Celebrations (Open)

[Administrator]

"Happy birthing day, sweetheart!" Shmee cooed, bobbing Shei in front of a little bubbly pie that had a candle placed in the center. Shei gurgled pleasantly, reaching for candle. The young mother chuckled, and kissed Shei's whisps of red hair. S'rei was still recovering, but they already had their own little celebration in their weyr. But now it was Shei's public festivities-- and by public, she meant just a small get-together with Robika in the Dining Hall. She looked around briefly. Other people could join in if they wanted, of course, but Shmee felt this was only a reaffirmation of her lonesomeness. Cezine, one of her few friends, was dead. S'rei was still recovering. Laurie and she weren't really close. But Robika was always loyal to her. The blond woman smiled at Shei. "Are you going to blow your candle out, carrot-head?" Robika asked Shei pleasantly. Shei's vivid blue eyes were diverted from the pie for only a second as she gazed at Robika with a surprised blink. But then she looked right back at the pie. Shei loved sweet things.

"Make a wish, Shei," Shmee murmured, before puffing out the little candle from Shei's level. Shei stared at the smoke that rose from the blackened wick. Robika clapped happily.

"Good job, carrot!" she told her, planting a loud kiss on Shei's head. Shei giggled at the sound, and promptly reached out to try and grab the candle. Shmee tutted as she raised up to get Shei away from the candle. Arlo, who had been silent until now, let out a rare croon as he gently butted Shei's head from Shmee's shoulder. "Even Arlo is wishing you a happy birthing day, hm?" Robika commented with amusement. "It seemed like you were born just yesterday!"

Shmee smiled weakly. "I remember it, too," she added, handing the babe over to Robika so she could cut little bites off the pie for Shei to eat. "So small, toothless, but just as loud," she reminisced. So many things had changed since then. So many things...

Robika settled Shei into a high chair that they had dragged over for the occasion as Shmee scooped up the small pieces of the pie and put them on the tray. Shei's focused eyes found them, and she grinned. Grabbing the first one with her chubby fingers, she shoved it into her mouth happily, chomping noisily onto the sweet soft morsel. Shmee couldn't suppress a giggle as she wiped the crumbs on her navy blue tunic. "I think Shei likes pies as much as I do," she told Robika in amusement. Robika laughed. "I got us one, loaded with some cream," the greenrider said, her brown eyes glinting in amusement. Shmee grinned as Robika lifted the napkin off a large pie that lay waiting to be devoured. "And we have enough for us and for other people who want to join us, too," she added. "You, my dear, need a social life." Shmee laughed.

Good. The plan is working,[/color] Aslath remarked cheerfully to Kmarath, who merely snorted in reply.

[antinanco]

So what if Shei wasn't a formal resident of the créche? Ieoha considered all Weyrbrats her charges and would spare no specialties on this tot due to her prestigious heritage. Shei was just going to have to deal with a farty, old, party-crashing grandma like herself at the party, whether she wanted to to not. Humpfh.

And thus the créchewoman entered the Main Hall with jaw set rigid in decision. Her cane tapped against the stone floor with a metallic ring as she hobbled purposefully towards the small group. They even seemed to have been expecting extra company, she noted as her observant hazel eyes picked up on the large pie. Too bad her stomach couldn't handle such sweets, otherwise she would have already happily helped herself to some.

"What's this? A Turn-day party? Are we initiating another member into the Old Grandma's Club?" Ieoha cackled as she weaseled her way inbetween Robika and the pie, "Oh, no just looks like another young'n earning their knots. Might as well stay though, maybe teach 'er about worldly things: politics, nature, men... and maybe women too." Again her frail body was wracked by fits of shrill, crackling laugher and her eyes danced with amusement through the numerous strands of hair that fell loosely about her face.

Beaming with jest, the elderly women looked toward Shmee and quested, "How old's the little tot now? Two turns? Three?" Stealthily her hand crept towards the pie without her mind noticing, a futile gesture on the hand's part. Ieoha soon noticed the escapee and clamped both hands on her engraved cane tightly 'til her knuckles turned white.

[/font]

[Rei]

Raylin stumbled into the kitchen growling in irritation at her sore ankle. She had resisted using a crutch for as long as she could but eventually her injury got the better of her. She leaned heavily on the offensive crutch as she made her way to an unoccupied table. The candidate sat fuming at the world in general and cursing it vehemently, when a shrill voice caught her attention. The dark haired girl turned to locate the source of the noise and her brown eyes rested on the small group. It looked strange almost like some sort of celebration. She was curious but didn’t dare go closer. Raylin decided it was better to investigate from afar besides she had no idea who these people were.

