May I Present...Ravhala [Attn: Anyone Who Is Interested]

[Andy]

He had vacated his seat to move around once more, enjoying the atmosphere and beginning to feel the tingle of the alcohol's effects upon his cheeks. He was merely holding a brandy now instead of drinking it, to show willing more than anything. He had started to think to himself about future events, whether anyone would listen to him if he suggested that they hold them more often. Not weddings of course, he could hardly get people married every few months. Still, something to try to unite people and cause joy instead of only uniting against the Shadow - there was a compelling argument for that, he thought. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking. I can't get Drin to stop fighting with each other let alone organise a ball he chided himself gently with a grin. He was so lost in thought, slowly making his way toward the stairs - perhaps to check in with Tia and see how she was - that he didn't notice the Aes Sedai as she stepped out into his path. Only at the last moment did he realise and step aside, losing his drink upon his jerkin in the process but at least not hitting her. Unfortunate, he knew, but not as bad as it could have been. He brushed the excess off and knew he'd reek of the stuff for the rest of the day. Then he caught something unusual - she was apologising. Usually they try to blame me. Must be new he told himself as he looked up at her and found she felt familiar but he had never met her. Something about the cheekbones perhaps, or the jaw line. "It's fine, probably shouldn't drink it anyway. It is apparently a bad thing for Gaidin to get drunk," he shook his head with a wry smile, "no harm done. I should have been looking where I was going. A poor Gaidin I am, almost running over those I'm supposed to watch over" he looked around and saw the spare space was slowly contracting, vanishing. "I think the mood will probably lead to more dancers. I was about to try to retreat upstairs if you'd like to join me" he offered, placing his now empty glass upon a passing tray. "Unless, of course, you'd care to join them? We'd have to be acceptably average though, wouldn't want to outshine the couple on their big day" he realised he was probably being a bit too forward but then again if he had stopped being himself he'd never have made it as far as he had.

[Locke]

Nasrin "Dancing Queen" Naceri attn: Paks "The Smirk" Liard

Fake it till you make it. That’s what they said right? When Nas was a girl, she had barely been able to hold herself up from a ledge. Now she barely even thought about it unless it was a
particularly challenging climb. Nas smiled, meeting the older woman’s confident smirk. Her face lit up as an idea came to her.

“Dance with me, Paks,” she said offering her hand. “You said go for it, ask somebody. I’m gonna ask you.” She stood straighter, free hand on her hip. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, but she could fake it. Be confident, just like Paks. Better yet, she could be confident now as she was clinging to the rigging of a ship.

Alliteration

“Yeah, quite rusty,” Alric murdered, thoughts sliding back to the last major party. A disastrous ball he hadn’t been able to attend. A strange darkfriend raid had gotten in the way. What should have been a fun evening with his then lover, had instead become a desperate fight across the city’s rooftops against multiple channelers. It wasn’t easy, but he was trying not to everything else. The affair had ended like a snuffed candle, and sometimes — No, I’m here with Andra tonight. Maybe tonight I can ignore the past. For once in my life. Alric snatched a couple of champagne flutes off the tray of a passing servant and proffered one to Andra. He dumped the bitter fizzy liquid down his throat and said, “I’m thinking way too much right now, let’s go dance and pretend like nothing else exists.”

[Roan]

Paks Liard: Attn: Nas

Paks’ smirk grew into a warm smile as she took Nas’s offered hand, “I would be happy to dance with you, Nas.” She lead the Novice to the dance floor just as the quartet started to play a waltz. The Drin was not exactly a natural born dancer, but her band of merry friends taught her the ins and outs of dancing. She insisted on learning how to follow and lead, though she found she much preferred to lead.

Stepping on to the dance floor, she took Nas’s left hand in her right and placed her left hand at the small of Nas’s back. Her eyes were locked on the Novice’s as she listened to the music as she got a feel for the count. With a nod as her only warning, Paks took the first big step of the Waltz, and the two moved in time with the music.

After several moments passed and the two fell into an easy rhythm, Paks rewarded Nas with her smirk, “I’d say you are a natural at this dancing thing. When did you learn?”

[Bella]

Gareth Tomosan Asha'man

He smiled, and couldn't seem to stop himself. The large man took both of her hands in his and lifted them up, kissing each one on the fingers in turn. "I would not think I would be so affected by such a choice, after all this time," he said softly, "and yet I find myself touched. It pleases me that you would wish it."

Brynmor Brook Gaidin, PSC

The Gaidin's dark brows rose before he could stop them upon hearing the familial relationship. Of course, there were few in the Grey Tower that did not know the Captain-General was...nearly ancient and had in fact given birth to a dynasty that inhabited all corners of the Tower till this day. Bryn had even known she had kin in the Green with her. He was just surprised to have found her.

