Day of the Gar Winter Celebration

Dinner/Dance at Gar

The faint sound of falling stones announce the rather.. diminutive girl's entrance as she peers quietly into the gardens, tucking a strand of darkened hair seemingly self-conciously behind one of her ears. Her gait is slow and shuffled as she moves slowly down the path combining with her ghastly posture and cast-down eyes makes the would-be attractive girl seem almost stereotypically a drudge.. if, y'know she was a lazy one who was ambling around. Ral' looks about herself for a moment before deciding to do nothing at all, for the moment at lest.

Mireilla stands at the edge of the cobblestone path holding her things and looking only slightly disheavled from her long wagon ride.

Briana gestures back towards the stables "My pony...she brought me...I make her stop because I'm /loooost/..." She starts crying again, but is starting to settle down. At least she wasn't ignored.

"Narika is fine, she's adapting to weyr life quicker then we'd thought." And something of an indulgent smile crosses P'renn's lips before it slips away behind his glass of Gar white. The small golden creature on his plate quietly scurries out, trailing mashed tubers and seasonings before finding some place to sprawl and sleep. It's a shame, really.

Bobby Flay blinks in from ::between::!

Naylia apologizes quietly to those at her table as she quickly gets to her feet and heads towards Briana. "I see. And where are you from?" she asks, giving the girl an encouraging smile.

Zenethen is working on his pasta slowly, once and a a while giving a noodle to one of the flitters in turn. When he hits a bone in the middle of a wherry breast, he pulls one of his own daggers from a leg sheeth and slices clean through it. The dagger itself not to impressive, but it is definatly really sharp.

Heron strolls in fashionably late, nodding cheerful greetings and pointedly /not/ catching his mother's eye. He does perk up a bit at the mention of his sister's name, pausing for a quick, appraising glance at the young 'rider. "I thought she'd be here today, actually," he remarks mildly, giving P'renn a smile as he passes. He spots Naylia and smiles, but doesn't speak to her, since she's evidently busy.

Watching the exchange between Naylia and the little girl, Shanel will just let Naylia this. Shanel leans back in her chair. A young aprentice the know of the StarCraft appears at Nel's shoulder whispering in her ear. Absolutly not." A stern note in her voice.

Briana gives Naylia her wide-eyed look that just says: Pity me, because I'm cute. "High Reaches...I'm staying with my cousin there. She gave me my pony." Sticking her lower lip out as far as she can, she sniffles and looks up at Naylia. "I wanna go home."

Ralelle seems to be a bit relieved at another, rather dishevelled look-ing girl trounces upon the scene before the gardens, giving her a curious glance before Heron undoubtably steals it. Then she hears the child crying and moves as if to assist, but seeing that she is already in good hands, she falls back, drifting off towards Mireilla.

Naylia's eyes widen slightly as she peers at the girl. "You rode your pony from High Reaches to Ista?" she questions Briana. "Um... are you sure?"

Briana shakes her head as she peers up at Naylia. "There this boat...and Middy..she get on..and..and..."

P'renn looks up as Heron comes by and nods in good humor. "Oh, she'll show up I'm sure, she's been rather busy lately, what with new wing assignments and all that. Worry not Heron, I'm sure your sister will come to pay her respects." And with a twinkle, the brownrider winks and offers a seat at his current table. "How've you been? I haven't seen you since the hatching."

Master Janlis sneers down at the apprentice, who has failed to act as she was told. "Mireilla, that" she points in a nearly rude fashion "is Naylia. Please ask her where she needs for the harpers to set-up for dancing, and don't dawdle girl!

Naylia simply nods a couple times to the Briana, her smile set firmly in place as she straightens. "Well, we could send a message to your cousin. Perhaps she can come to get you," the woman offers, glancing around quickly for any who might be able to help with this. But the surrounding bakers are quite busy serving up the main course, and the others seem busy eating the main course.

Briana sniffles and wipes her nose on her hand. "What about Middy...she can't stay..she has to come too!" Giving a huge sigh, she slumps her shoulders and tells Naylia "I sorry I'm such a bother."

Zenethen eats quietly, feeding the flitters loungeing on his shulders, one of them bearing a message tube. He finishes off his glass of wine and motions a drudge over for a refill. "Thank you sir.

Moss chirps softly and nuzzles Bri's cheek
Snake> Images from Moss suggest: << It's ok. >>

Heron gratefully takes the chair, since it will surely save him the lecture he'd get it he sat down near Natch. Or worse, some well-meant meddl...erm, /introductions/. "Quite well," he replies to P'renn, remembering to ask, "And how is Cinestioth faring? We're busy as always, although I suppose I could manage to get to the Weyr every now and again. Much easier for Narika to come here, eh?" He chuckles and reaches to fill his plate.

"Well, I'm sure we'll figure out something or other," Naylia assures Briana. "Now... enjoy the party. I'll see what I can do." Then the woman begins to head up towards the Hold, presumably to send a firelizard to 'Reaches to find Slippa, requesting that she come rescue her charge.

