Date: 13.01.2684 (01.30.10)
Location: Beven Dance Hall, Fort Weyr
People: Alisar, Anaky, A'deo, A'di, B'ky, Ely, Galina, Kessa, K'shan, Meo, M'lo, Pralius, R'sner
Synopsis: Galina's dispatched to play Healer-on-duty during a dance. Drama ensues.
"Thanks M'lo." Meo sayss, and moves to grab some fruit, bread, and cheese as well, before she goes for a seat herself, not touching the wine yet. She settles down to eat, not the quickest to get up, and dance, not like she has a dance partner anymore anyway.
Ely balances the plate of food on the palm of one hand, casting her eyes appraisingly over the tidbits of fruit, bread and cheese. It's unfortunate that she has to take her other hand away from M'lo in order to sample one, so she ends up wobbling a little on those unfamiliar heels for a split second until she gets her balance. "Sharding heels," she grumbles, grim-faced as she picks out a piece of bread - of course she chooses the carbs - and pops it into her mouth" Plucking a bit of fruit next, she lets it hover near her lips as she looks towards R'sner, a faint smirk flitting over her face, "How very astute. It's one of the few pros of having these sharding heels on." What warmth there might have been in her expression fades a little as she looks to A'di, though she still manages to keep some sort of smile on there albeit a forced one, "A'di. It is a rather nice night, yes." Perhaps to save herself from having to say anymore, she takes a bite of the fruit and chews, letting her gaze wander around the dance hall.
The weaver apprentice remains seated where he'd plopped down, legs swinging somewhat as he keeps his seat a minute. The handful of fruit he's nabbed is nibbled up quick enough before a napkin is plucked off the table to dab at his hands. The lad fidgets somewhat with the napkin, leaning back in the seat while wide eyes dart over the crowd. Seems he's just watching for now, though there's the definite peek at the wines - Benden wines? Ohyesplease. Anaky pops up and pads thattaways.
Alisar continues his search for a suitable partner, looking somewhat like a hatchling trying to find his match. Fortunately, he's been in this sort of situation before so he's able to navigate the turbulent center of the floor with all of it's dancers by simply blending in and dancing along as he makes his way across to the table on the far side. Lo! It's Kessa herself, chatting with the Headwoman. He waits a moment to be sure not to interrupt the conversation and then asks, "Weyrwoman? May I?", a slight bow and an extended hand in an offer to dance.
R'sner's eyes drop, down to the floor and those 'sharding heels' of hers. "Oh." Duh. "Those look painful," is his next comment, just as intelligent. But it's said with a grin, and likely meant to be sarcastic rather than anything else. "You weren't kidding when you said crowded," he says to A'di, glancing warily toward the dance floor. Maybe it's a greenie trait? Bluies can't handle alcohol, greenie's can't handle crowds? Whatever the reason, R'sner's putting his plate back on the table and looking for the door. "Guys have fun, kay?" for friends. "I'm gonna make sure Toith's not… eating something she shouldn't." And off he goes.
"It's a cold night," M'lo tells A'di stiffly. "The snow was crazy, earlier. Glad it stopped." He nods at Meo, his smile warming somewhat. "You looking to dance?" he asks, scanning the crowds for a likely partner for her. "What about him?" He points to Alisar. "Oh… never mind. Looks like he's asking the Weyrwoman." And now that said goldrider has been noticed, he waves at her with a cheerful grin. "Or how about this guy?" He points at Anaky. "Hey, you," he says, smiling. He eyes the boy's knot. "Hope you're not heading for the wine… unless there's a Journeyman around here who says it's okay? Do you dance?" But then R'sner is leaving, so he pops a cube of cheese into his mouth and waves him off. "Later!" he mumbles around his mouthful.
B'ky keeps his hand on the greenie's shoulder, although the touch lightens considerably when K'shan stops. There's a faint smile for that look he recieves, the bluerider sighing quietly with a soft, "It would be a shame," and tilting his head toward the dance floor, "You're already here." Though there's a brief pause before the man continues, asking simply, "One dance?" and the smile thins a little, "You know, the reason I keep asking you is only because the last time we danced.." and he pauses again, as if considering. And really, he /does/ keep asking, doesn't he?
K'shan looks a bit embarrassed at that, frowning at B'ky. "You know I don't really like things like this." Still, there's a glance given to the dancefloor before eyeing B'ky again, shoulders sagging somewhat. "Alright..alright. Just /one/."
"I don't mind the cold, too much, it reminds me of High Reaches, I enjoyed being there." A'di explains to M'lo, frowning a little with a shrug. And then R'sner's leaving, causing A'di to sigh a little, turning his head towards the entrance. "Great, Dalasith's getting into trouble again." And then the bluerider is heading out, just as quickly as he had come.
Kessa is mid-giggle at something that her friend Talica has said when Talica apparently gives Kessa a nudge for the approaching Harper. Talica raises her eyebrows at the man, making some unheard comment about him that makes Kessa clap a hand over her mouth to still the laughter. Of course, when the man has indeed made his progress over toward them, that hand slides away to show a lovely but sheepish grin, her cheeks coloured as the harper craftsecond offers his hand toward her. There's a nudge earned under the table from Talica, before she remembers she wasn't just a girl, but indeed the Weyrwoman. Clearing her throat, she gives an obvious kick back to Talica, before rising with her hand sliding into Alisar's hand, "I'd be honoured, of course, dear Harper." As she rises, she does a bit of a curtsey for him, throwing a look back to still anything Talica might say. "Lead on then, Harper," she inclines her head toward the dance floor, that friendly smile on her face for him.
Ely pops the last bit of fruit into her mouth, letting out her breath in a resigned sigh. Sliding her hand to the hem of her skirts, she lifts them a little to display the rich cream heels a little better, twisting her foot to one side to get a better look at the dangerous-looking thing, "Not painful now, atleast. But I'm sure I'll be wanting /off/ my feet by the end of the night. Atleast in a pinch I can use these as semi-deadly weapons." She can't seem to help but smirk a little at that, dropping her foot back to the ground with a soft clicking noise. She wiggles her fingers in R'sner's direction as the other greenrider turns to leave, her attention going back to her plate of food again. It would seem her queasy stomach isn't a problem tonight, as she's easily eating the small tidbits of food from her plate. "Mmm, yeah. What Milo says. You're one of the better dancers, Meo. Go grab someone to dance. " She makes a shooing motion with a piece of bread, completely ignoring the fact that A'di has left. A bit cold on her part, but it's Ely afterall. "There aren't any cookies, are there?" she suddenly asks, glancing to M'lo with a faint frown and then looking to the serving tables.
