Evocation Zone and Errick

Size comparison Piece and Knockoff/Pawn

Hathian-Whorling, with four legs the front two having wing struts, long sharp claws, very long bare tail, long angular face with eye armor blending into neck fins, a fluffy mane, shoulder armor with similar fins; their mane can stand up if needed; Bonding is not required; sponsorships are likely, multibonding/pack is preferred, and non-human partners are likely

Naming, zwi TEE ree on, last name for the entire clutch regardless of status; name is from chemistry, a molecule or ion having separate positively and negatively charged groups

Knockoff stats: average 2, with one being 5 you choose; powers average 2 with 6 in 'singing' (sonic manipulation and perfect pitch), cannot shift in any way, but they do display adept ability with computers and electrical items

While other clutches are displayed at intervals during the event, these dragonets are available at literally all times, from start to finish

Bond: Young, voluntary bond
Meeting Notes: They easily mingled, and when they passed by certain entities, that entity - or one of him anyway - gave a knowing little smirk. They bumped into one of him at the coffee kiosk, and another of him in the casino... At the same time.

One Keenan to another, shared that smirk with an added chuckle. "You might want to pace yourself a bit," he told them, "don't want to crash before the night is over."

"Oh that's why I ask for only half a cup," Young replied with a strangely echoing giggle. Heard by both Keenan and 'Local' Lane, they did notice that the coffee in those cups was not in any way half a cup.

"Best find a good spot for the show," but they then headed up to a balcony booth with two seats... filling 'one' of them, but to anyone who could sense their vibration, those seats were definitely both taken.

Young enjoyed the dazzling Mixology demonstration and the performance by the band in the Casino (particularly the 'Me And My Shadow' part), and for several more hours would move around taking in everything they could. In their vision or more in the edges of their vision, there was always some dragon or other, not merely the little checkerboard ones, but similar. A shape here, a fuzzy outline there, the hair on their neck and arms would stand up at times too.

Before the end of the night, however, and during one of those predicted sugar-and-caffeine crashes, Young rested with their body in only one place on that balcony for just long enough to have that strange feeling of electrical energy lingering nearby. They finally turned, and as they did, a strange shape, the static of barely-visible electricity dancing in the air congealed into a sharply defined black and white dragon!

She was nearly twice the size of the helper dragons, and had a bearing of confidence and ease. She nudged at the table and looked at the heavily padded seat, and when she went to climb onto it she was lifted with four hands. Oh thank you! It has been a fun night but now I just want to rest a little with you. We can be a team, I think.

"A good one," Young grinned from ear to ear to ear to ear.

Bond: Errick, Sponsorship of Eloy Zwitterion, Edi Zwitterion, Multibond to whoever else comes along come on come on! You're gonna miss it!
Meeting Notes: (for both)

The evening was going off exactly as intended, just as everyone had wanted. True, there were some... interesting occurrances here and there, a minor scuffle at the entry when those dragons arrived, but overall there were few incidents and a good mood the whole night. Errick performed twice on the Stage, still marvelling at the way the place connected not only to this deep-sea city, but to other dimensions. He could feel the place's 'doors' as he went through them from the draconic portion of the venue into the humanoid one; they sent a gentle shiver over his scales. He strode through the entire venue both as a dragon, and later in his human guise, just to see what the two-legged ones could see. What they saw was pretty amazing, if he did say so himself.

He had to remind himself that at his typical draconic size and shape, and with a neck as long as his, his view was all but unhindered from above in the 'biped' side of things. He could see an ocean of black and white suits and dresses, feather hats and sashes, humans and elves and halflings and demons, all enjoying their night. But the place itself was just... magical. Tall arches that connected the main floor with smaller rooms and dimensional portals to the hatching areas, big thick windows looking out at the deepest ocean and farthest stars - right next to each other.

The Stage had introduced itself to him quietly and with what he thought of as an interdimensinoal giggle. It was where he met up with the sleek and small (or large, or huge, or teensy) Evocation Zone. And though the Labs were... less to his liking, they were definitely where this entire event got rolling. Because the whorling had an idea; she knew a dragon who knew a dragon, through the Nexus - through time and space - that needed a place to roost and wouldn't it be grand to be there with bells on? (There was a group with bells on, he was sure he could hear it...) They could serenade the eggs, those old traditional Pernese dragons they loved to have the song of their kin to help them break boldly into the world.

There were so many eggs here, he'd heard Baeris say that "there were more eggs than bubbles in the champagne glass". And it was definitely true... After the Den hooked up and Ancheoth and Tehndarinth's clutch of eggs were brought on board, it snowballed quickly enough. Far and wide, the Stage nudged at dragons and humanoids alike to come and see. And perform? Oh yes, there would be a grand place for that.

With their eggs maturing in a strange sub-dimensional lab, spliced together because they did in fact look so good that even Errick considered it an honor to be contributing to this night's population, he and Evocation Zone would practice their duet (though she seemed to prefer working with electronics, she did have a great voice), he'd watch her work on the mixing board and balance the speaker system when others were prepping for their own sessions.

Her human friend Ash would fit right in at least visually, with an ashen-colored uniform that matched her hair and eyes. Not so much as a party-goer, but behind the scenes. There were quite a few dragon-bonded people that came from far and wide, performing or helping assemble stage equipment, and work the lightshow (or be the Lightshow, she was... fascinating but a bit too flashy for his taste, both the Zeddian woman and the dragon she rode). It was pretty clear that the dragons that could come from the event were going to be amazing.

The Labs produced their technomagic for those dragons that required some assistance, and there were a few dragons or draconic creatures that aided where they couldn't: Tehndarinth was one of a pack of dragons bonded to or hanging out with that one human man Engel (or was it Engell, or Engle? there were a bunch of him too, like the local men in their black suits adjusting their ties and looking sinister together) and one of those pack-o-dragons was... one who could offer a wish. A true wish, unselfish, and this one: that the dragons desiring their disparate features to blend together in offspring could do that. Sometimes, science and technology needed a little help, and Kaspar thought that this was the perfect time to give it.

Errick was a little less clear on how they all happened to be hatching at once, because didn't dragon eggs take time (a long time?) to mature? More magic, more things he could probably just... ignore. Because the night was going to be such a hit. People arrived including bartenders and casino dealers, coat check folk and a bunch of kitchen staff. There would be a lot of dragons finding their lifelong friends.

The clock above the stage said three hours until midnight, Errick would be returning to perform one last bit with a group a little before the last bell, so he had time to mingle again. Up on the bigger dragon balconies there were feasts that humans didn't appreciate: raw meats from a huge variety of worlds - a giant fish had provided a banquet in and of itself, but there were open carcasses and half-devoured deer, a boar or two, and dozens of smaller piles of meat that smelled of rabbit and pheasant. And around each area, running water that the dragons could clean up with, and not leave dreadful bloody footprints everywhere!

Did you notice that there are no flies? There are no bugs, they said this was so much nicer than going out and having bugs everywhere. Is it? Is it better? I've never seen a bug - no wait there was a roach in the kitchen but someone zapped it before it got anywhere.

Errick slowly raised his head from the chopped-boar pile. If he had ears to twitch, they would certainly have aimed around to find where the ...

Right here! Hi! I know you're not my dad but you are kinda too, can I come with you? You're gonna perform again later right? Can I watch? I helped put out the microphones and got them hooked up with not-mom earlier, and she said I did a good job!

The Hathian slowly lowered his face to the moving water nearby, keeping his eyes on the brilliant white and checkerboard dragonet that moved around avoiding Errick's long tail. The dragonet barely could see over his tail, but seemed to be grinning widely.

