[FEAST] To The Winner Go The Spoils

[Arcane]

A snowstorm is raging outside, but safe and warm inside Fort Weyr, it's time for a feast to welcome Fort's newest weyrling class!

[MothyCake]

Weyrling Fujin of Green Sativuth - Open

"You know, you would do well to be more social." Sativuth spoke in her normal tone, walking into the feast as the cold snow began to fall. Fujin sighed a bit. He really didn't like being social and that was why he was going to sit as far away from the other weyrlings as possible.

He really didn't care if it was a celebration for himself and the others who had impressed.
He was really not someone who wanted to constantly be in the spotlight.

He sighed as he moved to sit down, Sativuth sitting beside him. The green looked at him expectantly and Fujin just shot her a look, "Fine, if anyone approaches me, I'll talk to them, but I'm not going out of my way to do so." Sativuth just nodded, giving her approval to that response before moving to sit on all fours.

[Ezra]

Weyrling Elle of Blue Tredjeth - Open

Elle entered the feast, her blue at her side. She had left Munin and Aelius in her new living space to adjust to the larger amount of space they had now. But she and Tredjeth had a feast to attend of course and they arrived promptly at the appointed time. Elle had taken a few extra minutes to adjust her new haircut so her hair was all one even length and had a royal blue ribbon tied on the top to hold back her bangs.

She was actually in a dress today, of the same blue hue (lucky for her, she always loved blue and it took all the marks she had saved up for years to purchase this dress just for this occasion. She had it adjusted a few weeks before the hatching to adjust to her growing height and build. It was easily the prettiest clothing she owned. The warmer material also felt nice with the chill in the air outside and the winter storm setting in.

Looking around as they arrived, she scanned the room for her classmates and/or any family and friends that might have show up. Picking at the sleeve of her dress, she shifted her feet almost nervously. Tredjeth nudged her leg and Elle smiled, the gesture helped and she refocused and the smile popped back on her face. She had nothing to worry about, this was a celebration after all! Purpose back in her stride, she decided to wander the room, seeing if she might see some family or something. Maybe one of her classmates would want to chat.

[Windra]

Weyrling Lr'nia of Brown Bubovirith - Open

"Dudddeees, I gotta brooooown baby!" Lr'nia lacked couth. As always. Strutting into the dining hall like it was nobody's business - or more like everybody's business was her own business. And she had a license to do business. Business. But at least now she could wheel and deal with clean clothes and a swanky new cloak. All that was needed now was a wizard hat. Or a bow and quiver so she could pull off that roguish look that suited her so well. Awwwwww yissss. "Make way for me and Bubby ya bunch of losers, please and thanks!"

Is it really necessary to go on like that? It's a bit off-putting.

Bubovirith was looking positively dashing. Scrubbed and washed, waxed and spit-shined. His potato hide had a rugged glow about it and he no longer itched courtesy of the massive globs of oil worked rigorously into his moisture-starved skin. And he was a big boy. Lr'nia partially lamented how she couldn't carry him like a newborn into the dining hall without breaking her poor spine. He deigned instead to walk at her hip: side-by-side in a companionable way.

"Ehhhh, they'll be alright." Lr'nia waved a dismissive hand at the notion. "Or they won't. It's all good, I guess. But y'know, once that good grub hits the spot, everybody's gonna be in good spirits!" Crying shame about the alcohol, really. The ones like Br'on and Spensa could really use a stiff one. Might make them more likeable and loose. "You haven't lived until you've tried the spiced herdbeast! Great this time o' year, what with all the snow and stuff. I was really hopin' it was going to be a thunderstorm instead. I'm so forsking tired of snow."

They settled up with the others. Lr'nia had no qualms about forking a bunch of stuff onto her plate while Bubovirith looked on critically. He'd had his fill earlier. That's ... a lot. Ah ... well ... Enjoy it now, I suppose. Tomorrow you'll want to start eating lighter. I believe weyrling classes are meant to be physically exhausting for you riders, as well. A too-full stomach may have you heaving off on the sidelines.

Like it or not, Lr'nia was going to be forced to trim down a little. But food! "That's a tomorrow worry, Bub!"

--

A'ksei of Blue Amishuth - @ Safrey

Do treat her well, mine. She has such darling eyes! I quite wonder if her bonded is a charmer as well?

It was a great crime that the dining hall wasn't more expansive to allow dragons to enter. Whers had a great advantage over their winged cousins, being more reformed in size to go places their blood relatives could not. Amishuth had a great jealousy over that. So many people to look at, pretty faces to admire. The blue could only watch through A'ksei's eyes and not his own.

