[DRAGON DAY] A Badly Needed Occasion

[Arcane]

Semaca Weyr has pulled out all the stops for this Dragon Day. It will be spectacle to remember, with aerial tricks, never-before-seen Semacan dishes and earnest hopes to please, please find more candidates to fill our too-empty-barracks.

[FirebrandPhlox]

"These Semacans can really throw a party, huh?" Phelps said excitedly. The ship he worked on had spent better part of the last turn running constant voyages between Semaca and the northern continent. Any chance to relax was welcome, even more so since the captain had agreed to stay docked so the crew could enjoy the festivities.

Phelps had already helped himself to some locally made wine, and was now perusing the food stalls that were displaying all sorts of foods he had never seen before. Fruits, vegetables, game birds, fish, all made into a dizzying array of dishes that was truly worthy of the name smorgasbord. He happily sipped his drink while deciding what he should sample first.

"What have we got here?" He asked of a vendor, pointing at the beautifully displayed wares.

[EW-NA]

Lucheena of White Fauxpawth

---

Lucheena!! Lucheena!! Look – Look-Look!!

Fauxpawth scrambled herself up one of the dismantled ship masts, going as far out on the outer most bit for a better look. The wood gave a displeased groan, but held firm under the tiny White's weight, even as she curled her tail to steady herself. Fauxpawth let her eyes greedily take in all the colors and sights of the celebration.

What is it, Lucheena? Is it a nameday? Did something special happen that there's a party?

“Poppy says it's called 'Dragon Day',” the White's smaller rider corrected, doing her own bit of climbing on some forgotten crates. Being higher always offered a better view~ “He said the port was talking aaall about it. To get candidates for the weyr and things--”

Things?---What things? Weyr-things? Do they all do this? Did you get a party, Lucheena? I think everyone would sign up to be a candidate if they got a party this fun looking!

“I didn't get a party,” Loo replied, quite dismayed and almost frustrated sounded. “A dragon and rider just said I could be one—and it wasn't even at a Gather!”

[Arcane]

Francesca

Semaca Weyr was exactly what Francesca had needed, she thought, as she breathed in the fresh sea air. This far away from the northern continent, no one had heard of Bridgerton Hold or cared that she had once been of its ruling bloodline. No one knew her name or her parents' names or her siblings' names.

For the first time since she had grown old enough for her mother to dream of her marriage, she was simply Francesca.

Her mother had cried, when Francesca told her she needed to go. But how could she stay? Her mother already mourned that she would never see Eloise or Daphne wed. If Francesca stayed, she would have to see the disappointment in her eyes every day, when Francesca too denied her the love story she so longed for.

Her mother had bargained, begging her to go to Fort, with her siblings. At Fort, Francesca might be free to love who she wished, but she would be her siblings' younger sister, just as she had been in childhood. She knew herself well enough to know she would not be able to resist falling back into their orbit.

She needed room to breathe, to find herself, and who she wished to be, if not a lady in her mother's image.

She had that at Semaca.

And there was joy too. For the first time at her life, she could stand to the side of the gather, with no one urging her to perform. She could watch the dragons fly and sip her lemonade and listen to the music.

Unfortunately, the music was not especially good. The tempo was wrong and the key was off, making the solemn Ballad of Moreta sound disconcertingly upbeat.

Francesca frowned and looked for somewhere else to stand- not so poorly bred as to openly insult the musician.

[nineofswords]

F'lin of Green Eraelth - Francesca

This was one of the most spectacular Dragon Days Semaca had ever thrown. Even F'lin, with his poor vision, could appreciate how much effort had gone into this particular day, both through his own eyes and Eraelth's. These occasions also held a special place in F'lin's heart, though, as he'd never thought he would've been deemed acceptable as a candidate, but he'd been searched at one of these very occasions. It had been the first step towards impressing his dear, sweet, precious -

Think I'm gonna be sick if you keep waxing poetic and nostalgic, the very green in question grumped at F'lin privately. He just grinned in her general direction, pleased as always to get any kind of (affectionate) rise out of her. But he did as she asked and instead turned his attention back to the here and now.

"What a party, don't you think?" he asked, turning to his nearest neighbor. He could make out her general silhouette if not her knots. "I think this is the biggest celebration we've had so far! Everyone's pulling out all the stops this time!"

[Arcane]

Francesca- F'lin

Francesca smiled politely at the dragonrider and his green. She had seen dragons before, both at Semaca and at Fort when she attended her siblings' hatchings, but never so many this close.

It was easy to see, gazing at their colorful hides and multi-faceted eyes, how they had become the muse for so many harper's songs.

In addition to their roles as saviors of Pern, they were undoubtedly beautiful. This one's hide was as rich as the Semacan forests. Francesca resisted the urge to stare, when the dragon had done nothing to invite gawping beyond existing and being lovely.

As Francesca had decided to wear a dress today, and a dragonrider far outranked common weyrfolk, she dropped both dragon and rider a proper curtsey. Weyr manners, at least among weyrfolk, were more casual than hold manners, but she had not yet spent enough time around dragonriders who were not her siblings to know the correct proprieties.

