there was little need to go announcing it, but - "Dig in!" anyway. Willoughby had made sure that the feast was fully stocked to allow a variety of meals. their hunters had done well, quite well. the Cove lions sat at the front of the seating arrangements, with their allies around them. the pile of food was tempting, and she would begin by selecting a piece of zebra for herself.

hoping that everyone joined in the food and talking, she turns to the nearest person she didn't know. Willoughby flashes them a welcoming grin, inviting them to talk if they wanted to. but if not? well, she tried not to be too discouraged by it. she went to happily munch on her zebra meat, chewing thoughtfully as she stared across the groups gathered.

"speech."

YOU ARE THE OCEAN'S GRAY WAVES

DESTINED TO SEEK LIFE BEYOND THE SHORE

code by corvus

OOC: welcome to the UNIVERSAL thread for the FEAST! you are quite able to break off and make your own threads, but please tag them with event!

if you join this thread, there is no posting order and treat it like a claim thread. that is, you can post as much as you want/use it for EXP! be sure to include others!

for your reference, Tabs has asked for everyone to gather below the red line - if you are caught above it - private thread or NOT - Jewel has the right to barge in!

sidonie ,

she sits near the back, having selected a small piece for herself to chew on. acutely aware of her pride around her, Sidonie relaxes somewhat. the girl invited @Walthari for lack of friends her own age, though she was secretly happy he had... accepted such a thing. it did not seem to be both of their 'things', but she would be content with someone at her side. the Hollows were not so known to her.

"we can" she turns to the boy now "always go off on our own" Sidonie offers in case Walthari was overwhelmed by the sheer number of lions attending. the Cove threw a party, and they did it well enough she supposed. though she would like to take the information gathered and shared around them, the boy's feelings were... important to her. "if you wanted to, that is."

she speaks

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[OOC: JJ is specifically grabbing chunks for her baboos and Vys!] The lioness was settled near the large pile of food, and she found herself pleased at the work @Willoughby had put into this. Jewel selected a few smaller pieces for @Remi and @Sanson, as well as a larger zebra haunch for @Kyon, @Keir, and @Topaz and pulled those off to the side. She wanted to make sure that the two youngest of her brood didn't have to fight over food, or feel the pressure of other bodies around them, and ensure that the older sons wouldn't be getting underfoot. Jewel also pulled a gazelle shoulder out for @Vysemala and then settled, making sure that Topaz specifically didn't just dive in and make a fool of himself by pigging out. The ebony sovereign would settle back down, knowing that she would eat after their guests had been fed. Of course, she might have made sure that the skull of their recent Rhino kill had been set off to the side. The horns would be going to @Erevu once she figured out how to ...get them off. And the skull would be going to their borders as testament to the strength of their pride. "speech"

art by irish; stock by Svenimal

it had been far too long since there had been a party to enjoy and to revel in -- and though nymeria could not help but feel somewhat nervous venturing to the cove in order to participate, she was soothed by the fact that @Gareth would be there, as well as some of her own pride-mates, all of whom could help serve as a buffer if needed. if the valour woman was anything, however, it was an extrovert -- and so she had dutifully spent the morning preparing herself for the festivities, wanting to ensure that she was as prim and proper and as dashing ever. as a result of her self-made expectations, the woman had groomed herself head to toe, carefully ensuring that she looked the part of gracious guest, before taking a quick roll through the lavender fields in order to accentuated the natural sweetness of her perfume. before making her way out towards the ocean, however, nymeria was also sure to collect the gifts that she had gathered for jewel, as a token of her appreciation for the invitation; two beautiful zebra hides would find themselves draped across the native's shoulders as a result, along with a variety of fruits, bundled carefully within a wide banana leaf, that hung from her jaws.

the journey was long, but when nymeria finally arrived, she was content to find that she was amongst the first to make their appearance, allowing her eyes to pass across the growing sea of faces and offering nods of greeting where applicable. she would even take a moment to hover at the end of the feast, dropping the bundle of fruit and rearranging them into a neat, tidy pile, before returning to her attention to the group of other lions. she searches specifically, however, for the face of @Jewel, and upon finally noticing her presence, the vermedan would waste little time in pushing across the sands in her direction. "jewel," warm tones greeted, genuine and melodic, as nymeria aimed to near the ebony woman with a smile. "thank you for having us, it looks remarkable. i brought some fruit to add to the feast, and here, some pelts, for you and the children." she would add, dropping her shoulders so that she could carefully lay the pelts out before the other woman, hoping that she could find some use for them. in that breath of silence between when she spoke and when jewel would likely respond, nymeria could not help but spare a quick glance over her shoulder, chest tightening in slight anticipation for the arrival of her swirled beau, before her gaze would flicker back to that of the sovereign.

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Zola would sit with the rest of the Bluffs lions. she had nothing against the other prides, yet she saw this as a good way to eat without being interrupted. she may not be the ideal 'dainty lady', but she was mannered when it came to eating. small, careful bites are given to the meat she had picked out. she sits next to @Circe and @Zoticus mostly. the only two in her pride she really knew by name. if Osik was here too, she would give him a friendly blink of her eyes.

she looks across the feast with zero expectations. other than to have fun, of course, and to break bread with strangers. she recognizes a few from various claims. she sees Nymeria approach the Cove leader - but Zola knows she is busy so does not approach herself. returning to her meal, she hopes to quickly finish before taking part in the other events. well, actually - only one event. the firefly festival. the dance was now over, and she was acutely aware of others having brought dates.

wait.

so did that mean Zoticus was her date?
"she speaks."