Shanel nods to everyone surround the table as she quietly follows one errant young Starries wobbling trail. Shanel disappears behind some large rose bushes, several cries of dismay are heard only moments later followed the apearance of several very charganed looking appies and one very annoyed journeywoman.

Naylia softly treads to the Hold Field.

P'renn is used to female attention due to his status, but even he is surprised by the sudden wash of looks coming from various female types as Heron joins him. Muse. "Glad to hear, Cinestioth has eaten his fill today and remains in high spirits." P'renn cranes his neck back, searching the Hold until the fireheights are found and a distinctly huge lump of brown is observed. "He seems to be making fine use of your hospitality." A smile is sent Heron before the young man nods in aquiescence. "It certainly is easier, but things have been demanding up at the Weyr recently, what with the graduation and thread, we've barely time to eat between drills and naps." P'renn sips at his wine quietly, the rider giving a sigh of approval. "I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Gar vintage, how're the vineyards doing this turn?"

Mireilla makes her way carefully with her instruments to stand behind the chair that was indicated and wait respectfully as she watches the lady in question leave, and looks around the table while Master Janlis appropriates a glass of wine from a drudge and sits in the nearest spot to the entry.

Daina walks in from the Hold Field.

Daina scampers in to the party, looks schocked to see all the people, very startled, the look of a frightened animal crosses her face for a moment before she regains her posure. Well as much as any five-year-old can have. She spots who she seems to be looking for, and walks over to the other Weyr brat, "Hi Briana." is said with a bright smile.

Theseus blinks in from ::between::!

Briana blinks and turns to look at Daina "What are /you/ doing here?! You get lost too?" She is very shocked and surprised, and her six-year-old mind can't comprehend where Daina came from.

Daina calls to Theseus, who flies over and lands on her shoulder. Daina eyes widen in sheer horror, "You're /lost/!" She cries, "I followed you...I thought you knew where you were going! I was so bored, so I followed...I didn't know you were going to go and get lost." she seems on the verge of tears, obviously she hasn't had the time to adjust to the news like the other girl has, "I guess I am lost then..." she sniffles.

Heron seems oblivious to any female attention as he continues blithely on the subject of draconic health. "Very glad to hear it indeed, and I hope things quiet down for you." You know, 'just' Threadfall and all that. And he straightens with obvious pride at the mention of the vineyards. "We've had a wonderful Turn. In fact..." He frowns and gets to his feet. "Oh, shards. I've forgotten. Excuse me, P'renn. I do hope you enjoy the rest of the dinner." With further hasty excuses, Heron beats a hasty retreat in the direction of the vineyards.
Heron walks to the Hold Field.

Briana hits Daina on the arm "You not supposed follow! I didn't mean to get lost. Stupid pony make me!" Crossing her arms, she pouts and glares at Daina.

Ralelle walks to the Hold Field.

Daina grimaces as she's hit, "That's not nice! First you make me lost by wandering around for so many days. And then you hit me." Tears start, a flood of them. "I'm hungry!" is cried suddenly and the tears stop, obviously there are more pressing matters than panicing at the moment, "Is there food around here?" she thought she heard someone say dinner.

P'renn shakes his little boo-tay to the Hold Field.

Master Janlis borrows an eating utensil and gently taps her glass in a short rythmic pattern then motions the frozen girl toward Natch with a glare.

Mireilla moves towasrd Holder Natch.

Zenethen licks the rest off his fork, then sets his eating wares on the plate, letting his flitters attack it to lick it clean. Hopefully a lazy drudge doesn't consider it a clean plate and leave it there..

Shanel goes home.

Zenethen sits back and crosses his arms across his chest, looking around at what other things are happening around the gardens.

Briana cries too "I didn't make you lost! You make you lost!" Glancing around, she thinks about food too. Scrambling over to the table, she grabs a little bit of this and a little bit of that, eating as she goes.

Daina takes a likewise suit, ducking under the table and reaching up and snatching things off peoples plates as she goes, hoping not to get caught, she's actually quite good at it, but she's five certainly someone will adventually catch her. MmmmmM food is good. "You make you lost! And me lost!"

Briana yells at Daina, hysteria starting to take effect. Throwing a bit of food at the girl, she tells her "I'm lost! You followed! You are stupid!"

Daina growls, the whole problem of being lost and days and days from their home at high reaches is forgotten, food was thrown and insults followed suite. That won't do. Too many times in too few days. She scrambles at the girl at top speed, mouth wide open, and teeth come nashing down but if they hit there mark in their made rush isn't known right at first.

Briana screams "She bit me!" Crying, she pulls her arm back and stares at it. Looks worse than it is, but she's only six. Bri turns her eyes to Daina "I /hate/ you! You're mean!"

Moxilin pitter patters in from the Hold Field.

Zenethen has probably gotten lost in thr crowd by now and makes his way to the hold to change into somthing more comfortable.

Naylia softly treads in from the Hold Field.

Zenethen strides to the Hold Field.

Mireilla turns to look. Finally getting up her nerve she waves to Naylia. "Excuse me, M'am."