"It sounds like she offered you some very sage advice," he said, recovering quickly from his surprise. "After all, this is a day for happiness and celebration." He paused and looked out at the dance floor, pursed his lips slightly as he decided upon an impulse, and then turned to Tia. He waved beyond the balcony. "Do you dance?"

Sadira Jolstraer Aes Sedai, PSC

The Gaidin's response was somehow not what she expected, but she found something rather charming in it. She flashed one of those smiles that were allegedly rare for Aes Sedai. It wasn't really rare for her, although she spared them except when genuinely moved. But her mother and father had instilled good humor in her.

"Oh, I could never dance better than my mother," she said, casually throwing out the relationship to see how he would react.

Andraste Alhandra Aes Sedai

Andra did not know all the things that weighed on Alric's mind. They had come to be friends, but she knew she had not been invited into the inner sanctum of those deeper thoughts. That was fine, however, because she knew that if she was meant to reach that point with him, he would open up. If not, she was content with their friendship.

Even so, she knew that those thoughts she was not a party to were often dark. She would lift the weight if she could, for she had come to care about him, but it wasn't yet her place. If ever.

She favored him with a warm smile as he spoke. "Then let us dance away our troubles," she said with a sort of serenity about her. She took his hand and led him gracefully onto the dance floor. She moved up against him, pulling his arms around her in hold and then tilting her head. Her dark eyes glinted at him as she waited for him to take the lead.

[Locke]

Dancing Queen

“Oh it’s nothing,” Nas said before chiding herself. Where’d this timid girl come from? Be as bold as you are.

“On shore leave, I’d try to get away from my father. A lot of times, I ended up dancing in taverns.” Her cheeks darkened slightly and a smile flickered across her lips. “No, not like that, but maybe some more wine and and some adequate coaxing…” she said letting the sentence hang in the air between them.

Her cheeks darkened even further causing her freckles to all but vanish. She’d wanted to be bold, but not this bold. Maybe she could walk the statement back. Face still infused with blood, she gave Paks a wink and a rather wicked grin. Maybe she could continue down his mad path. A woman couldn’t hope to climb in the rigging if she was afraid of falling, nor could she become a good Aes Sedai if she was afraid of a little embarrassment.

AAAAAAA

This wasn’t working. As they waltzed across the dancefloor, Alric still expected to see wide inquisitive eyes staring up at him from a perpetually solemn face. It should have been her here tonight. But no, that was the past. It should remain there. He angled Andra into a twirl, ending with them at arm’s length. No mane of curly hair, nor scared hands. Instead, Andra’s smooth hands nestled in his callused ones. She held his gaze, full lips turned up in a smile. Her red and gold gown was both elegeant and aluring. For a second, the sight almost sent his thoughts back to the distant past. A primeval time before he knew anything about War and the Power.

No, that was the past. This was his present. He twirled the smiling Kandori woman back to him. He held her closer than absolutely necessary for platonic dance between friends, but he didn’t care. As long as they danced, maybe they could stay a step ahead of the past. Eventually he managed to put everything into the moment. Practiced, formality met lithe, grace and at long last, Alric was able to lose himself in the moment. This was the present. Maybe if he didn't make too much of an ass of himself, this would be the future too.

[Andy]

"Alas for the many talents of the Captain General" he returned, blinking at the revelation out of curiosity more than anything. He was starting to think he had a knack of making these Sha'hal lines appear. Ah, I am caught once more. I really need to sharpen my mind a bit and remember the face type he told himself privately as his mouth took over. "How many of your family are there, can I ask? I seem to bump into them often," he asked aloud with a slight smile, "or perhaps it's me. At least this time I don't have to worry about losing a descendant along the Blightborder and not being able to come home" he took another drink from an Asha'man who was so desperate to dance with his partner he simply gave it up. "Thank you, I think" he chuckled an raised his eyebrows slightly at his new companion. "I'm sorry, you did say daughter, didn't you?" he tilted his head in calculation, "that must make Riahana a....cousin perhaps? And Tia...I don't even know. Either way the blood seems to make good people" "I am Alrim, of the not so noble but probably much rarer Farshera," he inclined his head slightly, the space not allowing theatrical bow, "may I ask your name?"

[Craig]

Zarayne

It didn't take Zarayne long to consider Lysira's offer. 'No,' she signed with a shake of her head, 'that's alright.' Fortunately her father and Miahala were dancing in the wetlander sense, allowing her an easy out from that encounter. 'I'll speak with them later.'

The newly-weds were not the only ones moving about the ballroom in time with the music. Zarayne knew how to dance – she had been raised in the wetlands after all – although the dances she was familiar with were group affairs. Those dancing now were paired off and never came together in a large bunch.

