The Reception [Pygmy, Khiara][Completed]

[Khiara]

Khiara stood beside the buffet table, sipping quietly on a cup of spiced wine - something she had begun to quite enjoy during her stay on Endrykas. The vantha had planned on leaving the city weeks ago, becoming restless as te days wore on. However, Pygmy had been constantly on the verge of hysterics everytime she suggested leaving. It was hard, but Khiara stayed for the kelvic...and for herself. Visiting the kelvic frequently helped stave off the pain in her heart, but perhaps the forced settle gave her a chance to live like a normal person for a while. Perhaps it was needed. Nodding with a smile to some passers-by, she sipped on the wine again, looking around for Vanator's cousin. The man was nice enough, and had striken up a conversation with her when she'd last visited Pygmy. After some discussion, Khiara found herself invited to another cousin's wedding. Unable to find a way to politely refuse, she'd accepted. But now she was here, the vantha felt like an unwanted guest. Her date had dissapeared to talk to some relative or other, and now she was rather awkwardly stranded at the buffet table, sipping her wine.

Taking her cue from the fashions she had seen around the nomad city, Khiara had dressed in a mauve colored dress, sleeveless and brushing her calves in an aysmetrrical cut. Around her waist she wore a gold woven belt, cinching the dress in the middle. A very subtle embroydered pattern of flowers covered the fabric and around her neck she wore her bone necklace along with a woven gold chain. Around her wrists she wore simple gold bracelets and on her feet a pair of drykas sandles. It was all borrowed or fake, but she looked nice enough - or so she thought. It felt wrong being dressed so lightly, but it matched the others at the party. Unsure about her hair, the vantha pulled it back into a woven updo, braided stratigically from her temples back to the woven chigon at the back, held together with a simple wooden hairstick. Sweating lightly, she had adjusted to the weather a little in her time here...but not completely. The evenings were her only salvation.

Glancing up as a couple approached the table, she had to stop herself from staring. Pygmy?! She looked so...different. On her arm, a very polished and handsome Vanator. Blushing slightly, Khiara swallowed hard against an unwanted swirl of jealousy. It happened everytime she saw them together, and it made her disgusted at herself. The vantha didn't know how to deal with her emotions, confusion..jealousy..disgust..hurt. Her discussion with Vanator so many weeks ago had opened a part of her she'd closed away, and now she felt unsure of how she thought of him. Friend yes, but a part of her was closer to him than anyone. It was hard to understand the difference between a shared grief and genuine feelings. It was the wrong place for her heart, if tonight was any indication. Pygmy and Van were...they were getting to be more than friends...or so it seemed...and Khiara would banish herself before she interfered with that. Smiling, she cleared her throat.

"A curious place to meet again my friends." Her eyes were shifting between gold and violet like liquid clouds, unsettled and undecided.

[Vanator]

Van laughed comfortably with Pygmy, thoroughly enjoying, as usual, the girl's unique charm. His eyes lingered on her a moment as they approached the buffet. He was still a bit taken back at how lovely she looked now, remembering how he had first met her. In fact, the first two times they met, all she wore was someone's oversized cloak. Tonight, he was proud to have her on his arm. The sound of a familiar voice, the singsong accent unmistakable, caused Van to look up. He was honestly startled to see Khiara in this venue. Her eyes caught his attention, as they always did, swirling with deep hues. He had learned that the Vantha's eyes wavered between colors when she was uncertain or unsettled, and her meek demeanor confirmed her discomfort. His joy spiked at her sudden appearance, and Vanator offered her a huge smile. "Khiara! What...how..." He didn't want to sound rude by asking what she was doing there. He had felt a bit odd asking Pygmy to the reception, leaving Khiara out. Thinking back, he should have asked both. Pygmy would have been fine with it, probably. And with one curious outsider already on his arm, what a wonderful stir two would have been. But Van's friendship with Khiara was much different than what he and Pygmy shared. While the Kelvic and the Drykas enjoyed day to day life together, neither had delved too deeply in the others past or feelings. There was still a tenuous undercurrent to their relationship, Pygmy's feelings for Van rather obvious, Van's feelings for her changing but unconfessed. On the other hand, Khiara and Van spent little time together, but enjoyed a deep friendship through their shared grief, having bared their hearts to one another. Vanator could not deny that there was an attraction to the Vantha at some level. But circumstances rendered those feelings inconvenient. There was one thing that they both cared for more deeply, and that was Pygmy. "I am really glad you are here." He finally sputtered, his hand reaching out to brush her arm. He would wait and allow Khiara to explain her presence at the party herself.

