Xanadu Weyr - Meadow
A large, slightly rolling meadow is set high enough above the riverbank on both sides to avoid suffering from flooding, healthy ground cover and grass spreading out from either side of the dividing river. Scattered amongst the meadow are a variety of buildings, each with a narrow path leading up to it from a main, winding road. Some are set under a few trees, while others sit by themselves.
Stables and a smithy are settled on their own plots, while trees border the western edge of the meadow, and a faint outline of a fence can be seen to the north.
With both clutches resting on the Sands of Xanadu Weyr having hatched, and all twenty one young dragons and their lifemates ushered to the barracks where they've been growing quickly every day, preparations at the Weyr have turned to the upcoming Founder's Day celebration. Amongst the plans are a rotating group of Harpers to provide music and entertainment throughout the evening, brought in from across Pern to offer their own styles of music. And, amongst *them* is a young journeyman by the name of Maddox who is now standing in the meadow on this chilly morning, carefully eyeing the lay of the land, as if imagining the best place for the Harpers to claim.
The dark skinned dancing, girl, having danced at the hatching Feast, and enticed, riders and weyr folk alike, Espenetta stood watch the harpers. She was good, she'd sang some at the parties, and her parents Caravan had hung around since the hatchings were close together, selling their wers. "Oy!" she called out lyricaly- a harper's voice indeed. Her long black hair was braided and hung down her back.
Maddox continues to slowly tilt his head this way and that, pondering the land, before a large stick is shoved into the ground at a particular spot, another a short distance away, as if marking out the corners of a stage. The voice causes him to turn, attention piqued, a grin on his face at the pretty girl. "'lo there, miss!" He offers cheerfully, glancing once more at the chosen spot, and then at the girl.
Espenetta smiles. "What ya looking for?" she asks, curiously. Her voice is sweet and innocent-mostly, though she smiles as she watches him. "Picking out a selling place." She asks.
"A booth.. A booth you have to wait and see where the others set up. You want to be close enough to the vintners to have people walk by, but not too close or you risk them crashing drunkening through your things." A wink and Maddox nods at the chosen spot. "That, if'n the others agree, will be the stage come the Founder's Day celebration." And then Maddox is glancing back at Espenetta with a tilt of his head. "Were you with the Harpers, at the Hatching feast?" He asks curiously, with a charmastic smile lingering yet.
Espenetta smiles. "Well sort of… my family are traders, but I am a bit of a dabbler in every crafter on Pern in a sense, jewelry making, dancing, Harper-ing." she smiles looks at him with a curiously raised eyebrow. "Though you do have a point, we'll probably be setup on the other side of the vinters."
"Dancing, hm? I bet you draw quite a crowd.." Maddox replies with a grin, before offering a bow to the girl with a flourish. "Harper Journeyman Maddox, miss.." He slowly straightens, grinning. "Perhaps its a good thing you'll be on the other side - we might be too distracted to play otherwise.."
Espenetta laughs. "Well if I am to dance, I need music don't I?" she asks. "Espenetta." she greets. She takes a moment to observe him. "Dancing distraction, hmm… could be a good thing. I mean I can make a few extra marks perhaps. Maybe enough to really get my business off the ground."
"Music you will have, Miss Espenetta." He smiles broadly, with a grin. "The whole time, though I can't promise the quality of some of those other Harpers.." He winks at her, before chuckling and and nodding. "Aye, being next to that Vintner's tent, if you have a hat, you'll likely see it filled.."
Espenetta grins. "We have baskets." she says softly. "A lot of baskets."
Maddox grins. "Pick a nice one. Not to big, not too small.. Maybe.. Like this.." And he holds his hands out about six inches apart. "Don't ever empty it totally, but don't let it get too full.. And put ribbons on it.." Maddox advises with a grin. "And, perhaps matching ones in your hair.."
Espenetta nods. "I usually do! Colored ribbons- like the ones I usually make for saddles and riding straps."
Maddox grins. "I bet you'll have all them guys falling. The poor Weyrlings wishing they weren't, the old men wishing they weren't that, either.." Maddox teases the younger girl a little, offering her a hand. "Maybe I'll have to come look at all your ribbons.."
Espenetta nods. "You can, as long as you play." she says. She starts to walk off. "I have to get back, but maybe I'll see you around."
"I hope so!" Maddox calls back after the girl, lifting his hand in farewell. "See you around, Miss Espenetta.." He says before his attention drifts back to pondering the location of the stage, humming a perky tune to himself as he moves a stick a little bit further out.