Still plenty left for me to learn, she mused to herself. She still wasn't sure whether it was harder to remain Aiel in the face of these foreign customs, or if she should adapt the wetlander way as one of her own. Her lineage did make her half a wetlander after all.

With a frown, she looked back to Lysira. 'Do you dance?' she ventured.

Ravak t'Sha'hal Darrow

The grand ballroom may have been filled with friends and family, but Miahala was the only person that Ravak truly saw. They moved with a synchronicity that had nothing to do with their bond, but with their understanding of one another. Ravak smirked as he gently competed with his bride in terms of showmanship. She added flourishes and kicks with her dress that weren't strictly necessary, whereas he focused on technical precision and anticipating her moves. He was tempted to lift her up into the air – to take back control as it were – but two things halted him: the slim risk of making a mistake and her pregnancy.

As he pulled her close, he whispered softly in her ear. "I'm only letting you upstage me because you are the bride." The lie wasn't fooling anyone, not from the glare of mock anger he received in response. After that, Miahala made it clear and certain that no-one was letting her look good; she had that under control all by herself.

After three or four songs, the happy couple instinctively came to the conclusion that their first bout on the floor was at an end. An applause accompanied their departure as they sought out the nearest refreshments. Rav hadn't had a drink for a while and he wanted to enjoy this day as fully as he could. Lifting two fluted glasses from a tray, he offered the first to his wife. The pale liquid bubbled. Not the sort of drink he was used to, but his day was special.

They clinked glasses. "Cheers."

Draining the fizzy wine in one go, Mister Sha'hal cast his eye out over their guests. Those he did not recognise were in the minority, either random guests or members of Miahala's family that he didn't yet know. There were a lot of people he wanted to talk with, and very few he actually had spoken with today.

"Shall we mingle?" he inquired.

[Bella]

Andraste Alhandra Aes Sedai

The newest Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah did not speak as they began to dance. There was simply something about the moment that told her there was no need for the words. Following his lead, she moved against him. The closeness of his hold took her breath away at first, since it had been years since she had danced so close to someone.

She found she liked it; she missed it.

Andraste hoped that the dance helped him find a better place within his solemn mind as well. If there was an event to do it, this should be it. Andra understood too well the draw of the past, though she had reached a place where she could smile upon the fond memories rather than lament the pain.

This celebration made her remember her own wedding. Oh, it had been a glorious day. The weather--which could so often be unforgiving and mercurial in the Blightborder--had been beautiful. The ceremony had been traditional, but simple and elegant within that frame, but most importantly, it had been joyous. Andra had married the first love of her life.

After she lost him and Chandra, for years she had been sure that they would be the last loves too...but now, well, she was not so sure about that. This was not a new realization, but in this moment, it brought a lightness to her spirit and she leaned into Alric a little closer.

Sadira Jolstraer Aes Sedai, PSC

"You may," Sadie said with a small but pleasant smile, and a bow of her head. "I am Sadira Jolstraer Sedai. It is a pleasure to meet you Alrim Farshera." With a small wave of her head, she gestured to the floor. "As for my family... Well, all of them that are in the Grey Tower are here at the reception now."

Her steel blue eyes surveyed the floor. "That tall blond man trying to not look too solemn at the very edge of the floor, that is Haeden Ives Gaidin. He is my half-brother, and the only other present surviving child of my mother, aside from me obviously. I am my mother's eldest daughter, of two. Tianna passed long ago.

"However, my sister Tianna's line brought Riahana Ferria Gaidin and Tia Tomosan Sedai, my sister's namesake. This makes me Riahana's great aunt and Tia's great great aunt. Tia's twin brother Einion is shyly hiding away somewhere around here, and then..." She pointed to the far side of the room. "The stoic man in the Asha'man black with the grey cord... That's Derren Jolstraer.

"He is my nephew, son of my brother Tarvin." She turned her eyes back to Alrim with an almost mischievous glint in her eyes. "And that's all of my family here in the Tower. Sorry you asked?"

Lysira Viathene Gaidin

Lysira watched Zarayne's face as she looked off to the dance floor for several moments before turning back to the diminutive Gaidin, and the smaller woman tried to guess at the girl's thoughts. It was something she often did, and always had. It had turned into a habit of curiosity as much as it had saved her life at times.

When the question was asked, Lysira inclined her head slightly. 'I can,' she signed. 'I came to the skill fairly late in life, I will readily admit, and was long after I learned how to fight. The one did seem to help the other, as I've heard it can go in the reverse. That is to say, dancing can help learn to fight.' She paused. 'Yourself?'

Miahala ni Sha'hal t'Darrow

When all was said and done, it could never be claimed that Miahala was without a healthy ego and sense of herself. After all, if you made it through as many years and as much life within those years as she had, how could you not? At times, she knew she could be haughty, but she didn't want to be too much that type and she kept herself in check.

