[E] Cold Can't Stop Us (Turnover Gather)

[Shoki]

Turnover Eve
Ice Stone Weyr
After Sunset

Turnover was always a time to celebrate, even if there was chaos surrounding it. Fortunately, Ice Stone Weyr had only the normal amount of stress related to the holiday rather than anything more. There was more excitement though, since they were hosting a gather for more than just their own folk. However things still had the distinct quality of the north about them. The main area was inside, nice and warm, with enough warm beverages to keep every person warm to the core even if they wanted to dart outside for a spell. There were harpers, with instruments tuned and warmed against the chill, playing something lovely with a beat. There were snacks as well, mostly baked goods to go with the heavy spiced drinks.

Besides the harpers performing music, there were other harpers scattered about, with warm furs surrounding them. Each had a glint in their eyes, which hinted at what was to come. It was a cold night to be sure, and nothing like a long yarn to pass it by. Stories of the people long gone, but perhaps about night much like this one. Who knew? They each had their own embellishment, their own swing on an old story.

They weren’t the only one.

Outside, for those who were a touch braver, or more braced against the chill, Temperanth sat and waited. She waited for any who wanted to come, dragon or otherwise, to hear a story from her. The Ices were always quick to tell a history that their other family might not remember, and Temperanth was no exception. And she felt that as one year passed to another, it was the perfect time to remember what had gone by them before. Perhaps for the ones that braved the cold, deep in the night there would be a glorious display of lights as well. It would be a perfect night for it.

Inside, the early arrivers started the party off, and Hedara watched them quietly. As long as things went off without a hitch, all would be well. She gathered for herself a mug of Halk, so thickly spiced that it caused her calloused palate pause. Now there was something to keep her warm. Not that it was so required, she was dressed warmly. She intended to be here and there, so best dress for the occasion. Not in a dress though. Still she waited, and prayed for a relaxing evening for all. Less headaches for her that way.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

L’van shook his half-cape out and favored it with a glare. It had clearly seen better days, the fabric getting a little thin in places. He didn’t normally think much of men who worried about their appearances, but there was still a certain minimum standard to maintain when one was too attend a major Gather, and the half-cape was not really good enough to pass muster. Unfortunately, it was also the only half-cape in his possession at the moment. Angrily, he wondered how his father expected him to uphold the honor of the Hold without providing him any means to acquire suitable attire.

L’van, the time is here,

L’van smiled. Swinging the half-cape over his shoulders, he strode out to meet his dragon. Here, Thoth, he stated, resting an arm against his dragon’s massive blue side.

It didn’t take them long to reach the appointed place, though L’van very nearly turned around again when he realized that they were collecting weapons at the door. They had no right…

Thoth snorted loudly, and L’van sighed. Gritting his teeth, he approached and turned over his dress-sword and the dagger that accompanied it. There would be Thread to pay if those weapons weren’t waiting when he came to collect them. That accomplished, L’van entered the room.

He was an early arrival, like he’d planned, which gave him plenty of time to acquire a couple bites of food before getting down to the serious socializing. Idly, he scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces.

[Simile]

Raevin checked her hair one more time, making sure it was arranged right. It was short and required little ore care than a good way and finger combing from time to time. She preferred it that way. She checked herself in the mirror to make sure there were no spots on her father day clothes. These, of course, did my consist of dress or skirt. Such girly things would be the death of her if she wasn't careful. Her form fitting white blouse was tied securely, the red undershirt poking out and the top to strings left lose. Te sleeves were loose and perhaps billows a bit too much for her liking - any kind of loose billowing clothing gave an enemy a heightened ability to grab you. Her black pants were nice and finally tailored, form fitting and flowing down long slender legs into well made black leather boots with polished steel accents. She normally kept a couple knives on her person, but for today, she would allow her fists and her dragon be her defense. Te gather did not allow for weapons, or so she had heard.