Of course you may come with me, it's-

I mean with you both? We can be a pack!

Errick stuck his head back under the waterfall.

When he emerged again and shook the water off, there were two of his engineered offspring there, not just the one. They were almost entirely opposite of one another in color placement, but both so bright and dark at once. The bigger one seemed to be carrying himself a little more dignified.

Sorry, they got away from me, that dragonet asserted, and it was definitely true that the background noise of this ones mind was much more sleek and controlled. But they aren't incorrect, we would like to return to your home together. I am certain we could be of use.

... How could I possibly say no?

They turned out to be quite useful indeed during the later performance, with Eloy adjusting microphones so they didn't break with feedback, and Edi hitting high notes in quick chitters almost like a triangle's chimes. They could take this act on the road!

Bond: Onesto, Voluntary Multi-companion with Juxoti (+others)
Meeting Notes: How could she have given him the slip like this? Onesto was not quite frantic, he knew that his charge, his Empress, was safe - but... but she wasn't here, at least she wasn't here now. She had been with the others, she scooted around in her chair to the balconies and the casino and all the other sights of this massive event, before settling on that particular balcony where she, Mystic, Baeris, Keenan and several other big names had gathered. On one hand, Onesto was glad he wasn't required to remain - she was in her element with them, she was a leader and a powerful force at that.

But she was still so frail, still-- He shook off those thoughts. Naeodin was just as delightfully impish now, after everything that had happened, as the stories of her exploits in her youth. He almost wished he had seen her in her prime, but then perhaps... He bit back a little worry, a little delight, as he thought of Mia, and let the butterflies in his chest rise.

That misunderstood and amazing woman still held his thoughts when he watched a number of the Vella Crean's party-goers showed off their new draconic companions. And, distracted by a little bit of an accident at one of the tables when a newly hatched dragon appeared to leap up onto it and 'stole' someone's meal, he faintly heard Naeodin's tittering laughter and a lot of other people speaking at once. Oh no.

She was - already - leaving? With one of those hosts, the Lanes, though he couldn't tell which one it was? He opened a portal directly from their balcony. And with tunnel vision clouding the edges of his view from the floor, Onesto watched as the tall and darkly-dressed man wheeled his Empress out through a glowing orange-edged green ball of energy. He couldn't possibly reach that balcony in time to go with them, or to stop her from leaving.

Those butterflies in his stomach seemed to all drop dead to the floor; he was now here 'on his own' as she'd hinted he'd be. He knew that she was going to want to head off to the Flurry and combine these events, he knew that this was part of her plan, but just. It was so contrary to what he'd hoped would occur.

Though what he did hope was unclear, even to him. Maybe... it was time he started thinking about the future, his future possibly with an eye toward Maramia, but right now was certainly not the time or place to do that. He fretted, but made his way around the venue to try and distract himself. Somewhat successfully, after breezing through the casino, watching one of the big shows - that was amazing, with all the dragons participating on both sides of the venue and the Stage showing off those on the other side with screens - he wore himself out in the attempt to calm his nerves.

Finally, Onesto found himself a somewhat quiet seat by the bar, and attempted to collect himself. The clock on the wall said it was barely an hour until Midnight, so maybe the party had worn out the Empress a little, maybe she'd arrive and just take a nice nap. Oh who was he kidding, she'd push herself and he wouldn't be there...

You worry too much about her, and not enough about yourself, a voice said, and it was weirdly close to his ear.

Wait it wasn't close to his ear at all, it was inside his mind?

I think he worries just enough, a little worry is good to keep you on your toes, isn't it?

Another voice, different ear - or maybe 'different side of his mind'. He was definitely exhausted, both physically and emotionally, at this point, and really couldn't do anything but glance to both sides. He saw dragons, they'd cornered him.

We have not cornered you, we're here to pick you up.

We're going to come home with you, don't you want more eyes on your charge?

The considerably larger of the young pair rose to her hind feet, inexpertly but still able to stand, as her companion slid under her and would support her if she began to topple. They were as different as you could get at this event: one of them bipedal with amazing stripes all over and little wings on her hips in addition to the massive ones on her back... The other sleek and low to the ground with a distinctive Hathian set of arm wings in amazing chrome over her black and white body.

"I... I guess I do, I think," he actually did ponder that idea, and liked it more and more. "I think you'll do very well for me. Extra eyes and extra minds, maybe I might even be able to outsmart her one of these days," Onesto glanced back up at the balcony where only a few of those officials - minus Naeodin and Maramia (where was she?) now - were still gathered.

Well good, because we're going to do that for your own good. I am Juxoti Sheva, and this is Ebony Zwitterion. We met earlier, I think we make a good team.

We do make a good team, Ebony gave off a pleased clicking sound that was almost dolphin-like in its tone. And when we get over to that Flurry thing we'll make sure that whoever joins us is right for you too.

He was about to protest - he wasn't there to bond he was supposed to keep his Empress safe!

How do you expect to do that if you have your eye on her daughter? We will watch! Don't worry!

Bond: Anomaly, Voluntary Companionship
Meeting Notes: As part of the Carramba High contingent, Anomaly was both super stoked to be at the Ball, and also a little worried. What would happen when a dragon realized he wasn't really 'real'? What if his nanobots ran out of energy? As he and the others got ready he chose his display font - erm, his Residual Self Image - his avatar's appearance to be as snappy and dapper as he could figure. He had no idea that it would match the place so very well!

After the initial shock of even being chosen for such a thing, Anomaly listened carefully to the instructions they were given just before leaving Carramba's dimension. He knew from having moved between realms himself that it was dangerous sometimes - but he was quite good at it, and even gave him the opportunity to show off in his Surf class. He was no expert, he still needed some amount of research and information before changing dimensions. But Anomaly at least did know how, and took notes when the Lanes moved them from Carramba to this other place, the Rookery they called it?

If he had real ears they might have popped on arrival, the place was so far under the surface of the water. That might have made him a bit nervous, it clearly bothered some folks as they walked into the massive room where this party was being held. But to him, he just went with it. People raised their glasses to him happily, he made the motions of imbibing champagne but wasn't chastised - he wasn't even really drinking anything. Did he even know what food tasted like, really? It was all just code to him.

But wasn't that what chemical composition and molecules were, sensed by human or biological or even sensor noses? He actually struck up conversations with folks about things like that on a fairly regular basis, over at the Cafetorium during breaks, though there was only so much one might discuss during a half-hour lunch. But now it was a party, no time for that! See the sights! Take in the details!

He could swear that there were numerous copies of the same person - something he'd learned about in his Interdimensional Surf course too, was this feature, mind where you go, you might be there and you might meet yourself and... well. Things like that. But apparently this party threw the idea that you 'shouldn't' meet yourself right out those big scary windows that led to who knew where. Wait, wait, maybe that rule was for the 'time traveling' versions. Eh, he shrugged that off too.

Some rather famous local Carramba (well, Twoarth) singers got involved with a big hoohah near the Stage, and had he a human's heart it might have fluttered with adoration - it was a brilliant performance even if it wasn't planned. He sat at a booth on the lower balcony watching all that, and gave a sigh.

It was echoed beside him, a hissing but wistful breath. He didn't have to actually use eyes to look at this dragonet next to him, but he did so anyway and got an eye full.

But was it a dragon? Or a person?

