Post by Plot on Aug 12, 2010 12:54:08 GMT -5
It had been a long journey, but the palpable excitement that thrummed through all of the soon-to-be spectators was more than worth it. Caravan Master Cassin let a large smile leak toward the curious who were already gathering. The other acts would be picking their spaces along the beach or in the jungle clearings right now, but it would all start here. Only the largest acts would take place in the enormous Great Hall. His people had made quick work - admittedly with a little help from eager workers, drudges, and who-knows-who-else who had been around - and the tables and benches in the Great Hall were now lined up like an auditorium surrounding a good three-quarters of their 'stage' area.
Here was where he would open the festivities, in the heart of the Weyr itself. The smile on his face took on a dreamy aspect as he thought about the connotations of that. Here, in the heart of their home, they would bring these people joy. And shouldn't joy start in one's heart?
But enough of my musing, he chided as he shook off his contemplation. The stage was set, the props aligned, and his people waiting for his signal. With a final pat to his clothes and a straightening of his top-hat, he strode regally to the stand that had been erected and expertly hopped on it, doing a single somersault - without losing the hat! - and then standing again. Taking his hat off with an over-elaborate flourish, he bowed to those assembled and grinned when he heard their small sounds of delight.
Prentending to inspect the hat for injury and dust, he made it sound as if he were murmuring to himself, but with enough volume for all to hear over the quiet of their bated breath. "Oh, no damage. Good, that." Then the hat was replaced, and he was beaming out at them to the sound of a few giggles. A good start.
"Lovely ladies, gallant gentlemen, and my darling chittering children - oh, and let me not forget you daring dragons, whimsical whers, and friendly fire-lizards! - I bid you hail from the furthest reaches of all Pern!" his voice rang out, loud and clear and full of genuine mirth. "We, for the time being your ever-humble servants, are Vivacious Vivacity! We are thoroughly thankful for your warm welcome, and intend to repay every kindness you do us by being our hosts ten-fold!" And they would, so help him. They had a purpose, this troupe, and these people were more worthy than most for its fulfillment. Speaking of...
"First, my wonderful Weyrfolk, I have a rather embarrassing situation that I think you might help me with. See, my memory is just not what it used to be." There were chuckles around as he waggled his bushy eyebrows humorously at those gathered. "I must ask: who of you knows what it means to live vicariously? Or just the meaning of 'vicarious'? You sir, over there." He motioned to an unsuspecting member of the crowd, who was met with grins and playful shoves from around him. The young man had looked a little shy, but Cassin liked dragging people out of their shells.
"U-um..." The man looked around for help, but instead found all eyes on him. "It means...that...er...you don't experience something yourself, but...you try to learn enough about it to feel like you've experienced it...?" He bit his lip uncertainly, before almost boldly adding, "Like some of us riders did when we were still just Candidates stuck waiting." He grinned sheepishly, but the response around him was of positive amusement.
Smiling broadly, Cassin dipped his head in a quaint bow. "Exactly, my boy! Well on you!" He clapped his hands briefly, encouraging the rest of the crowd to accompany him - and wasn't disappointed, especially with the few hoots and whistles that were added. "Now, how about 'vivacity'? Hmm...let's see..." His eyes scanned the crowd, as if looking for a volunteer. He saw several people's hands shoot up, and one child even jumping up and down. But no, he needed...there! A younger girl - not necessarily shy, just...quiet-looking. He smiled kindly at her, his eyes twinkling merrily. "My dear girl, can you tell me?" His perfectly-controlled voice took on the air of being softer and gentler, but retained its volume.
The girl shuffled a little, looking quickly around her to ascertain that he was indeed speaking to her. "That is...sir..." she trailed off.
Cupping his ear in apparent confusion, he leaned closer. "I'm sorry, my dear? It would seem my hearing isn't what it used to be either, for I only heard the barest whisper of the lovely voice of yours!" There were a few laughs, but they were quickly shushed so that the girl might be heard next she spoke.
A small blush lit her cheeks, and she reached up to tuck a strand of the hair falling in her face back. "I think...it means being alive. Or lively. Or, um..." A small frown creased her brow as she searched for the right word. "A state of liveliness?" she finished with a small amount of uncertainty.
He beamed at her exuberantly. "Yes, child! Indeed it is so!" He flourished an elaborate bow toward her. "My gratitude to you, my lady." The answering smile and blush was perfection to him. The titters from the crowd were a bonus. "Ah, and now, with my memory rekindled by these lovely-"
"Victims?" came a cheeky shout from one of his crew from behind the stage curtains, eliciting a few laughs.
Cassin gave an over-exaggerated glare to the curtain before continuing, "-Volunteers - whom I suggest you all thank vigourously, for without them we would be lost! - we can begin!" He grinned. The shy young man and the quiet girl would hopefully get enough praise and thanks - even in jest - that they might slowly become more vibrant themselves.
"We of Vicarious Vivacity come from every walk of life and every corner of the settled world. We bring you music, plays, dances, humor, and feats from all over! The lives we have led and the lives who have touched ours influence everything we do and everything we will show you," he rhapsodized. "Let us show you all we have seen and heard and done, and let our experiences lift you! For even in the bleakest despair there is always the spark of hope, and with a determined heart that hope can be kindled into the brightest of flames! You have shared with us your home, and hopefully you will share with us your hearts as well. Come, now, and live with us. Let our vivacity course into you as we share our experiences, and let us all be left with a brighter flame than before!"
The last shout echoed from him for only a moment to the silent room before the cheers began. Cassin smiled; this had been a very good idea, for both the caravan and the Weyr. "Let the festivities...begin!" Loud and sprightly music wound it's way up as dancers decorated by bright cloths and sheer nets spun and twirled out from behind the curtains for the first act.