From the hatching ground, the bluerider invited to have Safrey join him. He even extended his arm in an offer to link while they walked. Sweet nothings uttered from him through winding passages. She certainly had the most glamorous smile!

"Would Freysk like to join you as well? I understand you mentioned she's not quite keen on social gatherings," he queried with a smile. He stepped back briefly, bowing his head and gesturing with a graceful sweep towards the long tables. Wherever she wanted to sit, he would follow! "Ahh, this feast smells perfectly delectable!"

[FirebrandPhlox]

Weyrling C'stanza of Garnet Ivalyth - Open

C'stanza made his way to the dining hall, huffing and sweating profusely as he hauled a sleepy Ivalyth on his shoulder. He had picked out a nicely embroidered tunic for the occasion, which was now stained with his own sweat and some dragon drool.

He made his way to a table, groaning loudly as he carefully laid Ivalyth down on a bench. The garnet yawned loudly, and drowsily gazed around the room. This is the feast you were so excited about? It does smell good, she said, sniffing at the array of food spread before them.

C'stanza collapsed into his seat, exhaling loudly. He dabbed at the sweat dripping down his forehead, knowing that he looked as frazzled as he felt. Not necessarily the first impression he wanted to make as a weyrling.

"Well, we're here now. Time to enjoy ourselves," he said with a tone that indicated it would be quite a while before he could enjoy himself. "Pass me that wherry, would you?" He asked the person sitting across from him.

[nineofswords]

Weyrling Br'on of Mesomelath - Open (interact at your own risk)

Br'on had long since picked out the clothes he would wear to the hatching. It was understated, but flattering, a nice looking tunic that was simple, something that he'd thought conveyed "Yes, I am a bronzerider now, but I'm still just a regular guy". That had all gone to shards, of course. He was staring at the tunic bitterly, desperately trying to work up the nerve to just not show up to the feast, but he knew that if he tried to duck out of it, his mother would track him down and drag him there by his ear.

He let out an aggravated sigh and dug into the pile of clothes for something else to wear. He wouldn't sully the tunic that had represented all his dreams of the future by wearing it to a hatching in honor of Mesomelath.

Probably for the best, the green agreed, reading his mind but completely missing the point in the sentiment. You're NOT just like the rest of them, after all. You're my rider, which means you're going places simply by association with me. You shouldn't wear something as simple as that silly tunic.[/b]

Luckily in Br'on's opinion, he didn't [i]have anything especially fancy, so he couldn't bow to the monster's wishes. But he also wasn't sure what properly conveyed that being at the feast was the last place he wanted to be. Could he get away with rags? No, his mom would be on him like a tick on a canine for a stunt like that. His robes were filthy and had bloodstains, and would draw an equal amount of disapproval.

He had a black shirt and pants that more or less matched and were relatively wrinkle-free. He pulled those on, deciding that they were a symbol of him mourning the life that should've been his, the life of a bronze rider.

How appropriate! You met me wearing all white, and now to celebrate my entrance into the world you wear all black. It's formal, yet doesn't outshine my brilliance in any way. An excellent choice, my Br'on.

Faranth, she was annoying.

Alright, come along, rider. We've left the people waiting long enough for my grand introduction to society.

"Like anyone's gonna care about yet another green," Br'on grumbled to himself under his breath and followed the green out to the dining cavern. He tried to slip in unnoticed, but since he was behind Mesomelath, he was blocked from going in when she reared up at the entrance to the cavern and let out a tiny, dragonet-sized roar, spreading her wings, showing off her gleaming, pristine hide. Fort Weyr! It is I, Mesomelath! I have finally graced you all with my illustrious presence. You maybe begin showering me with your praise and adoration!

Br'on dragged a hand down his face, wishing the ground would swallow him up. He bent down and scooped the green into his arms. "Will you please stop embarrassing me?" he hissed at her.

Aw, it's cute that you think you need my help with that! Mesomelath told him. She moved to nip at him, but stopped herself, looking around subtly to see if Brona was in eyeline. By the time she assured herself that the human woman couldn't see them, Br'on had gotten them far enough into the cavern that he could put her down by a seat. The green scrambled up onto a chair, making herself as large as possible, treating the chair like a throne. My admirers may now approach me, if they so choose. Gifts are also always appreciated. Br'on turned away from her, loaded a plate up with whatever was within easy reach, and basically tried to pretend like he didn't know the green as he miserably pushed food around on a plate, occasionally forcing himself to take a bite or two.