"I can be both, can't I? A lot of us are, you know..." She tilted her head, long nosed and with tall fins coming off the sides, almost like a cobra but more elegant. He knew this was a dragon, and a local one, young, she was small and delicate but also there was something... about her. Something that almost made his nanites scatter but instead seemed to cloak around them. Her powers: looking him over properly. "You're both here and not here," she commented casually. "You're different things at once, like me." Her voice changed from speaking to ... well, telepathy? Was it? Or she was actually more communicating directly with his pod? Interfacing with the code there? She'd read his mind-code, unapologetically, confident with his company.

Her name, she inserted directly into his memories, was Emitter Zwitterion, and she was very interested in coming back to Carramba with him, and then that could lead... wherever they would go! It seemed she was very intrigued by his ability to self-manifest in another dimension.

"That's... amazing!" he breathed, quietly. Mainly because he suddenly realized his memory had been written to. Also because she'd changed from a biped to a dragonet, slightly bigger than the checkerboard-winged ones (they matched his ska-band styled shorts!) that scooted around the venue, her markings were the same in both forms though. And she still stood with her wing-arms on the balcony, long face propped between her wrist-hands.

By the end of the evening, Emitter and Anomaly had enjoyed a number of things together. From an exterior tour (scary, so much water, but they were safe, they really were...) to a strangely less awkward dance than either of them expected - she wasn't in her biped form, and he wasn't really standing on two legs, she shared her powers as they started to affect his energy level. What might shock or stun a physical being, served to reinvigorate his own power cells! They made a terrific team already!

Bond: Kwil Vahlden, Voluntary Multibond with Sidante (on ANTE page)
Meeting Notes:
While Kwil was certainly happy to have been selected among the many Vahh folk available... man, this party was really, really hard on his senses. When they got to the venue via that big noisy portal buried deep in the Ski'nahket facility, he knew it was going to be a bit rough. But as they reached the first obvious meeting point in the area, the coat check, the small and incredibly pretty woman there tilted her head and gave a strange expression.

"I was wondering whether I'd need one of these, glad I made one!" She said, and rummaged around for something. While the other man there was busy putting a bow-tie on a young man who'd hardly dressed for such a formal event, this woman appraised Vahlden with care. Sliding out from behind the counter as though floating, she looked Kwil square in the eyes. "Now, I hate to cover your lovely features, but you might find this to be much better than wandering about unprotected. You probably won't even notice its weight, but I know it will aid you."

She waggled her fingers, and the much taller Zekiran man bent slightly to meet her a little closer. There, Fantell (her name tag was written in several languages? convenient!) unfolded something and draped it very carefully over his head, adjusting it around even his lower face. When she was satisfied, she indicated he ought to look at himself in the full length mirror that the booth had in it.

Kwil had to squint - there was a veil over him, a hood of sorts that covered his antennae and ears, but left his eyes easily unhindered, and draped across his nose and mouth open at the bottom. But he could hardly even see it, it was nearly transparent - but not in that plastic-shell kind of way, more like... a spider web? It caught faint glittering light here and there; it was the finest, softest silk he'd ever touched - and that was saying a lot. Plus he immediately noticed it worked well to dampen the noise and raucous vibrations coming from the rest of the ballroom. His antennae hardly dipped a bit with it; he did feel it there, but again it was almost like he'd walked through a spider web and could barely sense it.

Fantell seemed quite happy and proud of herself, and gave him a formal nod, before returning to her station and urging him to enter the party.

"Do I owe-"

"No no, it was made for you," she said, "obviously. Think of it as a party gift."

If Kwil's people believed in 'magic' he might have said it was purely made of it. The rest of this night was spent in more comfort than he could have imagined: the dance floor was a thumping, pounding mass of people; the air around some spots of the wet bar cloudy with fragrant smokes. Typically he had to avoid bars and clubs because of smoke like that. But here, with this lovely veil... he didn't even have to use his own psionics to move the stuff off of his face. He noticed it: the veil brushed it off, almost repelled it with wind. Eventually he would be told (because he went back to the greeter's booth to thank her) that her dragon named Solaris produced this silk, and she'd woven it into this particular piece almost without thinking who might need it.

He got brave after that: Kwil would hardly have decided to go gambling even on the best of days back home. But... just this once? Maybe? He poked his head into the casino ... thought twice. It looked great, but it also was definitely more overwhelming than the wide open ballroom proper. As he was leaving, however, there was a jostling at his leg. A pair of small dragons rushed by, apparently heading toward their new friend beyond.

But they were followed by another, sleek and clean looking. Sharply white and black to fit the theme; though when the dragon looked around, Kwil could see the contrasting grey on its chest, and the slight shifting of that silvery fur on its neck, and equal shine from the shoulder and brow armor it had. He heard chittering, but it was more coherent than the pinging and plinking of the casino's many machines. (And come to think of it, this place was filled with electronic noise as well as physical... best to duck out as soon as he could!)

Kwil realized the added sound was the dragon next to him, who looked a touch frustrated. "We should talk outside, it's so busy in there," he suggested, and the dragon... surprisingly? Gave a nod of his sharp long face, and followed Kwil out. The dragon was small, low to the ground and long, but the height was perhaps a deception: Kwil wasn't short, no Zekiran was, and ... this was a hatchling, after all! It had to be expected to be little! The dragonet and butterfly-winged man found a nearby nook along the wall, a recessed arch with just enough room for the small bench in the corner and perhaps someone facing it.

That someone was this dragon, whose faceted eyes seemed to glimmer in this area. The wall here was black, trimmed in the same chrome as its eye and shoulder armor. He opened his mouth, but didn't have to, as the sounds seemed to be produced somewhere in his throat. "We see the same things, you and I," the dragonet asserted. "May I go with you? I think you can teach me what these things all do," he glanced back at the entry to the casino, "they are confusing to me. So many numbers. I don't know numbers yet."

"There would be a lot of math in there," Kwil chuckled. "I'm sure that we'll figure it out!"

Evgeny introduced himself with a bit of a mental nudge, his 'voice' was a sing-song chip and chitter, after all, not proper words. Parroting language in a way, a very clever and strong way actually, but still it seemed easier to listen for the context brought from mental energy. And Kwil had that to burn...

Bond: Queen Gleam et al, Sponsorship, Multibond with numerous, story shared with several
Meeting Notes: The end of the evening was upon them - or at least, the middle, given how much celebration there was still happening around both sides of the venue. Queen Gleam and her smaller charges, including her newest, gave off howls and croons of delight. Normally she wouldn't have cut loose but... tonight was special. Maybe there was something in the water fountain (a full sized fountain, for dragons to drink fresh water) ... maybe it was just the euphoria of the whole night catching up with all of the dragons. Some had been a bit on the rowdy side, but no lasting harm was done, and plus there was that sparring contest put together for just such a reason late at night.

Sleepy little Taeuth was nestled closer to Tempered, but still gave her own little warbling call at midnight. They had chosen a spot befitting of a queen and her group, a large nook on the second ledge up from the floor, lit by plants that glowed and crystals that hummed with life of their own. When a shadow passed over one of those plants, it shrunk, like a snail's eye would, suddenly dousing the area in darkness for a moment. Boldly shot a glance over, but there were no attackers.

Rather, two dragons that hadn't been there before. Boldly rose and sniffed them over, but they sniffed right back. Croak joined in, these were dragons that... intended to remain. The weird 'flitter' that Croak had found in a gift bag earlier rode on her snout and somehow managed to remain there even while the dragons all jostled to see their new company.

I found this one sneaking around, the lighter colored wing-armed one bespoke to all. But they just wanted to come along with me... and you, if that is all right?