M'lo watches A'di leave, his face strangely blank. "Hmph," he says to Ely. "Maybe he's just too ashamed of what he said before to stick around. Jerk." Yeah, he totally said that out loud. Watching him exit means that his gaze eventually falls on B'ky and K'shan. "Wow," he says flatly, nudging Ely to show her. He quickly eats most of the rest of his plate and downs a few swallows of wine. "I don't see any cookies, love. Let's dance," he says suddenly to her. "I don't want either of those… /persons/ ruining our fun." He gives her a smile and tilts his head, suddenly trying his best to look winsom and charming. "There's no lake to fall into, this time," he cajoles.
Alisar grins, pleased at the acceptance of the dance. For just a moment, he displays a smile that makes him look much younger than he is. "Ah, if it's your first time or your hundredth, there's always a little thrill when the girl says yes. Thank you, Weyrwoman." He is of course, a very practiced dancer, and seems to have learned the secret of making your partner look good. He matches Kessa's step so they can gracefully merge onto the dance floor.
Meo shakes her head at M'lo. "No, I'm fine for now." She says to the other brownrider, as she pops a piece of fruit into her mouth. The mentioning of the falling in the lake at the last dance lessons, does make her giggle though. "Yep, no lake this time." She remarks, fand for now, just watches the crowd.
Wine acquired, Anaky wanders back to find a seat, and plops down right near Meo, the weaver lad sipping from the glass a minute before he seems to remember his manners and bobs his head to the brownrider with a, "Hi," and a bit of a grin. There's a sort of a wavey-wave motion off in the direction of the dance floor, "You gonna head out there?" And pale eyebrows sneak upwards, the boy maybe hoping for a certain answer.
"Like wise Harper," she murmurs with a twinkle in her eye and mirth showing through, "there's always a sense of excitement when a man asks a woman to dance. After all, sitting on the side lines for too long makes a woman doubt herself, wouldn't you agree?" She seems to match his movements just as well, "You can call me Kessa tonight," she lets him know, fearing the use of titles too long would make it painfully formal. She's got a little bounce in her step afterall, that says formality might very well kicked to the curb tonight.
B'ky continues contonsider a moment, even after K'shan accepts the offer of a dance, the bluerider shaking his head gently and murmuring, "..you laughed." Completing his earlier statement and then the man smiles, holding out one hand to the greenrider while keeping the other on the greenie's shoulder as he steps toward the dance floor. "I suppose you know ths dance?" he asks quietly, gaze following briefly the others heading for the dance floor.
She might have no reason to normally be here, but her mentor has seen fit that not only /will/ she be here, but that she /will/ stay. Galina, clad as she is when not on the road (which is to say, in a white sweater and black skirts chased with silver embroidery), wears her knot conspicuously and carries her satchel without any pretense of trying to hide it. She's here to make sure no one's hurt, of course … and that help is quick to arrive should harm come to anyone. On one shoulder is her sentinel blue 'lizard, while the brown is no doubt causing mischief elsewhere. She glides around the edges of the whole thing as soundlessly as possible, flatly shining eyes studying everyone from a distance that goes far beyond the physical space between her and them.
Ely grits her teeth in response, sending a rather icy look in the direction of A'di's retreating back, "Probably just sharding disappointed I haven't gone /Between/ yet to get rid of my little problem." As if her glare weren't cold enough, the chill in her voice is even colder. That cold, narrow-eyed gaze rests on K'shan, too, as the man is pointed out and she lets out a disgusted noise deep in her throat, "Shells. He's here too." Thankfully as she finishes the last few bits of food on her plate, her expression seems to clear somewhat - though she does look quite disappointed at the fact there are no cookies. A faint smile breaks through the morose look on her face, though, as she looks up towards M'lo at his suggestion, "A good idea, love. Let's dance then." Setting her empty plate aside, she holds one hand out towards M'lo in an elegant sort of fashion, the smile on her face growing to match his, "Just try not to let me fall on these sharding heels and we'll be fine, hm?" Walking on them is certainly soemthing new, but dancing with them will be even more interesting.
K'shan does give B'ky a small pout at that. "It's not the /only/ time I laugh." ..Alright, so it's not that /often/, certainly. But still, the greenrider shakes his head as he moves towards the dancefloor, although he shrugs B'ky's hand off his shoulder to take his arm instead. A skeptical look is given to the bluerider though, brows lifting. "I know how to dance, B'ky. Really." He just doesn't tend to do it much, if at all.
Alisar smiles, "Like old times then Kessa.", he agrees, calling her by her first name. "We've known each other long enough anyway." He holds out his arms in a kind of stiff square preparing for a mombo to match the music. "You know this one right?", he asks Kessa, making sure she's familiar with the dance.
M'lo laughs at Ely's complaining. "Well, if you don't like them so much, just take them off. Sling them under the table and go barefoot. It's not like they were offering much protection for your toes, anyway." He fills up another wine glass with good Benden Red and then stands on his tiptoes, sashaying around for Ely's amusement, the wine glass held in one hand with his pinky finger extended. "Lookit me! I'm in fancy sho-ooops!" His ankle wobbles and he comes down badly. The glass in his hand is tipped forward as he stumbles, and the contents soar out, arching through the air like glittering rubies. With wide eyes, M'lo watches the liquid hit K'shan dead-on. He stares at the damage. Red wine. On fancy clothes. "Uh…" he says.
Kessa smiles at Alisar as he sets up his arms in a stiff square, her's following his design by resting over his shoulder in the same fashion, "Indeed, we have." She agrees, while her feet in those high heels prepare to dance along with him in the mombo. Flipping her loose culrs back, she tilts her head at him, "Sure I do. If I remember correctly, you're the one that taught it." She winks at him, waiting for him to start them into the steps.
Meo blinks at the boy that ends up in the seat beside her own. "Ah, hi." She greets. "Meo, rider of brown Furuihaneth." She adds as introduction. Her gaze goes back to the dance floor a moment, and the groups out there already. "Ah, well, if you're offering." She replies, would be rude to refuse an invitation after all. "I'm not an expert, only a few lessons, but I promise I won't step on your toes."