[Dhanya]

Pygmy had not drifted from Vanator's arm, reclaiming it if he ever drew it from hers. She relinquished it now, pleased out of her Pavlovian politeness, stepping forward with less haste than usual but no less affection. She embraced Khiara warmly, not knocking her from her feet for once.

"Khiara!" Pygmy gushed, "It's so good to see you!"

If there was a person in the world that she trusted enough to admit she did care for them, Khiara was it. She had often taken to wishing that she'd grown up around Khiara, instead of in Zeltiva, though she couldn't deny the benefits it had provided to her education. She would have been a much better storyteller, though as to the rest, well. You couldn't change the past.

"Are you here with someone?" She asked. "If they've left you alone, point them out and I shall embarrass them publicly for you."

Vanator might have thought it was a joke. Khiara knew better. Pygmy had done as much before.

[Khiara]

Khiara found herself smiling at Vanator's initial confusion, suprized her date hadn't told him she was coming. Obviously the invite had been little more than a token suggestion. Maybe she shouldn't have come after all. As the drykas brushed her arm, she nodded, trying to play the at ease party guest. Her eyes swirled between hues, shifting to a bright violet as Pygmy moved to embrace her - gently. Pulling back, she looked at the girl with raised eyebrows.

"Who are you and what have you done with Pygmy?" The vantha said with a laugh, reaching to smooth a crease from the other womans tunic. The kelvic looked beautiful, and she sounded so calm and articulate. It was a whole new goat! Squeezing her hand, Khiara released Pygmy and looked around, sipping her wine.

"Oh yes, it's alright honey. He just dissapeared really. I'm fine though, and I'm sure he'll come back eventually." Glancing at Vanator, she shrugged, hiding the butterflies in her stomach. This needed to end, perhaps she should try harder to find her date. Considering Pygmy for a moment, she sighed.

"It was that man in your pavallion the other day. Avanor? Avenner? But please don't do anything Pygmy. I'm not upset about it." Smiling again, she tipped her cup.

"You two look a lovely couple."

[Vanator]

Vanator smiled at Khiara, the same sheepish smile he always gave her, before his eyes darted back to Pygmy. He gauged the look in the Kelvic's eyes. He could not discern whether she was serious about embarrassing the Vantha's date, but he knew she was capable. "Why don't you join us? We are going to grab a quick bite. By the way, its my cousin Avenor. A fine man but obviously an idiot for leaving such a beautiful woman standing alone. " Khiara did look beautiful. Somehow she had managed to find Drykas attire, the short dress and jewelry that adorned her complementing her soft form. He caught the violet highlights in her hair, echoed in the violet-gold swirls in her eyes. His cousin was an idiot. Khiara did not deserve to be treated so poorly. Vanator turned back to Pygmy, his hand resting on her hand on his arm. He hoped she did not mind that he invited Khiara to join them, after all, they were best friends. He smiled at her again, getting a kick out of this side of his friend, she never failed to surprise him. Something compelled him to lean down and kiss her cheek. "Lets get something to eat!" OOCFeel free to fast forward past the food to the next fun thing!

[Dhanya]

Khiara's gentle hand and maternal care smoothed her ire.

"Well, if you say so." Pygmy was absolutely going to do something about the man.

She did pause to preen when Khiara said that she and Van made a nice couple. It made her feel all bubbly inside, like she had been drinking champagne. Speaking of.

"We should have another drink as well." Pygmy said, as Van's hand touched hers.

Then he kissed her cheek and well, that was simply blissful. Such a small gesture, yet she found she enjoyed it immensely. She even reddened, just slightly but enough to surprise herself. She did not blush easily.