The Nobleman was a fidgety mess; he knew that with the invitation to this gathering extended to the Brook that @Nymeria would certainly be present. Not just because they were allies but he was certain that she would show up because he was here. Gareth had thrown himself into some freshwater early that morning for a well-done bath, though he wasn't at all prepared for the knots that festered the closer it came to time. How ill-prepared he felt for her to see where he moved from every time he came to see her.

Eventually he began strolling towards the gathering thinking that he'd beat her there but that was hardly the case. The swirled brute watched from a fair distance as she was getting closer to the gathering, taking a quick breath and feeling so vulnerable. This was when he knew that it would be clear that he and the High Sovereign of Vermeda were a true thing. There would be no denying it when asked and he would hate to do so, but it took him a good while before he furrowed his brows and set his jaw. Prepared to take on the crowd and to be at her side.

So the Taur held his head high and wandered down the sandy coast, eyes permanently locked on the wheaten beauty that had his heart in hand. The woman unknowingly make it that much harder when she stood near to @Jewel but he was invested. So he strolled closer before bowing his head in greeting to the woman he fancied. Nymeria. You look - and smell - wonderful. For there was no denying the beautiful scent of lavender that clung so freshly to her pelt. While he smelled of the ocean, sandalwood but he had managed to tame a fair bit of hair so that his face was for the most part seen. Moving to push his nose against the set of her jaw in a small token of affection as he had little idea as to how much affection was appropriate in such a public setting.

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Heloise approached the border of the cove with Nymeria, a silent show of support to the sovereign. She too approached Jewel and gave a polite nod of respect to the leader of the cove, allowing Nymeria to speak for them all. As Gareth approached she seceded her place by the woman's side and circled the pile of food, taking a small chunk of meat from it and stepping to the edge of the gathering, her gaze scanning the area for anyone she knew well enough to approach and speak with. Thus far, she saw none, but perhaps that would change. Or, perhaps someone would be intrigued enough by her markings to approach themselves.

There were many lions, so many that indeed @Sidonie was correct in assuming that he'd be a bit overwhelmed by it. But he was doing good for himself really, in fact he was more or less distracted by the topography of the land around them- like the desert but not... The air was filled with salt water and a lovely warm breeze, the dim light of the sun having recently set lit the sky in a ray of gentle blue and purple hues, and the ocean... It could be frightening for it's size and the void of it, shall you look at the horizon line too long. But beyond the many cluttered voices there were waves, the sound of birds he'd never heard before, and a whole slough of fireflies beginning to dance around them. He was perplexed, but in the best way.

So when she spoke, it took him a moment to pull back to himself, back to the earth he was standing on rather than up in the clouds looking down on the party. "Ah! Y-yes, I'd like that." He murmured, picking up his piece of the feast and awkwardly shaking the sand off of it- looking at her with his usually flat mane now somewhat frizzled in the salty wind. Hers was too... No wait, it was like that to begin with wasn't it?

Anyways, it was fine enough where they were but a little more quiet away from the crowd he definitely wouldn't say no to. He still wondered how he found himself having been invited to something like this anyway... Thusfar he had worried he'd done nothing but bother the shamanic lioness with his intrusions- so to have been sought out by her directly this time to attend an event with her was... Interesting. Especially considering how out of place they both were, here. The boy would quietly wonder if she had another motive for being here.

Lion | Manip by Ark | Coding by Werge

Willoughby had been excited for this- beyond excited if Erevu could say. She'd been planning it for sometime, and seeing her so devoted and hardworking towards something made him extremely proud. Even more proud to say she was his. He admired her so much that words couldn't even be put in place to begin and describe it.

The feast was first, and Erevu was always a sucker for food- his large body needing quite a bit to maintain itself. Others had started to gather, and Erevu showed with a freshly cleansed pelt and a mane free of tangles; hoping to impress his peace girlfriend all while looking presentable as the Gentry to Caladan. He didn't want to disappoint anyone.

A lovely, blooming strand of chamomile lay in his jaws- one familiar to the flower he tucked behind Willoughby's ear the first few days he had met. Erevu would walk through the crowd to his seating arrangement, smiling and nodding in friendly greeting to those he passed, before he neared Willoughby herself and took his spot at her side. "You look exquisite." He complimented warmly, the side of his cheek aiming to brush along her own before offering her the flower; a gift of his affection to her. He could hear the commotion of the others talking and he saw Jewel in the distance, as well as Gareth, but it was hard to focus on anyone but Willoughby.

"" @Willoughby

code by corvus

sidonie ,

she was getting sick of the pretty little pristine women and their handsome courting partners anyway. she saw too many approaching their women, rolling over themselves to receive brownie points. she rolls her eyes at a particular couple we shall not name for the sake of it before turning to Walthari. she wondered what he thought of this whole dance routine. though she resisted asking. one had to wonder if she brought him here on a not-date.

and Sidonie would smack someone if they suggested it to her. "it IS getting a bit crowded" she says with a sigh, rising from her spot "one doubts I could hear you if you spoke..." she adds dramatically, a smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. she begins to take some of the food in her jaws, leading @Walthari away. it can be assumed they were a bit far away from the group, but here to listen and lean in should something happen. one needs to keep abreast of news.

she speaks

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/exit