"Anaky, weyrbrat and embroiderer," is the weaver lad's introduction, giving a quick grin to Meo before he pops back out of his seat, his glass set on a nearby table and promptly forgotten as he holds up an arm towards her. "Sure I'm offering! Come on, it looks fun!" and then there's a head-bob, "I learned awhile back. I promise if you don't step on mine, I won't step on yours," and there's a glance back at the dance floor, the boy commenting, "I don't know if I've ever done this one, but I bet with all the people out there, nobody's going to notice."
Alisar chuckles, looking Kessa in the eye as the coy tension of the dance manifests. "That was a long time ago." "I'm flattered you remember." His smile broadens as he sighs wistfully, "I'm getting old.", he admits, his smile turning rueful. "Soon, I'll have to delegate someone else to teach dancing…" There's nothing wrong with his steps tonight though. He's no dancing master, but 20 Turns of practice is, after all, 20 Turns of practice. Kessa and Alisar begin to draw some curious looks.
Ely swivels a little in her spot, lifting one foot off the floor to scowl down at the dreaded heel, "Shards, no. I'll look like a wimp if I take them off so early. I refuse to be conquered by a pair of /shoes/." There's that familiar, stubborn set to her jaw and that flashing look in her eyes. It would seem she's set to wear those heels until she's physically unable to continue walking in them. Settling her foot back onto the ground with a soft *click*, she glances up at M'lo with a faint smile pulling at the corners of her lips, "If they really hurt me that much, though, I'll take them off. But I'm going to sharding tough them out as long as I can." The smile breaks into a grin at M'lo's antics, though the laugh in her throat is cut short by a gasp of surprise - her eyes are drawn away from M'lo and straight to that arc of red wine that seems to be travelling ins low motion in the air. The grin turns into a grimace as the wine goes flying riht at K'shan, though thankfully she had been far enough away to miss any stray droplets. "Shards," she murmurs, staring at K'shan with a tense posture. Who knows how it will turn out.
"Of course I remember-" Kessa responds with a growing smile, her eyes never really looking away from Alisar's face until the steps include some intricate twists and turns, moves that make her step rather quickly on those high heels, sending her skirt flaring wide. Her hips move in time with his though, steps matching his own, keeping that square frame as if she too had twenty turns of practice, but perhaps she just has a good partner who makes it look easy. "Old?!" She laughs teasingly at him, "I doubt that very much Al," she does a big of a swimg movement with her hips again, "You're old when you can't get out of your bed. Until then, dance!" She winks at him, indeed, creating those looks as they seem to embellish the mambo quite a bit.
That pout from the greenrider has B'ky looking immediately apologetic, although the man does smile faintly, murmuring a quiet, "It is nice to see you laugh, nevertheless." And then, as if recalling something, there is a soft chuckle, the wingleader asking with aslightly raised brow, "How is, Chipper, by the way?" Well, it's vaguely related? Perhaps? The bluerider smiles as his arm is taken, attention on K'shan alas, the man completely missing the sight of flying wine. Until it's too late, of course. He'll just stop and blink at K'shan, momentarily startled.
K'shan shakes his head just a bit, although there's a faint sigh at the mention of the canine. "Full grown now, I believe. He's..fine. Not chewing on everything in sight anymore, thankfull—" There's a rather startled, wide-eyed gasp at the very sudden splash of cold. And on his clothes, seeping in! He turns to stare at M'lo accusingly, and while his mouth does open a bit, it shuts once again, the greenrider apparently at a loss. Or maybe just in shock.
M'lo gapes rather like a fish a few more times at the damage he's accidentally done to K'shan's outfit. "It - it was an accident!" he gasps. And truly, it was. The likelihood of him actually hitting K'shan on purpose like that would be exceedingly high, and M'lo wasn't even /looking/ at the other rider when the wine left his glass. But then his eyes travel up from the stain to rest on K'shan's face. Something hard passes over his expression, and he glances back at Ely. "Maybe you could fix it by going /between/," he hisses.
Alisar and Kessa continue their dance, the mombo, holding a rigid frame with their arms while their leg work gets more and more intricate and hips sway in time to the beat. Alisar smiles, "Big finish?" He asks, stepping back a little bit and bracing himself, holding his arms just so. Let's see if she catches on.
And, keen-eyed as she is from the cheap seats, Galina is quite well able to spot the odd events leading up to wine being spilled. The line of her mouth flattens somewhat with a sense of anticipation that is far from pleased, with her grip tightening subtly on her satchel's strap. There are perhaps a hundred different scenarios that rattle quickly through her head, though she maintains her distance. No need to intercede … not unless someone starts bleeding. Which … well, remains a possibility.
Meo chuckles. "Nice to meet you Anaky." She says, and nods, getting up as well from her seat. "Sounds like a deal then." She says about the not stepping on each others toes, and nods as well. "Yeah, plenty of people here to hide mistakes." She agrees, and blinks as she catches site of the flying wine, and who it lands on. "Oh shards." She says, and then blinks at M'lo, raising an eyebrow. "What's that all about?"
Quick sharp movements are made, her legs kept poised and toes point when they're lifted or moved. Kessa laughs a little as they dance in tune with one another, each movement held to precision as if they've been doing this for a long time. His request of a big finish makes her question as her legs work and a calf kicks back in a fancy sway, "Are you sure? We haven't done that for a long time-" she gives him the option out but seeings on how he moves away, she twirls herself from him in a clear distance. A little motion is given before she starts to rush at Alisar, leaping up toward Alisar's braced arms.
Anaky is all set to head out to the dance floor, grinning a, "Nice to meet you too," to Meo and nodding agreement over the deal, when flying wine catches his eye. Eyebrows go up, the lad tilting his head, "Dunno, but at least it didn't hit my brother." And there's a shrug, "You should have seen the getup he was in the last time he got something on his clothes." Although there is some morbid curiosity and he watches the ridrs over there, leaning closer to Meo and asking while jerking his head at them, "Who are those guys?"
Ely tenses even more as the seconds pass since the accident, her posture stiff and her jaw tight. There are a few moments where her eyes travel swiftly between M'lo and K'shan, as though gauging the reactions of the pair in silence. Something is certainly brewing deep within, judging by the way her fingers clench ever so slightly into fists and something icy flickering in her gaze. "That's the best way to fix accidents, isn't it? Goign /between/?" she adds, leveling a cold stare at K'shan that matches M'lo's, "Best to follow your own advice, isn't it?" She thankfully opts not to say anything further for now and reacheso ut to take M'lo's arm, stepping closer to him in the process.
