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

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Shoki))

Kel reached out automatically to accept the little dragonfly knot from Cyan. It was a good thing the motion was automatic, because his mind was spinning in circles again. How could such a tiny thing, a little thing made from white rope, cause so much sudden uncertainty in its wake? He knew that the high and powerful exchanged Turnover presents, but this was the first time he had ever been the recipient of one.

“Thank you, Cyan.” The words were automatic, just like the acceptance. As he slipped the little creation away and followed Cyan, slipping through his mind was the fact that he’d gotten her nothing, nothing at all.

It didn’t take them long to reach Ice Stone, Belegurth emerging as planned just off of the slightly larger Zigbrieth’s right wing. Kel already figured that unless he and Cyan were to sing at the very end of the party, it would be much better to slip off after singing than before, which made discovering the timing on their performance to be the first step. For the rest, well, K’rad was still short enough that if he forced his voice higher he’d be taken for a child, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get to the library.

“Do you know when we’re singing?” he asked Cyan.

[Shoki]

((Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)))

The view around Ice Stone was amazing, and Cyan had a hard time focusing when Kel asked a question. However, she pulled her gaze from her surroundings back to her friend.

“I think it’s pretty soon. But it’s really hard to tell time around here, so I heard.” She looked around at the lights in the sky, before breaking into a wide smile. “But we can ask inside. Let’s go!” She bounced toward the entrance, and the guards who were checking for weapons. Cyan was confused why anyone would want to bring weapons to a party, or why people thought they would, but she figured that besides a little wait, it wouldn’t bother her any.

Cr’wean finished unhooking Zigbrieth from Kiyosh, and mumbled something about the cold. From here on he would just let his sister be. He got more important stuff to do. That is, he had heard something about the local brew, and that was something he was most interested in. He headed in, and made a beeline for what the folk around here called Halk. It didn’t look like klah, but he took a mug and drank it, pausing for a minute.

“That’s pretty good.” He looked impressed and took another gulp, before looking for something interesting to do.

Outside, Kiyosh fluffed her feathers and investigated the chilly Weyr. She felt a bit more at home here, her feathers took well to the cold. Still cold though. Zigbrieth just found an out of the way space and watched the dragons go in and out. If anyone interesting was around he might continue with his prospects of gaining allies, but for now he was just interested in the new place.

[Shoki]

It was a wonderful night. Temperanth watched the stars and the lights make a glorious display. She was content to watch them for a while. But soon enough she looked toward all the visitors that were filing in. So many new faces. She did love gathers for that. This place was hers, and as such, felt she must be a gracious host. Between greeting a few of the other dragons she paused, and flared her wings slightly.

[smear:33CCFF]Welcome all. I shall begin a tale in a few minutes, should you wish to listen.[/smear:3366FF] The Ice let her eyes fill with pleasant colors. She was a Queen of the north, she had tales of the past that humans would have forgotten. From times when humans were not around to record it. As such, some of the older dragons piped up with a request or two, and Temperanth merely let the knowing glint in her eyes answer. She knew exactly what story she wished to tell. But she waited for an audience.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Shoki))

Kel looked up at the sky as well. It was already dark out. Of course, in the northern continent winter was the period with shorter days, so that wasn’t unexpected. He thought he remembered something about the far north of Icy Caverns Hold and Ice Stone Weyr though, he could swear he remembered a Herald getting him and Nalkeldar to sing about endless night followed by endless day. It didn’t really make sense to him, how could there be times here where Rukbat didn’t rise at all?

He followed after Cyan, then had to force himself not to start at the sight of the guards. What were they doing checking for weapons? What did it matter if someone brought weapons to the Gather? He forced himself to approach calmly, nonchalantly, quite as if he were any random guest. It wasn’t as he were helpless if unarmed, but that didn’t mean that he wanted to be completely unarmed.

He carefully unbuckled his belt and slid his belt-knife off, handing it over casually. He didn’t say anything about the knives in his boots as he followed Cyan into the large room. There was no point upsetting the guards, after all.

He glanced over the room, mentally noting the locations of the people already present. There was a certain amount of music, though most of it appeared to be from the Harpers checking their instruments over.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Cait))

[smear:33CCFF]Welcome all. I shall begin a tale in a few minutes, should you wish to listen.[/smear:3366FF]

“Come on Dav, it’s going to start!”

Anything less like the cold-blooded leader of vigilante riders than T’vax’s current appearance would be hard to imagine. Indeed, dressed in a vibrant blue outfit decorated with red and purple ribbon-embroidery on the chest and bands of the same ribbons on the sleeves, with red and purple piping running down the sides of his legs, the casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that this young man would flinch or even run at the mere mention of blood.

