Frills and Ruffles? [Masquerade Stall]

[Rowana]

G'tor whistled a merry tune as he walked down the stalls in the bright morning sun. He loved Gathers. What better way to spend ones time than with good friends, music, and wine. This one was particularly special because he had decided to run all stall of his own. Just a little one to pass the time and share his love of fishing. But he couldn't get started dressed as he was in his plan clothes. He needed to live up to the spirit of the party!

He stopped as his steps took him past a stall covered in bright masks and fancy outfits. Perfect! He glanced over the stall, trying to decide what would be best. He wasn't used to wearing anything but simple work clothes and his riding gear, so picking something that would look good would be a challenge. Star hid in his shirt. She had only come hoping for treats. Tervain perched on his shoulder, looking over the shiny wares with a haughty expression on her green face.

[Avu]

Oh, his shirt looked so plain! Surely the man needed something to look peppier, the girl decided with a firm nod. Eriena ran both hands down the front of her dress, a lovely creation of frills and lace, and adjusted her gold, cream, and black half-mask, smoothed down her hair, and then went into action, because surely she had to look her best in order to convince a customer to buy from their store! The girl moved quickly and quietly to the front of the store, and then cocked her head to look G’tor up and down critically for a moment before she tapped her glossed bottom lip thoughtfully. “Did you have anything in mind that you wanted to buy, sir – er – brownrider – Wingsecond – ?” she questioned, tripping over the words and wincing as she tugged at her dress again. Her gaze flicked from G’tor to Tervain, and then she smiled bemusedly at the firelizard. She and Handsome would make such a lovely couple, wouldn’t they?! The blue firelizard on the counter gave a disapproving chirrup at that thought, but Eriena was not put off at all.

“Because if not, I think you’d look absolutely stunning in red, and we’ve got the most amazing mask – it just dried awhile ago – that goes perfectly with a dark red outfit, but if you don’t like red, I think a silvery-white would look okay, too. There was a Harper wearing silver, though, so maybe you shouldn’t unless you don’t mind being mistaken as a Harper. Do you?” So she had extravagant tastes. So what? Eriena gestured at the walls, positively covered in masks. “Did you want a full-face mask or a half-face one?” One hand indicated her own mask. “Like this one, tied behind your head, or would you prefer to hold it on a stick? There’re so many choices, really – oh, look, here, do you like this one?” Without waiting for approval or disapproval, she plucked a gold and red half-mask from the wall and raised it to his face, curiously; it had a checked pattern, fading at the edges, and edged in black. “There’s a mirror over there,” she added, indicating one of the walls, where a mirror was crammed among the masks. “Do you like it?”

[Rowana]

G'tor smiled at the girl who came around to greet him. "You look lovely," he complimented. If only he could look as nice. At least getting an outfit would be a start. "I don't really know." She would probably have a better idea of what would be good. In fact, she already did. He listened patiently, nodding on occasion and running his fingers over various pieces. Red did look nice. It matched Rusk's color. He chuckled at the girls enthusiasm and checked his reflection in the mirror.

He examined himself critically for a moment, before decided. "Looks good!" he agreed warmly. "It ties behind the head right?" He fingered the strings. "I'd like to have my hands free." He grinned. "I think I'll take it. I'll need an outfit too though, I think," he waved at his clothes meaningfully. "This isn't exactly going to attracted costumers. What did you say before? Dark red?" He looked over the array of outfits. There certainly were some very frilly shirts.

Tervain spotted Handsome and glared at him. Stupid, silly blue. Males were such useless creatures. Her eyes flared and she growled menacingly at him. That would teach him he wasn't interesting. Let him stay with his silly girl and her silly frills. It was all so meaningless. She could not wait until Hers finished and went back to the river bank. Fishing was far more practical.

[Avu]

Eriena’s face flushed at the compliment, and she bowed her head gratefully at G’tor. Lovely? She looked lovely? “Oh, thank you so much!” she exclaimed, bouncing on the spot before she nodded excitedly, watching him intently as he checked his reflection in the mirror. Oh, was it wrong that she wanted a dragonrider to ask her to dance? Of course they wouldn’t, and she couldn’t go anyway, but…mmph. Every Holder girl wanted that, didn’t they? Whatever. Eriena leaned forward to take the mask from G’tor, motioning for the brownrider to turn around so she could tie the mask on. “Of course it ties on. The ones that don’t have sticks attached to one side so you can hold onto ‘em. I think these are so much easier; can you imagine trying to dance or trying to do anything with only one hand, clutching a mask to your face with the other? Some people prefer them; I don’t know why they do…attract customers?” she added (belatedly), “What’re you running? I know lots of people from the Weyr are running stalls, but I don’t know them by name…”

She paused for breath, and then added, “Yeah, dark red – almost maroon, see?” Eriena momentarily paused to reach out and lift an outfit off of its hook. “It’s just a suit, but we’ve got actual costumes in the back, too. Like, you know…” She shrugged expressively. “Pirates and stuff. But it doesn’t really go with that mask. We’ve got other ones, but I really like that one on you…” Eriena brushed her hair out of her face, and then held up the suit in question to G’tor, one hand smoothing down the ruffles. Obnoxious ruffles, they were, but ruffles were good.