Alisar lifts Kessa high, finishing with a quarter turn before setting her down again. He looks immensely pleased at himself and grateful to his partner too, "You're still in good shape, that makes it easy.", he says. Surely it wasn't all that easy but if it was a strain he doesn't let it show. "You really shouldn't be put away in the corner like that Kessa. You're a fine dancer. Sitting in the corner chatting pretending it was something important. None of that, no more corners… no." He grins. "Thank you for the dance."
B'ky's gaze is soon to follow K'shan's, the bluerider frowning faintly at M'lo, and looking perhaps a little exasperated. He might even have begun to glance at the tables for napkins or cloths, although the brownrider's last comment has the wingleader narrowing his eyes just a little. Ely is given a brief look, although his gaze flickers back to his wingrider, B'ky pressing his lips together before saying evenly, if quietly, "That was uncalled-for, M'lo." And from his disapproving tone and the look on his face, it's a likely clear he has thinks /that/ was no accident.
M'lo turns to B'ky, drawing himself up to his full height. "It was an accident, sir," he says. "Spilling the wine was." He lifts his chin. "But I'll apologize for my uncalled-for comment… as soon as K'shan apologizes for /his/."
Meo nods, and heads out onto the floor with Anaky. "Oh? Who's your brother?" She asks him, and then looks back to the wine group, shaking her head. "Uh, the wine tosser is M'lo, rider of brown Irelanth, the green rider siding with him, is Ely, rider of Maglinoth, the greenrider who got the wine on him is K'shan rider of Nawyth, and the blue rider by him is B'ky rider of Avideth." She says, pointing out each in turn as she gives the name. She then turns her attention to Anaky. "I think it's best we stay out of it though, unless something major happens, how about that dance?" She asks him.
K'shan stands quite rigidly. After all, nobody /likes/ their clothes getting drenched, and it does provide him an excellent excuse not to dance in the first place. But then the brownrider starts talking. And K'shan..laughs? Well, perhaps it's not quite the laugh B'ky had wanted to hear. It's cold, and certainly humorous. "An accident, certainly…until you added /that/." Though his gaze slides towards Ely as she adds her two cents as well, lashes lowering. "Oh how I suggest that you mind your own, air-brained business. As if you had anything to do with /this/." His gaze slides back to M'lo though. "Oh I /do/ apologize. I hadn't realized that you were five turns old. If you can't handle people's opinions, that's certainly your problem. Not mine." There's a sigh from the greenrider though, before he looks at B'ky again, fingers pointing a little. "I think I need..a napkin or something.. Would you mind?"
Kessa's legs curve up a little behind her, with toes pointed and her arms held out in front of her. There's a pleasant sound from her when she's brought back down, heeled feet clicking a bit on the ground as her arms rest back on Alisar's shoulders. "You're a great teacher-" she winks at him, hoping that indeed he was true to his word and considered her in good shape. Although his compliments to her being put into a corner have her blush lightly, "Thank you Alisar. I'll keep that in mind not to sit in anymore corners."
"Well maybe your sharding opinion went a little /too sharding FAR/," M'lo says hotly to K'shan. "Maybe it's /my/ opinion that you're a wherryson! An unlovable, disgusting, pathetic excuse for a JERK!" He sneers at K'shan. "Make you feel like a man, to make a pregnant woman cry? Huh? Make you feel important, to tell her that she should kill her baby off by going /between/?"
Anaky flaps a hand to motion at B'ky over there, "Him, the wingleader dressed like an eyesore," although he doesn't say it too meanly as he heads out to the dance floor with Meo. There're some 'huhs' at the named riders, and a vaguely nodded, "Hope that stuff doesn't stain," and a firther lament, "It looked like good wine." He shakes his head, hair flopping into his face before he shoves it back and movies offto start the dance, agreeing with a grin, "Yeah, good idea."
Alisar smiles, "I think it's about time I take my turn at the instruments now. After all, I'm a harper." "So they tell me."
Kessa gives Alisar another tilt of her head, "Thank you Alisar," she smiles at him, looking toward the stage where the instruments and the rest of the harpers have been playing, "If you must, then it is your duty." Of course by then her attention is zeroing in on the angry voices and the shouts. She muses to Alisar, "Apparently it is my duty to keep tempers low. So I too must go-" and with that she gives him a soft embrace before crossing the floor with a little stomp in her step, eyes narrowing on those who are creating a fuss!
Meo ahs. "I should of known since your names end in the same two letters." She agrees with a chuckle. "Ah, yes, I've seen some of his outfits besides this one he's wearing, I still wonder where he gets them all." She admits, and winces. "I hope not as well, I heard wine is terrible for staining, and hard to get out." She says, and nods, moving with him to a spot a distance from the possible fight breaking out. "I don't think I've danced to this song, this should be interesting."
The former geist of Ogren drifts inexorably closer to the conflict, a bland "Interesting," being intoned just barely under her breath. Aside from that, Galina is once again mute, both hands resting on her bag's strap and her gaze flicking slowly from person to person with a calculating measure. Her place is not to calm … but, merely, to provide a presence that reassures that, if fists are swung, someone /is/ on-hand to see to it. But all of it seems to hold a bizarre fascination for her, given the slight quirking of her brow.
Ely clenches her fingers tighter around M'lo's arm, every muscle in her body tense with suppressed anger. It's surprising that she's not shaking with all that built up rage boiling through her veins. As it is, there's an angry set to her eyes as she glares fixedly at K'shan. Temper was always a problem with Ely and keeping it under control has been steadily hard to do. Each passing second and each passing word makes her free fist clench tighter and tighter and tighter, the knuckles whitening steadily. "I should /hope/ that this is part of my sharding business, too," she begins, hissing through her teeth dangerously. Each word is slow and deliberate - her anger seems to build with each word and her fist rises steadily, "/Air-brained/" The word is said almost at top volume and it's punctuated by a swinging fist right at K'shan's face, "Who the shells is 5-turns-old now? Can't you think of anything /better/ than air-brain? Shard off, you and that sharding smug look on your face." With all her anger, she's completely missed the fact Kessa is ocming up behind her, even with her clicky shoes.
