Gertith and Surrith

Size comparison Piece and Knockoff/Pawn *note that images are titled 'gursurnye'

Pernese, four legs, two wings, all with claws; head knobs and soft short neck ridge, tail spade, faceted eyes on some, pupils on others

Traditional -TH naming for Pernese, and -GESU ended for Knockoffs

Knockoff stats: average 2 in each, with one 5 and one 1 your choice; powers are modest but varied, max 5 power level for teleportation, 2 otherwise for nexus senses and communication, telepathy, and unassisted firebreath

This clutch is shown off at 4 hours until Midnight, in the middle of that 'hour'

Bond: Simya, Impression
Meeting Notes: 4 hours to midnight, the small pair of brightly white dragons Surrith and Gertith paraded their offspring around the main ballroom. They were followed by a group of checkerboard-winged ones too, and those were barely the size of some flitters attending! Simya, normally cooly eyeing where she knew Tamin was lurking (he could hardly be seen, but she knew that eyes were on them both - lots of eyes), felt distracted. She felt hungry, even though she'd had plenty of little finger foods and even a glass of champagne (well she had a couple sips and decided it wasn't very pleasant). She could hardly see over people's shoulders at her size, so she climbed to a rafter - how convenient that they were built into the arched dome's walls. At first all she could really think of was how hard this place was to clean... And chided herself because this place didn't even exist before now, and probably wouldn't exist after they all left. No one needed to clean it. (There are cleaning staff... there really are!)

We could see if it's still here later, if you want to, a voice called, it echoed from the wall behind her - no that was just a wall. There was nothing there. Must have been the alcohol; she'd imagined it.

You did not imagine me! We need to make sure that he's safe. He will get us all in trouble. And we can make sure he is not hurt. You and me.

She had to crane her neck down, down, farther than that, down - the ball floor now filling back up with dancers and revelry no longer hosted those bright white dragons, but there was one sitting directly below Simya looking straight up. How had she gotten so far from the rest of her family!?

How had you? Now I am here. And look, he's stealing more nuts, go tell him he can just ask for them!

They were twins but they weren't really similar beyond their basic appearance, and their voices - which they used to confound their instructors and parents. Not that they did this when any important things were going on! Even if Zy was the smarter of the pair, Zum was clearly the more clever. Zum was also the more adventurous, though that tattoo that he convinced someone to give him when they were twelve had definitely seen better days. They had no idea why they'd been asked to come to this weird and wonderful place, but here they were, in their borrowed formal wear, and watching all the people... plus the dragons!

They were starry-eyed, but also a little weirded out. This place, it was deeply under the sea? How? Zy stayed well clear of the windows, did his best to avoid looking in that direction. Zum dragged his twin into the casino: there, at least, they could sequester themselves for the most part, from the visible danger. What if those big windows broke?

Zum didn't mention that he'd seen ... what looked like a dragon outside of the window. No way was that true. They spent a good while in that noisy room, even joining in one of the small stage acts, when they realized that throwing their voices - even by faking it like they did - would definitely be a hit among the patrons here.

They came off the small stage and finally braved the ball room once more, with a few drinks and a good meal in their stomachs they were a touch more prepared. What they weren't prepared for, was that there were a pair of stunning dragons following them to their seats. One was long and dark, the other a bit chunky and pale, both of them shimmered with rainbow overtones under the dazzling light in the ballroom. The smaller white one nudged their dark companion when they realized the twins had noticed them.

Finally! We thought you'd never come out of there!

It's time you fed us, we're really hungry.

You had a snack already!

... So did you!

The dragonets bumped into one another's shoulders, and finally swaggered up to the twins. The white one, hardly 'white' with all the shiny rainbows coming off his speckled white hide, rested his head on Zumorl's knee. The dark one tiredly flopped at Zyminul's feet. It wasn't half a minute later that a pair of smartly-dressed... wait, smartly marked?! dragons came bearing two pails with freshly cut meats for the dragons, with a note that Zy read as their dragons gobbled their dinner.

"It... it's from Weyrleader S'xon and Weyrwoman Kira of Dragonhope Weyr, do you know where that is?" He asked, and as Zumorl stuffed his own face he shook his head. "Well anyway it says that they're proud we've finally completed a-" he squinted, "wait, they say we were searched? When was that?"

Zumorl shrugged, confused. "I don't know, but I guess... I suppose that father kept it from us, remember he wanted us to marry those girls from that other island."

"Well I don't need to marry a girl," Zyminul grinned, looking at Siduth at his feet. He muttered thankfully under his breath. "And neither do you unless you want to, now, I guess."

"I ... I guess that's true, isn't it Undoth?" He asked of his now-slumbering white dragon. "Are we supposed to... go to that weyr?"

His brother nodded, and then added, "it says, for training, but then we're to be moved to a 'more appropriate location', whatever that means."

I like it right here, Siduth bespoke, joining her partner in crime to sleep.