Daina growls soflty, "I'm mean?? You got me lost, and I don't know where my mummy is and then you called me stupid and I'm still hungry and I'm so dirty I want to take a bath," which is a big deal for her, "And and and then you called me /stupid/." yes she mentioned that twice but she doesn't remember. "You did all that and all i did was deftend myself? Why...You...hate me?" This is finally too much for the girl and she sits down in th emiddle of the gardens and cries, buring her face in her hands, curled up in a ball.

Naylia breezes down from the Hold quite a bit later, looking slightly put out, but otherwise happy. "Oh fantastic, thank you," she says to one of her orchard worker friends who helpfully plies her with wine. She spots Briana and informs the girl that High Reaches will be sending some senior weyrlings to retrieve them later on. Then Mireilla's statement is caught, causing the holder's assistant to turn. "Ah, hello there. Can I help you?"

Briana holds her arm, staring at the bite marks "Because you bite! That's why I hate you!" Tears stream down her face as she screams at Daina. "And I didn't /make/ you follow!"

Daina sniffs softly between tears and gasps for breath looks up, "I'm sorry...I'm scared..." as if that is why she did. Like a scared animal? Yes, sometimes. "I...I want my mummy..." more tears, "I'm sorry I bit you...You hurt my feelings..."

Mireilla smiles with total relief flashing across her shy blush. "Master Janlis asked me to inquire where you would like for the Harpers to set-up?" She looks gratefully toward Naylia.

Half-dragged, half-coerced, Moxilin is suddenly present in the happy atmosphere with the glib accompaniment of her half-sister Loxi. "I don't want to be here Lox, look at these people, why would I want to mingle with these people?" Black hair is poked at irritably as she fights her sister's grip in an attempt to flee the fluffy, bubbly conversations blooming about the banquet. "Moxi, do me a favor and shut it? You never get out anymore, you know mother always said you were the odd one in the family." Moxilin shoots a venemous look at her sibling, lip curling unattractively. "Your mother said that, she isn't my mother, and I am /not/ the odd one in the family, Murrin is." Loxi looks flabbergasted before replying, the two seating themselves upon an unoccupied stone bench, Moxlin still firmly against any sort of social tendencies that would make her /talk/ to those gathered.
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@party
Dinner is finally winding down at Gar Hold as the afternoon wears on, and people have begun drifting towards Crystal Lake for some dancing, chatting and wine. Any and all are free to join if you wish. Simply @go Gar, hf, cl
-- entered by Naylia on 2003-07-19 15:10 MOO Time. (1 minute and 48 seconds)
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Naylia practically beams at Mireilla, then nods in reply. "Excellent, excellent," the woman says cheerfully. "Just let me grab my plate... likely cold by now, but you know how these things go." But as she's explaining, one of the bakers supplies her with a fresh plate of pasta where she's standing. "Oh! All right then. I suppose we can head down to the lake," Naylia continues, gesturing carefully towards the path leading down to Crystal Lake.

Moxilin pitter patters to the Crystal Lake.

Naylia pushes Natch out.

Mireilla nods thankfully to Naylia and makes her way back to the side of Master Janlis where she loads herself with various instruments to carry down to the lake.

Naylia softly treads to the Crystal Lake.

You go to the Crystal Lake.
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Daina walks in from the Gar Gardens.
Daina won't be left by the crowd, not now that the girl who got her lost is asleep in the grass, from emotional and physical drainage. She meanders about the people looking for anyone she might know, but it's hard to look that far up at most of them.

Mireilla struggles with the instruments as she closely follows behind Master Janlis who sips her wine, looks around with a cynical eye and points the girl toward the gathering area.

"We set up a platform for the Harpers," Naylia explains as she walks down to the lake with Mireilla and Janlis, pointing off to the side. "I hope that will do. If you need more chairs, or anything else, just let me know."

Moxilin is forced rather abruptly to the ground as Loxi picks a spot for the two of them to catch some thin winter sun. Looking dour, the Bitran peers out across the lake with a sniff of the unimpressed, her sister rising to go fetch the two some wine. Alone and ready to bolt, Moxi quickly stands, brushes away the grassy debris clinging to her clothing and begins to slip out when -- "Hey! Get back here! Did I say you could go?" Loxi easily intercepts her sister, drags her back to their spot and hands her a glass of wine which she promptly downs, expression irate.

Daina doesn't spot anyone she knows. So she picks someone, someone who looks like the could help, someone who is nice, and smiling, her chosen victim.

Moxilin of course. She walks over to her and pulls on her shirt so that she will look down and see her. "Hi.." is said with a smile, pretending it is perfectly natural she is here a lone, even though she has the knot of a high reaches weyr brat.

Moxilin stares at the sudden intrusion, her lips pulling together in an unpleasent 'o' of surprise as the child clings with grubby little brat hands to her nice white attire. "Yes?" Is offered after she narrows her eyes to mere slits, attempting not to think of any number of substances that could be staining her pristine attire. Loxi, for her part, practicly melts upon seeing Daina. "Oh, Moxi! Look at how /cute/ she is! Are you lost? Can we help you?" Moxlin snaps a look at her half-sibling, sneer stuck firmly in place. "We? No no, /you/ can help her." And the raven-haired creature continues eyeing Daina with something close to mounting fear. Brats are renound for destroying things, you know, and Moxilin isn't particularily keen on fraternizing with the enemy.