B'ky merely frowns at M'lo, although the ultimatum of apology from the brownrider is given something of an exasperated look. That.. laugh from the greenrider has the wingleader blinking, the man looking less pleased with the situation by the moment. Still, there's a quiet nod to K'shan, the bluerider sighing, likely having given up on the dance by now, considering the heated words being exchanged. Moving to take a small stack of napkins from the nearest table, he continues to frown. He returns, just in time to hear M'lo throw those insults, the wingleader snapping a quiet, but cold, "That's /enough/ M'lo. You're a Roc wingrider. Act like one." Holding out the napkins to K'shan, the wingleader quite deliberately places himself between the greenie and the angry brownie over there, although his next words are for K'shan, merely a soft, "Here," and he sighs, "I'm sorry, for such behavrior. I had thought better of my wingriders," and there is a simple look given M'lo.
K'shan looks a bit exasperated himself, tilting his head at Ely. "Actually, since /he/ spilt his drink on /me/, it's actually none of your business at all. Why you're bringing up something said quite a while ago, I certainly don't know." M'lo's sudden rant though has the greenrider staring at him, before his eyes roll. "Oh for Faranth's sake, learn to listen when people talk and maybe you won't be so confused. Or pissy, for that matter." K'shan certainly never said anything he regrets, and he's not about to take it back just because someone is having a rant. B'ky's return is met with a slightly relieved look, hardly paying attention once he starts to dab at the wine-stains on his clothing. "Well this isn't coming ou—" Wham? Well he hadn't exactly expected anything to come flying at him, and the greenrider stumbles somewhat under that blow. Indeed, there's livid anger rising up, held back by a single, simple fact. Ely is a girl.
Kessa has arrived just in time to see Ely swinging a fist at K'shan. There's nothing girly about her now as the fist strikes the greenrider. Immediately Kessa reaches for Ely and hauls her back harshly, her eyes wide with exasperation as he snaps, "Ely! What in the name of Faranth's first shell do you think you're doing?!" Her eyes flash toward K'shan as well, then over to M'lo, and back on the offending Ely, "We do NOT hit other riders.. or did you fail to pay attention to that in Weyrlinghood?" She gets in between the parties involved, squinting her eyes anyone who dares challenge her. Weyrwoman power! Hooo-rah. Hands on her hips she looks disappointed at the lot of them standing there, engaging in this conflict, "Would someone care to explain what in Rukbat's shadow is going on? Doing this in front of our guests even!-" she looks on the verge of taking down names and dolling out punishments. She definitely doesn't appear to be one of the younger ones in that crowd right then, the authority brazen in the set of her shoulders and the crease of her lips. Her eyes are mostly on Ely though, during the span of time she waits for some explanation, clearly disappointed in the younger rider.
M'lo stares at Ely in shock. She just punched K'shan. He gapes, astonished, flabbergasted, beyond words. Think Ron Weasley when Hermione punched out Draco. That look. When Kessa hauls her back he hastily steps up, hands outspread. "She's pregnant!" he blurts out. "She's… uh, probably hormonal, or something!" He cringes, knowing that however true that may be, it's not going to be a very popular thing to say, with his weyrmate or anyone else for that matter. He swallows, obviously feeling very on-the-spot. "The other day when K'shan found out she was pregnant, he told her she should go /between/. Even after we said we wanted the baby." This was apparently not well-recieved. "He made her /cry/." He glances at K'shan, and the wine-stain on his clothes. "That was an accident. My fault. But I didn't mean to, honestly, ma'am." He starts sweating. Somewhere out in the bowl, Irelanth is pacing restlessly back and forth with a twitching tail, an anxious rumble vibrating out from his chest.
Meo is there, just watching, or more like gawking, probably like her dance partner, at the scene.
A'deo is here! A'deo is here! No one stop the part-oh… Oh dear. A'deo hurries in with a pair of over-large pants and his violin case to quite the spectacle. A crowd of people in which he can sort of see Kessa… and B'ky… and is that M'lo? He wiggles his way through people to the front, not being particularly tall, himself. The scene before him gets a look of utter confusion.
Yeah, Anaky is just gawking as he stands beside Meo.
"That is a rather offensive excuse at its core," Galina feels inclined to comment, though her words are spoken in a delightfully emotionless deadpan. "To imply that she is unable to think for herself and that the hormones induced by pregnancy are to blame for her actions." Maybe it's socially inappropriate to interject herself at all … but she doesn't seem to care much, not when it comes to quasi-medical matters, like pregnancy hormones. Pale eyes slide to the injured party in all of this, with one of her hands sliding into her satchel for something or another. The result is an oil-cloth wrapped packet that's offered to K'shan with a dull, "If your cheek is in pain, use the cloth inside. It is laced with numbweed." It's like a wet-nap, only better! Whether he takes it or not is his choice; it's just there so she can say she /did/ administer some first aid.
Ely staggers back a step or two as she's yanked out of the way, unsteady as she is on her high heels and still unbalanced from putting so much momentum into her fist. Massaging her fist and grimacing, she tries to jerk herself out of Kessa's grip with an irritated look - it's obvious that the anger is still running hot in her veins. There's a fresh pink flush to her cheeks and some of her up-do has started to come loose, sending some loose amber tendrils to fall aroun her face like so much fire. "I was wiping the sharding smug look off his face," she snaps to Kessa, gritting her teeth. It takes her a split second to remember who she's talking to and she adds with a quick glance, "Weyrwoman." Inhaling deeply to try to calm herself, she stiffens, still massaging at her fist with quick motions, "He didn't seem like a rider to me, Weyrwoman, at the time. He was acting more like a sharding wherry." There's that icy, temeprmental glare still fresh in Ely's mismatched eyes as she fixes her gaze on M'lo, a scowl pulling at her lips. She doesn't deny the pregnancy, though she does hiss, "I'm not going to put this off on /hormones/." Not to mention she cringes a little as the fact that she actually cried is admitted to most everyone present. Atleast it makes her anger start to go away to be replaced by embarrassment.
M'lo's face is red with embarrassment and rife with worry. He just sort of stands there, waiting for the Hammer of Gold to descend on his head. He nods, his expression tight. He does let his hand drift toward Ely's, hoping she'll grab onto it.