Bond: Cassius, Impressed, Multibond with Cwepante and Temth'Alkar
Meeting Notes: (See also KEBA - includes ANTE's)

While that spaz Tsanthryl obviously wandered off to eat, drink, and be merry, Cassius had indeed felt it necessary to plant himself down at a small table, not one of those that could host a whole damn adventuring party (and there looked to be at least four of those here tonight by their builds and obvious body language) but one more suited to just a pair of friends out on the town having fun. And it was a good thing he'd done so, because pretty soon after they arrived, a lot more people started showing up. Not really 'pouring in' or pounding at the doors to enter, but definitely a constant stream of new arrivals. And the table he'd chosen was perfect for people watching! There was a little 'claim flag' that he put up, and it appeared to notify the hosts that the table would be 'theirs'. So clever, he wanted to pull apart the little box that the flag was on, just to see what kind of gears it had in it. Maybe later.

There was an equally steady stream of dragons moving around - at first pretty easy to spot because they were among the only ones out there, helping to serve and bring guests to their tables. But then as time went on, wow they got harder and harder to locate. Because there were a lot more dragons.

The full sized ones, impressive with markings and flashy features, were all paired with little'uns that had checkerboards like the attendants. But not one set of these dragons were alike. True, they all 'had wings and tails' and whatever, but with that as the backdrop they were markedly different each time.

Cass ordered something light, unlike his friend who just ate whatever passed by his fangy maw, the crow-shifter paced himself and ordered the 'sampler' for the table, asking for delivery of a full meal later on. Turned out that was a brilliant plan, because he wouldn't have much time to think on what he would be eating by then.

The big obsidian and silver clock's hour hand reached '4 hours' until Midnight, and right at that moment, the first of the full clutches emerged from the weirdly magical archway beyond the ballroom's floor. So while Cass's table was terrific for people-watching, it was a little less easy to get a glimpse of those entering dragons, because there was a whole entire venue in the way of that. He spotted quite a few raised wings, shiny, dappled, heavily marked; and heard a good number of squealing voices that told him bonds had been made.

He did weirdly get a sensation in his gut, that wasn't just how good the spicy broccoli and cheese was. But it passed, at least wasn't sharp, for another half-hour or so. When it came back rousingly strong. By then he'd finished that first little dish, and was curious anyway; the table wouldn't be 'allowed' to be occupied by anyone in his absense, Cass felt confident enough to leave it unattended.

A second group of hatchlings had arrived, quite different in shape and ... weight distribution, than those first ones. Cass only knew this because one of them came walking directly up to him, with purpose. She was oddly colorful though? Like, not ... not directly colored, not like that group of performers when they had arrived. But she had impressively iridescent white hide that caught every single light in the place, dazzlingly rainbow in effect. Her wingsails were silvered, flashed brighter under them, darker on their backs. Her very-pale eyes sought his blue ones.

His vision swam, from the strength of her telepathic communion. You should be sitting down for this, I have to tell you something important.

Though the impact of her mental voice was definitely deep and straight through him, it wasn't 'painful' or 'threatening' - far from it, she was absolutely correct, she had something that was truly the most important thing he'd ever hear. So he led her back to that small table, where... one of those first clutch dragons' 'knockoffs' sat eating the jalapeno poppers and letting little flames escape his very black mouth.

Well that was... a surprise. It could produce flames. From the spicy food. It was eating his food.

Rude! I told you to wait!

HUNGRY though! But now he's here so we're good right?

This conversation played out through Cassius's mind, the dragons going back and forth about how impolite it was and how she'd told them to just 'be ready' for their arrival.

"Wait, hold up," Cass said, finally finding his chair and s l o w l y resting into it. "Your important news, it's... this, right?" He waved his faintly-taloned fingers at both of them. "It's you. Right?"

Correct, the rainbow-white dragoness bespoke. He noticed when she put her head on the table and a single paw up on his leg, that those feet of hers were a more solidly snow white, without the rainbow cast to them. The other dragonet, altogether longer and leaner and not-quite-half her size, proved to be an inky shadow to her brilliant sparkle.

Wellllll, that dragonet mentally barged in, I mean. Not alllllll just us.

Cass had his hand just picking up a fork, but instead dropped it gently onto the silver edged white tablecloth.

Rather than allow the little checkerboard black to continue with this, the more girthy of the pair bumped him with her rump and nearly knocked him off his feet. But that at least did jostle some sense into him, and he sat quite prim and proper beside her.

Ahem. The rainbow white cleared her mental throat as well as giving a little vocal trill. I am Merseth. This is Cwepante. She took in a deeper breath when Cwepante started to fidget. And yes, we are... Waiting for another. They aren't ready yet. So you should consider us your bonds now. As we are to each other as well. I know that not all of our ... parents... (She hesitated with a sidelong glance at the checkerboard winged one who didn't seem to even notice this, in favor of sniffing more at that table with fun food to steal.) Necessarily approve of wandering off with other dragons, tonight is a good night to break some rules.

Awesome! Cwepante exclaimed and nearly knocked the table over in their enthusiasm to reach those poppers again.

