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Amna & Lafemy - As one of the probably final songs came on, slow and tender, Amna found herself paired with a younger fellow, a candidate from High reaches, by the knots. Well, that wasn't quite her plan, but he seemed interested in a dance, and there was no harm in offering that much at least. He was more her height than her partners had been so far, which was a nice change for her back and neck (no more looking up up up!) but not her usual choice of fellow.

"How did you like Western Weyr then? I'm sure you're disappointed to not have impressed, but I'm sure there'll be an egg for you some day. Some candidates wait turns, after all..." Still, hopefully he'd had a nice enough time in their slice of tropical paradise. A nice summer memory to carry into that dreadful mountainous winter here in a few months, maybe. "It'll be a bit quieter around here without all you visiting folks."






D'mar & Talela - As soon as he spotted her, D'mar knew who he next needed to dance with. "Lady Talela," he called to her, sweeping into a deeply respectful bow. The rider of his Strigonth's mother, the mature woman had a special place of... not affection, but something positive in his shriveled little heart. "Would you do me the great honor of a dance?" You must tell me how Vimiath is... Strigonth thinks of her often, though of course we've been so very busy adapting to being full riders." Not a lie, but not quite the truth. The blue did consider his mother from time to time, but no more than any other gold dragon about the Weyr, really.

"Another successful Western clutch, it seems," he commented as they moved towards the dance floor, gently guiding her through the slow and elegant dance steps. "Though none are ever as special as the one you impress at yourself, of course. What did you think of Killakeeth's brood? I'd imagine after her own clutches, Vimiath has an eye for the highest quality."






G'ar & K’tos - As the slow, intimate strains of the slow song filled the air, G'ar couldn't help but want to draw closer to K'tos. The morning's feast and dancing had been... magical, really. It was a rare thing, but he'd finally seen... come to see that K'tos did not think less of him for the loss of his rank. That he wanted to be with him, and was proud enough to be with him in public, for all their peers to see. G'ar of course might never feel quite worthy of the honor, but he craved that sort of validation beneath it all—from his Marasemeth as well as K'tos now.

So he let himself press closer, let himself rest his head on the Weyrsecond's shoulder as they spun, let him lead him through the steps of the dance, cradled close like a lover—which, he was delighted and proud to say, he was. "Thank you, K'tos," he whispered as they swayed and moved together. Inside, something had finally... moved. Some long-buried bloom sprung back to life with K'tos' careful tending, and was now pulsing with strange warmth the moved G'ar nearly to tears "Thank you for this. For today. For us... forever, I hope."






Ilauria & Buikichi - As Ilauria rose out of a curtsy to her previous dancing partner and turned, eyes gliding over the crowds for a friendly and willing face, someone not yet in the arms of another for the slow, tender song that was slowly stirring on the bowstrings of one of the harpers, she happened to spot a familiar face. A candidate, one who'd been left standing, but who she'd seen before, worked with before more than once or twice. "Buikichi," she called, hoping to catch his attention before he looked elsewhere for a partner. He'd always been very keen to help, dutiful and brave in the face of danger or pain, and his hands have been terribly gentle with Ovshth when he'd been at the worst with his burns. She felt a little bad that he'd not found a partner on the sands today... perhaps a partner on the dance floor would help.

As she walked towards him, her eyes tracing his finer clothing with interest, she found herself slowing down for just a step or two. She'd never seen him in anything but the more rugged working clothes of the candidates, appropriate for whatever exertions and chores they were assigned. He cleaned up well, it seemed, and for just a moment she was slightly taken aback. Maybe it was because they'd mostly interacted at Ovshth's bedside, and her attention hadn't been fully on him with the brown in such pain... but now, all put-together, he seemed even more the ready dragonrider-to-be that she quite intently believed him to be. He had the demeanor for it, that much was certain—next time, she imagined, there'd be a perfect egg for him.

But it might be better not to bring up his being left standing. Not with it this fresh at least. Coming to stand before him, she gave a soft smile, a practiced curtsy, and then offered up one lightly calloused hand. "Would you like to dance?"







