It's a Party, People! (Open!!!!)

[Rista]

It wasn't that she didn't enjoy being where she was. Despite the oddity of being able to mingle with Endal and Dek alike without anyone raising an eyebrow, the girl was beginning to settle down in the milling crowd, comfortable with being anonymous and and not drawing attention to herself. It wasn't that she didn't have anything to eat either; the scent of food hovered in the hair and there seemed to be something pinched between the fingers of almost everyone, some carrying around trays and beautifully blown glasses with drinks as they moved from one side of the Courtyard to the other and back again, talking and laughing. Every now and then Rista found herself glancing towards the tables, drawn towards the delicacies even though she wasn't overly hungry; she could eat just for the sake of eating. It might be how the familiar faces had disappeared in this sea of strangers, leaving her alone in a way she really should be accustomed to, but that had become a rare thing as of late. Summer had spoiled her in many ways, and the connection with other people was the one that was hardest to remain cold towards. The knowledge that she had someone that didn't mind her presence in the near vicinity was like seeing the glistening water of the Bay on a hot summer day; it was hard not to think about it, difficult to refrain from going towards it. Most of all she just wanted to indulge herself, spoil herself rotten with their mere presence. She remained unable to find Eoin and was just about to give up looking with a stinging feeling of disappointment in her gut, when her gaze fell upon the somewhat familiar shape of Sairque. While the woman was far from as reassuring as the green-eyed Avora, her presence still drew a smile to the lips of the short mongrel. It didn't matter much that the gold-eyed Endal walked past without noticing her; just to have a familiar face within sight was something Rista felt that she could get used to. The girl watched through the corner of her eyes as the red-head went up to one of the Eagles, astounded at how familiarly she touched it; was that her bonded? Surely it was, the girl just hadn't been able to see the bird up close before, especially not while so familiar with it's Rider. It almost felt embarrassing to watch, as if she was intruding; the girl began to turn away, only to hear the sharp voice of the Endal call out to her. The words made her breathe out hard in indignation. Rista spun around and stared up at the woman, black eyes meeting with two pairs of yellow ones; harsh words of denial almost made her choke as they were bitten back, impossible to say when faced with those scrutinizing stares. Even so, the accusations couldn't be left unanswered. So she was stuffing her face? It wasn't Rista that had stolen someone else's cake when they weren't watching. Not to mention that the woman had received Rista's slice too, when she was sent to hand over the present. "I wouldn't dream of it, Endal" she replied sweetly and took a half step towards the impressive pair so she wouldn't have to shout to be heard. "Seeing as how you surely haven't had your fill yet, I couldn't risk letting the food run out. It would be such a disappointment to gather up a good stock only to have to relinquish it again... And on that note, should I go fetch some more of that cake for you? You seemed to quite enjoy it." The gibe was too big to be possible to miss, and might have been offensive if it hadn't been for the playful twist of her smile. At least Rista didn't see any problems with it; gluttony seemed to be a quite common subject for banter and in her eyes harmless enough. Depending on how stingy the woman felt like being, of course...

[Drusilla]

Drusilla giggled, "Don't just eat your fill Taln, but eat my share as well." She couldn't take part in this game and she was fine with that. The fact Taln was so happy was good enough for her. Even if he didn't win his belly would be full for some time. "A date?" Drusilla asked herself in Symenos, " Honestly, I hope I don't win... I'm pretty doubtful any Inarta would take me up on that offer.. Yet, she wondered what it was like to fly. No one had ever said she couldn't befriend an eagle... She had just stayed at her loom, working and wondering. Drusilla watched people line up for the eating game. Staying back some she watched where Taln was. Of course she'd cheer for him. How odd she must look to the other Avora and to the Endals! An Avora who enjoyed the company of a dek. They could think whatever they wanted, Drusilla didn't care.