Bond: Merete Konjin, Impression
Meeting Notes: He was very sure that his younger cohorts would find dragons here, but on arrival it was impossible to say just when, where, or with which types. So he figured, screw it, get a drink, put himself into the casino for a spin or two of the wheel. He saw quite a bit of winning, and wasn't foolish enough to try and cheat - not with the people running the place apt to be watching.

Merete mingled with high ranking people from the Den, from Vella Crean, from the Warren, and the Rookery, farther reaches than he imagined. Something kept bugging him, though, so he would pause now and again. Look around, scan the area for untoward activities, unsavory people. And he knew from unsavory.

Nothing, again. It was after he'd noticed Asco had paired up with ... with a shapeshifter? Huh, go figure? That he kept feeling it again and again, for the next half-hour or so. Finally though, when he was digging in to some delicious pasta and white sauce from the busy buffet table...

It occurred to him that maybe it was the dragon that kept appearing in his vision. With little bursts of... something? He had written the feeling off as nerves and the weird location. But that wasn't it at all, was it. When this dragonet's parents had brought out their brood and then some (those littler ones with the checkerboard patterns) Merete had been in the casino. Now he was seeing them around, almost all of them paired off with someone, being carried, or tagging along looking for more scraps of meat.

This one though, sat patiently near the hallway to that casino, and gently cleaned her wings.

How did he know it was a female?

Nothing outwardly, plus it was just a hatchling, hardly a mature dragon and it wasn't like he would know them by sight. His database could call up breed information, but these, though Pernese by genetics... Were all silver and white and pale blue... Icy colors. And smaller than typical even for their coloration apparently, according to the network information.

Finally she realized he was looking at her, and finally... She rose, a bit shy at first, but then with his full attention on her she gained speed. She wouldn't be the biggest of even their clutch, but still, he imagined himself attempting to ride...

I know you can't really hear me, there was static in his head. Something was definitely wrong, maybe ... maybe with that implant? But I am here for you. You'll find a way.

There was a weird sensation in his gut, something he had to just... believe. "Did... you just speak to me?" He asked, Merete suddenly realizing: he had a brain implant. While that might not be a problem for some breeds... this was a stock-in-trade Pernese, they hadn't been bred with that kind of thing in mind at all!

She nodded, a very Human gesture.

Been waiting. Hungry, ate, cleaned. Here now. The dragonet did seem to be... thinking to him? But he couldn't detect anything more than what equated to radio static and another very clear sensation of mood. Well, if she was communicating she definitely could convey emotion - just the words were being garbled, he guessed. Then she tilted her head, seemingly listening to some other dragon - maybe one of her parents. And a little lightbulb went off figuratively.

I can sense you, you are mine, my one. She came in much more clearly now, what exactly had she... I am reaching through- through the nexus? It was a question and it was more aimed at her sire, Surrith, apparently, because that white dragon had slipped in and now stood with his rider, who was apparently a feline of some kind. The nexus lets me see things. It's like that window, the dragonet glanced toward one of the tall arched windows beside the Stage - the one that had ... just. Void, space, maybe another planet, maybe it was nowhere. But it did feel like the place echoed through her mind now, when she touched Merete's.

"I... I am so sorry, little one, I think I know your name but I'm..." The Heimdall's general secretary scratched the back of his head, "You're Firreth," he said, with equal amounts of confidence and uncertainty. But the dragonet stood, brightly twittering with a song. "It is?" There was relief, and Tran, the dragonrider, gave a muzzle-smirk.

"Clever girl, take good care of her," he said, and wandered back into the fray with his white dragon apparently chuffing with pride.

"I... I will?" Merete said, blinking away tears. The feeling in his gut was comfort and confidence and hunger still. Her moods, bleeding right into his own. That was a feeling he'd missed, so many mistakes in his life were washed away with her weird static-filled chittering in his mind. Perhaps later he'd have to find a way to tune his memory drive, or shield it or... something. He wanted to feel and hear this dragon's mind fully, not just bounced between dimensions into his head.

Bond: Saquia, Impression
Meeting Notes: It was like herding wherries with this group. Saquia knew that she'd be entrusted with more responsibility because of who she was, and at least she'd been trained since her earliest years in how to do just that. But it never came without that price tag: you're the Weyrleaders child, you're expected to this-or-that. She watched as Pherin zipped away, headstrong but handsome, he'd never learn discipline. And also as Brinlan barely held it together as they entered the venue, Saquia could tell they wanted to go in every single direction all at once. Again, lacking discipline. Malieja tried to get her to come to the dancing, but Saquia had other things to attend to and begged out before stepping once onto the dance floor.

There were people up on the balconies, important ones, and she was there to present them with offers of trade, to hash out communication lines, all the things that her upbringing focused upon. They were very important indeed, both the offers and the people who accepted them with grace and their own packets of information. To be delivered back home, to be read and approved.

None of these folks seemed to realize that she herself wasn't even impressed, didn't have a dragon to grant her special rank. They expected that if she was up here holding her own with the Big Names, it was for a reason.