L'an & V’den - Once more it seemed L'an was fated to end up with a youngster... though this one, like his son, was a freshly-made weyrling. Without hesitation or thought, the blond man had taken V'den's hands in his gently leading them into the song unless he felt a pull or tug to indicate that the other man felt like leading. He was happy either way, thought you might never know it from his placid, introspective expression.

Still, he paid the boy's dragonet fair mind, eyeing the brown regularly for any signs of discontent with the way the dance was going. It wouldn't do to spook a hatchling between, and he'd much rather step back than risk it. "A handsome fellow," he noted at length, bobbing his head in a small nod of approval. "He'll grow up mighty fast though, I suspect. Next thing you know you'll be up in the wings, burning thread, chasing about..." Another bout of silence as they swayed and spun, and then then man added, quite casually, "There's another weyrling, Wren—he's got a bronze, though I forget his name already, shard it... if you don't mind... watch after him?" His son was a man now in truth, but still. A father would always worry.






Raen & Veikel - It really was chance that Raen excused herself from her last partner, turning to accept the next one for this last, intimate song, and found instead of a stranger, another healer in her arms. Taller than herself (a lovely change), the same gentle soul who'd kindly shared his garden with her, and she knew must have suffered quite painfully at the hatching, given all the blood shed... rather than step back and release him, instead she apologized and gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "Veikel," she smiled, searching his face for the strain she knew he must be under. At least there'd been some good news in that his brother had impressed. Both his siblings were riders now, from what she knew. He must be very proud.

"Would you like to dance? Or maybe sit and talk?" The music was already swelling around them, other couples turning on the floor and cuddling close, but she knew the marks of stress when she saw them. Even the heartiest soul would be feeling worn after a morning like this one, and she was not at all the sort to press anyone into anything they might want or not want. If he would rather return to his family, she would let him... but something told her that he might not mind her company just now, here or on the sidelines.







Wione & K’gan - One final song... and what a kicker it was. Wione felt the thread of hope fray through and snap, quietly behind her sternum. It hadn't made sense at all to hope, of course, but still, one couldn't dictate their heart's desires. The lulling, loving tempo of the harpers' last song left her lower lip trembling before she could sigh away the melancholy that had washed over her. She'd known he wouldn't be here, couldn't be here... It just. It felt so very strange to only want to see one person, and to be unable to find solace or true enjoyment in any of the myriad other sets of arms she'd danced and dallied with all through the morning.

She almost didn't seek anyone out for the last dance. Almost, but in the end, of course, still did. At her green's gentle coaxing she spied someone not yet on the floor, and with a gentle tap to his shoulder offered up her hand to be taken. It probably wasn't fair to him, to steal this dance he might want to share with another... but then, she supposed, she had always been a very selfish thing. The tumbling notes of the instruments made her heart pulse and ache, and though K'gan had a boyish face (so very disparate from the one she wanted to see), his arms she suspected were warm and strong, and would help hold her together for a few moments at least. Provided he accepted her offer.






X & Aryale - The sweet, almost weeping notes of the song had stopped X in their tracks halfway off the dance floor, locking them in place midway through an attempt to flee. They'd strummed up just as their eyes had fallen upon a hatchling... not blue, but brilliant green, so tiny and full of life and love. Combined the song and sight cut deep, leaving a keening ache beneath their breast, and on its heels an almost desperate need to speak to the green's new rider, and with just a moment to shake themselves and hopefully smother the pained expression they were sure they must be wearing, they crossed towards them.

"She's stunning. Congratulations," they led, folding an arm over their chest to bow slightly to both weyrling and dragonet. An awkward moment passed, and then as an afterthought they offered the same hand. "If you... dance?" It would be rude to steal the girl's last chance for it for the morning, right? "Either way... I wish you turns and turns of joy together. She will grow so very strong... but you must take care of her too. Protect her with all you are. Never forget the love you feel for each other right now.."