Naylia peers a little curiously at Moxilin and her sister, but seeing that Daina seems to have picked those two out of the crowd, she turns back to the Harpers.

Mireilla climbs to the harper platform with her stack of instruments, and she begins to arrange the chairs 'just so' for proper acustics. She carefully sets the instruments out of their cases and within easy reach of those who will use them. Then, she wanders down to Master Janlis inquiring softly, "Master, may I get a drink before we begin?"

Naylia finds an empty table and takes a seat, intent on finishing her meal this time before she's interrupted again.

Daina effectively ignores the sister, not rudely, but she has her focus on Moxilin, she will help her, her hero behind a mask of ...well...grumpiness, "I don't know, I followed Briana here and she was lost but I didn't know so now I'm lost too, can you help me? Whats your name? Where are you from? what do you do? Do you have a child eate...I mean a dragon..."

Master Janlis nods her head to Eil, but the way that she looks down her slightly crooked nose and with her perpetually pursed lips an apprentice knows to hurry not wavier in getting in place to play or a good dose of floor scrubbing will result when they return to Harper Hall.

Moxilin looks towards Loxi with an increasingly harassed expression. Why do the brats always go for her? Loxi would be more then happy to converse, and speaking of conversing, she's already engaged with a young man as Daina shows preference. Moxilin, now quite on her own with a glass of wine and a clingy child, is fervently cursing her sibling for dragging her here in the first place. "Briana? Is that your nanny? Do you have a nanny?" and in less audible terms, "do I care?" a long, suffering sip of wine is taken before the Bitran begins to unwork Daina's smudged fingers from her now stained shirt. Glower. "My name is none of your buisness, and of course I don't have a dragon, but I /do/ eat children." Joke? It's a good question, as she's perfectly serious and shows no signs of humor.

Monjo flitters quickly to the Gar Gardens.

Daina ignores the rudeness and all of it, she just smiles, she is set on her decision on the person she asked for help. "Nannies are boring, the don't let me go 'sploring or anything, and so I usually run away from them, but they don't chase after me. Mummy says I need to stop making them cry anyway," No, she's not joking. "I'm Daina, you can call me Dai though. I like you. You're nice." bright smile, as she nods, porcine tails bobbing with her head.

Mireilla pours a huge cup of cool cider to last her through to her next break from playing. Then she scutters back to the platform and waits for the signal from Master Janlis.

Naylia makes very quick work of her meal, which is thankfully cleared away by an attentive hold drudge. "Thank you," the woman murmurs as she stands, carefully swirling her glass of wine and heading towards the Harpers one last time. "I'll just leave this up to you, of course. Just... enjoy yourselves." She grins at both Janlis and Mireilla, then wanders over towards Daina, Moxi and Loxi. "Are you girls enjoying yourselves?" she asks, innocently enough.

Naylia has Impressed bronze Izzard, blue Bluster, blue Lurk, brown Stayer, and gold Sadie.

Keenan walks in from the Hold Field.
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Keenan
A tall man stands here, his blue eyes striking against his tan skin. Like pools of water his eyes seem to pierce the darkest of areas and bring light to them. A smile is almost always on his face, and his blonde hair is just shy of shoulder length and falls in all directions. He has a well built body that is almost always tan, and if his shirt is off a scar can be seen running from his shoulder to his lower back.
Wher-hide trousers and an undone long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up adorn him, a tunic is thrown over his shoulder and gloves tucked in his belt. He is a young adult of about 29.
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Keenan walks to the Gar Gardens.

Master Janlis finishes her drink and sets the tall stemmed glass aside as she stride, straight backed, to the harper area and pushes her dark, matted hair away from her face as she holds out her hands instructing the harpers to tune.

Daina nods happily at the woman who walks up, "Yes ma'am. I'm having a wonderful time." She grabs Moxi's hand, "this is my new friend. She hasn't tolded me her name yet, but she's very nice. I like her."

Moxlin's jaw drops rather effectively as Daina slathers on the compliments and completes the sachrinne sweet display with a bright smile and a hand grab. Not exactly the way to melt this girl's heart... "Look, kid, I can't help you, I don't know your mother, I don't know how you got here..." She could go on, but she's suddenly under the eye of Naylia, and while Loxi is quick to reply with bubbly exuberance, she only attempts to pawn Daina off. "This girl is lost, she needs assistance." And with a gentle shove, she pushes the kiddo away from her and towards Naylia with a 'this is /your/ responsibility' look.

Daina takes the shove as a direct threat to her well being, can you blame her? She's frigthened trying to put up a show of bravery in the face of being a five turn old lost in a far far away place, with no one she knows. She turns and glares at Moxi, "Why did you push me?" The words come out less of a threat and more of a very scared question, "I...I liked you!" She sniffles tears being to flood again and she launches at the girls arm. Though not quite as hard as usually she bites down half-heartly, but enough to stay attached to the arm.