Once all that was settled, which didn't honestly take that long, Saquia thought she saw something in the corner of her eye, and bowed politely to the steward and healer and all. Probably because she was young, rather than because she was distracted, they returned her graceful gesture and went on with their discussions. Not that she didn't understand the chatter about economics and political sway.

But she was ... somehow, being drawn away from that chatter now. It felt like that sensation was getting stronger when she descended the big curved stairs back to the main floor, it felt like she'd heard this odd sound her entire life.

Saquia had had dragons converse with her, of course, she was the Weyrleaders' daughter. This wasn't that. It was similar, she rolled it around in her mind - why was it so very, very like a dream, or a daydream, or a half-remembered childhood fantasy?

Because I was there with you, a voice came into her mind that was warm and chill at the same time. A sunny day with a stiff breeze, a winter morning that the sun was just gracing with its rays. I know you won't remember very well, but I was.

"You - who are you? Where are you?" Saquia blurted out, uncharacteristically surprised. Oddly panicked. Not a bad panic, more like... trying to remember where the book you needed to return to the Weyrlingmaster had gone to, it's around here somewhere!

You know just exactly where I am, my friend. When you find me, we will share everything once more.

That neither calmed her nor reassured her. But she did as that voice suggested - a male by its tone - because he was right. She had to gather her wits. She had to remember something that had not yet happened to her. Where would she be - where will she be - when she met... meets, this dragon? It really felt like the world was growing dim, strange around the edges.

This time, because it was. The venue looked the same, but it was different; the walls that were indeed high, just kept going - like a dream, like a nightmare there was no ceiling. The hall that she'd found stretched for miles, not straight, but not clearly curving in any particular manner. And small bits of light reflected on dust here and there, but it was spotless, there was no dust here, it hardly even felt like there was air here for dust to drift on, or light to strike it either. It was cold, might even have become uncomfortably so; it was the chill of Between, but was it really?

"No, it isn't," another voice, quite a bit more masculine and mature than the one in her head, spoke aloud. "But it's nearby, should you wish to visit it." She heard tak-tak-tak-tak the sound of shoes on marble flooring, and the voice seemed altogether too close to her shoulder when he added, "it's right there, in fact, where... Well." He chuckled, "That isn't for me to say."

She spun, and saw Keenan Lane, or one of him anyway as she'd been forewarned there were multiples of him from different dimensions at this party, standing in his dark suit and white tie, somewhere much farther away than 'directly behind her right ear'. Ah, it wasn't the same one that had been up on that balcony meeting with the other big-types earlier, this one's hair was just a little shorter, his posture just a bit more stiff. The way he held himself was barely shy of threatening, albeit in a completely relaxed 'take you by surprise if you take your eyes off him for a moment' way.

He is not going to harm you, there was that other voice, I would not allow it, but he has no ill intentions. He has his own distractions to think about.

Because she was actually watching that man, Saquia saw his response - he was able to listen in? He straightened his tie and swept invisible dust from his shoulder, a smirk on his lips as he bowed and vanished in a green-orange orb of energy.

That left Saquia in this place that was not a place, with a disembodied voice in her head. Was she hallucinating? Was this all absolutely just a dream or nightmare?

I hope not, the dragon finally stepped from the darker-than-black wall nearby. The wall had a strangely familiar inset arch, she'd seen those along the entry walls. But it was black on black, dark on darker. And then it was not dark. Spun starlight seemed to wobble a little, came into focus there, and then vanished at the same moment a blue-tinted silver-winged dragonet walked out of it. Now you have found me, here in this place. When you see him again, you should thank him - he made it easier for me to come back to you.

"Come... come back? What does that even mean?" Saquia was more than confused, she was distressed. The dragon however was... She knew this dragon. He wasn't small like the others, he was nearly half-grown, though he would never be truly large like some at the event. He would never be truly as big as a blue dragon, either, but then who cared?

He was hers. Something very deep in her memories suddenly flashed - the dragon himself provoking it. He was also making it easier for me to communicate with you while you were in the Ball, the dragon bespoke. We will not be parted again, you and I. I was meant for you. I ... got lost for a time. But I looked for you.

"You -Parsith- you were in my dreams, you actually... You were always really there? Is that why..." Why she remembered him so vividly now. Why all the talk of being a queen rider was ridiculous to her. Because she already had him. He'd been back and forth through time and space, and finally they were together... again. For the first time.

Bond: Kreenoth, Impressed (odd for dragon)
Meeting Notes: They'd definitely noticed the flash of blue on his wings, but Kreenoth kept his wings tucked none the less. The food the humans and others were eating smelled like they would enjoy it, but he also smelled the chopped meat and fresh water that would be available to the hatchling dragons.

And there were plenty of those. He'd been allowed to tour the dragon dens and lounges, of course, who was going to stop him? Well - one of those incredibly scary spikey ones that showed up a while later, but then it didn't matter.