The gesture had the additional benefit of giving her time to think before she spoke, to hopefully avoid tripping over her own tongue.

"The festival is most impressive, dragonrider," Francesca said, "I have never attended a Dragon Day, but I imagine any Lord would be proud to host a Gather this...lively."

She winced as the harper hit yet another bum note. She would not tell a dragonrider the music was bad. She had been raised better than that.

[nineofswords]

F'lin of Green Eraelth - Francesca

F'lin rubbed the back of his head a little self-consciously as the other person dipped into a courtesy, feeling a little self-conscious. Most people didn't stand on ceremony too much at Semaca, and that went doubly in the infirmary where most people were too sick, injured, or worried over a loved one for that kind of stuff anyway, particularly where F'lin was concerned. He wasn't a healer, after all.

But when she called him dragonrider, and even though it was true, it was a bit more than he could take. "Oh, it's just F'lin. I'm only barely out of weyrlinghood." That wasn't strictly true, he'd been in the Healer's wing for a while now, but Eraelth had only just recently turned two turns. She was still just a baby! Eraelth let out a disgruntled rumble. I am not, she grumped.

"Wait, this is your first Dragon Day?" F'lin asked excitedly. "You have to visit the food stalls. There's all kinds of weird things you can try, all kinds of delicacies in these cute little bite-sized portions so you know whether or not you'll like them when you see them again. Oh, and there's all kinds of trinkets, and there's this one stall with the most vibrantly-colored cloth you've ever seen! Have you been to any of those yet? If not, I can show you around a bit!"

Eraelth sighed and gave F'lin a nudge with her head. Give her a second to breathe. Also to tell you her name, maybe?

"Oh, right, sorry," F'lin said with a self-conscious laugh. "Sunshine here's reminding me I didn't ask your name yet."

I am Eraelth, the green said, projecting to Francesca's benefit too, since she (rightfully) didn't trust F'lin to give her name out properly.

[Agenothree]

Al'yra of Bronze Hjalmarth | Phelps

Dragon Day. It was Semaca's biggest celebration, a day that rivaled every damn festival up North that Al'yra could recall from her youth. Ships made port, allowing crew members and Weyr locals socialize like it was an everyday occurrence. A full spread of food, both items she could easily recognize from points across Northern Pern and Semaca's own unique creations, all sorts of tasty and tempting treats to liven things up. And that said nothing about dragons flying above, performing aerial stunts to entertain eager crowds of new faces.

And she forsking loved it. Semaca was full of activity and life, and it was at its heart Al'yra would be. Though Hjalmarth was a touch too big and bulky to perform up above, that didn't mean she wouldn't attend Semaca's wonderful festival. For some reason, he had wanted to accompany them himself, though he took no joy in his surroundings as others did. As Al'yra gorged herself on good food and squinted at wares on display, Hjalmarth was observing his surroundings in a different sense; in some way, her joy was his joy, which was enough.

"Would you lighten up?" Al'yra grumbled at him behind a mouthful of expertly seasoned wherry meat, beginning to weave her way through more merchant stalls. Hjalmarth snorted, but said nothing. Finding herself squinting at some...somethings being sold by a trader she didn't recognize, she was less interested in what wares she saw and more in who she noticed also perusing what was available. Hjalmarth was curious as well, which was quite odd for him, but she didn't think much of it.

"Hey, stranger." Al'yra was still gnawing on her wherry leg as she greeted Phelps, so much so that Hjalmarth saw fit to interject. Don't speak while eating, he corrected, his voice stern. Grumbling, Al'yra complied, but rolled her eyes at her company. "Dragons, am I right?" she joked, recognizing he wasn't a local and didn't really strike her as someone who saw a lot of dragons, so she did her best to put him at ease.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Phelps - Al'yra

"Oh, hello!" Phelps greeted the unfamiliar voice, turning to see who had spoken to him. He only glanced at the short blond who had addressed him before noticing the massive bronze dragon standing behind them. His jaw dropped slightly, he couldn't help it. He had never seen a dragon quite this close before, only at a distance or in the skies.

"I can't say I know the feeling," he said, quickly trying to recover from the shock. The dragon was magnificent. Massive, imposing, but also beautiful, glimmering in the tropical sunlight like lights on the waves. A nervous smile played at his lips, but his eyes didn't stray from the dragon as he spoke. "I haven't had much experience with dragons. Not a whole lot of them out on the open seas, y'know? Are they all this big?"

[Agenothree]

Al'yra of Bronze Hjalmarth | Phelps

Al'yra grinned, visibly pleased by Phelp's reaction to seeing Hjalmarth. To his credit, Hjalmarth regarded Phelps cordially, his body language speaking to his calm nature. "That look on your face says as much!" Al'yra laughed. Don't torment him, Hjalmarth chided. But she didn't tease her company long, growing a touch more serious as she looked up at her bronze, clearly proud. "Not all of them are as big as Hjalmarth here, no," he said in answer to Phelp's question. "One, he's a bronze, but he's still pretty big for one. Other colors, except golds, usually range smaller." Walking casually to her dragon's leg and resting a shoulder against him, her grin mellowed into a smirk. "Al'yra and Hjalmarth of Semaca Weyr, at your service," he introduced them both. I am as pleased to meet you as Al'yra, Hjalmarth himself added. Might we know your name?