[GalaxyMir]

Safrey Of Green Freysk- A'ksei

I think I've found my one and only , Freysk! Safrey sighed, like a smitten damsel You must meet him, come accompany me tonight, it will do you good too to meet some new people!

Unsure... many people celebrating. Decide later... Safrey replied, far too cozy in her spot to even consider it yet. Let know if little ones there...
----

For Safrey, the best part of hatchings was the feast. What was more glorious and uniting than the celebration of new life and bonds? It was one of the few social events she could occasionally convince Freysk to join using the point of their shared loved for everything small and young.

Tonight was especially special, Safrey's heart had been captured by A'ksei, a handsome blue rider who she couldn't help but simply melt at his every compliment aimed towards her. She was more than eager to accept his invitation to the feast that night, even more convinced he was the one when he offered his arm to her like a gentleman.

Safrey smiled fondly, "I've asked her if she'd like to and it seems like she will soon with the promise of seeing the weyrlings! Freysk just is ... scared away very easily, you see? Quite the introverted wher!" she replied, curtly smiling and leading him by hand to a fairly empty table near the entrance, wishing to keep their intimacy "It is a shame that Amishuth cannot accompany you, you two make quite the striking pair! A handsome one if I may so..."

[Shadon]

Allina of Brown Donnelith at C'stanza

Allina slid the platter of wherry across the table to the man that had just plunked down, giving him and his hatchling an amused look. "It's quite good," she commented, looking down at her own mostly-eaten piece of meat before returning her attention to the man. While he was dressed up for the feast in a nice tunic that matched her elegant dress, he seemed rather more put-out than the other weyrlings coming into the feast. "Are you all right? You seem..." Allina searched for the right word, not wanting to insult him. "Displeased," she settled on.

"I'm Allina of Brown Donnelith. I don't believe we've met. And I certainlyhaven't met this little one." She peered across the table to try and carch a glimpse of the little garnet, enamored with the small peek she had gotten as the pair walked up. Allina was usually more shy about being the first to introduce herself to others, but these two looked quite friendly. Well, the man looked friendly and his dragon looked asleep. Which was both adorable and made Allina want know more about her immediately.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Weyrling C'stanza of Garnet Ivalyth - Allina

C'stanza gratefully accepted the wherry from the rider, who introduced herself as Allina. "Thank you!" He said with great emphasis as he piled meat on his plate. He then began to realize he should perhaps try and compose himself a bit and not act like an absolute mess in front of someone who could be a future wingmate. "I'm Ivalyth and this is C'stanza. Wait no. Other way around. I'm C'stanza, she's Ivalyth." He said, still completely flustered.

At the mention of her name, Ivaylth groggily raised her head and looked at the woman C'stanza was speaking to. Nice to meet you," she said with a large yawn. She rested her head on the table, eyelids drooping heavily. Why does the feast have to be so late? Couldn't they have held it in the morning? We're dragons, not whers... she trailed off, sleep claiming her once more.

C'stanza chuckled nervously. "I, uh, guess she gets really tired at night. Had to drag her here so she could meet everyone, but I'm not exactly sure how many people she'll manage to talk to. I'm sure many of them are just as lovely as yourself." He hoped no one was judging him for how his dragon was acting. People had to understand it was a big day for hatchlings, right? He quickly glanced around to see if any of his classmates' bondeds were also snoozing, but most of them seemed alert. Was his dragon defective?

"Is this normal?" He asked Allina, gesturing at Ivalyth's passed out form. "Does your dragon get exhausted like this?"

[Shadon]

Allina of Brown Donnelith - C'stanza

Allina didn't quite manage to hold in a giggle as C'stanza introduced himself and Ivalyth, even if it took him a couple of tries. She remembered the day that she had Impressed clearly. It had been great, but also very overwhelming. It was no surprise to her that other people found it overwhelming, too. "It's a pleasure to meet the both of you, as well," she told them enthusiastically before taking a bite of her feast food.

Her eyes lit up as the little hatchling lifted her head and put it on the table. Allina was already enamored. "Well," she started, thinking about why the feast might be so late. "I guess that the Weyr just really wants to celebrate your hatching on the day it happens and not wait for another day. That way it's not less special." Even though Allina isn't actually sure if that's the real reason or not, Allina tries to fill her words with confidence. It seems like the kind of answer that would make sense. And she can't let the hatchling down!