Because before they even got to the party, some of the clutches on their private sands had hatched, and he'd been privileged enough to be there for one of them. He'd been told to remain, by Gertith the stunningly icy white mother of this clutch. And though there was something odd about how these nooks messed with time, slowing the need for a bond long enough that the other hatchlings would be able to find theirs among those in the ballroom beyond... Kreenoth was drawn directly to the icy sparkly seventh to hatch.

This place is big and strange and I am hungry, that dragonet bespoke to the blue-winged black. She was definitely hungry, and he remembered this feeling from his own hatching long before.

He was ... dizzy! Blinking away brightness that didn't really exist in his own eyes - the newly hatched dragoness, she'd spent the entirety of her life in a shell, in a dim room, and now there were noises and people and lights... oh, and a small local usher dragon that brought in a bucket with meat - which Alpinth just dunked her head right into. Kreenoth watched her, and knew that if he had been human, he would have had happy tears in his eyes.

Parents: Gertith + Surrith
Bond: Zhefi, Impressed, open to multibond with a bit of prodding
Meeting Notes: She was unfamiliar with the sort of clock face that was in use at this event, but could tell that it was ticking down to the 'big moment' none the less. It was 'four' hours until midnight. She wasn't going to be doing much dancing, even though the motion of it was quite entrancing to her.

More important, there was meat available to the hatchlings, and she gently slid up to the area... nabbing a few bowls for herself. The prepared food was fine, she did like the fish ... things... but this was proper food for her. She carefully moved around the edge of the dance floor and back to the tables where others of her group were gathered and placed the bowls down.

And almost immediately, one of them tipped over thanks to the help of a little shiny-white-rainbow dragon paw.

It had reached around from under the table, grappled a bit with the black-trimmed white tablecloth, spilled a glass of water, and found the bowl. Meat slid out, immediately plopping onto the cloth, but was much easier to grab. It vanished under the table, smacking sounds were heard even by Zhefi's limited ears.

When the little paw bumbled back upwards and snatched another, Zhefi tracked its progress with liquid grace, moving downwards and peeking under the table. There, a little... rather round hatchling sat on his haunches and held the prized meat with both paw-hands, getting an amount of blood on his dappled white face.

She reached out with her power almost automatically and felt... So much more than she expected. Warm - you, hungry - me, need you, bold me. The dragonet noticed he was being watched, and without any hesitation stretched his paw out - extending that last bite of meat to his new bond.

The Zekiran dragon woman gave a little chuckle mostly to herself. This dragonet needed her, and she would oblige. She grasped at him with two sets of arms, and sleekly put him on her 'lap' (a coil of her body and tail) so he could much more easily reach that meat. If Zhefi cared that others were staring at the mess on the tablecloth, she didn't show it. Why bother? There was a hungry dragonet needing his first meal!

Bond: Wymer King, Impressed
Meeting Notes: Early in the night, some of the pure Pernese dragonets needed to be shown around the ballroom. Wymer had been informed about each of the types of dragons, but frankly some of it went over his head. So whatever the words 'pernese required impression' meant, he wasn't clear. What was clear was that these brilliant and sparkling dragons were bold as sunlight on snow, even against the white marble dance floor they walked across.

Someone had nudged him out on the dance floor, and he did try a little action there earlier, but everyone was so energetic and they obviously had training for those more formal dances... By the time it was 4 hours to midnight Wymer drifted over to the buffet table instead. There were fish dishes... and he found that he avoided those; there were plenty of other things that smelled fantastic and didn't bring up melancholy memories of his youth trying to fish.

Can I have some of that? A voice asked, and on impulse he reached for one of the 'Hawaiian bee bee kew skewers' to offer it to whoever had asked. Momentarily, there was a pleased feeling...

Wait, a 'feeling'? He looked away from his piled plate and found his gaze matched by a dragonet who was standing on his hind legs with forefeet carefully gripping the table edge. The dragon carefully avoided spearing himself with that thin bamboo stick, but also carefully avoided the tangy pineapple fruits between the pieces of meat.

Can I have some more, but from over there? The dragon was clearly addressing him, Wymer alone, and shifted his gaze from the human to a section of the floor that had checkerboard-winged dragons as well as humanoids handing out bowls and buckets for dragon hatchlings.

"Well I mean, I can't stop you," Wymer said, "but you should take it easy! You seem... a little tired."

It was fun moving around those dancers! The dragon admitted, he had certainly been able to avoid being kneed or tripped over on his way past everyone. I like you, you are kind and strong.

Wymer proved just how strong, when he picked up the dragonet carefully (like a puppy, hold the butt not the chest) and walked them over to that feeding area.

Bond: ?? (Ty's)
Meeting Notes: There were so many people, and dragons, and even some dragon-people. The small (not the smallest of the Ball!) group of knockoffs from Gertith's nest drifted around the dragon-side of the venue for a bit, before being rounded up and sent off to the biped side. A few remained over here, refusing that nudge by their parents, though it was apparently a bit hard.

