief, "See, there, you even
made I'sai falter, and you say 'tisn't a special dress--but nay, nay, we
weren't garments. Thank goodness. I don't want t'be leather. Aye; there was
this odd thing, with T'kar posing as Keara, only he didn't wiggle enough.
Then we sang limericks."

Another twirl, a quick step, and a kick, Tarlo lets I'sai lead her along to
the tune. "Me and mine? You make it sound like my whole family is all
huddled together in my weyr." she grins, "But K'ran and I are good. We've
got bumps, we handle them. Looking foward to becoming a Fa again?"

Maylia's eyes dance behind her mask, as she nods aknowledgement of I'sai's
faulter. "And how do you know it was my dress, and not yours? Though, Zerra
outdid herself this time. Too bad she and her trundlebug had to beetle off
back to the Hall so early. Nah, I'd rather not be leather, besides, J'lyn
would want us to be part of some odd butless pant arrangment I'm sure.
Posing as Keara, did you say?" Her comments jump around aimlessly, as she
watches dancers swirling and twirling.

"Some are more, hm, possessive than others," I'sai grants, after an
experimental lift to match that kick - one through which he has the good
sense not to be watching Maylia, this time - "...How was that? You're
lucky, if you're to try that sort of thing, you didn't find me a few Turns
back, tripping over my own two feet... And why wouldn't I be?" He breaks
off to cue a twirl away and back: the better to keep her at arms' length,
perhaps.

"Because I've been wearing mine an hour or two now, and certes haven't
caused missteps?" Kassi logically deducts, and waggles her finger. "Yours,
yours, yours, May. And little wonder; 'tis beautiful work. White sisal
usually does look stunning... would you believe, Meri wore buttless pants
as part of her *costume*?"

Tarlo says lightly, "Some men are less into being fathers then others, just
as some women can give or take on motherhood. But I've seen you with your
daughter, and you're quite marvelous with her." She glides along with
I'sai; for some odd reason this is one of her bettern turns on the dance
floor this evening. Something about verbally fencing with I'sai makes one
quite mentally alert.

Maylia coughs in astonishment, shaking her head. "As her costume? Shells.
What's gotten *into* that girl? Well now, I'm starting to understand why
Zerra loans me her creations. She'd never wear them, and this way they get
out and seen - she'll get lots of commissions I'd wager after this." But,
back to Kassi's dress. "Really, though, your dress is awfully lovely too.
Brings out the best of your figure, you know?"

"Speaking of tripping over my feet," I'sai returns; "But between she, and
Ryi, and M'kon - if it helps with her, and for the rest - " his light
shoulders-lift of a shrug translates into another skirt-sweeping extension,
circling towards an arch of others' lifted hands.

"It likely needs the help," Kassi replies dryly, the wine having loosened
her tongue enough to be forthright--if she ever needed such assistance.
"Ah, but nay matter; I'll agree with you in that Simian did fine work once
again. He's brilliant, for a shell-obsessed madman. Mayhaps you should
commission something from Katlynn sometime, May--she does good work, too,
if'n a bit... oh... unusual. You should've heard the gasps over what she
wore in the fashion show today."

Telgar Weyr> Maylia laughs! Kassi, you have a monkey for a cousin?

Telgar Weyr> Fiora says, "That's an admission and a half."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Would you believe, that was unintentional when
I first made up the name? ;) I was randomly trying to think of things that
sounded close enough to hers to belong to relatives, and Simian was born. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn looks unsurprised.

Tarlo executes an intricate series of steps, executed palm to palm in
mirror to her partner. She does have to look down while doing it. "I'd say
tonight was a great success, wouldn't you? You looked like you had a good
time hosting the skits."

Telgar Weyr> Terryll keeps any and all comments to herself, since Jaly'll
prolly beat me to most of them anyway.

Maylia arches an eyebrow. "Oh, puh-lease, Kassi. You're likely as toned as
the day you graduated from weyrlinghood." Like May was anywhere *near*
Benden to see her mentor at that age. "Now, unusual? When you phrase it
like that, I worry - you sure I'd wear something she created?"

"Did I?" Genuine startlement, but with those steps to focus on, it passes;
and I'sai adds, in the many measures just before it's their turn to join
the end of the arch so that the others can pass beneath, "I'm glad if it
was, a success; it certainly wasn't artistic, wasn't neat, but if they
enjoyed themselves - you did, then? You two. Whatever."

Tarlo ammends, "You looked it. But did you actually? And oh, yes. I
certainly did. Pity I wasn't the only one in white, though. Different
concepts however, that makes me feel a bit better about it all. Suppose
it's the clothes-runner in me."