I wasn't sneaking, I was approaching! The queen should have her proper court and what court would be complete without me?

This is Luysheva, and I am Ezio Zwitterion, I know it's late, but we got a bit caught up in the fray on the other side of the event... You know how those humanoids can get, they want to see everything...

Can see why they would look at you! Croak was barely bigger than this Ezio, but had already decided she liked him. The dark and checkerboard patterned Luysheva gave a little huff, split tail carefully sweeping around behind them.

I have heard you inhabit a ... a space station? That means technology, doesn't it? I'm bound to be good with that, Ezio proclaimed.

A small dragon has their uses, Gleam said, and both Croak and Boldly fluttered their wings a little.

Oh but I don't have to be small! Ezio then moved to the side of the ledge and grew half again bigger! With a bit of effort he did a 'ta-daa' with his wing arms, and then reverted to his hatchling-size. Interested now in earnest, she appraised the dragonet and decided it would be good to have such a feature among her colony.

Her gaze then went to the dark dragon, who was having no trouble at all standing on two legs - didn't even have to flap like other dragons to do that. Gleam did the draconic equivalent of raising an eyebrow very slowly at them, and Luysheva did the draconic equivalent of 'oh, you!'

I am good with sneaking, if I'm not being tailed unexpectedly, they gave a roll of their head toward Ezio, even if I'm... heavily decorated. They indicated their wings, which turned to a mottled, slightly marbled looking grey - mixing the bold black and white in a way that looked quite a bit like Taeuth's hide!

Having stealth on our side is important, Gleam announced quietly. Now, enjoy the rest of this festival, we leave when you young ones are ready to sleep. You will wake in my colony.

Bond: Taleasin Keyxidor and Euhesma Zwitterion Multibond (Eqo)
Meeting Notes: Ettrian was much better suited to this party than Taleasin, or at least that's what Tal thought. While he didn't exactly mope, he was still hesitant to enter the fray on that dance floor, it was just too intimi--

His hand was grasped, warm and strong fingers sure of their grip. Yanked sideways into the group on the wide ballroom floor, Taleasin had no choice, and wouldn't protest out of politeness... If this woman was 'polite' perhaps that might... Well she was confident, and slender, and beautiful. Red-brown eyes looked at him seriously, he was so stiff and hesitant while dancing. Also he was completely unfamiliar with the music, it definitely wasn't from his world. But she smiled, she was not staring at his scars, rather at his eyes. They danced for a time, two songs, and she finally released him into the room once more.

Baffled, suddenly exhausted, Tal saw why they'd stopped - it wasn't because she was done dancing, it was because they were making way for dragons to parade across the floor. And... of all things, one of them with bright checkerboard wings stumbled right up to his brother! Well that was certainly good for him!

Another little checkerboard dragon, one that had been seen constantly virtually everywhere around the tables and dance floor area, came to Tal and seemed to be offering a small sandwich plate. Well, that was welcome! Over the course of the next few hours, this same dragonet arrived - one time with bubbling champagne, another with a moist towelette and spicy meat strips, and finally, who just sat next to him quietly.

He'd chosen a table closer to one of the kitchen entrances, apparently, the only people looking this direction were those waiting for special dishes, and they didn't look for, or at, him. His brother continued to enjoy himself, going so far as to carry his new little dragon around to sniff noses with others. Amused, tired, and growing a little dejected, when the clock looked to be nearly an hour to midnight, the dragon beside his seat laid its head on his lap and gave a musical little sigh.

My sister wants to meet you, she has waited all evening but you did not go back out to see.

Tal froze in mid-bite, and looked down at the dragon. Surely he'd imagined it? No, no, those eyes looked at him almost with puppy-dog brows. He finished chewing, dabbed his lips, took a sip of water.

"Your... Sister?" He asked, and the dragon nodded, a little tiredy itself. "Where should I find her?"

By the window with the whales, the little one seemed encouraged, and stood once more. I will take you! Tal stood, carefully leaving his gift bag items by the sign that said he would return, on the table. Led by the grey and white dragon, Tal followed along the edge of the dance floor and closer to the orchestra pit, though oddly the music coming from that strange group was muted somehow. There was not an act on stage just now, so they were providing a reasonably sedate tune for a slower dance on the floor.

Ahead, though, there were tall arched windows looking out to the deep dark sea outside Rapture. The Stage had a backstage area, but... you couldn't see it from the window? How was that possible? Tal looked around and didn't find another dragon. Was this some trick?

It is not a trick, as I'm right here, another voice, more feminine and stronger in volume than the little one. There was a lot behind this voice. It seemed like it could turn very sharp, or sonorous, a lullaby or a cacopheny at will.

Taleasin realized that the figure nearby was the source of this mental voice. He'd assumed it was a guest, standing with their back to the dance floor and gazing out at the massive... 'whales' (he'd never seen such creatures and couldn't know that the one nearest was actually known as ruu-un'den-ket, a manta-like animal from Xen, while another called a whale had long tendrils and glowed with an eerie blue luminescence and was definitely not from Earth). He took a moment to appreciate that view, and walked delicately toward this dragon. They had a stripe of dark hair, he thought it was literally just a woman standing there. Though... She... definitely didn't have a dress on, those brightly white wings looked like a shiny garment as she held them in such a way. But she turned her head, long on that neck, with armor coming from her brows, definitely not human. Or elf, or virtually any other breed he'd heard of.

She didn't blink but she did suddenly move into a different shape, descending to a horizontal direction rather than vertical. I am Euhesme, this is Eqo; my sibling and I would like to help you. Your brother is concerned. We will accompany you to keep you safe and happy.

She didn't seem like she would be dissuaded by any of his typical arguments... He wondered, was this what Annir intended? Well, it must have been.

The littler dragon chirped happily, we will make a great team, and you're going to love it! The larger shapeshifting sister gave a draconic smile, in agreement.

Bond: Mister Black, Voluntary bond, will begin picking up other dragons to form a posse... a pack, um, a group? a following, a mob, take your pick
Meeting Notes: Even if 'Mister Black' had spent some of the night actively enjoying the music or casino hijinks, or people watching from the balconies, or looking outside at mind-boggling distant worlds, something kept nagging at him. He kept seeing, mostly in the corner of his eye, but then outright visibly in the hallway beyond the casino, an older man with a broom. His appearance kept changing, though; at first he thought he was wearing a tux, but that flickered briefly into a plaid flannel unkempt shirt and work overalls, then to what looked like a much younger man in a dark suit very similar to his own. But always with that broom, always in his hands, and almost always shuffling with it either in motion or as if he had to lean on it. It was odd that he could lean on this broom, since it was seemingly a typical house-wares upright bristle broom; a T-bar broom would make more sense than just falling over with a tuft, but still he could easily rest his elbow on the end of the bar, and give himself a breather.

At last Black really couldn't stand the suspense any longer, and when the man appeared both 'young' and 'sweeping', Black moved near him. He was almost afraid that the guy would vanish or be angry at an interruption. But he really didn't look like he was staff here. There were other, younger and busier attendants who rapidly cleaned up spilled ashtrays or drinks, and chased whatever footprints might have come in from the entry areas away with their mops or whisk brooms. Clearing his throat, Mister Black stood patiently, and was at last rewarded when the man straightened, tamping the broom a couple times before turning.