Pralius' entrance seems almost anti-climatic. Normal garb doesn't stop him from standing out purely by the fact that he's moving. He comes to a stop quickly as Galina starts murmuring about pregnancy and he notices just how still everyone is. And did Ely just bite the WeyrWoman's head off? Pralius almost turns around and leaves again, but curiosity gets the best of him.
B'ky is looking as if his own temper is being tested, really. The startled expression on his face when K'shan gets punched doesn't last, the wingleader immediately moving between the two greenriders to hold one arm out to steady K'shan if he needs it, the other raised in case Ely tries for a second shot. The weyrwomen is given a quietly relieved look, as Ely certainly isn't one of his wingriders; the most he could do to her is frown and reprimand. M'lo, on the other hand, gets an icy look, before B'ky quietly comments, "Neither of you have been acting like riders, then or now," said of M'lo and Ely. As for K'shan? All he gets is a quiet, "Are you alright?"
Somewhere out there as well, Choth has created a booming noise that is a rare-thing for her to do. It silences all dragons and keeps reign of them, promptly putting any of them in their places incase they fight - like the two bronzes in Ista. No dragons will fight at Fort - or so says the ethereal mindvoice fogging into lifemate's minds about the Weyr. Kessa seems to be just as insensed by the fact that a conflict came to blows, her eyes sharply snapping on M'lo, "M'lo, I -have- been pregnant … Pregnancy is /not/ an excuse for this clear disrespect of another rider." Yet, her eyes flash back to Ely who seems to have a heated mouth on her, instinctively Kessa steps forward and smacks Ely across the face, an opened handed hit that sounds louder and harder than it actually was. A lifted finger follows, "You watch your tone with me girl, or you pack your ill tempered pregnant self out of Fort!" It seems everyone else has evaded her own anger now, considering the fact that Ely back talked her and become subject to her immediate attention. Ely openly challenged her. If she stepped down now it would be to fail of Fort. Kessa's never been known to hit anyone before. Well, there was once, but that was clearly a different story. This now has made the news! "Apparently weyrlinghood gave you no sense of right or wrong. You'll report to me at dawn. You're no longer a wingrider in Fort until I deem you one. You'll be answering to me day and night girl, and don't back talk me again." Her teal eyes full of an iron rage take in the others, namely M'lo whose opened his mouth in Ely's defence, "Going between is a cure for unplanned pregnancy, as is taking herbs. There is nothing wrong with that suggestion. Nor will there ever be. It is given to each woman who finds herself with child." Her gaze sweeps back toward the other riders too, straightening herself out as he considers Ely again, "Pull yourself together." A look back toward K'shan, "You'll dance with K'shan as a way of apology. And K'shan will dance with you as a way of apology for making you cry. Work it out on the dance floor-" her finger points them out, a crinkle at the corner of her eyes suggests she's not to be challenged again, by either party.
K'shan gives a frown, waving Galina away immediately. "I don't need anything. Nothing hit my teeth, nothing cut open, there'll be a bruise later on but I certainly don't need anything for something this small." Ah K'shan, a firm believer in the philosophy that pain is a proper reaction, that shouldn't be whisked away at every single instance. Fingers do rub his cheek though a bit, before giving his head a faint shake. "I'm fine," is the soft response for B'ky, gaze flying over towards Kessa as she pulls Ely back. "Weyrwoman."
M'lo has his attention turning that way though, really having a hard time deciding who he should glare at. "She cried because, yes, pregnant women /do/ that. I told you how to get rid of an accidental pregnancy, or prevent one from occurring. I did /not/ say you should run around killing babies if it wasn't your choice to do so, if either of you would bother listening instead of flying off the handle." His eyes narrow a bit at Ely. "Yes, I'm a horrible, smug wherry because I don't start irrationally ranting. Of course." And then there's slapping, and..dancing orders? K'shan just looks absolutely startled at that, eyes widening. "Weyrwoman, /really/." He's wine-soaked, face-punched, and angry. Dancing?
Weyrwoman or not, anyone slapping Ely is a shock to M'lo. He cries out and raises a hand, fingers spread out as if he were reaching for something. But /what/ is anyone's guess, including his own. He slowly lowers the hand, staring aht her in utter astonishment. He can't speak, can merely fix wide eyes on Ely's face and the slowly-reddening handprint across her cheek. "Oh, shells," he finally whispers around the lump in his throat.
A'deo blinks, eyes going back and forth, but mostly on Kessa as she talks to both. He winces at Ely's back talk, but give a quiet nod as she slaps Ely. The dancing… well that was a bit much in his opinion. Too many opportunities for broken toes. Speaking of… he looks down at his own cast free foot with a smile before his eyes raise to watch the next proceedings. He absently tugs at the pants. Stupid pants.
"Understood." It is enough. Galina is satisfied. The packet is neatly tucked away in the satchel again and the Healer withdraws a step to effectively recede into the background. No blood, no broken bones — just a /lot/ of bruised pride and there's no remedy for that. Pale eyes absently catch on two arrivals she hadn't noted previously so Pralius and A'deo earn a slight inclination of her head that passes for a mute 'hello' given the circumstances. Cyanosis, at some point, had tucked around behind her neck, but the blue is now unwinding again to drape rather leisurely about her shoulders.
Ely inhales sharply, hissing through her teeth at the sudden backhand to her face. It seems to be more of a cry of surprise, even though her head jerks in response and she staggers backwards a fraction of a step, stumbling once more on those ungainly heels. Pressing a hand to her cheek, she stares at Kessa partially in shock, her eyes watering slightly from the blow. Even in her heels she seems to have shrunk a little, her temper and anger completely having been slapped out of her by the looks of it. "Y-yes, Weyrwoman, she manages in a thick voice through the lump in her throat, blinking back the sudden watering in her eyes that's more there from the shock of the slap than any crying. "Dawn?" she echoes, grimacing partially at the stinging in her cheek and partially at the early hour - fatigue has been plaguing her enough lately. It would seem she's too afraid of being booted out of the Weyr to question this even further. Swallowing several times and trying her best to straighten up after the public reprimand, she breathes out a slow and shaky sigh. "Dance? Right now? Wiht him?" she hesitates, glancing at K'shan with a look of utter horror, "If you say so, Weyrwoman." It almost sounsd like she's talking to her mother now and she even casts Kessa very wary glance. M'lo is given a pleading look as she looks to him for support, one hand still covering her cheek. This certainly didn't turn out as planned.