Kassima makes a disbelieving sound, and waves one hand dismissively, rings
glittering in glowlight. "You were probably crawling and teething when
'twas in Weyrlinghood," she points out with amusement, "so you'd scarce
know--but I do thank you. I don't know; you might... you'd actually
probably like what I was wearing, and people would like you in it. Didn't
you once say 'twere going t'get a replica of Jal's leathers?"

Maylia looks a little sheepish, and mmmmmms. "I've a pair, yes." she
admits, just as a blue firelizard arrows for her shoulder. Not her Snarl -
this one's far friendlier, and has a scribbled note attached to his
forelimb. "Tsk. That's Clasrie's blue, and it's a fair wager that Tasa's
not settling down. I'll be back in a bit."

I'sai's chuckle rings quiet between them, through the froth of skirts and
capes and such that pass them by; and when those others have gone and
they've resumed - "Only so many colors. Still, they say there's something
about ice." It's just then that the music slows, signalling the end of that
dance is nigh.

Tarlo admits, "Originally I'd wanted to be Autumn. But I think the end, I
wore Winter well." The music slows, then stops. Tarlo curtseys to her
partner. "Thank you." she says, well-pleased. "That was lovely."

Maylia gets to her feet, setting her empty wine glass in a safe place.
"Guard that for me?" She jokes, smoothing moonlight self conciously. And
with that, the Weyrlingmaster is off, heading for the living caverns'
distant light.

"If'n I live a full hundred and twenty Turns, 'twill never see why anyone
wears those things," Kassi drawls, shaking her head. "G'night, May--regards
t'your daughter and all."

"It suited Kichevio, I think - in back, in particular," I'sai reminisces
after his matching bow, as he'd not do to that greenrider's face; "And with
your own mask off, your hair down; thank you." A sudden flash of smile -
and he's turned away, angling for another greenrider indeed.

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "...Kassima, will you be editing this log, and
-after- your paper? ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Oh, yes, but much after. ;) Depending on how
long it takes me to dredge up four pages on the Panegyric To the City of
Florence, it might be day after tomorrow (or technically, tomorrow)."

Telgar Weyr> I'sai drawls, "Oh, -so- long? Oh no. Whatever shall we do." ;)

Tarlo chuckles and yawns, giving everyone a wave. "Maylia, that dress
really is lovely."

Kassima returns Tarlo's wave, looking amused, and carefully not looking
tired. She feels no weariness, for she is Insomnia Woman. "Fine dancing out
there," she thinks to note, "the both of you."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snickers. Hey, if you had to choke down this
Panegyric, you'd dread writing four pages on it too. ;) But that length's
not so bad. It's having the paper *plus* an exam tomorrow that worries me
more.

"It is," I'sai agrees after the weyrlingmaster, exaggerating quite the
wistful air - yet once he's plucked up not wineskin but one of juice, the
better to share with his weyrmate, he dares a grin at the wingleader.
"Thank you. For all that I might not look at a mint-stick quite the same
way again." And with that he goes walking, and whistling, for his dragon
and for home.

Tarlo grins. "Thanks. I admit, S'ris gave me an opportunity to practice the
other evening."

Kassima snorts amusement after that, shaking her head. "At least someone
got it," she quips. "Thought I might've been a bit too obscure--at the
'Reaches, d'you mean? That seemed t'go well, too. Between that and this,
'tis probably enough dancing for a month or two."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "So, naturally, I'm being very sane and staying
up to RP instead of sleeping. There's logic to this, I know. I'm just not
sure what it is. ;)"

Tarlo lets out another yawn, her cheeks and nose quite red, as if someone
had taken a very bright rouge and rubbed them in to create a
flushed-with-a-winter's-cold type look. Her palms also have a hint of the
red, so it's easy to make the deduction that the coloring wasn't part of
-her- costume, but someone else's. She starts walking to one of the tables.
"Think I'll go to bed soon."

Kassima grins; bobs her head once, and picks up her wineglass to tip in a
toast. "G'night, Tarlo," she bids--and, "Don't forget t'wash those bits of
K'ran's costume off a'fore you go t'sleep, hey?"

Tarlo chuckles. "I will." she promises wearily, picking up her mask and
hairpin before ambling off to her weyr.

Tarlo walks south.

Telgar Weyr> Tarlo says, "G'night Telgar!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima looks wearily happy. I played the 'Last One Standing'
game and won. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "And now I can *sleep*. G'night, Tarlo, all. :)"