The man muttered something, he didn't look like he minded the interruption, but his voice was old and a bit tired. "I'm sorry I didn't ... catch that?" Black said, "but erm. Did ... you need help?" He did have his own mop held at the ready in a sling on his back... With that, though, the old man gave a genuine round-cheeked smile. His shake of that frizzy head was followed by a nod toward the hallway's darker end. It was dark enough that the dragon standing there was positively glowing.

Black suspected that the grunt that followed meant something like, "no but they might," so that's how it took it. Carefully moving toward the hallway, he saw that white shape begin to move toward him as well. Shining, blazing white, with black fins and grey wingsails, the dragon seemed almost the polar opposite of Black's traditional namesake. It was when he stood up on two legs and nearly reached Black's chest even as a hatchling that the suited man was pretty impressed.

I can help you keep things nice and tidy, the dragon spoke telepathically. Don't worry about raising me, I'm pretty self sufficient already. I've even collected some friends.

It did seem a little odd that this dragon, his shape echoed in the helpful ushers and guides running around the ballroom all night, wasn't as chipper and eager-sounding as those smaller ones, but instead was confident and sincere. When the damargons appeared from behind the white dragon's wing-arms, Black knew that this dragonet was absolutely going home with him...

Bond: Avari, Voluntary Bond (multibond? very welcome!)
Meeting Notes: Early in the evening Avari and her brother had flown around the tall ceilinged ballroom, joined by several others with such features, in a happy aerial dance. For some reason she felt it safe enough to do her own thing, to let her brother do his without fretting. There were some scary dragons present, but there were dozens more nicer ones, and even the pointy dragons seemed... happy? Well, satisfied at least, so they didn't seem like they were about to hurt anyone.

At one point, around three hours to midnight, it looked as though Necian was ... he was finding a dragon friend? Avari was so excited for him! And a little... sad? But with his own excited moment down there on the ballroom floor, she knew that he would always be safer even if her eyes weren't watching out for him.

Less than an hour to midnight, however, Avari heard something odd. It was coming from one of the smaller side rooms, one she hadn't visited yet. She'd been through the casino and shuffled out of there right quick, probably because she was young, and not because she had accidentally blurted out someone's bluff hand at a card table... The weird noises involved high-pitched chittering, what sounded like laughing or even a little cheering, and then breaking glass.

Was someone causing mischief? It wasn't the kitchen or coat room, it was... Well, an oddly long room with dim underlit walls, and what looked like a target dummy on the far side. There were pieces of bottles scattered around the ground, and a few of them still intact sitting on the humanoid dummy's shoulders and head. No one batted an eye when she came through the arched doorway (it was a portal? it definitely was not a door and was not obviously-open to the rest of the ballroom area) so she made her way over to where most people were clumped up.

There were half a dozen humanoids in the room, but also at least two dragons - a long and sharp looking slate-colored one, and a black and grey bipedal one with a tall bright-yellow crest - and everyone was encouraging a dark-skinned human girl to 'do it again!' What was 'it' they wanted?

'It' turned out to be using some kind of power to push the air in front of her, and she was attempting to knock over the bottles on the other end of the room. The chittering, it turned out, was coming from both dragons, and... a third, that showed up slick like a flash of light.

That one stood close to Avari, wrapping its tail around her leg so casually. It... she gave off a chattery sound almost like a cat watching birds, and the bipedal black dragon chuckled back with his own strange voice.

I bet she can do it this time, the dragoness beside her thought, very clearly, to Avari. And I bet you could do it too!

"Wait, do... do that? Well I can yell but it's not... really safe." Avari shrunk a little when the odd man that was clearly attached to that bipedal dragon glanced at her with his weird eye and... other not-organic eye.

"Usually we don't encourage people or dragons to blast at things from inside the facility," he said, his voice was eerie too, laced with static. "But this isn't exactly 'the facility', is it?" He laughed and others joined him. The girl gave a broad, gap-toothed smile and pointed toward her work. The bottle on the shoulder was teetering but hadn't yet fallen.

"Oh I bet they're right," she said, "oh and ain't you pretty," she said, looking between both the harpy and the... her dragon that nudged Avari up to the low barrier they all declared was the 'safe' zone. "It's all right, they got magic or somethin' protecting the walls. And us," she pointed at her own ears. "Mars was in here earlier and her go-booms packed a whallop!" The others laughed, Avari didn't know who they were talking about but if it was safe for 'go-booms' then maybe...

Between Avari's shout, and the dragon's encouraging sonic waves, all three of the remaining bottles popped like balloons before falling to the floor! The dragon finally introduced herself as Euphoria, wasn't that the truth!

Bond: PiXL, Voluntary Companionship, Multibond with Bold Skies (see also AMSH)
Meeting Notes: When their Code professor indicated that he wanted PiXL to remain behind after class, their first thought was 'why am I in trouble?'

Of course they knew perfectly well why, and it wasn't because their grade was poor in that class. It was probably the 'extra credit'... that G0rd-OS didn't know about. Well... he probably did know. PiXL remained in the airconditioned classroom until it had emptied, but still the akita-morph (or was he an android? he was fluffy and seemed alive? but there were plenty of reasons PiXL guessed he wasn't actually biological) patiently stood staring at the classroom door. Oh - it was because three others were arriving? Was this a new kind of detention that they were testing out or something?

It became apparent that the students that showed up had classes similar to the one that just ended, with G0rd-OS as the instructor. They all got settled, and a couple other instructors showed up with their own pack of kids. What was happening? Everyone seemed to suddenly realize there was an embossed square of heavy 'greeting card' paper on their desk - it hadn't been there a minute ago, PiXL was sure of that. At one spooky instructor's suggestion, they looked that invitation over. While they read, baffled, the kids were informed, by one or another of their gathered professors, of this big shindig; a dance, an event? They'd be dolled up if they didn't have their own gear, even offered dance lessons if they had interest.

"But why me?" was a commonly spoken phrase.

Why? Was because dragons were going to be there too. Well that was... that was amazing? And so slightly-less-than-a-day-in-advance, this disparate group of teenagers got prepped and dressed, given a few pointers, and a specific instruction 'to have fun'. Coming from Professor Lane, that was halfway terrifying, but okay? Fun it would be!

The Ball itself was amazing, too. Just event after event; the crowd, the lights and the - well, there weren't colors, there were checkerboard black and white themed things simply everywhere! A beautiful dance floor, the ballroom itself was stunning, the casino - was off-limits to most of the students (shucks!) but there were other things they all got to do. The food! The trippy lightshow, oh and a tour outside this undersea city? A bit scary, but super cool. Dragons came out from their half of this show room floor on the regular, brought out by their proud, pretty parents. They would scatter around, find friends among the attendees.

Wait was that... okay, that was certainly why they were all here, PiXL spotted one of the classmates finding their own friend at one point. PiXL sat down after an energetic dance, having slogged up to one of the balcony tables for a little quiet. A small dragon had deposited a goodie bag on the booth seat beside them, and PiXL could swear they heard giggling. And digging through the bag netted them a strange mechanical flitter* and an honest to goodness mini-vinyl of that lady and her swing group singing right now? and booze ooh! Vodka that would be fun--

"You will not be needing this," that spooky Lane said - when did he even show up? What-- He took the little white bottle away and swapped in another bag instead, but his expression was more amused than angry. In fact he kept looking down at that Stage with the all-lady quartet with what appeared to be lovestruck eyes.

There were other lovestruck eyes, because the swapped-out baggie had another flitter egg in it...