Pralius' eyes bulge when K'shan admits what he'd said. If Kessa hadn't already reprimanded Ely for her obvious over-reaction based on what he'd heard, he'd have been leaping to her defence as well. The other reactions he sees are more than enough to spur him to some action, minor though it may seem. He makes the probably poor choice of moving to join the group, "WeyrWoman, if I may? I know I've only just arrived, but this whole affair may have been taxing. It might be best if she were to see a healer briefly now and then rest so that no harm comes to her child and apologize to K'shan at a later date when they're both much calmer." Putting his neck on the line a bit, but he's seen Mt. St. Ely erupt and he didn't want it to go any further. "If that's okay with you, of course."
Kessa sharply looks to M'lo who appears to maybe take some sort of action against her for slapping his weyrmate, but one arched brow should keep him from stepping up and following through. Her eyes flash back to Ely, her jaw tight as the woman reiterates the order's given, however there is a bit of satisfaction for the turn-about temper. Sometimes a person just needed to be given a reality check, Ely's reality check was a slap from a superior. It worked - at least for now. Her hands on her hips, she mmhrms stiffly, waiting with raised brows as both do as they're told. Like little children. Pralius sticks in his neck though, her hand coming up to still any of his words, "I did not ask for your advice. K'shan is a healer and if he notices anything of her fatigue, he can take her to the infirmary. Once dance would not hurt them. It's a slow dance after all." Her eyes hop toward the harper stage, hoping they heard it - because they'd all stopped to watch the proceedings. Then her eyes flicker back to Pralius, a dismissive sort of look as she regards both K'shan and Ely in one sweeping gaze, "You two best not hurt eachother in any way out there, or else there are much worse things I can have you two doing together than dancing."
B'ky just watches Kessa, perhaps somewhat impressed at the weyrwoman, especially after that slap, although the man does blink with some surprise as well. Still, he shakes his head slightly, looking from Ely to K'shan, and then back to Kessa. Thin brows rise just a little. Dancing? There's a rather exasperated expression on his face for that last part before the wingleader merely sighs and brings a hand up to rub the ridge of his nose, and perhaps he does give K'shan a faintly apologetic glance as well. After all, if he'd simply let the greenrider escape, none of this would have happened. Still, he's not about to say anything to Kessa. She's the weyrwoman after all. Instead, the wingleader simply turns to find a seat, one unhappy and tired blueie. So much for dancing.
Meo clears his throat once it seems to be resolved, and looks to Anaky. "So, want to keep dancing? It's a slow dance, I'm pretty sure I can do a slow dance." The rest of the crowd slowly starts going back to eating, drinking, or whatever they were doing.
So much for dancing indeed. K'shan rubs a hand slightly over his face for a moment, displeasure../quite/ evident. Although his protests are gone, he eyes Ely again, before pointing rather abruptly at the other rider's shoes. "Only if she takes those off. She's unbalanced enough as it is on them, I'd rather not have her stabbing one of my feet, or spraining an ankle and blaming it on me." Hey, it's a legitimate worry! Those things can be dangerous, and Kash likes his toes intact! His gaze briefly follows after B'ky though, head shaking irritably before simply offering his hand to Ely, lips drawn in a thin line.
M'lo stands there, feeling rather useless and red in the face. His clenched fists are shoved into his pockets. He's keeping his mouth shut with such a vengeance that the muscle in his jaw is tight and prominent. Anyone nearby might actually hear his teeth grinding.
Kessa regards the status of M'lo, not one to miss the reaction. Quite clearly she picks up on the frustration, her eyes on him for the longest while. "I suggest you go take a seat and grab yourself a drink M'lo. Settle yourself down or remove yourself from the dance hall if you cannot handle the strain of what just happened. Perhaps you should talk to Pralius." Her eyes shift warningly back to Pralius too. No one is stepping on Kessa's toes tonight, nor getting close to her toes! She finds herself moving to the edge of the dance floor, arms folded and looking ready to watch K'shan and Ely for the length of the one dance.
"Wow, she's /scary/," is near-whispered, though he doesn't specify which 'she' he's talking about, Anaky turning back to Meo with a grin and a head-bob, "Yeah, c'mon," and he moves to take her hands if she'll let him, nodding his head in the opposite direction of those greenriders, saying, "Let's keep far away from them, huh?" voice lowering a bit, "Just in case." And there's a quick look at the stage, "A slow dance I can do. Remember the deal: I won't step on your toes if you don't step on mine." Although that is said laughing. As it turns out, he does know how to dance, mostly.
Ely breathes out a frustrated, yet still shaky sigh as she nods once more to Kessa, her fingers massaging her cheek to check for damage. Bar a slight pinkness to the skin, there doesn't seem to be much left there, yet there is a slight bruise blossoming across her knuckles from the wayward punch. The effects of that slap are still vibrating through her and somehow managing to keep her temper at bay, even though it still threatens to resurface with K'san's next words. There would be so many lovely sarcastic things she'd love to respond to with that, but she consoles herself with a disgruntled, "Fine." Staggering slightly, she lifts one foot to grab one shoe and then sways to the other side to grab the other. "Milo, love, hold these?" she manages in a strained voice, pressing the shoes towards him as she passes and giving him a pleading look. It can't last though, considering Kessa is watching her every move. There's a flicker of a grimace on her face - barely noticeable but it was there - as she pads across the wooden floor on bare feet to the other greenrider. "Let's get this over with," she says with a faint sigh, reaching out to take hold of K'shan's outstretched hand.
Pralius nods to Kessa, "As you wish, WeyrWoman." Then he glances at Milo… how /would/ the brownrider deal with this? K'shan's next unnecessarily harsh phrase brings out the vein in his neck for a moment, his own teeth grinding in unison with Milo's. He closes the space between himself and his friend as quickly as he can without seeming frantic and leans down the slight distance between them to whisper something just as Kessa decides to speak to M'lo as well. The fact that Ely reigns herself in is both impressive and scary for someone who knows her as well as Pral does, but he nods, taking the pumps if Milo doesn't.
M'lo carefully takes the shoes from Ely, giving her hand a squeeze in passing. Then he salutes Kessa, spins on his heel and marches to the nearest glass of wine, picks it up, slugs it back, and then slams himself down into the first empty chair. He holds himself tightly together, eyes burning holes into the back of K'shan's head. If Pralius wishes to join him, he certainly can, as there's another seat next to him.
