[Beautyfest] Party on the Pier

by **Uleru** on December 20th, 2013, 5:27 am

"Alright ladies, just five more spots left. Will you be one of them? Our next lady of the court is... Uleru!"

"What."

Uleru freezes like an ice sculpture at the edge of the crowd of dancers. Her borrowed eyes are wide and her lips are open in a expression that battles between shock and overwhelming joy. People start clapping, eyes wandering to look for the lucky lady that won herself a spot in the court. Unaware that the name doesn't belong to a lady.

The Otani takes a step towards the stage, forcing her suddenly icy joints to move. Then she takes another. People make a corridor for her to pass as it becomes clear that it was her name that was called. The clapping continues, though the participants are somewhat baffled. Slowly the mouldings icy exterior melts away and her glow seems to grow brighter. This is for her! Never has she had any recognition like this. Never has she been part of something like this! It is a night of firsts.

She forces herself to display some of the decorum that the other women had and resists running up the last few steps of the gangplank. She is naked and glowing as she steps aboard the deck, her body competing with the lanterns to be the brightest thing against the dark backdrop of the sea. She turns and waves to the colourful, costumed people below; her happiness finally triumphing over her shock as her lips split into a joyous smile.

Finally she makes her way to the prize table. Her eyes are immediately drawn to the shiny pieces; the ring and the toy. But the innocuous blue bottle catches her eyes. It's a pretty thing, blown into a smooth rounded shape with a glass and rubber stopper shaped like a whale. She picks it up and turns it in her hands, listening to the sloshing of some sort of oily liquid inside.

"What's this?", she asks the attendant by the table. Though the list of the prizes was displayed during the party, Uleru cant read. In a low voice the attendant explains that it is called the Tears of Laviku, an oil that can preserve the moisture of a sea creature for eight bells while out of the water.

The Otani almost lets the bottle slip right of her fingers. Impossible! The other prizes, the people and the lights are dimmed as the entirety of her fickle focus zeros in on the glass bottle in her hands. The worth of this little thing is insurmountable in her eyes. What a day! What a find! The monster finds herself choking back tears.

"Thank you!", Uleru throws her arms around Antogio's neck and plants a loud, cold kiss on his cheek. The beads around her neck bouncing with her. Then with a twirl and a "thank you!" called out to the crowd she walks away with a huge smile on her face. But she is not going back down the gangplank.

The Otani swings one leg over the railing on the other side of the ship, then the other. And with her prize in one hand and her happiness in the other, she throws herself off the side of the ship. A loud splash and a sparking laugh can be heard before she dips back under the water and heads home.

by **Magpie** on December 20th, 2013, 12:39 pm

Antogio made a noise of surprise as the Otani made her way up to the deck but tactfully disguised it quickly. Not having been a part of the prize selection process, he hadn't really considered why the oil had been included as an option. Well, he did now.

The kiss came as a complete shock, and he nearly dropped his glyph paper as he let out a noise of surprise. "I...ahem... Congratulations!" Attempting to maintain some decorum, he patted the cold shoulder as she released him. Having never met an Otani himself, he forced himself to withhold his curiosity. She disappeared immediately off the side of the dock and after clearing his throat, Antogio returned to his notes.

"Getting down to the wire now! Listen up, we've only got a couple more names left! Next up...

Venya!

Come on up and claim your prize!" Now growing excited with the last couple names, members of the crowd looked around excitedly for the young Konti.

OOC :

by **Riaris Dovukalis** on December 23rd, 2013, 6:23 am

Recoomas snorted as he pushed his way through the crowds. It wasn't his fault none of it was. He was just trying to have a good time, and enjoy the party. Only, he wasn't and as he sat down he would learn that not even the cool liquid inside the glass could fill the void. "Drink, now." He said with a grunt that was unpleasant and scary. He dropped down on the stool and leaned forward on the table, his fingers popped and he tapped the table in frustration.