Right around midway through this big bash, PiXL spotted some new dragons down there on the dance floor. Wow - they were impressive! Much more impressive was that one of them looked right up to where PiXL and their new flitters. A creeling warble came from the dragon's throat, but it sounded for all the world to PiXL that she'd said, "I see you!" A moment later, "and you too!" PiXL looked to the side of the booth and noticed that same little helper-dragon was waiting, peering over the balcony edge with wide eyes and a beautiful sounding warble of its own.

"Wait, wait," PiXL said, "what?"

What what? I'm sticking with you and her! The dragonet ... thought into her mind? It certainly was a dapper looking one, too, super black with a white 'tuxedo' marking, and brilliantly checkerboarded wings, this little dragonet turned its long long face to PiXL and bespoke once more, we should go meet her!

"Her... wait, how do you know--" But the dragonet had already swept down in an oilslick of motion so PiXL had little choice but to follow. The pair of flits would be fine up here on the balcony table. By the time PiXL got down to the ballroom floor, the dragon in question had made her way to the curved staircase, and posed while waiting. She was amazingly marked, with marble grey and black on her body, but those wings! Those amazing void-dark wings, the star patterns in brilliant shining white seemed to blink and move.

"I am glad you like my wings," the dragon spoke out loud, was that common? PiXL wasn't even sure? "I am Bold Skies, pleased to meet you both finally."

Oh! Oh! I'm Eje, PiXL Eje Eje PiXL, Bold Skies, PiXL. The little twittering that the dragon did was musical and almost like the humming of a hard drive or a printer at work.

"But don't you have work to do?" PiXL asked the tinier tuxedo dragon.

Not any more I don't. My job now is to keep you both in my sights and out of trouble!

That would probably be far harder than the dragon realized...

Bond: Urbain, Voluntary Bond
Meeting Notes: They'd been present before the event really started, and the entire night everyone spotted the little dragon ushers, busy as a hive of bees. It was some time a few hours before midnight that Urbain decided that it shouldn't just be dancing getting his attention, and he asked for directions to one of the smaller stage venue rooms. And once there: he decided he was going to do a standup routine! Everyone was pleased with how many folks wanted to both participate and watch - this event was filled with happy people, after all, and slightly drunk ones at that.

And though some people didn't 'get' a couple of the jokes that Urbain told (they were too halfling centric, perhaps? they were too localized? but people laughed politely even if they missed the gags, and laughed strongly at the rest) he considered it to be a rousing success.

Even more so when one of the little Zwitterion ushers remained, eyes wide and head slightly tilted. I like you! You're fun and funny!

"Both? Really?" Urbain asked, and the dragonet tittered musically. He fluffed the dragon's chrome-shiny mane, "next time, you'll come up on stage with me. We'll make a great team." The dragon seemed quite happy with that!

Bond: Mihr, Multibond with whoever! (Eve, Erb)
Meeting Notes: Close to midnight, for whatever it was worth here in a place frozen outside of time, Mihr brought Capo back to the dance floor, draped over xir shoulders and enjoying being carried over the entire mess of people. As the clock hadn't been seen to move while anyone was watching, Mihr kept trying to grab a glimpse of it, it refused, all but with a silent dimension-breaking laugh. But that last minute or two was very, very visible to everyone: staring at it as the second-hand actually appeared in its silvery metallic glory. Mihr did see how all the disparate dimensions contributed to this, coalesced into a long and straight metallic beam.

The countdown had begun, there were dozens of people with young dragonets, big dragons with their new charges gathered similarly on adult shoulders, all focused on that clock as it struck midnight once and for all.

Mihr hooted and howled with the rest, surrounded by like-minded mortals, it was glorious. The party wasn't over by a long shot, obviously, even if it had been going for some hours before. It would be ages before all the dragons were gone, all the partiers sent home with their gift baggies and little flitters or party favors.

Mihr nearly tripped over a pair of attendant dragons, they wouldn't get out of the way!

Of course we will not get out of the way, we're going home with you! We can help make your stage show really hop! We know how!

Mihr then realized that this pair had been bringing them drinks for hours... Always these two, this same pair. Sometimes they had other duties, bringing trays of food balanced on their shoulder fins to the big dining tables, or delivering a bucket with a sponge to a cleanup crew. But always... they'd returned. Made sure that Mihr had a drink or a snack, that Capo was suitably comfortable or had another little snippet of fresh fish or meat.

They'd watched when Mihr got up on the Stage with the big drag show - oh that was so much fun, so colorful even if most of the costume feathers and floof were black and white! The vampiric Miss Sanguine was entrancing, the ostentatious Yodel Hidalgo sparkled like champagne, a dozen others with their hair done just-so, with their makeup bold enough to be seen across the venue. They knew how to party... And Mihr remembered seeing the dragons down there, big faceted eyes glittering with amazement.

So now... Now they wanted to come back to the station?

And help!? "Perfect!" Mihr was so giddy, grabbed them both (they would be even smaller than Capo!) to celebrate the rest of the night with some well earned time off!

Bond: Chloe Cogwright, Voluntary Companionship
Meeting Notes: She did truly feel that her creator would have enjoyed himself here at this Ball. Though normally she wouldn't express or perhaps even process the emotions around herself, there was something here - a spark, or perhaps a complete lightning storm of it - that brought her soul's memories just a tiny bit closer to the surface. Not necessarily the memories themselves, but the feeling of being... more complete? Less of a construct and more of a person. That was silly of course, she was already a person according to her creator. And also, oddly, according to everyone around her at this big party.

While she made note of a few who stayed clear of her for whatever reason, if anyone balked at her appearance or the air of alchemical magic around herself, they didn't make it a big deal. Chloe heard the variety of tongues being spoken, and yet without training even she understood them all without having to strain. There was certainly magic at work here! So as more of an experiement than anything else, she decided to wander around the place and observe behaviors. One thing she distinctly noted at this place was that inebriation and celebration as a backdrop definitely brought out the more raucous nature of those people...

She lingered around some of the tables where discussion of how the varied pairs of dragons had been spliced together or aided a little here and there, that kind of science was quite fascinating! As well, the magic that was used to put the whole area into one seamless undersea shelter? Amazing, and she was such a seamless construct herself.

There was that one moment, though, that she spotted a strange creature, not an elf, not a goblin or other such thing, but brown skinned with a third arm poking improbably out of its chest, and a head that was quite heavy with eyes. It was slowly sweeping the hall near where a number of the magical-types arrived, keeping their muddy foot prints from marring the white and black marble farther into the chambers. She needed to remember that now... she lacked her own creator, and beyond herself, only he knew how to perform the maintenance that she might need should any harm come to her form. Even a slow wear and tear, from the possible decades of functionality, that would mean she would slowly lose cohesion.

What would happen if the stone... In a markedly human gesture she shook her head quickly as if to clear those thoughts from it.

I would pick it up and help you put it back.

Could it be said that she 'heard' a voice in her mind? Parts of her tried to start analyzing how that could even be possible, given what she was, but then the rest of her, something old but also something quite unique, perked up and listened. "Would you? How would you know how to do it?" She asked, and finally spotted the source of that voice. It was a sleek dragon with a little bow-tie and a white mask, it was quite dapper.

I just know these things? You're a little different than the air conditioner or the music boxes.

"I should hope so!" Chloe actually found herself surprised, with a laugh. How foreign, how odd. "Who are you, little one? And would you like to be my assistant?"

With that the dragonet nodded rapidly. I am Elk, it will be my pleasure!