[Aidara]

Though he tried to hide his true intentions from her, Addy none the less saw the flicker of his gaze towards Sira and her announcement. She could see the interest in his eyes, though if it was purely because of the contest or simply because it was an excuse to be rid of her presence, Addy didn't know. But she also didn't give up easily. "Come with me, please, Eoin." Like the first time they met, Addy took the Avora's hand and lead him away from the people that surrounded them. She stepped quickly, as her legs were much shorter than his and she was more than used to walking fast to keep up with everyone else, and they were soon into the darkness of the corridor that lead to the infirmary, which was also right off of the Courtyard. All in all, they basically didn't walk very far at all. They were quickly through the door of the infirmary and before he even knew it, Addy was pushing him down onto one of the sickbeds while she rifled through her stock cabnets along the wall. "This will be quick, I promise." Unwilling, or unable, to reach the sense of neutrality that she needed to achieve access to her gift, Addy was going to go about it the old fashioned way. Since it was just a shallow cut, all it needed was a good cleaning and a bandage. Of course the woman was using this as an excuse to get him alone. This was quickly obvious, if it wasn't already, as she became exceedingly quiet. Having found a clean cloth, Addy carefully wet a portion with warm water, grabbing a jar of anticeptic ointment to dab onto the broken skin after she thoroughly cleaned it. Dabbing gently at the skin, Addy brushed away the little flecks of dust and grit that clung to the exposed tissue. "Tell me if it hurts..." she murmured at one point, not looking up at him. She was clearly still ashamed at how their first "date" had turned out. Shame was new for a woman who mostly lived without it at all. But Eoin had experienced a less than delightful time the night that they slept together, and Addy felt like she needed to make it right, even if their friendship couldn't be salvaged. The cleaning was over with quickly, and with a gentle finger Addy slathered his palm with the salve. "If this doesn't close in a couple days, you need to come back in case there is an infection. Keep the bandage clean too, and try not to spill any kind of food on it while you work." This was all said briskly and with a business tone as Addy deftly swathed his hand with a bandage. All in a healers day's work...but when the task at hand was completed, Addy was awkward again. "Eoin.... I'm sorry. Do you hate me? Please don't hate me! I like you and that wasn't supposed to happen and you were supposed to come back and have the best time and want to come back again and then we were supposed to get to know each other and-" There was a hitch in her voice and Addy took a deep breath, cutting off her run-on sentence, all of which had come out very quickly. Looking as though she wanted to say something else, but didn't know what exactly, Addy simply let her shoulders droop and gave Eoin one last lingering look before dropping her gaze to her hands, which she had folded meekly in her lap.

[Krysanthe]

Krysanthe had not been expecting such a kind and warm response. When faced with an embrace, she didn’t really know how to react, so she just stood there, locked in the endal’s arms, clearly feeling more awkward than she. Still, to hear her whispered words, that she did not know her, but she did know of her… Krysanthe? Spoken highly of? This was not something that she was aware of. Yes, she made in what was, in her opinion, adequate work, and she had a thing with a Symenstra man a while back… She always thought that would bring shame upon her, not respect. Rejoice in new life and new friends. The thought had not even crossed her mind. New life. New life! Krysanthe looked up to the woman as she was stretched out at arms length, not knowing quite what to do or quite what to say when Addy held the bunny up to her face, and then to Krys’s. It was soft, and as she did this simple action, Krysanthe almost felt like it was warm. Maybe it was just her cheeks. She had to be blushing by now. With the touch of the finger to her chin and looking the Endal in the eye, a twinge of a smile crept across her lips. She had not felt this genuinely happy in a long time. She was absolutely honored. This woman certainly had a way with making someone feel good about themselves. Krysanthe felt a growing respect for the endal, although she couldn’t help but feel skeptical about something… She couldn’t quite place her finger on it. Still, her eyes were brimmed with the early hints of joy, and when the woman returned the smile, Krysanthe took the opportunity to melt away into the crowd without another word. She wanted to gather her thoughts, so she did not enter the contest, although she did join the crowd of people to watch. You didn’t blend in by sitting by yourself. You blend in by doing what everyone else is doing. If she just stood here, cheering like the rest of them, maybe she wouldn’t be noticed. Plus, this party wasn’t turning out to be as bad as she thought it would be.