[FirebrandPhlox]

"Phelps," he responded simply, still looking up at the dragon. Al'yra was little more than an afterthought in his mind, Hjalmarth was so large and impressive. He looked strong too. The way he spoke was peculiar to Phelps. A clear voice as if he was speaking, but only heard in his mind, not by his ears.

"So what exactly is it like, being a rider and dragon pair? I've heard the old Harper ballads, but I've never gotten the chance to talk to a dragon before." His eyes gleamed with childlike wonder as he slowly broke into a grin. "Is it fun to fly? I bet it makes standing in the crow's nest on the open sea feel like playing with a child's toy boat in the bath."

[Agenothree]

Al'yra of Bronze Hjalmarth | Phelps

Hjalmarth nodded at Phelp's answer, seeming to approve, though he let Al'yra continue in his stead; she spoke much better than he did. "Well, you've always got company, that's for sharding sure." Al'yra decided Phelps didn't need a watered-down or careful answer, grinning as they spoke. "Once you're bonded, you and your dragon share thoughts, feelings, pretty much everything under Rukbat. Communication between dragon and dragonrider is easy, seeing as it's all telepathic. In that sense, it's also easy for Hjalmarth to give me an earful about something or other, but he means well." Hjalmarth huffed a snort. Looking up at him, Al'yra smiled at him, a little softer than her usual grin. "But no matter how I joke about it, had I not Impressed Hjalmarth, I wouldn't be who I am today," she added.

And she still could see some improvement, Hjalmarth drily commented. Al'yra rolled his eyes. "Not everyone is so lucky to get a chance to Stand, and fewer still are chosen," they went on. "It's a once-a-lifetime experience, really." At Phelp's question about flying, her smile widened. "And so's flying! Let me tell you, my first time flying Hjalmarth was like nothing I ever felt. Of everything about being a dragonrider, flying's my favorite." Looking about conspiratorially, her grin curved into a smirk as she lowered her voice, as though she was suggesting something quite cheeky. "Tell you what, come find me later, once I get my extra straps, and Hjalmarth and I'll give you a quick jaunt about Semaca. How's that sound?"

Hjalmarth will not put a non-Candidate at risk, Hjalmarth tartly relayed to Al'yra, tail twitching. Come on! she loudly countered. I said I'd bring straps! What more do you want?

[FirebrandPhlox]

Phelps finally looked away from the magnificent bronze for a few moments as Al'yra spoke to him. The rider spoke candidly as far as he could tell, and he appreciated someone being straightforward instead of the usual duplicitous talk he experienced on the ship.

"You feel everything the other does? Seems like that would be hard, having another voice in your head all the time." He once again looked up at Hjalmarth, who did strike an imposing figure against the bright Semacan sun. To be mentally intertwined with such a majestic creature was impossible for him to imagine.

"Are you serious about flying?" He asked excitedly, like a child being given a present. "You better be serious, because I would absolutely love to give it a try!"

[Agenothree]

Al'yra of Bronze Hjalmarth - Phelps

Al'yra nodded confirmation. "Sometimes," she admitted, though her smirk didn't budge from her face. "But we're trained in weyrlinghood to block each other. Essentially pick and choose what we share, more or less. Part of communication skills, building a healthy relationship, all that." As Phelps looked at him again, Hjalmarth regarded him quietly. Perhaps he was searching for something in Phelps, a confirmation to his suspicions, an interest he rarely found in humans.

At Phelp's reaction to her offer of flying, Al'yra grinned. "Of forsking course, I'm serious!" they exclaimed in answer, though Hjalmarth cut in before they could go on. It is as I thought, Al'yra. Al'yra shifted his focus to his dragon, though his face didn't reflect such a change. What's as you thought? she asked. Don't play a fool, he countered. It's as clear to you as it is to me: Phelps has potential. I would be proud to see him Stand on Semaca's sands. Relay as much.

Al'yra blinked. Hjalmarth didn't Search, not often. It meant he had to find a person's merit, where he often found none. So for Phelps to catch Hjalmarth's interest and earn a favorable outcome, he had to give very strong potential. Plus, Al'yra liked his energy. Semaca needed it, and all he needed was Hjalmarth's confirmation before he said something. "Say, Phelps," Al'yra added, her smirk softening a little. "Want to give something else a try too?"

[FirebrandPhlox]

Phelps was only expecting a chance to try some good food and maybe see some aerial stunts from a distance. A promise from a rider that he would get to take a ride on their dragon was much more than he expected from the festivities. He would certainly have to brag about it to his crewmates, after he got the ride of course. One would hope that a rider of Pern had a bit more honor and willingness to keep their word than the average pirate did.

"What else are you suggesting?" He sipped at the wine he was holding. He already had the chance to meet a dragon up close and the word he would get taken flying later. What else did Al'yra have in mind? Maybe there was a particularly good vendor selling spirits or food they were about to recommend.