Handsome, meanwhile, eyed Tervain dispassionately for a moment before the blue chirruped. The sound was nothing short of patronizing. What a foolish little green, to think herself worthy of his attention. Really. He hadn’t paid a single whit of attention to her; where did she get off, growling at him like that? His attention slid from Tervain to Eriena a second later and he rose to his feet, one graceful motion, and flipped his wings open before he stretched cat-like, and turned his back on Eriena, G’tor, and Tervain. So not worth his attention if she was going to be haughty.

[Rowana]

G'tor waved a hand vaguely. "A little stall for fishing," he explained. "Just for fun." He hadn't met many other riders who shared his passion. He may be a rider now, but fishing had been all he had for much of his early life until he met Ruskeath. True, it must be dull compared to the fast paced life at the Weyr, but G'tor found the peace and quiet much to his liking.

He adjusted the mask on his face as he examined himself, now with the maroon outfit. It did look rather good. The rich colors even matched his dark hair and eyes nicely. He fingered the ruffles in consideration. Maybe a few more frills than he had thought to get, but then this was supposed to be for fun, wasn't it? "What do you think?" he asked, directing his voice at Star and Tervain. Tervain turned up her nose almost at once. The whole affair was far too silly and besides, she was busy ignoring Handsome. Star poked her head out for a second, then declared that it unless it was going to get her fed, G'tor could go naked for all she cared. The man chuckled. "Such an inspiring audience."

He turned back to the girl with a smile. "How much for both?" he asked politely, waving at the mask and outfit.

[Avu]

The man’s reply made Eriena’s eyes light up. A fishing stall? How cute! “It sounds adorable,” she stated earnestly. “Would you mind very much if I dropped by with my little sister? I don’t know if I can get away or not – maybe when the baby goes to sleep and Mum can take over the shop – but if I do, where is your stall? Iana’d like it, I think…” She’d also heard of a flower stall; maybe she could get some flowers for Mum – pretty things to put in a vase and brighten up the dreary interior that smelled like baby. “Actually” – and she leaned in conspiratorially, almost unconsciously – “she has a boyfriend who likes fishing. But they’re like, seven, so it’s not serious – but I think it’s cute. I’ll take them both, is that okay?” Iana would throw a fit later, more likely than not. But that was okay!

--- oh, oh! Salamandyr! Eriena’s gaze snagged on Star, and her eyes widened. “Oh, is that your pet – pet Salamandyr? A few came in early, two greens I think…one of them wasn’t very nice, but both of them were cute. I didn’t know dragons and – their cousins – came in white; is it a she or a he…?” Handsome yawned from his perch, tail flipping dismissively. Silly creatures; he’d already had to scold one very emphatically for shredding up some paper and then blaming it on him (not that Eriena had believed him). Hmph. He wholeheartedly disapproved! “Oh,” she added belatedly. “Um…for both…? Five. Two for the mask, three for the suit.”

[Rowana]

G'tor's face lit up. "That would be great!" he declared, excited at the prospect of his first costumers. He winked at Eriena's whispered secrets. "No worries. I won't say a word." He looked forward to meeting her sister and this boy. Maybe they would like to play the fishing game. He wanted to see how much people would enjoy that, particularly younger ones.

Conversation turned to Star, and G'tor obligingly took her out so the girl could see more clearly. Star was not in the mood, however, and quickly raced back inside his shirt. G'tor shrugged. "Star is a bit shy," he admitted. "But usually nice. If she's been fed." He smirked. An unfed Star was probably scarier than most things he'd seen so far. "I'm pretty sure she's a 'she'," he went on. "Though she doesn't run or chase like normal salamandyrs." Star was actually likely an "it", but she had always impressed upon him as being female. He jerked a thumb at the Tervain, who was still ignoring them. "Tervain, on the other hand, can be very cranky. Be careful what you say around her." He leaned closer. "She hates being called 'cute'," he whispered. Not quite quiet enough though, as Tervain then proceeded to bite his ear. "Ow!" G'tor slapped her nose, but she just glared and turned away.

Shaking his head at his disgruntled fire lizard, he fished out five marks from his pouch. "Here you are then," he said with a smile. "Thanks for all the help."

[Avu]

Eriena bounced. There was no other way to describe that motion, on the balls of her feet, before she settled again, smiling eagerly at the idea of a fishing stall. There was no denying that the shopkeeper was very easily pleased; one hand brushed her hair out of her eyes where it had escaped from the elegantly-done bun and its surrounding waves and curls. Her attention span, it seemed, was excessively short; the moment Star was produced, Eriena leaned down to stare in blatant delight at the small white creature – in that split second she received before it scurried back, away from her. She might have been offended by it – not many Salamandyrs seemed to be nice, and firelizards weren’t entirely friendly most of the time to her, either – but her fascination overruled any such petty feelings and she merely clasped her hands together, flicking a delighted look at Handsome. “Ooh, Handsome, would you mind if we got a Sala – are you okay?” She interrupted herself to stare anxiously at G’tor, glance flicking to Tervain.

Not very nice, that one. Even Handsome didn’t usually bite her. Certainly not for complimenting him. The blue firelizard threw a decidedly distasteful glance at Tervain, flipping his wings dismissively, before he turned away again. He was shunning them. Shunnnnning! Eriena sighed at the blue’s back, but she turned back to G’tor in time to receive the five marks. Her eyes lit up, and she curtsied happily. “Thank you, sir,” she replied. “I hope you have a nice time and lots of luck with your stall~” The marks were clutched in her hands for a moment before she smiled brightly again, and then turned to dart back into the shop, presumably to deposit the marks wherever she was keeping them. Yayyyyy. Business was good, it was. Mum would be so proud.