Playing for marks [Completed]

[hseru]

Lanthos had a bit of free time, and despite being utterly broke, he couldn't wait to see what the caravan held by way of surprise merchandise. In a moment of insight, he'd decided to bring his lute along, slinging the strap over his good shoulder. Maybe he could play for marks? He practically skipped on his way there, his sling bouncing with the movement, though he was careful to keep the instrument from being jostled as it lay against his back. Pep, moments before snoozing in the sling, woke with a start as His started jostling him about. Pepno BadLanos! Lanthos stopped promptly at the scolding, reaching in to give Pep an apologetic scratch. "Sorry Pep, I kinda got excited there."

Properly scratched and now settled again, the blue flashed his frill in acceptance before curling up to go back to sleep. Lanthos chuckled at his mindpet. He didn't know how Pep would like it when he no longer had to wear the sling, but he was certain the blue mandyr wouldn't accept it gracefully. The candidate began to mentally prepare himself for a tantrum in the near future, snickering at the thought.

He finally wove into the caravan, amazed at the crowd that had formed. They certainly were popular! Of course, you could get nearly anything here, so it had a reason for being popular. Bright fabrics, glittering jewelry and many other things. Delicious smells wafted through the air, and Lanthos began to regret coming just to torture himself. Those smells were just too good! In an attempt to wander away from that particular stall, he almost tripped over another musician strumming on the bank of the river. What a wonderful place to attract some people. Well, if he played well, maybe he'd get enough for a bubbly pie! The thought had his mouth watering, and he strolled purposefully further down the bank so as to not intrude on the other musician's music with his own notes.

He settled himself to the soft grass, bringing his lute forward. He was lucky that he'd had a few days to heal, and that the damaged arm was his right. He could pick the strings well enough, but he would have had trouble fingering the notes. He went through a quick tuning, strumming the strings. Pep, alerted by this new sound, peeked out of his sling and climbed up his arm to lay on his shoulder. What was His doing? Something new, and noisy. It made him feel funny inside. He frilled a few times as Lanthos began a jaunty tune he'd learned in the Hold. The notes were slow at first as the candidate felt out the instrument. He hadn't played since he'd arrived at the Weyr, but the knowledge and smoothness came back to him after a few moments of playing. He was really only around the level of an apprentice, but he still could zoom through a handful of songs rather well.

[Rowana]

G'tor was on his way back to the Weyr, his mark purse as light as his mood. He paused when he heard the music of a lute and took a detour to find the musician. He was a little surprised to see Lanthos, the candidate he knew from the salamandyr hatching. He hadn't know the boy to be such a competent player. He might not be a Master, but it was pleasant to listen too.

Star poked her head out, thrilled to see Pep, her favorite clutch sibling. She fluttered down to greet the blue with a nuzzle and a flood of pictures describing the kinds of foods she had found to eat at the Caravan. G'tor smiled and fingered for his last few marks. "That's some nice playing," he complimented. "Think 1 and a half marks will buy me a song?" He winked and sat down with rapped attention.

[hseru]

At first, Lanthos didn't know he'd specifically drawn the attention of anyone yet, but Star landing on his shoulder was the first indication, startling him a bit when he saw the sudden flash of white next to his face, even though she weighed just about nothing when she landed. He paused in his playing to glance down as she nuzzled Pep, who returned the nuzzle enthusiastically. Pretty, pretty. Good PrettyStar Pep flashed his dazzling sapphire frill at her, giving it a small shake to make it glitter. Lanthos turned his eyes upwards as G'tor approached, smiling at the rider who'd been so nice during Pep's hatching. It seemed his generosity had no bounds either, as he offered a whole Mark and a half for a song.

"I'd be glad to play you anything you want, but are you sure you want to give up your marks? The caravan's gonna be here for a few more days at least." Eager as he was to buy something himself, he couldn't believe the rider would pass up possible opportunities for pies and eats. Plus, Lanthos would probably feel bad for it. He would make a horrible performer for tips, he thought ruefully to himself.

As G'tor sat, Lanthos strummed his lute a bit, picking up the edge of the far musician's song and playing a short bit of it himself. Pep was thrilled that Star had shown up, and it was enough to make him fully awake and active for the first time that day.

[Rowana]

G'tor waved off Lanthos's concern with an easy smile. "I've spent enough today and I remember being a candidate like you. Spare marks from extra chores don't add up to much." He had never had so many marks before. His family had never been wealthy, so he did know what it was like to want things and not be able to afford them. Now that he was a rider with a decent wage, he didn't mind sharing the wealth. Besides, Star liked the boy enough to perch on him, and that went a long way.

"You'll have to play better than you've ever done before, though," he warned with a sly wink. "I'm a fussy audience."