"One last thing..." She picked up the gold chain from which hung the medallion made with the blood red ruby from the pummel of her grandfather's sword. She checked herself in the mirror again and nodded, satisfied. It would do. Too much was never good. She grabbed her marks purse - of which she didn't have too much- and started to her dragon who yawned.

Remind me.... How will this help us with out goals. We could always skip this frivolous party.

Raevin scowled. "We need to make a good impression. A lot of important people will be there. It will be beneficial for our goals. Let's go." The dragon gave a low tumbling growl, but allowed his rider up before dropping into the air below, his powerful wings shooting out and picking him back up. Raevin grinned. Flying was exhilarating. She loved it. But despite that she fixed te image and gave him te signal... Only moments later they appeared above, looking down on a yet to begin party. "It's one of your siblings." Which one was it again.

Her dragon snorted an spiraled down to land near the blue. He raised his well polished neck which nearly shine. Raevin had really gone all out for him today. He rumbled quietly, watching her go and enter the place, being checked for weapons.

She was wary. The party was barely beginning. She checked here an there, looking to see if he could spot T'vax or T'ruk. The person she did see made a little sigh heave. L'van. They hadn't really had any interaction, but he was fairly certain that she knew enough of him to know she wouldn't like him.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Simile))

More people were arriving to the Gather, as was only natural with the number of invitees it had included. A few moments in, a rather large dragon swooped down to settle on the landing field. It was telling that the other dragons nearby stepped aside slightly, allowing the newcomer space to settle his dark yet somehow silvery hide.

Sliding off his dragon and to the ground, T’ruk stared at the party. Things were clearly just getting started, but there were already a great many people there. He fiddled with the cuffs of his jacket, then pulled at the hem of his shirt. He wasn’t used to wearing such finery, normally the clothes that he wore were simply functional, a habit he’d picked up from Rallin.

Despite himself, T’ruk grinned. Gillian had enacted fake mourning over T’ruk’s fashion sense when he realized that the boy preferred ordinary clothes. Gillian, however, had prevailed tonight, and T’ruk was wearing an outfit of black and grey, made from some fabric that caught the light and shimmered.

Go on, T’rukMine. Your friends will miss you if you do not arrive soon,

T’ruk sighed. No hiding the fact that he was stalling from his dragon. Azeriuth knew him far too well for that. I’ll tell them you said hi, he assured the Silverlight, then straightened his coat once more and walked in.

He was in a kind of luck, for the first person he saw, and in a striking combination of red under white on top with black pants, was Raevin Alsowa, a friend from the Weyrling class that had followed his own. She was not currently talking to anyone, so she was tentatively approachable, according to Gillian’s guidelines.

“Raevin!” he called out, taking a couple quick strides forward.

[Shoki]

It was his first turnover with Ice Stone Weyr as his home. D’ziel was kinda excited. He had gotten dressed as nice as he could manage, with some help from Hocteth. The Moonlight felt he could pick up on things the rider wouldn’t. He was right about that. Soon enough he passed the inspection and was sent off to the party by Hocteth. It was quite cold, to be sure, but he had been growing a thicker skin for it. Didn’t mean he wanted to stay out in the open. So he headed on in, after a brief confirmation that he didn’t hold weapons.

Inside everything was nice and warm, and there were warm beverages. He made a beeline for them, looking for something he hadn’t had in a while. Good old klah. He got himself a mug, and waited for some of the local riders to make a good natured joke at him for it. Today he was welcoming it. There was a sort of fun in it. Besides, it was a celebration, so he wanted to have a treat, so to speak. A plain old cup of klah could be a treat, depending on the circumstances. He got himself a chair to enjoy his drink in, and watched the party start to get active. He wondered if folks from Rainbow Mists would be coming soon. He sort of hoped so. A twinge of regret got to him, but he keep an expectant smile on his face. What would happen would happen. He had placed himself at the party, from there he would do his best to make sure he had a good time. He took a sip of his drink and his eyes brightened. He had certainly done a good job of it so far.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Shoki))

Yes, Chantrea had been grounded and couldn’t go, but K’tar was not missing a Turnover party, especially not a large one like this. Even if it was in the far reaches of the frozen North. Of course, to go to a party, one had to bring along friends.