Bond: Arshor Morleth, Voluntary Multibond (Ego and Ehd)
Meeting Notes: The band that played in the casino (and apparently also out on the main orchestra pit sometimes? he wasn't sure but they definitely had been in the main hall at least once) was quite good at emulating a great many styles. While Arshor wasn't all that fond of some of the pieces, their variety was admirable. And he found himself swaying along with a crooning tune that he'd have to remember for his own adaptation, 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' seemed ideal for a nice romantic slow dance. Taking notes on that, Arshor discovered it was around two hours until the midnight bell, there was plenty of other stuff to do and see before then!

Well, there would have been. He intended to head over to the buffet table again and grab one of those sushi rolls, and then move over to the orchestra pit next to the big ballroom floor, maybe flirt a bit with the groups of dancers. There was a dragon review going on the main Stage, there was no way he could possibly produce the sounds they made, but wow they were actually... really impressive! As he slipped between a bunch of rabbits, having to dodge their wild feet and flailing arms, he nearly tripped over something.

That something turned out to be a dragonet! Ow, that was my bad, I'm sorry!

Don't be sorry, they could have looked where they were going. Another mental voice crowded into Arshor's mind, and he realized that both of those voices were draconic.

Arshor had to pick himself up off the floor, and worried that his perfect appearance might be ruffled, weren't there people watching? How embarrassing. But they weren't watching him, in favor of the group of very dark dragonets being moved from their hatching chamber into the main venue. Well, that was okay, but...

But what about these two little dragons right here? They had the markings of those helper-types, wing-arms with bright checkerboards. One of them was dark, the other light, and they were similarly disparate in terms of bulk and current size. Something told Arshor that they would remain 'small' all their lives, but still be a bit different from one another. He knelt by the little white one, and helped right it onto its feet.

"There, hopefully no harm done?" He asked, and the darker dragonet nudged his nose into view.

Well, none that can't be fixed with a little lunch, am I right?

Oh I am pretty hungry, that sounds great.

Then they both stared at Arshor with the same violet-tinted eyes.

Where are our manners, the dark one blurted out mentally. I'm Ego, this is Ehd, we already know who you are, that's why we were waiting for you.

Yes, we'll be able to help you prepare for your shows!

And nothing grabs attention like a dragon by your side, right?

We're two dragons, twice the attention! They seemed to be waiting for him to get up again, so it was with a bit of a daze that Arshor did so... They weren't wrong - and they would definitely prove to be useful on a stage, the sounds they seemed to be making were fantastic!

Bond: Voluntary bond with Hoith and Vencada (See CADA)
Meeting Notes: They were always wandering through the place: the checkerboard and tie design seemed so ... perfect? Fitting? The venue needed hosts and ushers, servers and guides, and these little chirping dragonets fit the bill flawlessly. Most adept with offering the menu available or guidance to the restrooms, Ari appreciated their presence more than once, when she needed to re-locate and keep track of ... well, everything and everyone. As time went on however, she noticed that one of them kept coming back to their table, kept following Hoith around - more than Ari, it was the dragon that this one seemed interested in.

"Do you want to come back home with us when this is over?" Ari asked, and the sleek and dapper dragon nodded quickly. Hoith looked very, very proud to have this addition. Vencada not so much, but that was a lie and the dragons all knew it.

Bond: Sponsored by Voivode & company; multibond to Nalokeba +? multibond to Eita (and others as collected)
Meeting Notes: "Yes I would," a tiny voice hissed.

"You don't even know what it means," another echoed back in a sing-song and oddly formed voice.

"I know better than you, you don't even need one!"

"If you want a bond so badly why don't you just get one?"

"What makes you think I didn't already choose?" The creature growled, stern and mighty and adorable. The other one gave off a scoffing chuffle.

And then it realized, "hey... waaaaait a minute!"

Voivode watched as two small dark checerkboard-winged dragonets stomped by. They apparently had bonded to one another, well perhaps a one-sided ... nah, he gave a tiny smirk as the smaller dark one nudged up against the larger (they were both tiny!) snappy-marked helper dragonet and that one nuzzled their new permanent friend protectively. When they noticed the vampire lord watching, the bigger of the pair raised its head high and proud.

The night is almost over, we want to go home with you, see what your ... kingdom? is like! I am Eita, this is Nalokeba, and I suppose we come as a team.

The darker one sat up straighter, though tiredly, We can guard things, or do jobs, or...

"You should just get some meat, and sleep it off, little ones," Voivode said softly. He could easily imagine the tiny dark Nalokeba curled up like a cat... he could imagine that because the dragon did exactly that the moment it found a lap - his.

Bond: Xavier and Dapper (multibond) (Shard)
Meeting Notes: Since Xavier was taller than most at the Ball, he could easily look over the heads of dancers and small dragons alike. After any given Stage demonstration, between show bits, the orchestra would start up more formal dance music or whatever - and after that, every time, an influx of folks needing to be un-stuck from muscle seizures or just have those achy legs worked out. But there were more than enough attendants on hand (and hand and hand) to take care of things if one of them decided to wander the event floor. He didn't deny himself this fantastic luxury, the invitation specifically said be there to enjoy yourself! Even if he was an official part of the event's staff, that never stopped him from enjoying things!

It was obviously that attitude that caused one small half-Hathian dragonet to continue wandering past their booth when he was done at the casino or even out on the dance floor that one time. Xavier could easily tell the difference between these checkerboard-winged ones even if they were standing in a clump together waiting for a big delivery of food to be given to them. After all, Zeddians all came in those colors, and it was good to have such subtle differences seen in other species in shades of grey.

So he could tell that one in particular had snuggled up to Dapper first, and then by the end of the fullly scheduled event (not that Midnight would signify the end of the Event, but that only 'essential' things would continue being formally hosted) the little Zwitterion came up to him to ask, in a sing-song emulation of speech, "may I come home with you two?"

"Why of course you can!" Zoeller laughed, "You've even got a proper Zeddian name, don't you!"

Bond: Yves, Voluntary Multibond with Vioth (AMSH page) (and others! yes!)
Meeting Notes:
Now this was a party!

Yves dove in with wide eyes and a wider smile. So much to do and see, taste and sample, touch and linger... He could almost forget that they'd lost the Ton-Seraph, he could almost taste and thrill and feel again.

No, not almost. That was a falsehood, they could all feel, they could all know the fast-heartbeat pace of love or joy and the heart-wrench of sorrow. They were all capable of it, stone or timber, they were still just two sides of one coin.

And he intended to prove it. Somehow. And this place, with these people... and that Stage... That would do it. He was certain. From the first performance of the evening on that big platform - he knew. Look at them, those humans were varied in color and shape (and some of them had features that betrayed other lines in their blood); and their dragons were of so many different shapes and colors and sizes! Surely if a group that disparate could perform their flag-waving demonstration with such ease and grace... Surely theirs could do so again too.

But how?

Yves wandered the area eagerly, listening in on a multitude of conversations. From the mundane ordering of a meal, to the far flung daydreams being muttered out of half-conscious mouths; and among them, too, discussions from serious folk - up in the balconies, leaders of groups convened. Hashed out deals, barter agreements, brokering travel, solidifying ties. They spoke quietly but with power, they knew their roles and how to play them. Almost casually they would put in a gentle jibe, a mocking rememberance of an event elsewhere or long ago. Those were rejoined with a subtle chuckle, the wave of a hand, or sometimes with a darker glower. He couldn't pretend to know the circumstances behind any of those things, but he did absolutely tuck away those replies and those movements for future reference.