[Taln]

Admittedly, there were few things more tempting than stuffing his gut for free, and he spared a thought for two of the three standing beside him. Even sitting down, he was nearly as tall as those people standing upright. He looked over his shoulder at Drusilla and gave her a small smile. "I will." he answered her in fair Symenos. She was the only Symenestra in all of Wind Reach but she held herself proudly, dressed well and maintained her ivory composure. It was her confidence and skills that he admired most about the woman. Sure she was different, but in her case, different was good. On his right side, the auburn haired beauty stood quiet and radiant. Sarye looked so lovely today he could barely get up the courage to speak to her. He glanced quickly at her, trying not to stare. His heart hammered triple time and the man looked back down at the table. Hopefully he hadn't made a fool of himself in front of her. Sarye was a lady that always seemed a step above the milling masses and he felt like a giant clod next to her dainty form. His emerald gaze swept the milling crowd, searching for the black eyed Yasi. Why isn't Rista sitting down and having a go at filling her little stomach? She was a sturdy teen and Taln knew she could eat more than her fair share of food, if given the chance. For the millionth time, he cursed his poor eyesight and turned his attention back to the table with a sigh. Even without the noisy groups of Inarta, he'd only see someone he recognized at five paces or less. Maybe Rista is just lost in all these people. The tall Dek half smiled at the thought of waist high, short little Rista, trying to see through a group of normal sized Inarta. That -had- to be why she wasn't nearby. People who knew each other even vaguely were bound to clump together at a large intimidating party. Taln was grateful to have Drusilla on the left and Sarye on the right of him in such an unsettling, large crowd. Oh wait, the Yasi was making eyes at that dessert guy like all the other women gathered here. That's where she was most likely. Why is that dessert guy so petching popular? Must be because he showed up with all that food!

[Sarye]

Being honest with herself Sarye wasn't interested in the games even with the prizes. She didn't have anyone to go on the date with and eating, in her eyes, was something to be enjoyed. She didn't like the idea of stuffing herself just to win a prize. There was something else that she wanted to spend more of her time on anyway; trying to get Taln to talk to her. "Are you not going to say hi to me, Taln?" Sarye said tapping him on the shoulder again. She knew all the activity must have him distracted and the food in his stomach probably would make him sleepy eventually. She hoped to have a little conversation with him before she would make her way home to her room.

[Drusilla]

Drusilla was a little startled to hear another higher Inarta speak to Taln. She mentaly prepared herself in case she had to protect him from an angery higher up. Drusilla eyed the woman, she didn't recognize her from any prior time. The Inarta woman looked harmless enough, but that was the thing... They looked harmless, but rarely were. Drusilla found herself tensing up, protecting Taln was first on her list of people to keep safe. "Taln, is this woman safe, or should I prepare for a scuffle?" She asked not looking away from the woman. Drusilla really hoped this women was friendly, and if so... maybe a friend. But one had to be on their toes. Even the prettiest Inarta could be deadly, and if she was deadly as she was pretty... It was trouble.

[Eoin]

Before he knew it, the Avora was being seated on a sickbed and left watching as Aidara went about her business, searching for supplies and tending his wound. His was a concerned look, eyes never leaving the Endal’s strange expression and noiseless lips. At first, he thought hers was the appearance of a woman at work, but grew doubtful when she began to mumble, her words too muddled for him to discern the meanings. Having never seen Aiadara in such a state, Eoin was at a loss, entertaining each possibility with considerable thought. Had he upset her somehow, to the point where even her words ran dry? Perhaps she was offended by the sharp tone he used earlier, however unintended it had been. Being of an obedient, lower caste, that was his initial thought, and it was difficult to consider others with such a probable reason. Even so, he roughly set aside the idea to focus on others, finding thanks in the silence around them.

Bouncing from one idea to the other gave little result, and instead, diverted his attention from the current situation. The possibility of shame had entered his thoughts at one point, for Aidara’s body language matched those of Yasis disciplined for their behavior in the kitchens; withdrawn and silent. Even so, he dismissed the idea almost as quickly as it came, for the man believed that Endals were above shame, as if they weren’t grounded by emotions or quite human themselves. Still, a lingering thought troubled him, supporting such a possibility. Aidara was once an Avora, and was able to behave just so as he had already witnessed. She had shown him respect and glimpses of equality that night, for the two were stripped of their status as deftly as they were of their clothing, the markers of their caste. Likewise, all Endals began as Yasis, humbled by the life in Wind Reach. Who was he to make assumptions of them, knowing nothing of their own hardships and struggles? He felt foolish to only think of this now, embarrassed to having viewed his heroes as such; creatures of a child’s fantasy.