Until someone--even her new beloved husband--suggested that she was be allowed to look good while dancing.

More than anything else, for many more years, dancing had been her domain. She had dancing to thank for all of her life here at the Tower, after all. That meant her ego felt it had something to prove, and since it was her wedding day (as much as his), she allowed herself to do just that. The amusement flowing over the bond warmed her.

When they stopped and moved to the edge of the dance floor, she accepted the glass with a flash of that smile that only he was ever recipient of. "Mingling sounds like a good idea," she agreed. Even pregnant, she wasn't out of breath from the dancing. Her blue-green eyes roved the floor. "Where did you want to start, my husband?"

[Craig]

Zarayne

That was not quite the answer that Zarayne had expected. Then again, Lysira hadn't read in the question as Zarayne had meant to imply.

'I more meant that as an invitation," she clarified. 'As in, would you dance with me? If that isn't a problem?' Zarayne had no idea what protocol, if any, there was when it came to dancing between learning ranks and full ranks. That was complicated further by this being her father's wedding.

There were maybe larger issues with that suggestion, Zarayne realised a little too late. Like the massive height differential between herself and Lysira, or that the Gaidin may have no interest dancing with another woman.

Ravak t'Sha'hal Darrow

Ravak grinned. "My husband." Light, I do love the sound of that. His thoughts drew him closer to Mia, extracting the glass from her hand with some deftness and kissing her once again. He was normally shy about public displays of affection, but this was their wedding after all, so everyone else would have to sodding deal with it.

Smiling as he drew away, he returned his wife's glass into her hand. "Wherever you like, my dear." He read in the room in the same way he would study a battlefield. This scene presented a different style of warfare, one that required avoiding anyone who enjoyed the sound of their own voice too much. Or those that he had a problem with, or vice versa.

His other consideration was the fact that he was now a member of the Sha'hal family. He'd listened at length to some branches of Miahala's extended family, but the list had to run into the tens of hundreds. Fortunately only a tiny fraction resided within Hama Valon, but they did include those he interacted with on a daily basis. He now got to enjoy the dubious honour of being Riahana's step-great-grandfather. It was a ridiculous thing to think about, especially given that Riahana was his elder. Rav's mind then skipped onto Riahana's daughter... who was now his step-great-great-granddaughter? Someone needs to come up with a better word for these things. How that relationship was going to work out was of more importance, saying Tia was younger. But then she was also an Aes Sedai, and hardly needed his father's advice. Or great-grandfatherly advice?

He'd been staring out at the crowd for a while, Rav realised with a touch of embarrassment. "Erm, do you want to choose?" he deflected. So long as they didn't end up cornered, he would endure anyone for a little while.

[Andy]

"I dare not ask about the ones outside of the Tower, I fear we may be here for a while. Perhaps one day I will go on a tour" he chuckled and shook his head, "I know Haeden by name but not the man. I suppose as the eldest of her children you watch over the others. A difficult task given who they are" his eyes twinkled with amusement. He had listened intently and politely but had she asked him to repeat it all he would likely have gotten it wrong. Still it had interested him, to see so many of the same family in one place and of differing stripes. Some channeller, some Gaidin and of those each a different colour and purpose - for the most part. He supposed it was what happened when one who could use the One Power lived a long and interesting life. He couldn't very well expect them to be celibate for their lifetimes. Though it did make him wonder whether their dynasty would one day rule the Tower by default. "But no, I am not sorry. I than you for pointing them out in fact. Recent events being what they have been it eases my mind to know who the good ones are, Sadira Jolstraer Sedai. Besides which, you have saved me from being surprised by each one in turn when they tell me who they are. I can pretend that I am smarter than I am. I will have to find a way to repay you" It was true, of course, he had marked them all in his memory. Still, whether he ever met those Sadira had pointed out and how such relationships developed were a concern for another time. Ria and Tia seemed to like him well enough, in their own way, so he was sure all would be well. He stood for a few moments, his own mischievousness trying to hold sway. He was not so foolish as to let it win, he would not ruin such a day with pranks. Still, some part of him wondered if Ravak knew what he was getting himself into and made a note to look out for a tactical retreat. "Light send that you all live long and happy lives," he said with full feeling, certainly hoping they lasted longer than his own line had, though technically it was not finished just yet, "but I have spent all evening on the outskirts of this gathering, worried it would go wrong. I think it is time to have some fun. I would be honoured if you would join me upon the floor" he held out his arm. There was still a little room and he noticed that the bride and groom had now vacated the floor, for a time, and so they could be as good or bad as they so wished. Truthfully he felt too tense for a celebration. He had worried over nothing, it seemed, and he meant to make up for that now.