((Feel free to post in this thread or to create your own in The Beaches or The Jungle! If there is something you can imagine them doing, they're probably doing it somewhere(though I made a short list of ideas here)! ♥))
Here was where he would open the festivities, in the heart of the Weyr itself. The smile on his face took on a dreamy aspect as he thought about the connotations of that. Here, in the heart of their home, they would bring these people joy. And shouldn't joy start in one's heart?
But enough of my musing, he chided as he shook off his contemplation. The stage was set, the props aligned, and his people waiting for his signal. With a final pat to his clothes and a straightening of his top-hat, he strode regally to the stand that had been erected and expertly hopped on it, doing a single somersault - without losing the hat! - and then standing again. Taking his hat off with an over-elaborate flourish, he bowed to those assembled and grinned when he heard their small sounds of delight.
Prentending to inspect the hat for injury and dust, he made it sound as if he were murmuring to himself, but with enough volume for all to hear over the quiet of their bated breath. "Oh, no damage. Good, that." Then the hat was replaced, and he was beaming out at them to the sound of a few giggles. A good start.
"Lovely ladies, gallant gentlemen, and my darling chittering children - oh, and let me not forget you daring dragons, whimsical whers, and friendly fire-lizards! - I bid you hail from the furthest reaches of all Pern!" his voice rang out, loud and clear and full of genuine mirth. "We, for the time being your ever-humble servants, are Vivacious Vivacity! We are thoroughly thankful for your warm welcome, and intend to repay every kindness you do us by being our hosts ten-fold!" And they would, so help him. They had a purpose, this troupe, and these people were more worthy than most for its fulfillment. Speaking of...
"First, my wonderful Weyrfolk, I have a rather embarrassing situation that I think you might help me with. See, my memory is just not what it used to be." There were chuckles around as he waggled his bushy eyebrows humorously at those gathered. "I must ask: who of you knows what it means to live vicariously? Or just the meaning of 'vicarious'? You sir, over there." He motioned to an unsuspecting member of the crowd, who was met with grins and playful shoves from around him. The young man had looked a little shy, but Cassin liked dragging people out of their shells.
"U-um..." The man looked around for help, but instead found all eyes on him. "It means...that...er...you don't experience something yourself, but...you try to learn enough about it to feel like you've experienced it...?" He bit his lip uncertainly, before almost boldly adding, "Like some of us riders did when we were still just Candidates stuck waiting." He grinned sheepishly, but the response around him was of positive amusement.
Smiling broadly, Cassin dipped his head in a quaint bow. "Exactly, my boy! Well on you!" He clapped his hands briefly, encouraging the rest of the crowd to accompany him - and wasn't disappointed, especially with the few hoots and whistles that were added. "Now, how about 'vivacity'? Hmm...let's see..." His eyes scanned the crowd, as if looking for a volunteer. He saw several people's hands shoot up, and one child even jumping up and down. But no, he needed...there! A younger girl - not necessarily shy, just...quiet-looking. He smiled kindly at her, his eyes twinkling merrily. "My dear girl, can you tell me?" His perfectly-controlled voice took on the air of being softer and gentler, but retained its volume.
The girl shuffled a little, looking quickly around her to ascertain that he was indeed speaking to her. "That is...sir..." she trailed off.
Cupping his ear in apparent confusion, he leaned closer. "I'm sorry, my dear? It would seem my hearing isn't what it used to be either, for I only heard the barest whisper of the lovely voice of yours!" There were a few laughs, but they were quickly shushed so that the girl might be heard next she spoke.
A small blush lit her cheeks, and she reached up to tuck a strand of the hair falling in her face back. "I think...it means being alive. Or lively. Or, um..." A small frown creased her brow as she searched for the right word. "A state of liveliness?" she finished with a small amount of uncertainty.
He beamed at her exuberantly. "Yes, child! Indeed it is so!" He flourished an elaborate bow toward her. "My gratitude to you, my lady." The answering smile and blush was perfection to him. The titters from the crowd were a bonus. "Ah, and now, with my memory rekindled by these lovely-"
"Victims?" came a cheeky shout from one of his crew from behind the stage curtains, eliciting a few laughs.
Cassin gave an over-exaggerated glare to the curtain before continuing, "-Volunteers - whom I suggest you all thank vigourously, for without them we would be lost! - we can begin!" He grinned. The shy young man and the quiet girl would hopefully get enough praise and thanks - even in jest - that they might slowly become more vibrant themselves.
"We of Vicarious Vivacity come from every walk of life and every corner of the settled world. We bring you music, plays, dances, humor, and feats from all over! The lives we have led and the lives who have touched ours influence everything we do and everything we will show you," he rhapsodized. "Let us show you all we have seen and heard and done, and let our experiences lift you! For even in the bleakest despair there is always the spark of hope, and with a determined heart that hope can be kindled into the brightest of flames! You have shared with us your home, and hopefully you will share with us your hearts as well. Come, now, and live with us. Let our vivacity course into you as we share our experiences, and let us all be left with a brighter flame than before!"
The last shout echoed from him for only a moment to the silent room before the cheers began. Cassin smiled; this had been a very good idea, for both the caravan and the Weyr. "Let the festivities...begin!" Loud and sprightly music wound it's way up as dancers decorated by bright cloths and sheer nets spun and twirled out from behind the curtains for the first act.
((Feel free to post in this thread or to create your own in The Beaches or The Jungle! If there is something you can imagine them doing, they're probably doing it somewhere(though I made a short list of ideas here)! ♥))