Aidara then interrupted his thoughts as she informed him of his responsibilities, bringing the Avora back to the current reality. Preoccupied still, his “thank you” become somewhat mumbled and toneless, unintentionally extending the life of the awkward atmosphere. Slow as he was, Eoin did not truly sense the strange air before the healer spoke again, her speech rapid fire as if the words threatened to escape her. At first, he looked rather confused and surprised, but as she retreated into a compliant demeanor, he felt only guilt. All of his wayward thoughts of Aidara demeaning him for fun, or of the two Endals playing a depraved game amongst themselves at his expense, were now a source of shame rather than cruel reality. He had questioned her intentions before, suspicion and disappointment clinging to his impression of the woman. Now he only had himself to question, for Eoin could not comprehend how he had come to doubt her. The Avora had let the concept of caste go to his head, tainting his senses and mind, filling them with prejudgements and bias. In the end, it was just a simple mistake.

“I could never hate you, Aidara.” His voice was comforting as it slithered past the silence, his eyes a warm green. He thought against stating the obvious, but seeing the woman lacking the very confidence that she seemed to embody only worried him further. At times, he came to realize, certain words needed to be spoken. “It was a lapse in judgement. No need to be worried.” Her shoulders relaxed, but the small woman made no other signs of recovery. Somehow, their relationship seemed to have flipped, for it was now Eoin who was to draw Aidara from her shell.

“I would like to come back if you will have me.” His words extended a hand, patient in wait. When their eyes finally met, the Avora tried his best to ease the lingering tension, taking a lesson from both Vala and Rista. “I want to know you, Sira and your child.” He hoped that she would find comfort at the mention of Sira, and excitement at the mention of her child, allowing her emotions to take a break from what could only be unpleasant sentiments.

[Renol]

OOCSorry about that. Accidentally posted under my Alt Account. I always forget to check which one I am posting under. Terribly sorry... Renol laughed out loud at Addys reaction to the stuffed toy, smiling happily, “Even if he child doesn’t want to bean Endal, they’re going to have to be used to eagles around here. No better way to start off. That way it’s easier to teach the child how to properly treat the birds here.” He watched as Sira opened the second box and chuckled lightly, “I’ve got a couple bottles that I set aside for you two to try. I’ll bring them by later.” He looked to them both giving each of them a hug, “Again, congratulations to you both. If you need help with anything, let me know and I’ll help in any way possible.” With that, he bowed to them both and turned, letting the rest of the gift bearers proceed through the line. Renol headed off through the crowd again, moving through the throng of people as smoothly as possible, making his way toward the tables with the arrangement of food. As he approached, he sighed a little bit. The scent of the foods was incredible, better than the kitchens usually smelled. It was definitely nice. But he noticed that there were no portions big enough for any of the eagles. Renol chuckled slightly, shaking his head. He made his way over toward one of random Deks walking about, placing his hand on his shoulder, “I need you to head down to the kitchens and get one or two slabs of the whale meat and bring it back up here for my Eagle. Not too much, just enough to tide him over him for a little while till he goes out to hunt.” He handed the Dek a few pinions to make sure the man did a good job. A couple of coins meant the world to a dek most of the time. As the Dek moved off to his task, Renol moved back to the table and started picking up a few pieces to eat, some of the meat and some fruit that was still left. As the first contest was announced, Renol looked over to where Sira was, raising an eyebrow for a second. He thought about it for a moment as he looked down to the plate of food he had just gathered, sighing slightly. He didn’t have to worry about the food rations. He got his already and ten more days worth would go better for one of the lower cast, anyway. And as for the night watch shifts, he generally liked the night watch. It was a peaceful time, usually. Another chance to get out of the aerie. And depending on who else was out at the time, it was usually a good time to converse and have a good time. So, truthfully, he’d rather keep his night shift rotations. But, at least it would be a good chance to watch some of the lower cast pig out and throw a couple elbows. But first he needed to check in on Fereo. The bird had been left to his own devices for far too long. Renol was worried that he might have started playing with one of the Deks by now. So Renol made his way toward where the Wind Eagles were perched, slowly moving through the crowd as he picked at the food on his plate. After a few moments, he broke free from the main mass of people and into a more open area. He looked around, startled by the sudden freedom of movement. He smiled a little, and looked around again. His gaze paused when he saw a younger woman sitting off by herself watching the sky above the courtyard. He glanced up to see the birds that darted through the air above the yard, and nodded a second. He slowly made his way over toward where the woman sat. He stopped a short distance away, not wanting to startle the woman if she hadn’t noticed him approach. He took a second, clearing his throat softly to catch her attention before he spoke. No need to scare her out of her skin if she was unaware of his presence, “Getting a break from the crowd?” He perked his eyebrow quizzically for a moment, still smiling to her, “I can understand. I’m not much of a large group person myself most of the time. He chuckled a little to himself. It was easy to tell that he was still getting over the tendency to favor his right left after the wound had mostly healed. He still rested all his weight on the right leg, leaning slightly until he caught himself doing it and straightened himself once more. He sighed, shaking his head a little, frowning slightly for a moment as he looked down to the left leg. But his attention quickly returned to the woman, “Forgive me for intruding, though. I was just wanting to make sure you were alright. I could see that you were a little distracted by the show.” He looked up to the birds that flew above once more, “They are incredible, though. So I can completely understand.” He smiled to her once more, “I have been rude, though. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Renol. Would you be opposed to me watching the eagles for a little bit as well?”