Every time that they... well, lost, it was a struggle to reassemble the Troupe, to step up and try at least to practice, to keep up with things so that the next year would be a valiant effort rather than a losing battle. It did get harder each time. Then after a while, the opposition would have gotten lazy and rested a little too much on their lau...their hind ends - Laurel was a perfectly good performer. So the cycle would flow, they'd win again and get their time to shine.

Why did it have to be about winning when the performance was the important part? And why did it feel like it came down to him to push a little more, to use those faint motions and jibing smiles, just to get even a little response? They were so hard to rouse sometimes. But now, this party? It was going to do the job. And any little bit of it that he could bring back with him was going to make or break their next event for sure.

"Are you sure?" Someone said, a bright voice, young sounding, confident. Something in the back of Yves mind started tingling for some reason. Odd. As if there were a line of dialog that he knew by heart, that couldn't quite be spoken.

"I'm positive," another one sang - and it sounded slightly more familiar but only because of recent exposure... it wasn't so much words, than sounds put together that seemed like speech? Oh - that's right, the chittering and chirping sing-song talk of those little server dragons? Was one of them attempting to give him another glass of wine? Why did he understand this one's speech so well if it wasn't actually saying words?

Yves shook his head and glanced around, clearing his mind to concentrate on the immediate surroundings, and discovered two dragons were watching him intensely from a little nook nearby. There were many such recesses in the walls, fit for people or apparently dragons to linger in and be just slightly out of the way of anyone needing to use that passageway.

The pair of dragons had overt similar colors: a light body with a dark belly, and wings that danced with patterns. They both had long, narrow faces, and long, slender tails. They were quite different in ways too: one had nubs of horns, ears that were visible, the other a shaggy but shiny mane where their companion had short spine ridges. And on more close inspection, the one with checkerboard wings actually didn't have wings on their back - but on their forelimbs.

With the attention they were now getting, the pair both straightened up and looked more interested. "What say you," the bigger one with mottled wings on his back said, "to bringing us along? We have skills, and plans..."

I'd be happy to make music for you, the bow-tie marked one shook its head and let off a delightful tumble of sounds.

Yves stood straight, proud, "I would be honored, my new little friends, but how shall I address you?"

"I am Vioth, but you knew that," - that was the word, what had been on the tip of his tongue all this time, Vioth, the dragon's name inserted itself into his mind and soul. But the dragon wasn't done with the introductions. "And this is Etu Zwitterion," the smaller one gave a half-standing bow, good enough to be on their hind legs and balance with that long-long tail. "And we are now a trio, but we're more than happy to become much more."

Bond: Vui'veda, Sponsorship, Multi-pack pleaseoplease?
Meeting Notes: (see also Natcada)

Vui'veda and Natcada conversed, learning each other's names, figuring out where they'd be heading when the party was over. But the party was far from over! At times, Natcada would rest, riding on Vui'veda's warm fluffy shoulders (and not getting burned); alternately sleeping or snatching little bits of food that Vui'veda grabbed from the buffet table, and occasionally giving draconic direction hints about what looked interesting. Thus draped over Vui'veda's unusual scooped horns, they attended as many of the dragon-venue events as possible. Mock battles! Thrilling! Magic demonstrations that defied description. Story time (kinda lulled them both half asleep but maybe that was also the effects of the big buffet...), they even took the exterior tour when the sea-dragon-dance was being held, with magic keeping them safe, warm, and best of all alive under the pressure of the sea above.

When things were starting to peak, when the big onyx and crystal* clock on the dragon side wall began to tick downwards to Midnight, Vui'veda's own magical cheer-producing power wasn't even needed. Everyone was thrilled, this was a super fun time! Not that it was going to be 'over' at Midnight, but that this meant the formal festivities were going to end and people would be on their own for entertainment.

As the bell was ringing, both dragonet and deer-dragon noticed that they'd been joined by one of the small attendant dragons, a sleek little one, as bright as Natcada was dark.

Where've you been? Natcada asked, dangling from its preferred perch of Vui'veda's neck.

Over there, the little half-Hathian bespoke, mental voice pure like a ringing bell... or more like a bell's perfected waveform filtered through a reverb machine? I was busy helping the two-feet-people get their food and drinks. Fun stuff, but I'm beat.

Vui'veda watched this interaction curiously, because of course, it was including his mind too. They were speaking privately, but... with him too.

Don't'cha get it? Natcada tittered, joined by the other one, they're coming with us!

I won't take much space, not like wing-flappy over there...

Those flappy wings were quite bat-like after all - obscuring Vui'veda's face when Natcada decided to right itself and launch at their new little partner. Enes was its name, spoken above their mock tussle, and Vui'veda managed to separate them with a well timed toss of still-fresh meat from that same buffet...

*yes, the dragons clock looks slightly different from the obsidian and silver biped side's... but be sure, it's the same clock...

Bond: Lothair Lawton, Multibond with Ebbu Zwitterion (Daus as well on another page)
Meeting Notes: It was absolutely all Lothair could do to not ask how to get outside. They wanted to swim out there, with the fish and the dragons and whatever the heck else it was that floated on by the huge windows outside the ballroom. But no, they were tapped for the event for their skills in electronics, keeping the big bank of computers that ran all the event security and room lighting running smoothly. Not that they were meant to watch the security cameras oh no no that was someone else's job, and they took this seriously. They were passing Beck's 'Ethics' course with flying colors for a reason! Someone tried getting in to the security depot without a passport once, only once, while they were on this assignment...

I know you want to, but we have to get you fed first!

It was the strangest little voice, loud and clear in Lawton's ears even though there were a dozen other people in the hallway.

I do want to eat but... but I want to find them!

I know how! The voices got really quiet suddenly, but Lawton still caught the gist of it. Oh! Well this should be fun! There were definitely two voices, conspiring.

Lothair had a feeling they knew just where to go. Cutting these mysterious personages off at the pass so to speak, the student quickly headed back to the security office. No one even batted an eye when they arrived, and even though it felt a little strange to be there while the shift had already ended - this was important. And not a moment too soon, because shortly from above, in what looked like a fancy grill-covered air vent, a certain bumping and scratching could be heard.

The other two in the office, a pair of security guards, glanced up, then at Lothair; one of them gave a nod and turned back to their observation of a dozen monitors.

Leaving Lothair to stand, hands on hips and with the wide footed stance that they'd learned in their martial arts class, waiting.

From the grill, those noises were louder, and finally a skinny dragon nose wiggled the grate loose. It clattered to the floor even as the pair of dragonets tumbled out of the vent. Though they were both shades of grey and had distinctive checkerboard markings on their wings, they were quite different indeed!

But Lothair could instantly tell which voice had belonged to what dragon. The hungry one was the wispy-winged smoke dragon; the sneaky one being the tuxedo-marked... and masked attendant.

"Stop right there!" Lothair said, assertive. Doctor Beck really liked that voice because it was the one that Lothair used when they were training to 'stop workplace disasters' in the Ethics class! It would have been fitting for either of the guards in the room as well, and they both straightened up as though they'd been caught napping.

The dragonets did freeze in place, the one tuxy oddly had a bunch of scales on their shoulders that shivered like a cat's would puff up.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to find you!" The smoke dragon said, hiding their face under a transparent and billowing wing.

It was my idea, the other finally admitted, standing with a sulk.

"Why did you want to meet me? I'm a--"

"You're our bond! Ebbu and me, we wanted to come with you!"

They're Daus, and they just hatched not too long ago. We should get you fed, the dragon told its companion, and then looked back up to Lawton. We really should, because little dragons need food!

"Well... I'll let you get away with it this time," Lothair smiled, "I'm not sure how I'm going to explain this to my moms..."