Squeeks and squawks sound from the platform finally settling to a solid, soft, pleasant note. Master Janlis nods approval to the harpers and turns toward the guests. Looking mostly toward Naylia and Natch she rasps, "Did anyone have a request for the first song? Fast, slow, something special?"

"Yes... hello," Naylia says, nodding to Daina. "You were the one with Briana, yes? High Reaches will send senior weyrlings to retrieve you two, once they're done with their drills. Sound like a pretty good break to me." She then smiles at Moxi and Loxi. "Thank you watching the girl for me. I'm not entirely sure how they managed to get all the way from here from 'Reaches, but these things do happen. I'm Naylia, by the way."

Moxilin probably wouldn't have given much thought to Naylia's introduction anyway, but the fact that she's suddenly got a brat attatched to her arm by the teeth, just makes Naylia that much more unnoticable. "What in the shards are you -- Augh!" Attempting to shake loose the vile creature only manages to get the ridged little teeth in deeper. Wincing with the pain she does the only thing she can do, she pours wine over Daina's porcine tails with a small war cry. This elicits Loxi to look up from her animated conversation about how wonderful everything is here at Gar with Naylia, and over at her half-sibling. "Moxi! You just poured good wine all over that poor child! Can I take you no where?!" And hustling about in a motherly fashion, Loxi calls for a towel and works to disengage the now wine-sopped child from Moxilin's arm.

Daina lets go and folds into Loxi's arms the way in child would after having been attacked like that. Weeping into the girl and smelling like something like that nasty stuff mummy always has with dinner she is at a complete loss. Lost, scared, and now very dirty and sticky, having been attacked by the person she went to for help. She overly frightened and in a fit of tears.

Naylia's smile seems to be pasted in place, seeing as the look in her eyes doesn't quite match. "Um... so. I see you've got everything here taken care of," she finally says to both Daina and Moxilin. "So, I'll just... go listen to the Harpers play. Tune. Yes." She begins to back away a few steps, then hurries back towards Janlis and company. Maybe the wine pouring group will forget she's there.

Daina attacked?! Pah. Must we forget who started this mess in the first place? Moxilin has the bite mark to prove it. Now thoroughly free from the child's cavernous mandibles, she scoots away from the glowering Loxi and sobbing Daina. "Hey, /she/ started it." As any responsible adult figure would reply in that situation. Turning to her forearm she gingerly rubs the battle wound, one slender brow raised in disbelief. Children these days, seems they breed them rather heathenous up in Reaches. Loxi, for her part, is busy mopping up the wine and looks too furious to say a thing to her detatched sister. Moxlin watches Naylia's retreat with a mutter as she snags a passing drudge and inquires about a refill. 'Just go to the Gar banquet, you'll meet some people, we'll have fun, we never spend any sisterly time together.' Yeah. Right.

Mireilla leans up whispers to Master Janlis "I heard someone call for a country jig earlier. Why not start with that?" Shortly there after, Master Janlis gives the down-beat to the small group of harpers, and the first, clear notes to a spirited, happy dance.
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** Naylia just set the @party! Type @party to check it out! **
@party
(Last time, I swear!) ;) The music is starting at Gar Hold as people gather for an afternoon (and perhaps evening) of dancing, chatting and wine. Feel free to join! @go gar, hf cl
-- entered by Naylia on 2003-07-19 16:03 MOO Time. (18 seconds)
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Daina stops crying and sniffles around a little before regaining herself. She looks up to see who saved her, and sees a very angry scowling face, "Don't be angry with her..." she pauses softly and sighs, "I did bite her. Mummy says I shouldn't do that, but I don't ever know that I have until I've already done it.." She looks over, "I'm sorry..." she says softly to Moxilin, she breaks free from both sisters and scoots after Naylia, she seemed much more nice than that other girl. "Hi!" is said as she scrambles up to the side of the lady. "How are you? Whats your name? Whats this? A party...What are the playing,? Do you live here?"

Naylia turns in surprise as she notices Daina's reappearance at her side. Her blue eyes spot Moxi and Loxi, then glance towards the Harpers as they begin the first dance of the afternoon, along with the first dancers, then back to Daina. "I'm... fine, thank you," the woman replies, slowly at first. "My name is Naylia. And we're celebrating the end of harvest here at Gar," she adds, gesturing to the decked-out lake and garden areas. "Yes, I'm Holder Natch's assistant here."

Master Janlis retrives her guitar and adds her interpretation of the fast music to the sounds of the ocarina and recorder from the other harpers. If those around looked closely, they might even see a touch of a smile on the Master's face as she seenms to help the youngsters keep the pace of the jig.

G'ram strolls in from the Hold Field.