[Aidara]

When Eoin stretched the silence, Addy was on the verge of just giving in, giving up and leaving the man to his preferences; one of which was apparently not her. "I could never hate you, Aidara." He sounded meek and confused, as if she was going to slap him for even opening his mouth. Turning her eyes up from where they lingered on her work, she arched a brow at him, an odd sense of irritation welling within her. The healer paused, tasting her words before she spat them, her voice soft yet hard. "Addy. Call me Addy, Eoin." Green eyes sought his own, wishing to speak her truths while they maintained eye contact. He was so guarded with his words, his smiles, his touches that she felt the only way to read him was to watch the veiled emotions behind his eyes. "Why.... do you look at me like a puppy whose been beaten by it's master? Have I kicked you in some way? Spanked you with a paper when I wasn't aware of it? I don't understand." Spreading her hands wide, she stepped away from Eoin, sliding onto a sick bed across from the one he occupied. Crossing her legs at the ankles and resting her hands in her lap, Addy took another moment of silence. She had to be careful. Whomever crushed this man's spirit had done a good job. Yelling and scaring him away would not help, but neither would letting this confusion hang between them. So Addy simply said what she felt, no holds barred. "I don't get it, Eoin. Well, I do. I see how you look at me. You want me, and you can't stand me all at once. I know you think I' am above you, too good for you, never meant to be. At first I thought it was Sira...but that is just silly." That issue was waved away, as being in a monogamous relationship was considered unusual in their city. Sharing was caring and everyone shared. Hearts belonged together, bodies were for playing. "So what did I do? What can I do? What are you so afraid of? I have tried since that first night we met to figure you out...and I can't" The hiss that was the last word gave light to the healers frustrations. Addy could figure anyone out. She could observe and deftly take what she sees and use it to deal with the person. Whether it was an intuition or just people skills, it didn't matter. Eoin stumped her. "Before you try and run." Holding up a hand, Addy reached for him, beckoning him closer. "Know that I mean no harm. I just... I want you around. I want you to get to know my family, and them you. My frustration is directed not at you but at myself. I should have...dealt with you better. I forget the stupid prejudices of this silly city just as often as I forget that I am Endal, not Avora any more.... Please." Everything about her begged him to understand her confusion, her frustration, and put an end to it. OOCKept this short since there are a lot of questions to be answered. We can get back to the party if you wanted him to participate in the contest, I promise.