“B’ow!” K’tar darted around the corner to his friend’s weyr. “B’ow come on! You’re going to this one! You don’t have the excuse that Hailreth is too young to fly anymore, Mister Now a Rider!”

K’tar slid to a halt at B’ow’s door, then started knocking up a storm. He looked about the same as he always did, grinning like a maniac, his red-brown hair standing up in the back and otherwise looking like it needed attention from a comb, his iron grey shirt rumpled slightly, his black pants retrieved from the floor at some point, and his flight jacket draped over his arm. In short, the only redeeming part of his appearance was the quality of the fabric his clothing was made from. That quality though, was more than high enough that he’d look just fine at any Gather.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Cait))

T’kar glanced over his shoulder at Ancalanath’s passengers. It would seem that his words with Dalonia were still holding. At least, the woman clearly hadn’t said anything impolite to Alyga yet, given that Alyga was no tenser than she normally was when faced with the prospect of singing in front of a lot of people.

“Entering between in three, two, one...”

Blackness enveloped them, cold striking even through their jackets, a cold made worse by its contrast to the warm night air around Rainbow Mists. Before T’kar could even finish with a brief wish that they could be going somewhere warm after this, they emerged out into the starlit darkness over Ice Stone Weyr. The sky though, was not just lit by stars. A complex of light, like lines of multi-colored fire, filled the sky in front of them, and T’kar smiled as he realized that Ancalanath had come in tipped slightly upward deliberately, so that they would be facing the lights.

Ancalanath seemed to hang in the air for an impossible time, then he turned and began spiraling down towards the ground, intending to enter the structure of the Weyr proper. He could always fly back out, after all, and humans didn’t handle cold as well as dragons.

[Shoki]

B’ow looked up from his book, hearing his name called. Oh dear. Kit opened one eye before trying to go back to sleep, but was assaulted with a cacophony of knocks. This did not please the Pink firelizard. B’ow quickly got up and opened the door to give K’tar something to not knock.

“You are too exuberant.” B’ow smiled just a little. “You woke up Kit.” Kit was currently staring at K’tar, in such a way that Queens did to those who did not please them. ‘Beg for forgiveness’ the gaze seemed to say. B’ow walked back to Kit, and gave her a stroke before putting his book away. He saw the state K’tar was in, and there was as much possibility of him getting to stay here peacefully as there was in getting Hailreth to sleep. “Guess I should dress warm then.”

B’ow’s room was diametrically opposed to K’tar’s appearance. It was neat, organized, but that was the only truly outstanding thing about it. Everything was standard, though perhaps he had more papers and books than most. It did mean that getting dressed into something clean was trivial. He quickly changed.

“Well then. Best get going.”

YAY! Gather time! Let’s go, let’s go!

[Cait]

Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)

Despite what T’kar might think, Dalonia wasn’t the sort to go around terrorizing blind children! Any child she chose to terrorize typically deserved it; case in point being that idiot weyrling from so long ago. He was less of a child now but still just as much an idiot. It had been all she could do not to punch the insufferable man square in the face when he’d basically accused her of being an unfeeling savage that tormented everyone. For the first time ever, she didn’t embrace that persona and actually found that it bothered her that the idiot dragonrider thought of her like that. She’d growled out her promise and had taken the spot behind T’kar’s sister despite her serious dislike of this particular mode of transportation. Dalsok wasn’t any more thrilled but Dalonia wasn’t about to leave him behind. He’d probably eat someone and then she’d have to deal with the fall out when she got back.