T’vax, or Tiv as Dav still called him, bounced on the balls of his feet before settling back down. To be fair, at least part of this delay was his fault, because he hadn’t realized that Slinesteth had forgotten to factor in how long the water took to heat up.

I still don’t understand why you want to get there early. Surely it is better to arrive near the middle, and be less noticed.

Slin, the absolute last thing that you want to do is arrive late to a party. Everyone talks about whoever gets there late.

Absently, Tiv finished tying a blue ribbon around Ribbon’s neck. Dav had already bedecked Blizzard with ribbons before she started getting ready.

[Moo]

With a precise sweep of his wings, Cerrodalth backwinged and gingerly touched down beside a snow bank. He bent down and stretched out a foreleg to allow his Rider to dismount, and surveyed the icy landscape before them. He spoke slowly, and allowed his voice to properly enunciate his complete and utter disdain.

[smear:99330d]Remind me why you thought it [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]best to come here and not, I don't know, stay down south where it's warmer? I dare say it's colder here than Sky Mountain ever was.[/smear:b2b2b2]

J'ral dismounted with a practiced ease and adjusted his fur-lined jacket once he touched ground. He threw a wry smile at the old Chrome at his side and exhaled softly, warm breath pluming out in front of his face. If I remember correctly, you said something about "flying a mile in someone else's wings", which means attending the Gather. Mingling with our Northern neighbors and finding out what they know.

[smear:99330d]No, no, I take it back.[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] To compare it to Sky Mountain Weyr would be doing it a disservice.[/smear:b2b2b2] Cerrodalth snorted and shook himself free of falling snow, his hide glimmering despite its grey patches. [smear:99330d]It's actually colder[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] than Between. No wonder things are bad up here. Everyone's angry because it's freezing.[/smear:b2b2b2]

I'm pretty sure that's only you, you big hatchling. J'ral patted Cerrodalth's foreleg and briskly rubbed his hands together. Now then...I'll be inside if you need me. Keep an eye out for anything of interest. It does not hurt to be on your guard, even if this Weyr says they are our allies.

Cerrodalth glanced around and spied the resident Queen, the Ice who appeared to be more a part of the landscape than an actual dragon. He watched as others gathered around her, humans and colorful dragons alike, all vying for a close enough spot to hear her yarn. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to listen for a few moments, at least. As he moved across the way to sit before Temperanth, Cerrodalth reached out once more to his Rider.

[smear:64260e]Be safe and mind yourself. [/smear:64260e][smear:99330d]I will busy myself out here, and let you know if I hear anything of interest.[/smear:b2b2b2]

[Shoki]

((Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)))

Cyan bounced to one of the harpers closest to her, not noticing Kel’s brief stop with the guards. A short conversation later and she darted back to Kel. She was grinning.

“Looks like we are on after they are done with their set.” She pointed at the harpers she was talking to. “We don’t have to wait too long, they are about ready to start.” She looked around at the room they were in, and smiled. “So we can do whatever for a bit. What do you want to do? There is food, or I guess music will start in a bit, or we could go meet some people. Ooo, I think there is the Weyrwoman for Ice Stone.” She looked at the blond woman sporting the knots of an Icerider and looked interested. “Oh, or we could figure out what is with the harpers and blankets. Looks cozy.” Cyan was very much interested in done everything, so she couldn’t settle on any one thing at all. “What do you think?”

[Cait]

Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)

Ribbons galore! Even Snowball, Snowflake and Glimmer were sporting ribbons in blue and purple. The former was trying to pick at his and was currently being scolded by both his white sibling and the much larger Neon-Silver. There was a clatter from the other room followed by a curse and then a voice shouted. "Give me a second!" There was another crash and Blizzard tilted his head at the sound of his mistress crashing about in the bathing chamber. It wasn't anything new, really, Dav could be a little clumsy at times.

When she finally emerged, her now shoulder length hair was held back out of her face with a red ribbon, as curly and unruly as ever. She was wearing a blue gown that matched the color of Tiv's suit and was tailored to fit nicely to the hips then fall loosely around her legs. Then neck was scooped with ribbon work around it and the sleeves long and piped with red and purple. Currently, however, the decorated bodice of the gather gown was a bit loose and as she shuffled out, skirts gathered in her hand, the reason became apparent. The back was mean to be laced up with a thick red ribbon. "A little help?"