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G'ram
This is not a bad looking young man, all things considered, though he's a far cry from being decidedly handsome. The qualities themselves are there, but it's as if he's been slapped together a bit too quickly and doesn't QUITE fit. His features are regular aside from a bump in his nose, everything concise but unrefined with a clean complexion and tranquil gray eyes; as a whole, his face is tidy but not especially charming. Dark brown hair is trimmed regularly, short enough that only the very tips begin to show the promise of curl around his ears and the back of his neck. He stands almost exactly six feet tall, with a rankish build that's a little too lean, though he does have a "typical" dragonrider physique - rangy, but obviously accustomed to physical labor.
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Daina beams happily, another new friend, two in on day, well okay, maybe just one and a half. She happily grabs up the Holder assistants hand, the one without the wine, and smiles happily, "People here are nice. Is he a harper?" She points to Master Janlis, "Mummy says harpers are very 'portant. She says without them everything would just fall apart, but she says that about lots of people, I guess almost everyone is 'portant huh?" Moxilin is about to respond to the brat's apology but as she scampers off is left with nothing but a bite for her troubles. "Dratted children, constantly trying too..." but her rant peters out under the warning glance of her sister. Instead, the cynical little Bitran occupies herself with a glass of wine and the beauty of solitude.

G'ram's not alone, for arriving alone just wouldn't do. Instead, he's come with his pudgy friend F'red, the two brownriders making their way along the path with quiet conversation between the two. "Ah, see? I told you I'd been here before," says G'ram, gesturing with both hands toward the view. "And they've got plenty of food, even."

Naylia nods slowly to Daina, blinking in surprise as her hand is taken. "Well... yes, we all play our part," she replies, obviously not totally at ease with this outspoken child. "And Master Janlis is a she," she corrects gently, sneaking a look at the Master Harper before glancing around some more. She spots the two newest arrivals, giving G'ram and F'red a nod (just in case they see it), then fidgets a little as she glances back at the child. "Are you, uh... here to dance?" Right. Good question.

Master Janlis signals the harpers to 'bring the song down' The ocarina suddenly holds the final note while the recorders slow their pace through the chorus and the final, resounding note is struck from the master's guitar as she stands and waits to start the next song.

Faerie blinks in from ::between::!
Faerie glides to the Hold Field.

Mireilla takes a sip of her drink then sits straight again, awaiting the command to start playing again.

Daina blinks and shakes her head, "Mummy says I have two left feet, I'm not sure what the means, but she says it when she laughs everytime I try and dance, she says I must have gotten it from my father. She says everyone has a father and a mummy but not everyone has a daddy. She says she might have found me a daddy. I like him, he's young. Mummy is going to have another baby. Do you know where babies come from. Mummy's have eggs in their tummy's just like dragons," She points to her tummy to show where, "Only mummy's eggs stay on the inside, all the father is needed for is to say, "I love you." Then the mummy can have a baby if she wants. I know what doing it means too. It's when mummy's and fathers talk. That's not so bad, I don't know why the older brats 'sper bout it all the time." She shrugs. and grips the hand tighter.

Natch whirls from her last partner and almost into a glass of sweet Paradise white wine the is waiting for her. She laughs as she takes it with an exagerated bow and finds a place to sit and recouperate.

Moxilin can hear the ongoing monologue of Daina even from this distance, which is saying something. Currently at odds with her half-sibling, Moxilin takes this moment to put her anti-social demeanor to the test and stands in the scavange to find some food. The danger comes with making eye contact, so in an attempt at avoiding any impromtu conversations with fluffity excitable people, she ducks her head and makes for the nearest tressle table. Unfortunately, when one is garbed in all white, they tend to stand out, and when that all white attire has a child-sized hand print smeared into place, well, one becomes something of a curiousity.

G'ram notices Naylia's nod. F'red is a bit preoccupied on his quest to get a good mood. So it's the latter alone who returns the gesture with a polite, one-handed wave as he assumes the wallflower position: He finds a table to stand by, watching the Harpers expectantly. Maybe he just comes for the tunes.

Naylia simply stares at the child for quite a few moments longer than is strictly polite. "I see," is her only reply as she's lectured on the intricacies of spawning. "I uh... suppose that's how it works... in a way." And she definitely doesn't want to expand on that topic, as she's already going quite pink around the edges. "I'm glad you might have a daddy, though. They're wonderful things to have. Now, um... if you'll excuse me, I need to speak with my Holder for a moment. And then dancing, of course." The reason for the dancing area /would/ be dancing, after all. "Natch!" she calls out, quickly heading towards the older woman. "Are you, uh... well. Having a good time?" As good a question as any.

Master Janlis taps a rapid rythm of shorts and longs on her podium. Then she appears to pause, eyeing each harper before she brings up her baton and they begin to play a clear soft waltz.

Natch is fanning herself with her free hand, making it not a free hand, but well. "Whew," she exagerates and smiles at Naylia "I do believe I need to start my morning swims in earnest," she admits. "I feel almost winded," she says with a smile in the direction of her latest dance parntner. "But I haven't seen you dance at all. You get out there and enjoy yourself."