Three, two, one…

Her hiss was swallowed by the freezing void of between. All she could hear was her heart beat, all she could feel was cold. Then they erupted above Ice Stone Weyr and the shudder that rippled through her had nothing to do with the cold. She was back; back in the frozen wastes of the north where her brothers and Barrek prowled like the wild cats of the south. Perhaps it was a good thing that Alyga separated her from T’kar or she’d have been tempted to cling, or worse, beg him to turn back. But it was too late now, he’d probably mock her anyway, tell her she was paranoid. Besides, Ancalanath had already started his descent.

[Shoki]

( Tag:Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro) )

“Are you ready now?” Cyanee said the words as though she were a child asking the question for a third time, a little too whiny. She got a grunt in return and it caused her to pout while leaning next to Cr’wean’s door. Eventually the door opened and Cr’wean came out, causing Cyan to immediately bounce back. “Perfect! One more stop.” She enthusiastically jumped ahead, Cr’wean scowling behind her.

“Let me guess…”

“We need to go get Kel!”

“Of course we do.” He mumbled under his breath, looking like exactly the kind of person that didn’t like parties.

Outside, Kiyosh and Zigbrieth were standing together, waiting for their respective humans to arrive. The Lifewing seemed to be in good spirits, the Blue just normal. He was fine when things were going to plan, and so far everything was fine.

[smear:993300]Thanks for the lift by the way.[/smear:A0522D"]

No thanks are required. It was impossible to leverage Kiyosh any more then he already did. Her human and his human were related, and apparently that took care of most of it.

[smear:993300]You sound like Cr’wean. Only less grumpy.[/smear:A0522D"]

I am not a human.

[smear:993300]I know that. Less cute.[/smear:A0522D"] Zigbrieth stared at Kiyosh. The Lifewing was really weird to boot. He would catch it if Cyan heard him say that, though.

Soon enough the humans arrived to take a brief trip back to the Weyr. Cr’wean set Kiyosh and Zigbrieth into the harness for hitching a ride, before following Cyanee like a dark little storm cloud to K’rad’s weyr. He would never understand her friend choices. Eventually they arrived and Cyan gave a set of clear knocks.

“Kel! It’s Cyan. Come on, it’s time for the Gather!” Her voice was incredibly cheerful, and excited. Cr’wean lurked in the hallway, waiting for the annoying brat to show up so he could get frozen.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Cait))

Ancalanath, with a showman’s instinct, was pausing just slightly in his downward spiral every time that the humans on his back were facing the lights in the sky. Finally, seeing how close it was to the place where the humans would be celebrating, he settled near the other dragons, wings cupping the air as they drove out to slow his descent into a landing. Besides, with any luck having the other dragons around meant that he’d have help if Dalosk took it into his wher-head to do something stupid.

As soon as Ancalanath touched down, and settled, T’kar was already sliding down the straps to land standing next to the RR Flame’s mighty shoulder. It was a matter of some few seconds for Alyga to slide down, and T’kar caught her with the ease of long practice — she’d been flying with him and Ancalanath several other times, after all.

Having confirmed his sister’s safe arrival on the ground, T’kar straightened back up, looking to help Dalonia down, if necessary. Fortunately the landing area was well lit, so he could actually make out the woman, rather than looking for a moving shadow over Ancalanath’s back.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Shoki, Kaya))

K’tar’s grin grew, if possible, even broader. B’ow’s look just bounced right off the armor of his insouciance. He’d had plenty of practice ignoring that kind of gaze over the Turns.

“It’s going to be awesome!” he exclaimed, barely managing to restrain himself from catching at B’ow’s sleeve and pulling his friend along. He was quivering slightly, the excess of energy that still propelled him in far too many troublesome actions clearly struggling mightily to express itself in a wild sprint down the hall.

Viarth bugled. Multiple times. His rider’s high spirits combining with his own to lead to what any Healer would diagnose as “way too much energy” as he came swooping down to settle next to Hailreth. Indeed, even as he landed he seemed almost to be dancing in place, his eyes whirling excitedly as if he were inviting Hailreth to dance about in place too.

