Party plans gone awry

Writers: Ang, Miriah
Date Posted: 10th June 2019

Characters: Aviday, Ernola, Z'hren, Tisafelle
Description: Aviday's attempts to have fun at the party doesn't go as planned.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentor Approved

Aviday

Sitting near the Harpers, Ernola was tapping her foot as she watched
the dancers twirling about the open space. She could pick out the
notes being played and reworded some of the lyrics in her head since
she never fully agreed with the songs that were being played. Catching
her brother's eye as he sat in on this set, Ernola stuck her tongue
out at him then grinned when he winked back.

Sighing and almost near tears, Aviday plopped down beside Ernola, her
legs curling up so she could rest her chin on her knees. It wasn't
fair. Everyone she'd asked to dance with her either ruffled her hair
like she was some sort of cute pet, or weren't interested. The dance
wasn't going at all like she planned. She'd hoped to finally be
noticed by _someone_, but it seemed like she was just invisible.

It was the sigh that caught her attention before the body plopped down
next to her. "Not having any fun, Aviday?" she asked with eyebrows
raised and a smile twitching to break through. "Why aren't you
dancing?"

"No." The reply was both sulky and despondent. "No one wants to dance
with me." She kicked at the sand with her heel and looked up to see
not one but three young men dancing with Tisafelle. It wasn't fair,
she decided. She'd never fill out her trousers out her shirts like
that.

The eyebrows rose even higher before Ernola quickly cleared her
expression. It was clear Aviday was resentful as she caught her
looking at Tisafelle. Ernola snorted softly. "Well, who'd you ask?"

Aviday gestured with her chin towards a group of boys her age, then
to a smaller group of older boys who clustered near the fire. "Them.
Then I asked a Harper, but he just patted my head." She huffed
softly. "I thought this was going to be fun. It's not. "

Looking at the group of boys she'd pointed out, Ernola's eyes
narrowed. "Those boys will be panting after you in a couple of turns
... their loss." She then glanced at her brother and worried he was
the one to pat Aviday's head but she saw the rider knots on his
shoulder. An idea came to her and she gently nodded toward the girl
in a gesture they both understood. "I'll dance with you, unless it's
a male you want."

Z'hren caught the look and nodded back. He looked at the ... girl?
... beside her with a tilt of his head, knowing she wasn't paying any
attention to him.

There was a audible snort of disbelief. "Not likely." Aviday sulked,
her shoulders slumped. She glanced at Ernola. "No, it's okay. I think
I'm just going to go back to the barracks. Don't you want to dance
with anyone here?"

Z'hren heard the snort and felt a tug at his heart when he'd set his
gitar down. Approaching the pair, he was careful to keep his eyes off
his sister. "Excuse me, would you like to dance?" he asked with a
slight bow to Aviday and hand extended.

Opening her mouth to answer, Ernola quickly looked down with a smile.
She elbowed Aviday and whispered, "Do it."

She looked up as the man approached, her eyes flicking to the knots
and then back to him with surprise. "Who? Me?" She pointed to herself,
then glanced at Ernola, then a slow smile appeared on her face as she
reached for the hand.

It was caught by a slim, pale hand before she could take it. "No, me."
Tisafelle smirked down at Aviday before giving Z'hren a winsome smile.
"Come on, I'll dance with you." Her voice lowered to a mock whisper.
"Aviday's not really your type. Brownriders like women, not boys don't
they?

Aviday withdrew her hand and flushed deeply with embarrassment. She
rose abruptly and walked away, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

The shock of an unknown hand taking his own brought his eyes to the
incredibly arrogant girl that had approached. It took a moment for her
words to register and Z'hren's eyes narrowed. He was unable to comment
before the young girl took off.

Ernola quickly rose and slapped Tisafelle's hand away with a quick,
"Go," to her brother. In a heartbeat, Z'hren left to find Aviday. He
didn't want to get involved in the discussion that was about to occur.
Grateful he wasn't too dazed to hear the girl's name, he called out,
"Aviday ... wait!"

"How dare you insert yourself in a situation that is none of your
business and your hateful words to that precious girl. Who in
Faranth's name do you think you are?" Ernola was furious and she'd
heard rumblings about this particular young woman.

Her hand stung where it had been smacked and Tisafelle's eyes
sharpened immediately to flinty slits. This girl had _hit_ her. She'd
_never_ been struck before. "Don't you dare put your hands on me
again." The voice was a hiss of fury even as a malicious smile spread
her lips. "I was helping him and every other man here. No real man
would want to dance with that."

The smile brought her up short and Ernola took a deep breath to steady
her rage. She pulled on her Harper skills and forced her body to
relax. "Are you saying that brownrider isn't a man?" she asked with a
twitch of her lips. Her brother should be here to set this girl in her
place but she had faith in her abilities. "I'll have to tell him
later. Garreth will certainly get a kick out of the conversation."

"I have my doubts now. Maybe he's been around too many male
greenriders." Her smile became a smirk. "That's probably why he chose
Aviday." She gave a sniff of derision. "Well, that shapeless little
thing can go right back to the barracks."

With the intense rage easing, Ernola actually chuckled. "You'll never
know if he has or not, I suppose. And mark my words, they'll be back
here having a good time. Can I ask ... you do realize that it doesn't
matter what a rider's gender is when there's a flight? Have you ever
been around when a dragon goes up, whether the color is green or
gold?"

Tisafelle's chin lifted. "I really don't care. And if he has fun with
_that_, then it's his loss for choosing a flat piece of board over a
real woman." She huffed; she'd seen the green flights from a distance
but hadn't paid them much attention. She'd missed the goldflight
entirely, but there would be others, and then her own, when she
Impressed hers. "All I care about is _my_ goldflight. The rest don't
matter."

And that last sentence told her everything she needed to know about
this girl. With all her travelling, she'd met many goldriders and
Tisafelle was one of the worst types to hope for a gold. Ernola really
wished she were young enough to stand for the next gold but this would
probably be her last chance at a dragon so her hopes are on Impressing
a green. "I see ... you poor, pathetic little girl. You'd best learn
as much as you can about Weyr life before you stand for a gold or she
will dominate your soul. Trust me, girls with your attitude have the
hardest time dealing with such strong personalities," she said before
catching one of the Harper's eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a
set to play." With one last glance between the barracks and Tisafelle,
Ernola clicked her tongue and turned to head to the stage.

Last updated on the June 24th 2019

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Party plans gone awry