There were a few dragons that had come with their riders who enjoyed the party together, small enough to remain over there. But there were dozens of them on the draconic side that were far too large, they'd squish all those people with ease. One of them was a lovely black dragoness, built strongly like others of her breed, and of use as a Search dragon for one of the most prestigious worlds in the Nexus. That had never gone to their heads, neither Shouraith's nor Toshi's: they knew their business and they did it well, but they also knew that it took more than a few dragons and riders to make a Nidus.

There wasn't a whole lot for either rider or her dragon to be doing here, tonight, beyond mingling and taking a look at the wonderful variety of dragons - and riders - present at the Ball. The dragon was amazed - so many of their kind were talented fighters, hunters, even mages! The black dragon Shouraith wasn't going to necessarily follow up on that 'speed date' thing, but there were a lot of handsome dragons here... Maybe they would come back. Maybe there would be another of these events.

She felt her rider chuckling on the other side of the venue, but it was definitely something that was on everyone's mind already. How had they even chosen all these fabulous pairs? It would be far too many to choose from. But then again, Shouraith was a search dragon, her nose knew. The attendees of this event - some dragons, mostly humanoids - had been searched by their own nearby methods. Even if over half the attendees weren't going to be bonding (too old, only there to work on diplomatic ties, just working the venue, whatever their excuses, some were not going to bond anyway you looked at them)... A decent chunk of them were. Every time the magical archways opened to allow passage through from the dragon nests into the bipedal venue, it wasn't just Shouraith's nose that got sniffing! Any of the search dragons could tell there were a great number over there! Completely appropriate to bonding!

The night continued, with shows and competitions, but it wasn't yet Midnight when Shouraith felt ... something strange. It was a tiny dragonet, one of the checkerboard-winged 'knockoffs', and it looked to be from the white pair, Gertith and Surrith's nest...ish, whatever they called the knockoff's gestation area.

I came from egg too, the dragonet asserted. They weren't wobbly, they had eaten (that was obvious by the still-lingering fresh blood from the chopped meat stall nearby) but they were still a little hesitant. Their mind was clear, a touch tired, a tiny bit worried. Sit with?

Of course you may sit with me, little one. Shouraith bespoke the dragonet. She put her wing over it, it warmly snugged up against her. The black dragoness felt curiousity from both her rider and this dragonet. The dragon, snow-white - almost snow like the Flurry white - with bold checks on its wings and neck ridge, seemed to be sniffing the dragon's hide.

What are you... doing? Shouraith peered down. Do I need to groom? It then occurred to her, where is your chosen? Don't you need to find them?

The smell on you says you've met them, but I haven't seen them yet!

Shouraith would have blinked with surprise, had she been her rider, who absolutely did exactly that (pausing before she stabbed herself with a kebab stick over her dinner plate). I... I what? Wait, are you telling me that your one is not here?

Not here. The dragonet sniffed again, leaning into it. But somewhere. You bring. I sleep.

Well that certainly happened, Toshi chuckled mentally, I guess we'll be bringing a dragon home to the Nidus and giving a tour.

Tyulgesu wants a tour... the dragonet added to that conversation sleepily.

Bond: Zellarel, Impression
Meeting Notes: The troupe had been enjoying both the main Stage performances and ballroom dancing, as well as the more intimate casino venue. The 'rock and roll' played in the smaller stage was intriguing, occasionally raunchy, sometimes touching. Zellarel was complimented numerous times over the course of the evening, and not just because of her striking appearance. She'd joined in an athletic dance (it wasn't quite a mosh pit, there was too much magic preventing that kind of slosh and rumble of bodies here) and left it laughing and a touch exhausted. She would head to the main banquet area, that would certainly hit the spot.

She, like the others, had definitely seen numerous dragonets being brought through the area, but had been in the casino singing with a drunken but skilled man in a ditty that had lyrics that transcended dimensions for a while, and the dragons didn't usually head toward that area. So she nearly tripped over a very small, rather... broad pale hided dragonet when she left the hallway.

"Oh I am so so sorry," she said, and it was likely her innate grace that allowed her to not trample the dragon or even bump it.

I heard you in there, but I did not want to interrupt! A voice came into her mind, clear as the moon's light on a dark night. May I come with you? I am Zangesu, and you are mine. I have been waiting a little while. I'm hungry!

This young dragonet had been sitting here for how long?! "Oh I'm so sorry little one!" She scooped it up, heavier than it looked and ... did look a bit heavy... She felt in her mind and the pit of her stomach that the dragon was hungry - and had been there... for at least an hour, by the image in its mind of that clock on the wall. It was now around three hours to midnight, and most of the troupe had indeed missed the entrance of this one's brood.

I will help you keep on your toes, and keep you strong, the dragon assured her as she brought it to the feeding area, I like how well you dodged me.

If she'd known they were going to be able to go offworld to hunt, she would have prepared better! But no, no - the fun to be had here was obvious from the start. That start included "messing with Mystic" of course. The mage was so furious, so absolutely deliciously angry, that she almost started a fight right then and there at the entrance to the Ball venue. How completely predictable.