For once Star didn't seem to care about food. For right now, she snuggled close to Pep and enjoyed his company. She knew him for the placid brother who shared his meal, and was clearly her favorite for it.

[hseru]

Lanthos smiled brightly at the rider, grateful for his generosity. He promised himself that he'd do the same for some unfortunate candidate when -he- was the one with marks to spare, just to keep the cycle of good feelings going. "Thank you so much, sir." He made a little salute to G'tor, grinning. "I'll give you the best I've got."

With that, Lanthos settled into a comfortable position, and picked his best song, jaunty, like the one before, but better known to most people. A classic evening tune for the toss dance that was zippy but held a wonderful wealth of different notes that ranged up and down several scales. Anyone with a trained ear would have picked up his handful of mistakes he made and stumbled over as he tried to go as fast as possible, but most would think he played it with decent skill.

Pep's attention was suddenly divided between his lovely Star and the noise coming from His. That peculiar vibrating that sent his insides quivering in a funny way was certainly not ignorable, but Star was here! The little blue flared as he was torn, but Star snuggled into him, and he wrapped his tail around her, deciding. Hispet could make funny noises, he'd be ok with it. He started thrumming a bit, unknowingly matching a few of the notes His plucked in tandem, and swaying to a slower variation of the beat.

While he played, a few other people were drawn to the music, which was much faster than the slow lullaby being played by the musician further down the bank. Lantho was barely aware of them, but when he finally finished the piece, he found a few marks had been tossed to the grass in front of him. He quickly glanced up to thank his benefactor, but the bluerider -by his knots- had already moved away at that point, and the only feature Lanthos caught was a scarred face and light hair. Snagging the marks, he grinned over at G'tor, showing them off like a child with a proud drawing. "Look! I didn't think I'd get so many!" The glee on his face lit it like a beacon.

[Rowana]

G'tor tapped his fingers in tune to the music as Lanthos played. He might not be a prefessional, but it was well done and spirited music. G'tor grinned at the boy's good luck, having been too distrated by the music to see the rider who had dropped him so many marks. Cheerfully, he added his own one and a half marks to the pile. "There!" he declared brightly. "Now you have enough to buy one of those eggs over there." He waved behind him. "It might even be a fire lizard."

With a wink and a wave, G'tor stood to leave. He had presents to deliver! Star nuzzled Pep one more time in farewell, before leaping up to his shoulder. "Good luck!" G'tor called to Lanthos as he left. "And thank you for the song!"

[hseru]

-Egg Stall-

Lanthos perked up even more. Last time he'd checked, most fire lizard eggs were sold for more than five and a half marks, but G'tor's statement had him -very- interested. He'd lost out on the last clutch hatched at the Weyr, and he had kept his ears open ever since. If he could get one now, well, that'd be pretty great.

The candidate waved cheerfully to G'tor as he left. "Thanks again, really! I'll come and show you what I get, and glad you liked the song!" With that, he stood, and slung his lute over his shoulder, his sights set on the line of stalls, trying to decipher which one the rider had indicated. Pep watched as Star left, having given her a last goodbye nuzzle before she departed with Hers. His frill practically wilted in disappointment, but His' excitement caught him in full swing, and he slid down to lay in the sling as Lanthos walked over to the colorful stalls. He promised himself he'd get a nice pie after he checked into this egg thing, as his stomach was starting to complain, loudly.

Finally crossing the stall he wanted, his eyes widened at the displayed assortment of eggs. His eye wandered over the tags, noting that the flitter eggs were as pricey as he'd thought, but then he saw the mystery egg basket. Stepping closer, he peered inside. This must have been what G'tor meant by 'it might even be a firelizard'. He scrutinized the eggs. wondering if there was any way to tell. They all looked rather colorful. Were they fake? Well, he guessed that any of the 'correctly' labeled eggs could be fake too. Still, he had the marks... and the caravan wouldn't be around forever to wait on his decision. Maybe he'd get lucky? Well then, better leave it to luck entirely. He tried to get the attention of the vendor, but this was one of the busiest stalls, and he was otherwise detained. Well, he could pick his out and wait for service.

Closing his eyes, Lanthos reached out to pick an egg, trying to not go by feel either, just gently picking up the first egg that struck him as 'the one'. When he finally touched the one he wanted, he opened his eyes to look at the egg he'd chosen. It was on the plain side, with pale colors mostly in blue and purple and only some gentle striation around the entirety. Pretty, but nondescript. He nodded, holding it out so that the venodr wouldn't think he was trying to steal it, his marks in his other hand, the half extra already tucked into his pocket.

[nightingale]

"That one?"

The stall's worker asked with a pleasant smile, extending his hand to accept the boy's marks.

"Good luck. Hope it hatches a keeper."