Daina doesn't take the hint, but lets go of the hand and simply follows after Naylia, she obviously hasn't learned, because that's what got her all the way to Gar in the first place. Far far away from home. She pulls out a seat next to Natch and tries to climb into it, it wobbles threatening to tip for a long moments before she is able to pull herself into it. She glances over at Natch. "Hi, I'm Daina, you call me Dai if you're a nice person. Who are you? Whats your name? Do you live here? How old are you? Do you have a dragon? Do you like the music? I do."

Moxilin manages to secure herself a plate of fruit, bread and cheese are next, but as both are being flanked by chipper young men who seem to be scouting for dance partners, she'll wait it out. Gray eyes scan the crowd a moment, her glass held tightly as she nibbles at some Gar-grown fruit she has yet to encounter. Nose wrinkling hastily, she quickly scrapes off the portion of whatever-that-was and redirects her efforts on a few slices of tangerine.

Natch is not wearing specs. Doesn't wear specs. Natch looks like she is looking over a pair of specs, however, when she looks down at Daina. "Who are you?" she asks in a good imitation of a caterpillar from a story she's never heard of.

Mireilla has switched over to her guitar for the easier tune, and she strums softly at the strings while her fingertips nearly keep the time within the one, two, three of the beat.

Daina looks completely at a loss, and throws her hands in the air and they fall back to herside like she has seen so many nannies do to her in the past, "I'm /Daina/. " She says agian but with a smile, "But you seem very nice so you can call me Dai. Mummy says it's only polite to say your name after someone has told you there's..." this isn't said rudely or anything, she just happens to repeat an awful lot what her mother tells her.she waits quietly for the lady to get her name.

Natch looks around for an explanation from the other holders and faces silence, so Natch assumes this one isn't one of 'hers'. "You may call me Holder," she says without the condenscending tone most adults will use toward a child. "And you may stay in that chair if you are quiet."

"Dancing... yes, that's a wonderful idea," Naylia replies, smiling a little too angelically as Daina chooses her next target. She finishes off her wine in one go, then glances around, hoping to find a willing dance partner for the current waltz.

Daina looks up at the lady and gives her the most brilliant smile every, "Yes ma'am Holder." she pauses and starts to say something but widens her eyes and covers mouth, giggling softly, not saying anything, she enjoys this game.

From the platform, Master Janlis (who still has her back to the audience) pulls a small drum to herself and (only the harpers can see the bulge in her eyes as) she taps out the waltzing pace to keep it from dragging. She nods to each apprentice as the music (which seemed fine) slowly smooths to a finer style of excellence as Janlis' intensity wins over her players.

Moxilin taps her foot a moment, seemingly taken in by the music for a moment, but after two refusals to dance and one quickly avoided conversation, she returns to waiting for a chance to snag some of the bread and cheese. Loxi, for her part, is twirling around the floor, happy as ever, and beaconing Moxi into the fray. A waspishly thin smile is returned to her sibling before Moxilin once more slips into anonymity and inches closer to the bread and cheese, covert-like.

Natch nods, content at the politeness of the child, and turns her attention to the music and her wine..

"Do you not dance? Or just... not with these people?" G'ram asks very suddenly, angling over toward the bread-and-cheese stuff as well, curiosity evidently ignited by watching Moxilin turn away one after another. "Or just that kind of hungry?" he adds as an afterthought, nodding toward the table.

A few senior weyrlings from High Reaches come down the path as promised by Naylia to escort Daina back to high reaches, after the almost 7-day escepade away from home. She sees them coming and decides to meet them instead of making them come look for her, she is overly anxious to see her mummy again. But she must say good bye to this lady who won over her friendship, and much harder to get her respect. She stands on her chair and wraps her arms around the Holders neck and kisses her lightly on the cheek, and with that she is off down the path to meet the werylings, and they are off.
Daina walks to the Gar Gardens.

Natch just stares at the girl and her escort as she leaves, dumbfounded.

Natch settles back down to listen to music and enjoys the slower pace of her heart beat.

Moxilin turns sharply towards G'ram, her expression guarded. "All of the above," and as she replies, a gap opens up and she swoops in, plucking up half a loaf of fresh baked bread and a block of cheese. That kind of hungry. Her eyes asess G'ram a moment, deciding whether or not she should flee back to solitude or stick around to hear any sort of response to her actions. She decides upon the later, and stands, taking great bties of bread and slathering cheese about in a messy, unlady-like, and absolutely horrendous fashion.

Master Janlis begins directing the harpers with just her hands. She gives a que to one here and the alto blurs into the background while the soprano recorder takes the final measures of the waltz bringing all to a soft and slow ending.

Natch sighs as the last notes die away and then claps her appreciation. She almost trips a drudge to get his attention and send him with chilled wine to refresh the harpers.

Garet walks in from the Hold Field.

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Garet
Garet is a tall, tanned skinny young man, but he does have firm arm muscles that show his constant work he does outdoors. His hands seem rather rugged, too, again showing his constant work outside. This boy is nearly six feet tall. Dark green eyes peer out from under his well-shaped eyebrows. Light brown hair reaches down only to under his eyebrows, obviouly being quite short. The hair is always combed in a slicked-back fashion, so it gives a clear view of this young man's eyes. A small nose pokes out from above his thin lips and seems to fit his rounded face perfectly.
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Naylia begins to clap as well, turning to face the Harpers as they finish up the waltz. "They're pretty good, aren't they?" she asks, grinning at Natch. She's definitely more at ease than just a few moments ago. Thank Faranth for helpful weyrlings, otherwise known as Transport.