Pralius does join him, though he grabs water. Sitting, watching. Tense. N'drei would be embarrassed of them both, probably.
Meo nods in agreement to Anaky, even if it wasn't specified. "Yeah, /that/ that an interesting sight." She agrees, pausing as her eyes go distant a moment, probably just Furu having gotten concerned about her, if dragons got worked up. But then she's moving with Anaky to the space /away/ from the greenriders, after he grabs her hands. "You still have a deal." She says with a grin, and positions her hands on him, from the lessons that she remember, and moves to the music with him, she's really not a half bad dancer either.
K'shan simply takes Ely's hand, moving out a bit onto the dance floor. Lightly pulling her around with a hand to the other greenrider's waist, he simply settles into the rather mechanical motions of the dance. It's certainly not about to be a wholly pleasant experience, with neither of them wanting to be there. Thus, Kash doesn't even really look at Ely, simply moving his feet properly while eyeing…the drinks. Or maybe it's the door.
Ely gingerly rests her free hand on K'shan's shoulder as she follows him out onto the dance floor reluctantly. There is little extra feeling to the dance, really, as she too just works at going through the motions as best as she can with bare, unprotected feet. Being unable to voice her opinions with Kessa watching so closely, she merely contents herself with a deep moody sigh to express her feelings. Not to mention she keeps her mismatched eyes anywhere but on K'shan, her lips set into a grim slash. No, she certainly doesn't seem to be enjoying herself. So much for making up and apologizing - Ely's stubbornness has managed to take hold again.
Anaky does have to look down at his feet now and again, though he keeps his steps in line with the dance, careful to make sure he's not stepping on Meo's toes. The lad makes something of a face, "I don't know.. it would have been more interesting to be dancing this whole time with a pretty girl," and he flashes her a brief grin. He positions his hands likewise, moving in time to the music and maybe humming a slightly off-tune bit of the music when he misses a step or two. "You're pretty good at this," he comments, on her own dancing ability, keeping well clear of those greenriders, and instead dancng closer to the stage and the music.
Kessa remains where she is, standing on the side lines with a space around her that no one seems to want to enter into. It's like they can sense her off mood because of the conflict that just occurred, keeping a well placed distance from her. It does seem to bother her, a slight flinch and a sway of her body, but for now she keeps her chin up and her eyes pinned on the pair that are supposed to be making amends.
At least K'shan knows how to dance, and doesn't put anyone in danger of stepping on bare toes. Still, movements are a tad stiff as he shifts around, finally giving Ely a bit of a twirl. There's a slight grimace when he pulls her back in though, finally stopping that dancing. He lets out a breath though, hands quite promptly vacating Ely's space. There's a small nod given then, before the greenrider quite promptly turns and heads quickly for the exit. Destination? Most likely a change of clothes.
Meo lightly sticks her tongue out at Anaky. "I've heard plenty of people call me cute, and pretty." She replies back, it's all good natured though, there's been enough fighting here for one night after all. She too glances down at her feet on ocassion though, atleast they're not bumping into people either, like the first time she danced. She blinks, and smiles. "Thank you, so are you." She says.
Even though Ely's dress twirls outwards as she spins, the whole movement just looks awkward due to her stiff, tense posture. It's a dance move, without any feeling at all in it. Thus it's not surprising that she jerks her hands away almost as soon as the song ends, letting out her breath in a sigh of relief. Rubbing at her arms, she glances across the dance floor towards Kessa, her shoulders tight and tense, "I hope that met your satisfaction, Weyrwoman?" Obviously she's hopeful that she's filled that end of the bargain, atleast, judging by the questioning look on her face.
As soon as the dancing is over, M'lo vaults up from his seat, striding toward Ely and attempting to snag her hand. "Let's go home," he says in a low undertone to her. "You should rest, I think." He glances over at Kessa, though, dark eyes worried.
Pralius reaches out to try to stop Milo, but misses, so he stands as well, though his progress his slower, waiting to see Kessa's reaction to Milo's desire to leave before butting in again.
Anaky laughs lightly, sticking his own tongue out in response and saying a good-natured, "Yeah, well plenty of people have called me cute and pretty as well," and as if to make a point, hw does a little head toss, flipping his overly-long hair back from where it had been sneaking scross his face, his tone joking. The weaver grins a, "Thanks," moving along with the stance and promptly mis-stepping. Whoops. Looking a tiny bit sheepish there, after the complimenting, "I guess I still need some practice. I haven't gotten to dance since I left for the hall. It's kind of beena few turns." Still, he remembers the rest of the steps well enough to continue.
Kessa watches as the song comes to a close and even before Ely has come over to ask if it met her satisfaction, the Weyrwoman has started to move out of the dance hall, with a half flipped wave to dismiss Ely. She's moving a bit fast, though not to catch up with K'shan, merely just to get out of there before they see her crack. Hey, she wasn't good at being mean! It hurt to be mean! Really it did.
B'ky remains seated for a long while, vague frown on his face, alternately keeping an eye on M'lo and the two greenriders there. And perhaps sending a frown at Kessa's back now and again as well, although really, the man might be just sulking more than anything. Once K'shan actually leaves, B'ky stands and simply leaves as well, having stayed only long enough to ensure nothing else happened.
And of Galina? The surreptitious arrival and departure of a note-bearing firelizard is enough to send her slipping from the room on silent footsteps, with no discernible shift in her expression to betray the nature of the note. Thus does she appear to join the exodus, one hand holding her bag close to her hip and the other containing the swing and sway of her skirts to ensure her silence.
Ely breathtes a further sigh of relief as Kessa dismisses her, gratefully leaning into M'lo as he comes closer. "Shards, yes," she murmurs to him, looking exhausted, "I think I've had enough dancing for a /long/ time." She reaches out to take her shoes back and, after some awkward movements, manages to slip them back on. Then, with a squeeze of M'lo's hand, she starts to make her way out, trying her best not to look at too many people. She's, afterall, rather embarrassed at being publicly slapped by the Weyrwoman, even if she didn't admit it.
As the song ends, and people start to disperse, Meo smiles at Anaky as they finish the dance. "Thank you for the dance, Anaky, you were a great partner." She says, bowing slightly to him. For someone who hadn't been looking forward to dancing, she certainly seems to of enjoyed it. She does wave to those leaving as well.