She tangled her fingers in her hair and began twirling a black stand distractedly. This scene might prove to be a bit amusing. Perhaps it would alleviate some of her boredom. Her friend Saeo had seemed to decide hanging around with a cripple was “boring”. Raylin had to admit it really was boring. The candidate sighed dejectedly at her miserable luck and watched the old woman carefully. She was overly loud and a bit annoying. Kind of similar to Stupid. Old people scared her they were often senile as well as unpredictable. This one seemed no different.

[Administrator]

Just as Robika picked up the knife to cut the pie, someone bustled right on through. The greenrider gaped at Ieoha as she basically waltzed right through to Shei. These kinds of meetings always unnerved Shmee, Robika knew. The Weyrwoman was extremely protective of the babe, and was always panicky around older people, too-- not the most perfect situation for right now. Shmee kept thinking of the former Headwoman, and she wished S'rei was here to throw chairs at people if needed. The thought made her smile weakly, but she took a protective step to Shei with her tensed body. Robika raised one of her pale eyebrows behind Ieoha's back, clearly looking disgruntled. Reaching for the pie, she slid it back toward her so that she could cut two (or three, now?) pieces. Shmee met Ieoha's gaze with forced calm and firm confidence. She would hold her ground. Older folks didn't tend to like her, and would probably point out the bad things she was doing for the Weyr or Shei, but she would be careful not to let it get to her.

"I'm sure Shei doesn't need to hear about such things yet," she replied patiently, looking down at the red-headed babe, who was still smearing the pie all over her face. Shmee sure looked forward to cleaning that up later. "Especially the politics bit." She grimaced. She was actually pregnant with Shei when she had been kidnapped by Benden... that was enough politics for a lifetime. Shei's cherubic face turned up towards the stranger, and she blinked her innocent blue eyes before turning back to her mother.

"Mama," she said, her voice beginning to raise anxiously. Of course, with her limited meetings with strangers, she didn't like new experiences. Shmee ground her teeth a little, a nervous habit.

"She's not going to hurt you, sweetheart," she replied in amusement, stroking back some of Shei's tiny red curls. Glancing back at Ieoha, Shmee said calmly, "This is her first birthing day. One turn old, aren't you, lovey?" she cooed at Shei, who was still watching Ieoha with a wary expression as she ate her pie. Arlo silently regarded Ieoha, his eyes still contented, but alert.

"Would you like some pie, ma'am?" Robika asked politely, done with cutting the pie. She had gotten nervous when she saw the old woman reaching for it, but at least she decided against taking it. Emanor, emerging from between chattered excitedly. The green flitter would love to have some... She looked on greedily. Robika rolled her eyes. "Go away, Em. Valentine's sunning, so you go, too," she said sternly. Emanor hissed, but obliged. Robika shook her head, but out of the corner of her eye, Robika spotted someone else. Since Shmee was busy with the old auntie, Robika looked toward the girl. "Hey, there," she said kindly, giving her a once-over. She was cute, but rather plain looking, in addition to candidate knots. Not a love interest for Robika. Pity. "Would you like some pie?" she asked cheerfully. "Shmee is just celebrating her daughter's birthing day, and we'll probably have some extra pie, so would you like some?"

[antinanco]

Ieoha’s smile faltered slight as the two women tensed and Shmee took a step towards the little one. Aha! That was why this little tot wasn’t seen around the crèche: overprotective mother syndrome. She had seen it often enough to know what it was, and now that the mystery was solved the auntie felt, well, intelligent. It was always nice to get a reminder that she wasn’t going senile, not yet anyway. Her intelligence was safe and her grin returned twofold.

“Oh, don’t you worry about me, Weyrwoman Shmee. I’m just an old lady getting in her last laughs while she can.” Ieoha comforted the goldrider with a little whisk of the hand. Honestly, if the woman actually brought Shei down to the crèche and socialized the child once in a while then maybe both of them wouldn’t have been so tense around her. But at least the outspoken auntie knew not to step between a mother and her child. That was certain suicide. Instead Ieoha slowly lowered herself to the carrot-top’s level with nearly audible creaks in her sea-weathered joints. She lowered her piercing voice to a much softer tone. “Ah, only one turn? I couldn’t tell, you looked all grown up already with that pretty mop-top of yours. And eating pie all by yourself, golly! Next thing you know you’ll be the newest Candidate in the Weyr.”