Turning her back to T'vax, evidence that neither of them were what they seemed became clear in the form of obvious burn scars that made a patchwork out of her back. Not all injuries could be completely healed by Lifewings afterall. Once he'd laced her up, the bow would be situated at the small of her back and the only hint left to the world that all was not as it seemed about the young couple was their mirror image scars tracing down their cheeks. Spinning back around on red-slippered feet, she rose up on her toes and kissed that scarred cheek with a grin. "Thank you. Now we're you saying we were going to be late?" She glanced at Blizzard and his red bow were still tied about his neck Ribbon seemed to be leaving everyone alone for now.

Why don't I get a ribbon? Are we going to go? Do I get to come? Niekolgoth was in a rather upbeat mood for the moment though Dav could feel the anxiety simmering below the surface. It would only take one little thing to trigger it and a full body flop from the dragon. So she smiled and sent him reassuring thoughts. "Yes, we'll all get to go. Maybe I can find someone to make a ribbon large enough for you, how would you like that?"

That would be nice I think. Then I would match all the little ones. I would say we should get one for Slinesteth as well, but I do not thing he would like that.

"I think you are quite right." Some might find it odd that she spoke to her dragon out loud, but it was a habit she only indulged in when she and T'vax were along with the boys. She felt odd thinking he could only hear one side of the conversation. She knew it would drive her absolutely insane.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Cait))

T’vax grinned and kissed Dav back. He’d gotten used to her scars; they no longer reminded him of the nightmare during which they had been acquired, or rather they only reminded him of the fact that both he and Dav had survived it, impossible as that had seemed at the time.

Focus on the party, he reminded himself, focusing tightly to make sure none of the thought bled over to Nieko. You don’t want to send Nieko into depression again.

“So we might well have been, if you had been longer,” he teased.

Why don’t I get a ribbon? Are we going to go? Do I get to come?

Tiv’s grin broadened. He rather thought that a bow could look good on a dragon, though he knew he would never get Slinesteth to tolerate the thing. Slinesteth’s answer was a mental snort, an answer which was immediately backed up by Nieko’s answer to Dav’s offer of having a ribbon made to fit the Purple-Grey.

“I think you’d probably look best in a red ribbon Nieko,” Tiv commented. It still felt awkward sometimes, talking to dragons aloud instead of with his mind, but he’d followed Dav’s example in this when they were alone. “What do you think Dav?” he asked.

As he spoke he was already walking towards the two dragons. Slin, despite being larger than Nieko by a decent margin, somehow managed to be placed such that anyone approaching would notice the Purple-Grey first, a rather skilled feat for one of the only Chrome dragons on Pern.

[smear:64260e]Be safe and mind yourself. [/smear:64260e]

T’vax’s head snapped up, and he focused in on the voice, reaching for the rest of the comment. [smear:99330d]I will busy myself out here, and let you know if I hear anything of interest.[/smear:b2b2b2]

Interesting…

I’ll ask around.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Shoki))

K’rad had the experience of suddenly being surrounded by words. It was something he was still getting used to, though frequent exposure to Cyan was helping. People in Igen had tended to be more quiet and serious, and his position there and later training by the syndicate had simply reinforced that tendency in his case. The first part of Cyan’s words made him blink. He hadn’t expected to be singing quite that soon, although it certainly simplified his timing enormously. He would definitely be visiting the library after the song.

“How’s about we go find out what’s up with the Harpers and the blankets?” he suggested. He wasn’t particularly hungry, and the absolute last thing he wanted to do was become personally known to — and therefore recognizable by — the Weyrwoman of anywhere. His job was complicated enough without deliberately seeking problems.

The Harpers looked like they were ready to do something though, and even if Harpers had trained memories for faces they still wouldn’t be likely to remember one more listener who was perfectly ordinary in all ways. Besides, it wasn’t like he was likely to be back here any time soon, and the Harpers were probably all from around here.

He shifted slightly, gesturing with his shoulder for Cyan to precede him slightly.

[SlasherV]

The Gather had been all most people could talk about pretty much since Deret arrived at the Weyr a few days beforehand. Of course the young man would love to go, but most people were hitching rides on friends’ or their own dragons. So after a day of various chores around the Weyr, assigned by the Candidate Master when he first arrived there, he found himself hovering on the edges of the bowl not far from his barracks, watching a few riders take off for the festivities, the setting light glinting off wings before the ‘blink’ Between.

”Oi! You there, you going to the Gather?”

Deret turned, meeting the gaze of an older to middle aged Rider, the man not quite dressed for the Gather yet. The young man shook his head, ”No, I’m not sure of a ride, sir.” Deret half-bowed, and couldn’t help but wonder what the man was getting at.

”Take this note to the Kitchens, and meet me back here, and I’ll give you a lift, I’m running late as it is.” With a broad grin, Deret snatched the slip of parchment and took off at a run. He would have to be quick, he’d have to grab warmer clothes and put them on before meeting back up with the rider.