"Well, that's all right! That just means everyone will get to see how cute she is when she's asleep. You can still meet the other hatchlings and introduce her later, can't you?" Allina suggested. After a second, she started to wonder if that was a good suggestion though. Surely C'stanza would have already thought of it if it was. "I mean, not that you have to." There, now if it didn't work out, he hopefully wouldn't be mad at her.

C'stanza's question about Ivalyth distracted Allina from her short-lived insecurities. She leaned in closer to the table and peered at the little dragon from multiple angles, trying to get a good look at her. "Hmm. Well, Donnelith is usually only really tired after a lot of exercise. But he always loves dozing off in the sun just because he enjoys it. I'm sure that hatching is a lot of work for little dragons, though. I mean, all they've done until now in their life is be in an egg. And suddenly they have to break it open? And learn all about the world? That seems pretty tiring to me. I wouldn't be worried," she says with a shrug.

[FirebrandPhlox]

C'stanza of Garnet Ivalyth - Allina

Of course the first person he met at the feast would laugh at him. She didn't seem like she was trying to be malicious about it, but it still wounded his fragile ego. It couldn't be a good sign for his tenure as a rider if he was being giggled at and his dragon couldn't stay conscious for more than a few minutes at a time. He tried not to reveal how flustered he was, but his face was red and sweat forming at his brow.

"I guess I can still introduce her later. I just don't understand why she's passed out like this but all her siblings seem completely fine!" His eyes darted around the room, and sure enough, he couldn't see any other dragons passed out at the table like toddlers kept up beyond their bedtime. He looked back to Ivalyth who was starting to drool on the table.

He tried to casually wipe up the mess she was making while carrying a conversation with Allina so she wouldn't notice what he was doing. "I guess it would be pretty exhausting to do all that. Humans don't have to work nearly so hard to get born, eh? Granted, I can't remember that far back. Babies sleep a lot, don't they? Maybe dragon babies sleep a lot too? You said yours likes sleeping in the sun, was he like that as a baby too?" He asked eagerly, borderline frantic.

[Shadon]

Allina of Brown Donnelith - C'stanza

Allina wasn't sure what she did, but C'stanza was suddenly redder than ever. Did she embarrass him? How? Or maybe it was just hot in the dining hall? There were a lot of people in here, though she didn't feel overly warm.

She looked around the dining hall for the other hatchlings. They did mostly seem awake. "Well, every dragon is different. Just like every person!" Allina tried to reassure C'stanza. He did seem awf-ully worried about this. She put her chin in her palm, thinking deeply now. "If you want, we could go and ask the other candid- er, weyrlings if their hatchlings are tired? That way, you'd know if it really is just Ivalyth, or if they just look more awake. And you could make some new friends!" The more she talked about that idea, the more Allina liked it. Surely C'stanza would calm down if he got to know the others more, right? Well, he probably knew some of the other weyrlings already, but not their dragons.

"Yeah, exactly! I mean, our mothers have to work pretty hard, but the babies don't. And we're still really tired, right." Allina certainly didn't remember being a baby. She did remember her parents making her take a lot of naps when she was little, though. That thought was distracting enough that she didn't notice Ivalyth's drooling or C'stanza cleaning it up. "Oh, yes. Donnelith always liked sleeping in the sun. It was a lot warmer at Ista, too, so he did it even more than here. I don't think you have anything to worry about." Allina said this with all the confidence of someone who had no idea what they were talking about.

[Windra]

A'ksei of Blue Amishuth - @ Safrey

Sweet, beautiful Safrey. With her lovely flowing hair and pretty little freckles ... A'ksei had no qualms about being pulled towards a table in the back away from the others. It would give him the prime opportunity to woo the lass. And he had several ideas on how to do just that.

"I'm certain she's a delight," he crooned softly. "Ahh, yes, best to sit back here. Away from the noise. I do hope it won't affect your beloved so." He set upon the drinks, pouring Safrey a glass of hot spiced wine and ... doubling back, getting a mug of k'lah for her as well. "I don't want to assume you drink. Some relish in alcohol during festivities, but its hold on the body can be ... uncomfortable. I'm not terribly fond of it myself."

He chuckled deeply at her sentiments about his blue and could feel his partner fluster from the heights of the hatching grounds. Amishuth was still there, chatting the ears off the other dragons that deigned to stay where it was warmer. Such a social butterfly.