As she heard the other woman offering something, Ieoha craned her neck just in time to catch a green pop out from between in hopes of getting a piece too. She laughed at the flitter’s antics and eyed one of the slices. Truly there had never been a more beautiful, tempting pie in the world. After a moment of internal struggle, Ieoha turned back around with a simple, “No thank you dearie, let the little green have my piece. She’ll enjoy it more than I.”

[binker]

Pepsi had decided at once that the Main Hall was good. Never before in his life had he seen so much food, and all at one time! He had taken residence under one table and the harvest of dropped bits was /glorious/. Sure, he had to nip at a few stray fingers that tried to retrieve any dropped goodies, but Pepsi was getting too much enjoyment out of his tidbits. He had never tasted such a variety of things; fruit and meat was his main diet. Salty, tangy, spicy... His tongue had had quite a work-out today. But he found that his favorite taste of all was definitely Sweet.

Sure, he ate plenty of sweet fruits, but some of the things he ate were by far better than anything he had ever sampled before in his life! Even the klah that he had once thought was simply muddied water was a heavenly new taste that lingered on his tongue. The going and coming of so many people was intimidating, yes, but the promise of food kept him seated under his table, generally unseen until you bumped him with your legs.

But he found hs spot also made a good look-out point, when there weren't bodies cluttering his visage. He could see everyone that came and went, and he was nearly invisible! Stupid soft people near looked up or down... They would all die if it wasn't for the safety of this... /Weyr/. That was a funny word that he had learned from listening to others, and found it described not only the whole of the dwelling-place, but individual sections as well! Add a '-ling' to it, and you got the younger people who had recieved dragons, add 'leader' and you got the alpha of this Weyr! Though... He didn't know just /who/ the alpha was yet. Obviously the strongest male, as it was with all things, but he had seen one grizzly male being beaten about by a softling female he could easily break in half! This Weyr was just so confusing, and for the first time in his life he felt a migraine growing.

But there was a smell that soothed the pain, something that made his mouth water. His table had been abandoned by the residents of the Weyr (for good reason,) and he was still hungry... And there was lots of food over there at that other table! And only three females, with a cub in tow. Surely they would not mind if he went over there?

Despite the fact that he had not been struck by anyone as of yet, Pepsi was still hesitant around people. So it was a slow descent from his table lair, marked with sharp halts and pointed sniffing of the air. But he did finally make it close to the table, close enough to peer at the pie and then at the assembled females. They were soft; if he looked desperate enough, they would probably care enough to feed him...

[Rei]

Raylin started as the older woman addressed her. Shmee? She had heard that name before. Suddenly it came to her, Shmee was the Senior Weyrwoman! This thought was enough to make Raylin’s knees go weak. Still the female standing close to the babe didn’t look all that intimidating. Plus it would be rude not to respond at all. The candidate had made her decision, leaning heavily on her crutch the dark haired girl shuffled over to the small grouping, giving a small smile to Robika. “I would love some pie. That is if it is alright with the birthday girl.” Her voice held a small tremor that betrayed her nervousness.

She leaned down and smiled at Shei, “One turn huh? Congratulations hun. You will be causing no ends of trouble before your momma knows it huh?” Her voice evened out as she spoke to Shei. She remembered when her twin brothers were this small and precious. Shei caused a pang of homesickness to wash through Raylin, a felling she quickly isolated and squashed. There was no use for past regrets.

Having spoken to the turn day girl, the candidate straightened up and turned to address Shmee. She wanted to introduce herself but suddenly her voice left her. I mean what was the proper way to speak to the Senior Weyrwoman? Raylin settled for a small bow and a murmured greeting. “Hello I am Candidate Raylin of Selenitas Hold.” She struggled to keep her voice from trembling.

The dark haired girl then turned to Ieoha. Not willing to turn her back on the old woman. Old people quite frankly gave Raylin the creeps. She was quite frightened of old people in general with their cracking voices and strange smells. Concentrating on her scrutiny of the old woman, the candidate did not even notice Pepsi’s approach.

((Sorry for the crappy post I am not feeling the greatest this evening ))