That went well, how long are you going to sit there and wallow? Riaris spoke from the inside. "You're one to talk Riaris. You were the one who left and I had to step in." Recoomas replied in a grumbling voice. You need to fix this..now. You say you love her as much as I do. Prove it. Recoomas quickly stood up, the stool that he was seated on tumbled away behind him which caused more people to look at him.

He didn't pay them any attention and stumped his way out of the area to follow the group that had just left. Deep down he knew it had gone wrong, but rather than put too much thought into the past, he was ready to move on...if she'd let him. Recoomas bumped shoulders with a few people as he stormed passed them just before he started to jog.

The group that had just left couldn't have gotten that far yet and he figured a quick jog would allow him to catch them before they reached their home and were able to lock him out. As he ran he thought over the situation and what he needed to do. Sybel might be a problem, the woman hated him with a passion, the other male, he didn't know, but the guy didn't seem like a friend. It was all on Vanator. He and Recoomas weren't friends much, but he was with Riaris and the darker brother could only hope that he would help them.

"Vanator, wait up!"

by **Kavala** on December 25th, 2013, 3:37 pm

“I’m sure you’ll be much happier there… that other Akalak that beat and bled you…. much happier there.”

The words echoed through her mind, trapping her in a dark place she didn’t want to be in. The chains of pain wrapping around her mind closed tight, strangling her in a crowd of people with no physical touch. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t feel, and all she wanted to do was run. He was right. She was running. And perhaps there was something about her that made it okay to hurt her and treat her worse than the flagstones beneath their boots. But no more. She was a free woman. She was a Kuvan. She didn’t have to deal with all of this, not right now, not when she barely felt like she could get through another day.

Vanator caught her eye and she offered him an empty smile. Her eyes conveyed her rage but also something far more frightening. There was an acceptance, a resignation there, that settled into her body in the places that already felt dead. She reached up and rubbed her arms with her hands, trying to ward off the cold that settled on her soul. She’d never felt less like being in Riverfall than she did at that moment and she needed to get out.

Turning, she started away. She thought about saying something to Sybel or Caelum, but they seemed engrossed in something with Caelum’s hands on Sybel. He seemed to be holding her back from something, and Kavala felt like she didn’t even want to know. She didn’t care – not in that moment. It was probably Caelum’s Ranuri acting up, trying to please Sybel. That caused her rage to momentarily kick back on itself and cause her to worry, then she thought.. no its Sybel. That wasn’t what it was… so she kept walking. She heard Riaris leave to get a drink… or was that his dark brother? He’d probably find a whore or two here… lord knows here were several Nakivaks in the crowd as well and a few raid survivors. He was welcome to them. At that moment in time, Kavala wanted nothing further to do with the man. For all she was concerned, he could take a long walk off a short pier and attempt to swim his huge ass someplace new and she wouldn’t care. She kept her eyes down, concentrating on where to place her feet.

When she looked up again, Sybel was following her. She frowned and started to say something, until the sound of a cart and big seme hooves on the cobbles could be heard. “Kavala… take the cart home. I’ve got it loaded with everyone’s shopping from the holiday.” Aweston said, hopping down and handing her over the reins. Kavala started to protest then shut up with one look at her cousin’s face. She gathered the reins, started to step up onto the cart, and couldn’t quite manage it. Aweston gave her an unashamed push and she heaved up and into the seat. It was then that Kavala noticed Sybel was so close. She frowned and glanced at Vanator who was also starting this way. She shook her head then, and held up the reins.

“I have a ride. I’m sorry we made a scene, Sybel. Can you keep everyone here at the party and having fun? Aweston will see me home if I must have an escort. If not, I can make it no worries with Sivak’s help. There are seeds on the prize table I want if someone calls my name. Will you stay and get them for me?” Kavala asked, her eyes bright red from crying and her face blotted with red also from the tears. “I’m just going to go home and take a nap. I really need one. I’m too tired, too tired for any of this crap. And I’m too tired of being these men’s whore.” She added, glancing into the crowed. Even then, Recoomas' words were still ricocheting around inside her brain.