It would have been easy to see just how she felt about Van, though it was easier for Khiara than it was for everyone else. Her besotted expression, obscured by her eyes and practice, was plain to see if you knew what to look for.

Once they were done with food and slightly rested, Pygmy suggested dancing.

[Khiara]

Khiara returned Vanator's smile with a similar expression, her memory of the events from many weeks ago still fresh in her mind. Her lips remembered his warmth, and her skin remembered his touch. Dropping her gaze, she swirled her wine.

"You give me too much credit. Its the clothing that make the woman." Or the man in Vanator's case. Looking up again, she caught the gentle kiss on Pygmy's cheek, and the kelvic's bessoted eyes. The same guilty, devestated butterflies swirled in her stomach, and turning away slightly, the vantha gulped down the last of her wine. Smiling, she nodded.

"More drinks are definitly a good idea. Have you had this wine yet? It's fantastic!" Following her friends towards the buffet, she joined them in the rich, warm and curious tastes of Endrykas. Some of the dishes left the foriegner gasping at the heat, whilst others had her marvel at their taste. Occasionally, she would look around for her date, catching his head every so often between guests. Comfortable with yet another wine and a full stomach, she grinned enthusiastically as Pygmy suggested dancing.

"Oh yes! Dancing! I can do that!" Downing her drink, Khiara laughed, grabbing both Pygmy and Vanator by the hand and tugging on them, all the while bouncing a little to the festive music.

[Vanator]

Vanator had helped himself to the food, taking liberally of almost everything offered. He was sure that Pygmy did in fact try everything. The two of them enjoyed their meal, giggling as they watched Khiara taste the various foods, especially when she would eat something spicy and squint while she waved her hand in front of her mouth, causing a sheen of sweat to break out on her forehead. Either the food or the wine had some affect on Khiara, for the usually reserved and shy woman jumped at Pygmy's suggestion to dance. Van barely had time to unceremoniously chug the remainder of his mead and set down the mug before the Vantha dragged he and Pygmy towards the dance floor. As the three friends joined the guests gathered at the end of the pavilion, the musicians began a particularly lively tune. As the crowd began to sway, Van looked around for Avenor. Khiara did not seem to care that her date was busy elsewhere. Van was glad he was, and he was sure Pygmy was too. The three of them had done little together since the swim at the river. Having them with him now, at this place, made it a very enjoyable event. Excited and starting to feel the affect of the mead, Vanator began to sway and shuffle his feet in time with the music.

[Dhanya]

Pygmy happily tasted every morsel that Van provided for her, smiling at the attention. She even took samples of food she normally wouldn't have touched, particularly dishes that contained some meat. She didn't even notice this change. She was too engaged with the evening, too pleased to be spending time with her friends.

When they moved to the dance floor, feeling loose-limbed from the alcohol, Pygmy shifted from footsteps to a jig. She liked Drykas music for its beat and enthusiasm. It had been a long time since she'd been able to kick up her feet and not bother to save any breath for singing. It was joyous and she could have been alone or surrounded and she would not have cared.

She shortly changed her dance, to one Khiara had taught her, laughing and tapping at the other woman's shoulders so they could dance in sync. Pygmy loved to dance with others and it always made her feel closer to Khiara. She hoped it made Khiara feel more at home. Even if the dances in Endrykas were not what she was used to, that didn't mean she couldn't use her own steps.

Pygmy saw Van shuffling about and laughed at him. It wasn't a cruel laugh, though it was clearly at his expense. It seemed she had known him long enough to feel comfortable with it. She moved forward and took his hands.

"Dance with me!" She ordered, moving into a Drykas folk dance. "Surely you know how, Ankal's son."

She had his hands in her own, grasped between them. She was smiling brightly, as happy as he had ever seen her.

[Khiara]

The vantha laughed as she danced with the kelvic, clapping her hands and circling round each other, occasionally they would tap their ankles, elbows and hands together. It was a common dance in vantha, and one of the less complicated ones, but Khiara had been impressed when Pygmy picked it up so quickly.