But the Death Court had an invitation, and had chosen to come in style, graced with dark cloths and silks, onyx and opal garnishes. Though the dragons were colorful their adornments were in keeping with the theme. Perhaps a chess game here and there might entertain his people, perhaps a distraction of abstract war games might do for some. Hexeth considered them more seriously now, it was all smacking them in the face at this party!

She was honestly a little surprised that Naxi'im hadn't smacked Mystic in the face, but he was dead serious when he brushed off her accusations and they bantered... Before Baeris got there, anyway. The Death Court would have so much to talk about after this...

For the moment however, she went her way through the big portal after her King and their young companion, and marveled at the mass of dragons assembled. And Hexeth was ... let's be fair, slightly relieved that Takith wasn't present. There would be too much temptation for that dragoness - queen or no - to cause trouble.

They weren't here for trouble. They were here for the potential, and it walked around them every once in a while for the entire duration of the event. She had a slightly different view on the private chambers for the hatchlings, than her King did: a little privacy was very nice, indeed, a bit of preparation time for the hatchlings. They were still led out by their parents, mostly, and still searched high and low, but they were far from helpless mewling babies when they did so.

Magic, the power here was so strong it kept young Pernese dragons from dying without their bond in those first hours of life. Good. At least the hosts of this event had that going for them: they knew that dragons should be allowed to live and thrive in their own time and their own direction.

And it also seemed that time was weird here. It felt like days, lounging on soft piles of hide and down, eating fresh meat from those hunts beyond the world, watching mock battles of strong dragons and amazing power displays! The night stretched into its last hour before midnight, before she even realized it. That it was created and hosted by humans, that did still bother her - and definitely their King. But some of them seemed to at least understand that it was a time of change.

We have changed a little, a small mental voice came to the Queen. I am sure that my clutch mates will be shocked that I want to be with a dragon and not a human-person. I don't know any human-person. I don't care to.

Hexeth gazed around, realizing that almost all the clutches of dragons had been moved out of their hatching dens, and there were several now sitting nearby. The one who had bravely spoken to her was short-legged, broad, and had those incredibly improbable checkerboard wingsails common to the genetically-engineered dragonets. But it was clearly a Pernese-type, which made their choice even more profound.

Beside it, another with those bold marked wings sat, tail curled around their long and muscular legs. We come together, with you, it bespoke, we need to remain together, but we will come with you. The taller and more slender dragonet nuzzled their bond, and a third joined in.

This one was not marked as an engineered project, and was bigger than both by a long shot. Though... that said, the granite-speckled dragonet was much smaller than most other breeds here outright. He was truly beautiful, though, elegant, he looked like a statue, freshly rained upon. And, he seemed quite conscious of Hexeth's opinion on him.

"Why thank you," he said, verbally speaking though with a high child-like voice for a dragon. "I am quite happy to come with you all, my family always likes being around a lot of folk. I'm pleased to be your family if you'll have me."

They introduced themselves, finally. The smallest, lowest-to-the-ground was Hiegesu, their longer and slender partner Jodrasa, and the cat-like one called himself Cebth'Alkar. They were each so different, but all united in their desire to remain with the Death Court, or at least, to not be going over to the human-sided venue and pick among those foul two-leggers for their companionship.

The Blooded Gold queen rolled her head around and leaned down toward the trio. They could easily scramble to her shoulders, hatchlings were so small... even smaller for two of the three. But they were hungry! And Hexeth would provide them with their first proper meal - and likely, many more to come.

Bond: Alos Siud, Impression, Multibond with Qufth (LAEJU)
Meeting Notes:

It was perhaps the first time that a non-local ghost came to Alos. She'd lived with these things all of her short life, in Ablan there were an unusual concentration of ghosts, and in Quman it was just... off the charts. Places with storied histories, like Quman and its 7-thousand-year existence... when she first visited that Zone it was overwhelming. Here in this weird new world, under the sea, there were... quite a few ghosts. A lot. Of ghosts. Most of them unhappy - and who wouldn't be, they were murdered or died of overdoses or horrible accidents that were caused by the place itself failing to protect its inhabitants from the crushing waters outside.

This time though, the ghost was not displeased, not quite the unhappy remnant of an era that collapsed a hundred years before this big bright party started. No, it was a nurse: she came right up to Alos and seemed to appraise her appearance. Even though these 'humans' were 'like' Zekirans, they lacked a lot of the flair and mutations present in their DNA. The ghost glanced most curiously at her tail, and up to her little white ear-wings.

She'd hardly been at the party for an hour, while this ghost lingered around her. Silently, the ghost seemed to want to watch with living eyes. Alos got the distinct impression that the medical knowledge the woman used to have was... not the most sound of science. She had the urge to experiment, to reach out to another party-guest and change their ear shape to match her own...