If Sybel agreed, Kavala would lift the reins – with or without Aweston crawling on board – and head for home.

by **Sybel** on December 27th, 2013, 2:53 am

She followed in the Konti’s wake, scanning the crowd. If that blockheaded Akalak were to resurface, she’d be ready to intercept him. Kavala had suffered enough for one afternoon. And given she’d come to support her and her only, the thought of the woman hurting cut her to the quick. If she’d just stayed home, none of this would’ve happened. But what was done was done - her Father had once taught her that. No sense in grieving lost sheep, he once said.

Aweston swept in to save the day. She almost offered to accompany them both before she realized the woman been crying. Her throat constricted at the sight. Sybel blinked, then nodded. ”Of course,” she replied, eyes shifting to the far-off direction of the stage. ”I’d be happy to get your seeds.” And then the finishing blow; she called herself a whore. Kavala Denusk, a whore? Her heart swelled and then ached terribly. How could anyone be so cruel as to make her feel that way?

”Have a good night,” she said softly, with a wave. Sybel inclined her head to Aweston in thanks before turning towards the men still slightly behind. Caelum needed to go home, too. ”Perhaps you should see Caelum home,” she said to Van on the approach. ”I can keep Dust company for the night. Kavala has something she’d like me to grab before I head home.” She jerked a thumb at the stage. ”I know the crowds are killing you,” she said to Caelum, with mercy in her eyes, before –

She heard him. Oh Hai. ”On second thought,” she added darkly to the Ethaefal, ”maybe you should go it alone.” The woman gripped her staff just a bit more tightly. ”No sense in you getting tangled up in all this.” Not that he hadn’t already been. Sighing, she cast a watery smile at her future husband and planted a swift kiss on his cheek. ”I’ll be near the stage. Stay out of trouble.”

Thus, she made her way back toward Antogio, for the moment Kavala was called.

by **Vanator** on January 2nd, 2014, 6:29 pm

Things had soured. Off at the edge of the docks, Van heard the announcements continue, unfamiliar names until it came to the Otani he had met earlier in the year, and he spared only a tick to wonder if an Otani even counted as being a woman.

Vanator was agitated, heartbroken for Kavala, irate with Riaris and Racoomas, worried for Caelum and watchful of Sybel. Aweston, divinely it seemed, arrived with the cart. Van moved to help Kavala up into the cart, Aweston already stepping in to give her a hand, when Riaris' voice called to him. A scowl crossed the Denusk Ankal's face at the sound. His gaze softened at Kavala, rent by her words. A pleading glance was aimed at Aweston, a plea to escort his sister home so he could intercept the Akalak. His hand reached up to brush across Kavala's calf, offering her a sympathetic look as she as Sybel conversed.

Van turned to Caelum, knowing too the Ethaefal's struggle that evening. He met the man's eyes, a flash of understanding in the Dryka's dark, gold-flecked gaze. 'I will be here for you' it seemed to speak, but the purple Akalak moving towards them justified Vanator's temporary abandonment of the healer. Sybel drew his attention, brushing a kiss to his cheek, an anchor to help ground him as she moved away to fulfil Kavala's request.

Then, Vanator turned towards Riaris, a path to intercept him, though the Akalak seemed to be heading towards him, and not Kavala and the cart.

"What." Van spat between clenched teeth when the big Riverian drew near.

by **Riaris Dovukalis** on January 2nd, 2014, 8:28 pm

Recoomas had half the mind to bend Kavala over his knee because she was being a brat as far as he was concerned. In his defense, if it could be called that, he knew nothing of women and the emotional surges that came with being pregnant. Riaris was only eight when his mother was pregnant with Nanali and he barely has any memory of what she was like then, and of course no one explained the way either. The only thing Recoomas could think was if Riaris had listened to him to start they wouldn't be in the situation they were in.