Looking over at the shuffling Vanator, the vantha smiled, still clapping, but stepped back to allow Pygmy to dance with him. She couldn't help but feel something for the man, and it would be a lie to say that she didn't want to step in and explore these feelings. But she was an adult, and she knew that Pygmy cared about him. If she cared about Pygmy, she would quell her pained thoughts. Thinking about Eliac helped. If she could survive two years without him, alone and withdrawn, she could continue on like that. At least Vanator had shown her something she had forgotten, that she hadn't seen. It was possible to move on. It was possible to love again.

Even if it meant she couldn't.

Shaking her head and turning away from Pygmy as she took Vanator to dance, hiding the color of her eyes, the young woman clapped harder to the music, smiling at the band. They had picked up a four beat tune that reminded her of home. Nodding, she clapping in time, before she began to sing. At first it was a mumble, but she got louder as the alcohol weaved its way into her senses. Sung in Vani, it was lyrical and contagious, causing other patrons to listen to the vantha, laughing at the words and clapping to the music.

"The sound of a song drifted from my neighbor's
and set my feet a-tapping oh!
Ieva's mother had her eye on her daughter but
Ieva she managed to fool her, you know.
'Cause who's going to listen to mother saying no
when we're all busy dancing to and fro,
'Cause who's going to listen to mother saying no
when we're all busy dancing to and fro!

Ieva was smiling, the fiddle it was wailing
as people crowded round to wish her luck.
Everyone was hot but it didn't seem to bother
the handsome young man, the dashing buck.
'Cause who's going to mind a drop of sweat
when he's all busy dancing to and fro,
'Cause who's going to mind a drop of sweat
when he's all busy dancing to and fro!"

As she sang, Khiara clapped her hands and slapped her knees, stomping her feet and dancing a complicated type of jig that matched the tempo and beat of the music. It wasn't perfect, she wasn't a dancer, but it was foriegn and fun. Spinning in circles, she stopped beside Pygmy and Vanator, catching first the kelvics arm in a do-se-do one way, then the drykas' the other way. Raising her hands, she encouraged the dancers to keep clapping.

"Ieva's mother she shut herself away
in her own quiet room to hum a hymn.
Leaving our hero to have a spot of fun
in a neighbor's house when the lights are dim.
'Cause what does it matter what the old folks say
when you're all busy dancing to and fro,
'Cause what does it matter what the old folks say
when you're all busy dancing to and fro!

When the music stopped then the real fun began
and that's when the laddie fooled around.
When he took her home, when the dancing was over
her mother angrily waiting they found.
But I said to her, Ieva, now don't you weep
and we'll soon be dancing to and fro,
But I said to her, Ieva, now don't you weep
and we'll soon be dancing to and fro"

Laughing as she danced, Khiara paused her clapping to grab a cup of mead off the nearest table, directing the others to clap as she gulped down the awful stuff. Shuddering, she took up the clap again, before finishing her song.

"I said to her mother now stop that noise
or I won't be responsible for what I do.
If you go quietly and stay in your room
you won't get hurt while your daughter I woo.
'Cause this fine laddie is a wild sort of guy
when he's all busy dancing to and fro,
'Cause this fine laddie is a wild sort of guy
when he's all busy dancing to and fro!

One thing I tell you is you won't trap me,
no, you won't find me an easy catch.
Travel to the east and travel to the west but
Ieva and I are going to make a match.
'Cause this fine laddie ain't the bashful sort
when he's all busy dancing to and fro,
'Cause this fine laddie ain't the bashful sort
when he's all busy dancing to and fro!!!!!"

Finishing her song, the vantha laughed before moving to her friends with a grin.

"I have not done that since I was about sixteen!" Indeed, the last person she'd sung that with had been Eliac. It was an old folk song, meant to liven a crowd and made for fun. It was a glimpse of the girl she had been before his death. Lively and happy, and not afraid to be herself. The experiance left her glowing.

(Song Credit Loituma Ieevan Polkka. Translated from Finnish http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1738842995641330414# )