“Come on B’ow, we need to get Holt too!” K’tar said, stooping slightly so that he could nudge B’ow’s shoulder with his own.

Blue-brother-Korith! We are going to the Gather! Tell Holt-H’rarn-Yours to be ready!

Sure enough, K’tar was soon giving the door between him and Holt equal treatment to the one that had separated him from B’ow.

[Shoki]

B’ow bit off a sigh. Leave it to K’tar to forget he was shorter and therefore had shorter strides. However, he followed at a quick pace, somehow still rolling his feet. He was somewhat familiar with the ‘Holt’ of which he spoke, but had rarely found himself in the same place as the Blue rider. He impressed the same time as K’tar though. He tended to remember the people who impressed around here.

When they got to the appropriate weyr, B’ow kept his distance. K’tar was pulling his excited knocking again, and he liked his ears further away from the noise.

Hailreth was having a grand time though. He bobbed his head around, in the same mood as Viarth with less energy spend. Not that he had to worry about that. He’d had a nap recently. He could go for a long time.

What are we gonna do first? When we get there? The Neon Purple’s enthusiasm was clear, he was not just going to sit around while B’ow was at the party.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Shoki))

“Kel! It’s Cyan. Come on, it’s time for the Gather!”

K’rad had been half-hoping that Cyan had forgotten the deal they’d made to sing those duets when the Weyrharper arranged a venue. Only half-hoping, for some part of him was almost looking forward to it. He hadn’t been expecting that the man would pick a massive Turnover Gather!

We need to go anyway. It is annoying that you will be in full sight. That’s a complication…

K’rad sighed, though he wasn’t about to disagree that it represented a complication. Of course, it wasn’t like he needed to do all that much, just get his hands on certain historical document and arrange to get it into D’law’s hands, then slip the altered document back into place once D’law returned with it.

“Coming!” he called, pulling his black and dark grey mottled shirt on and checking his knives out of reflex. He felt something stir, a flicker, nothing more, and with a frustrated growl mentally drove his heel down on it. She was a potential enemy, everyone here was a potential enemy, and yet…

Shaking his head to clear it, Kel opened the door. He’d grown a little since coming to the Weyr, but Cyan was still close to three inches taller than he was. A quick flick of his gaze noticed Cr’wean looming in the background, and he reflexively squared his shoulders slightly.

“Ready,” he said simply, letting out a smile that was far too genuine for Belegurth’s tastes. The dragon lived in a world where no one could be truly trusted, and though he would admit the weakness never it scared him that his rider still sometimes wished to trust. Still though, the best lies had truth within them.

The mission. Those who protect my family request this, and so thus it will be. Despite the thought, the smile stayed. He enjoyed seeing Cyan, and besides, he couldn’t see any way that altering some ancient document would hurt any of his new acquaintances. He rather thought whoever had paid for it to be done was a dimglow of monumental proportions.

[Shoki]

((Tag: Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro) ))
Cyan waited, though she moved on her feet slightly to distract herself from the waiting. Eventually though, Kel appeared and she almost dashed away to Zigbrieth right then. But she didn’t. She had almost forgotten what with all the excitement, but she had presents to give.

“Okay, one more thing.” She reached into her pouch, and took out a cute little dragonfly knot, which looked deceptively simple. She had been learning new little things. She then straightened the little wings and held it out to Kel. “Here! I’ve been practicing, so I thought you might want one.” She pulled out another, but turned to Cr’wean. “I got one for you too.” The lifewing rider took it, looking at the little thing.

“So you have been practicing.” He teased slightly, earning a pout from Cyan. “It’s nice. Thanks.” He looked at it a little before putting it away.

“That’s all. Let’s go!” Of course, she had yet another project to work on later. Lots of fun things. Knots were useful for a lot of things. One of which was the reason she had a scar on her palm. She didn’t even think about her scar though. She just led the way to the dragons, and to Ice Stone.