"Ah," says G'ram, as if duly enlightened - and perhaps a little sorry to have intruded at all. "Well," he adds, elbowing politely to get away from the table and over in the open area where it's not QUITE so pressing. "Enjoy the bread, then." He nods amiably enough, and returns to leaning against the end of a nearby table, clapping for the Harpers.

Garet goes home.

Natch stops fanning her face, finally, and looks around for a refill for her glass, standing and moving slowly toward the drinks tables. She nods to this person and that and says a few words here and there, but mostly her attention is on the Harper platform.

Moxilin nods once at G'ram's sentiments, though a tad surprised that he's the first to slip away. Following his example, but in the opposite direction, the Bitran slinks back to the relative quiet of her solitary spot. Setting her long-stemmed glass upon the grass, as well as her plate before leaning into the lush undergrowth along the lake's outskirts and allowing the harper's music to wash over her.

Master Janlis bows briefly to Holder Natch before she gives the upbeat for the music as the introduction rings across the lake and she turns to allow her amazing (for a woman) tenor voice begin her favorite winter ballad. "Crack dust, blackdust, Turn in freezing air." And the music swirls like dancers around the words. Moxilin goes home.

Mailli walks with slow and deliberate steps in from the Hold Field.

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Mailli
Mailli stands roughly five foot in height, she has flaming red hair that has once more cut short. Emerald green eyes sit in a roughly oval face, and sparkle with curiousity. Mai's complexion has darkened considerably in the turns since she joined the dolphincraft. All traces of her being pregnant seem to have been worked off in the turn and a half since her child was born. The limp in her left leg, though still noticeable, has become less so in her many turns with the hall.
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Mireilla's intensity mirrors the voice and power as Master Janlis enriches the music with her beautiful voice. The rise and fall of the music builds the story as Eil watches in wonder that the master's voice does not falter emotionally as the story of Moreta rolls across the dance floor and her own eyes fill with tears.

Natch can't help but hum to the song, finding her seat again and listening.

Mailli wanders in just in time to hear the song. Keeping her tonedeafend mouth shut, she quietly takes a seat next to Natch.

Natch nods to Mailli in greeting and whispers a hello.

Mailli whispers a hello of her own as she arranges her skirts to keep them out of the way of others. Who knows, one of these days she might just rid herself of those blessedly long skirts?

One of the quieter men who had been hanging back straightens himself and his clothing before approaching Holder Natch, bowing as she asks her for the pleasure of a dance, admittedly late in the song.

Natch stands, divesting herself of her wine glass and smiles at her dance partner as they face each other on the dance floor.

The music rolls like quiet thunder as the words recall the fright, the fear, and the absolute desperation of craft, hold and weyr. The music remains a motion of air in a whisper of time that transcends the present and 'by the shell' lives here in the beautiful music that tells of how courage wins for Pern against the horrible odds.

Naylia returns from the refreshment "pavilion" and takes a seat, content for now to listen to the ballad.

Mailli goes home.

The words sung by Master Janlis soften as each delivery is made. The music slows with every turn of the phrase, and every jump :between:: to save the people culminates in the final jump between, and the recorders immitate the sound of a dragon's full-throated peal in tribute to the passing of one of their own.

Natch and her partner dance almost woefully to the music, as befits the theme, but gracefully nonetheless.

Azalea strides in from the Hold Field.

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Azalea
Her recently-cut, silken black hair settles neatly just above her shoulders, not dressed in any style for obvious reasons as it fans out behind her in black ripples when she walks. Lightly tanned skin covers her delicate-looking body from head to toe. A small nose sits in the middle of her oval face where sharp, liquid greyish-blue eyes peer out at the world around her. Her whole body is toned, particularly her stomach and thighs. Her somewhat thin arms match perfectly with her soft frame, her muscles showing off the hard work she usually does.
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The final tone of Moreta's Ride floats and disperses across Crystal Lake.

Natch's dance is ended with a graceful twirl that ends with a curtsey to her parnter. The two wander off for a walk away from the others, speaking in low tones.

Azalea arrives at the lake and just looks about to get the feel for what exactly is going on. She knows it's supposed to be a celebration thing, but it's best to see who's doing what and where and all that.

After a long moment, Naylia sets down her glass of wine and begins to clap, quietly at first, then with more enthusiasm. "This is certainly a better show than I thought we'd get for this little party of ours," she admits with a smile to a nearby gardener.

Set free from their duties, a group of older children run from the gardens to the water and splash with whoops of joyous freedom.

Master Janlis bows, has the apprentice players stand and bow, then she motions to a journeyman at the 'pavillion' to take her place on the platform along with replacements for her apprentices during the next set. And as she and the others descend to tables, food, and drink, the harpers again strike up a stirring country jig to lighten the hearts of all who hear.
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