"You know I've often wondered what he would be like, were he human? Going about flirting with every beautiful lady he laid eyes upon, no doubt."

--

Wherling! Retsuko of Green Tsusk - Open

Quietly, Retsuko creeped in. There was a bundle tightly wrapped in her arms with what was meant to be her candidacy robe for the day she would stand to Impress a dragon. A day that never came, by her own volition. And that was ... that was something she found she ought to be proud of. Holding back on that desire presented her with another chance to go a different route. A way to heal. A way to learn.

Tsusk was small enough to hold without straining. He added no real extra weight to her body at this size and Retsuko realized this was the smallest he was ever going to be and that she may as well enjoy it for as long as possible. "I won't be able to hold you like this as you age, you know," she whispered aloud, uncertain if Tsusk heard her. His whirling blue orbs reflected his coherence to her statement, reassuring her that he was indeed listening. "You'll grow fast. Within roughly two turns you'll be fully grown. Probably standing taller than I which, uh ... isn't that huge a feat I guess. Considering ... short." And her eyes glanced down at her own stature while picking out a table tucked off to the side.

Size not matter. Heart only. And food - my belly hurts. Thankfully Tsusk was patient enough to be cleaned, but his ravenous appetite could not be ignored for a second longer. The dragon hatchlings ate immediately after bursting from their shells. This wherling had not had that fortune and his stomach growled its forlorn unhappiness. Meat. Smells wonderful here!

Retsuko sat him down on the table long enough to fetch exactly what he needed. The green scarfed greedily, lost in the moment while the reheaded lady appreciated the swirls of his forest green hide.

[FirebrandPhlox]

C'stanza of Garnet Ivalyth - Allina

"Oh, no no no. No need to go talk to the other werylings. Not right now." C'stanza quickly said, face still flushed. He glanced around at his classmates, trying to see if any of them had noticed his sleeping dragonet. He already had a reputation for being a coward amongst them, he didn't need to embarrass himself further. If his dragon was defective, that was the last thing he needed his classmates to know. "I mean, I'll have plenty of time to get to know them! It's not like I'm going to be seeing you every day for the next several turns though. We should enjoy this opportunity to get to know each other better."

He ate nervously as Allina spoke about Donnelith, shooting quick looks over at Ivalyth, who was thoroughly passed out. "Well if yours was also sleepy under certain circumstances, maybe I'm fine. Maybe." He wasn't sure of his words, even as he said them. He could only hope that this was just a result of the hatching. Ivalyth had come out of the egg pretty awkwardly. Maybe she used more energy than her siblings had.

His ears perked up at the mention of Ista. "You're from Ista? What a coincidence! I'm from Ista too! Faranth, I do miss the warmer weather sometimes. It's not that bad here, but it's no Ista, let me tell you that." He said with a chuckle. "So why are you here at Fort, then?"

[Shadon]

Allina of Brown Donnelith - C'stanza

Allina settled down as C'stanza shot down her idea. She'd been practically ready to jump out of her seat, but he seemed to really want to stay here, so she wasn't going to leave him! Plus, it sounded like he really wanted to get to know her. Which was nice. "That's true! I won't have classes with you. If you want though, we can always spend time together as friends. I didn't realize you already like me so much you wanted to see me every day." She had no idea she was wildly misunderstanding what he meant. Allina was just happy C'stanza already thought of them as friends, since she had been starting to worry things maybe weren't going so well. "I agree! So, what made you want to become a dragonrider?" She asked, launching right into getting to know him better.

"I'm sure you're completely fine. Dragons do have to sleep sometime, after all. Maybe she'll be awake later when they're sleeping, too. I mean, if you're really worried, you could take her to see a healer. I don't think you need to, though. She looks like a precious baby dragon to me." If she were a hatchling, Allina didn't think she'd enjoy getting toted to a healer on her first day of being alive. But if it made C'stanza feel better, it couldn't hurt. Probably. Ivalyth seemed like a nice dragon, so Allina would just assume she cared about her bonded.

Seeing C'stanza seize on the topic of Ista made Allina really glad she brought it up. "Really! I wonder if we had any overlap there. When did you come here?" She asked, excited to have found someone who understood where she came from. "Okay, so- I was actually *born* in the Fort area, but I was Searched by a rider from Ista. I spent time there as a candidate, weyrling, and rider, and then got a bit homesick. It's strange, because I am somewhat familiar with the area, but Ista felt much more like home after all that time." C'stanza didn't need to know the whole truth. Not yet, anyways.