Handing the note to a worker that glared at him slightly for bursting in, the youth spun on his heel and tore back towards the barracks. Bursting in, he scrambled into his things, throwing on clean clothes, layered with his jacket before darting back to the spot the Rider had originally hailed him. The man was waiting, now wearing different clothes as well, and beside him was a rather attractive Green. She was average sized, and peered curiously down towards the Candidate.

The Rider got on, Deret deftly climbing up after him, and they were off. Wings flapped, grabbing and scooping air to gain height, ”Ready?” As he nodded in response, the world vanished, everything going black, air so cold it seemed to almost burn. And then just as swiftly, the air was wet as well as cold, snow and ice glistening below them as they spiraled down.

Deret had never seen anything like it. They had gotten plenty of rain in Riverway, and even gotten snow a few times, but nothing even close to this frigid, white-blue landscape that stretched around them. Then they were on the ground, he slid off and thanked the Rider, who told him if he needed a ride back, find him, he planned to be there as long as possible.

With a grin and a nod, Deret walked to the obvious entrance, a smile curling his lips as gray-hazel eyes leapt from one thing to another. Collecting weapons at the door? No problem, he didn’t have any on him. He had even forgotten his small belt-knife in the scramble to get clothed and back outside. So much to see! He wandered the food vendors first, even though he wasn’t hungry yet.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((tag: SlasherV))

Munota was trying her absolute hardest to behave. She didn’t want her parents to forbid her coming with them next Turn. It was so hard though, just being here was exciting enough, what with dragonriders everywhere, and that was discounting the fact that this was her very first Turnover party. She’d had to promise not to do any number of things, but it had been worth it to be able to come. She looked over towards her parents, but they were making their way towards the Sr. Weyrwoman, and there was good-smelling food on those nearby tables. She was quite tall for her age, almost four foot, more than tall enough to reach the food on the tables.

Decided, she made her way over and acquired a nice sweet-roll and a couple pieces of meat. Free food was one of the best aspects of a Turnover Gather at the Weyr, at least according to a 6 Turn old. She turned and took a step away, only to nearly run into a man who was making for the tables. She slid to a stop, dark brown braid flopping against her back. “Sorry, sir,” she said, with a careful half-bow. It was how her father apologized to people, so it would obviously be appropriate.

[SlasherV]

((tag: Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)))

Food, food...The more he walked along the various platters and tables of food, the more he decided he was a bit peckish after all. But what to grab? He grabbed his favorite, of course. A fresh, hot, still steaming meatroll. Easy to eat, and he inhaled the savory aroma wafting off the pastry. Then something small-ish nearly bumped him and he glanced down at the girl.

"Oh, it's alright. I'm the one standing in the middle of the aisle." He glanced at the girl, about 4 ft, and guessed maybe she was 7 or 8. Another quick look around them and he blinked a bit, "Where are your parents?" He stepped aside from the aisle, though still standing with the girl, meatroll in one hand.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((tag: SlasherV))

Munota grinned. He seemed a friendly enough adult, and it wasn’t like anything was going to happen to her in a room full of dragonriders. In fact, he had a Candidate’s shoulder knot. That seemed odd, she thought Candidates were kids, not grown-ups. Maybe his dragon just hadn’t come yet. He inquired about her parents next, which was about what she’d expected. All adults wanted to know about her parents.

“They’re over there,” she waved a hand briefly towards where her parents were even now greeting the Weyrwoman. A Crimson firelizard appeared over her head, swooped down to look at her face, then turned to look at the man’s face before popping between. Three seconds later, a Crimson firelizard landed on the shoulder of the man who was even now straightening from a bow of greeting to the Weyrwoman, making his mid-calf length blue overcoat seem to gather about him of its own accord.

“That’s Dancer,” Munota confided. “He belongs to Dad.”

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((tag: Shoki))

Having left their daughter safely on the sidelines, Lord Munokhoi and Lady Edetta made their way over to Weyrwoman Hedara. Of course, they had to stop and talk to a few other people on the way over, so it took a little while. Finally, they made it over and, with perfect unison, bowed and curtsied greetings. “Our thanks for the invitation, Lady Hedara,” Lord Munokhoi said, with a slight grin.

Even as he straightened, Dancer suddenly reappeared back on his shoulder, sending images of Munota talking to somebody. The scene didn’t look dangerous to the firelizard, so Munokhoi just shot a quick glance over his shoulder to confirm his daughter’s relative location.

Relieved of watch duty briefly, Dancer chirped a greeting to Ivy.