Stop that at once, a voice came through the mental air, though it wasn't aimed at her - it was properly addressing the ghost. Alos shook her head free of the influence of that odd ghostly presence. That ghost vanished, quickly, into the aether of this weird undersea tomb. A dragon stomped up, sniffing the air oddly. It was quite small, but burly looking and amusingly squat in ways. Pale, but with the distinct checkerboard patterning that said it was one of the 'crafted' dragons here tonight. Are you all right? That creature wanted to do something without asking, and you'd be blamed. I didn't want that to happen.

The dragon's mind was quite clear and sure. And once Alos recovered a little, she knelt to touch its broad forehead. "Thank you, Belgesu, you're right to stop me. Sometimes... they do that." How had she known that name? It was ... part of the dragon, part of its mind that slipped easily and firmly into her own.

Well no more, thank you. They will have to ask first from now on. The little dragon, Belgesu, plopped its rump on the marble floor and nestled its bright wings against its body. I will wait here now, but you should enjoy that dancing. There is still time.

Time for what, she wondered... But there certainly was dancing, with a handsome feline who had two lovely tails... She almost let him sweep her off her feet into one of the, erm... crash rooms nearby, but came to her senses when Belgesu's mind curiously peered in over her mental shoulder with a bit of a warning about him too.

Bond: Sprig, Impression
Meeting Notes: (see also Scodmeba on MEBA )
They came at the same time, out from one of the dragon sided portals through the main ballroom. Couldn't have been more different in colors save for those checkerboard wings. Rather like the pair of people who slunk through the large venue attempting to avoid detection by their respective groups.

Sprig and Pebble watched as this pair of dragons mirrored their every move, dark and light, light and dark. When Sprig leaned back, the lighter dragon sat on its haunches. When Pebble peeked out from around a marble pillar, the dark dragon scooted around to the other side and peered back.

"You cannot hide from us!" That dark dragon said, and though it was small, it wasn't going to remain small all its life given the elegant shapes of its parent-clutch. The lighter one did not speak, but seemed to nod in agreement with its broad, blunt head, while staring right at Sprig.

"We will be in so much trouble," Pebble said, quietly, "how can we explain this?"

Their groups had been at this event less than an hour, and while their leaders did acknowledge that they were both in attendance (silently, sullenly) they had not interacted beyond a little glaring at one another.

But no one had counted on this pair grasping how important it was that both of their courts come to this event together. Sprig and Pebble had confided in one another, perhaps for years, perhaps for centuries. But they couldn't openly show this cooperation, could they?

Until now, perhaps... Until now.

Where the one dragon was long and lean, the other was somewhat squat and burly. Where one of them had silken hair and fluffy starts to fur trim on their ankles, the other was smooth hided and small-clawed. Yet they stood together, now, beside one another in solidarity.

I am Oaggesu, the squatter one bespoke to Sprig, You made the right decision to bring your leader here.

I am Scodmeba, the dark silken-maned one thought to Pebble, We will make a difference, as will you.

"But how?" Both Pebble and Sprig said, half surprised that the other had also spoken.

"Bring us home and find out," Scormeba announced.

We will help every way we can, Oaggesu bespoke them both.

Bond: Flutura, Impressed Multibond (see ANTE)
Meeting Notes: They had been shuffled around during the party - Voivode and the other adults had things to do, people to talk with, drinks and dancing to be had. Some of the kids moved off to the buffet table and punch bowls (and were pointed to another table because that punch was definitely not for them). Valencia wasn't much more help, she wanted to hawkishly spot 'her' dragon and probably plot trouble. There were servers and helpers getting food and drink to those big tables and groups, and Flutura wondered what kind of tea or coffee or... juices or whatever else they had available.

Fluttering up to the arched ceiling rafters, Flutura dangled their legs off the elegant metal strut and swayed a little. They sighed, it was so early in the night, the big clock said 4 hours until midnight, and they were already at a bit of a loss of what they could be doing.

You could come with us, they felt a mind brush up against theirs, and glanced around to see where it had come from. Well it wasn't easily obvious, because there were a dozen or more dragonets on the dance floor bumbling and bouncing around trying to avoid getting stepped on. They needed to get a closer look, now.

Flying down they tried to home in on wherever that mind had come from. There were a few people who gave stern looks - a child, here? Well yes. And they were about to give one of those grumpy adults a piece of their mind when a pair of dragons cornered them. They were quite different looking, bright and dark bodied, contrasting wings, but Flutura did start seeing their different traits beyond just colors.

It was us, I am Neijoerschdagth, this is Ologesu.

"Bless you," they said on hearing the name, and giggled - suddenly hoping that the dragons wouldn't be offended by their action. It didn't look like the dragon was bothered at all. The white one had a long neck and elegant slender wings, which she folded over her smaller companion. That littler one wouldn't be very big at all, neither of them would, but it would be ... "Both of you are lovely! And small enough to ride!"

They caught a memory from Flutura, of a massive steed and bouncing around on its huge back. Ologesu nudged its head out from under their companion's wing and gave a snorting, draconic laugh.

Adoptable

Bond: Andean, Impression