As he drew closer, he noticed Kavala being helped onto a cart and the others standing around it as if they were on guard duty. This would not do. He quickened his pace to reach Vanator first and stopped in front of him. The dark Akalak was almost like a steed himself, snorting breathes as he paced back and forth in front of Vanator. The fact that she would even run off and leave it the way she did ticked him off. "Vanator!" he said aloud. "Something is wrong with your sister. I need you to tell me what it is."

Suddenly he raced around the Drykas, noticing that Kavala was taking off in her cart.
Recoomas ran up behind the cart and grabbed a hold tightly to the carriage. "Kavala wait!" If she wanted to ignore him then she would just have to drag him all the way back to her home, assuming he didn't manage to climb aboard first. "I need to talk to you now. If you don't want to talk then just listen. My brother is a fool, he's doing all this, all the changing just to make you happy. To make you happy! And don't..don't tell me you didn't ask him to change because if you do I will turn this whole cart over.

He's doing this because he loves you and he wants to be some perfect guy that he thinks you deserve." Snorting again, Recoomas started to climb onto the carriage. "If you want to be angry with me that's fine, but don't turn on him for being stupidly in love."

by **Magpie** on January 5th, 2014, 10:34 pm

OOCAlright, we got a little delayed with the holiday, but we're back! Sorry Venya, you didn't claim your prize in time, so you'll have to wait until after Kavala now.

Clearing his throat, Antogio gave the crowd a meaningful look. "We're down to the wire now, ladies. Just a couple more spots left. Will you be one of them? Let's see..." He made a dramatic affair of checking his list. "The next lady of the Court is...

Krima!

Come on up here and claim your prize!" Another one of the city's precious Kontis, the crowd and Antogio from the ship searched the sea of people for the young woman.

OOC :

by **Rosela** on January 6th, 2014, 8:23 pm

E
E

Tongue in between her teeth as she concentrated, Rosela glanced down with Favchean at their feet. Her heeled boots, stylish though they were, stumbled around his big leather ones, and they stumbled around hers in return. They made a pair at least – two novices stumbling around on the dance floor. A couple of them were also stumbling, though more from alcohol rather than inexperience, and mild collisions were becoming inevitable. The announcements from the ship at the end of the pier periodically drew attentions away from the dance, encouraging bumps and jostles.

”One, two, th-three…” Rosela continued to try, and fail, to keep the beat in her head, and though she giggled incessantly at their missteps, she was grateful that Favchean seemed willing to follow her along. He could easily sweep the pair of them through the crowd with one swing of his arm and as though reading her thoughts, both of those large arms suddenly clasped her to him. Her immediate thought was that she was being pulled out of the way of being bumped again, and there was a brief thought at the warmth of his chest when her feet suddenly left the ground.

Unable to contain a surprised squeal, all six of her hands latched onto his shoulders and she laughed aloud. ”Oh, I’m sure enough of them have bumped into us that they know we’re both terrible.” She felt that she should have felt precarious lifted so far off her feet, but pinned between his arms and his chest, she had no doubts he could support her. ”I hope you don’t get to tired,” she laughed, now much closer to his ear. ”I’d hate for you to go into work sore tomorrow because you were hauling me around half the night.”

E
E

by **Magpie** on January 25th, 2014, 4:51 pm

OOCOkay, I am actually fairly certain Eida is gone, so we're just going to wind down this puppy with one final post...

The crowd went silent as the last name was readied to be called. Antogio drew the suspense out with great drama. "And this is it, ladies and gentlemen. The last name of the night? Will it be you? Did you gain enough beads-"

"Get on with it!" A high voice yelled irritably from the dock. A round of laughter echoed through the people around her, and Antogio attempted to hide his own smile as he held up his hands consolingly.

"As you wish. The final lady of the Court is...

Kavala!

Come on up here and claim your prize!" The Konti was well known in the city as the proprietor of the Sanctuary outside town, and Antogio was fairly certain she was currently with child. Surprised she had not gained more beads on that fact alone, he and many others in the crowd began looking around for her.

OOC :

Open [Beautyfest] Party on the Pier