Pleasing the Crowd [Shale]

[Rovan Dermane]

10th day of Spring, AV 511 Rovan found himself traversing the streets again. After the last few days in Sylrias, it seemed to him that oppertunities were always aplenty in the alive and turbulent corners of the City. He paused as he saw a small flock of people gathered around someone, some of them watching this person intently. It was a fair-haired woman of long limps and slender physique, her movements graceful with the skill and looks of a dancer. She seemed to enjoy the attention, in comparison to some of the streetperformers Rovan had seen, where the look of desperation and simple need of coin shined through their acts. Rovan watched her long hair fling about around her in her quick and precise steps, occassionally stopping in her tracks to give a comical glance at her audience, much to the joy of the children seated infront of the little crowd. The scholar guessed she was performing some sort of humorous act, but it seemed he had missed out the start to get the idea of what she was impersonating. He decided to approach the scenery, and observe this entertainer in her craft. He felt almost drawn towards the display. Whether it was his (self-proclaimed) professional perspective to the artform of this performance, or, simply the nature of his gender, he did not entirely know for sure.

[Shale]

Shale was just rapping up her tale at the moment. "And still wrapped 'round the old shoe lace, was the little fox with the crazy-eyed face."

She covered her face with the tambourine in her right hand and rattled it quickly for a few brief seconds. Once done, she moved it out of the way, shaking it even harder for emphasis, revealing that her blue eyes were looking in opposing directions, one up, and the other down in the trademark crazy face of the story's character. She stuck out her tongue to complete the effect and held the pose for a few seconds.

Shale managed to get the reaction she wanted; more than a few of the crowd's members were laughing. Hopefully the performance was enough to brighten their day, and if she was really lucky, there'd be a few good coins coming her way.

[Archon]

With the conclusion of Shale's story the crowd laughed and there was a small smattering of applause scattered about them. The younger ones in particular seemed to delight in her amusing look, and one young boy in particular gave a delighted laughed and clapped as he called out, "Again! Again!" Amidst the pleased sounds of the crowd Shale's ears picked up the sounds of a few coins landing at her feet. They mostly seemed to be copper Mizas at the moment, but it was hard to tell precisely without turning her attention away from the crowd.

[Rovan Dermane]

Rovan protuded his lower lip, nodding slightly to himself in approval of the show. There was an undeniable charm about her, he had to give her that, but even given her pretty successful performance, Rovan found she could do even better if she pronounced the words in a more articulated manner. Of course, one could argument it was difficult to focus on speaking in a completely rhetoric fashion, when one was also dancing and playing the tambourine, but Rovan was convinced that even words alone could be enough to entrance an audience - at least a relatively intelligent one. If one put effort enough in tasting and feeling the words, it would spread so that others might taste the crispness of the sentences as well. That was the essence of what his old tutor had taught him. As he stood there, he felt it had been a long time ago he had given instructions and taught anyone in the prober form of speechcraft. Perhaps he had his chance here, to keep both his teaching of- and own skills of rhetorics in shape. The dark-clothed scholar waited patiently for a break in the performance of this woman, stroking his goatee as he allowed himself to enjoy the show, even though it was mostly for children peers. At some point she had to get tired, if her eager audience did not.

[Shale]

Shale bowed deeply, taking the moment to let the crowd quiet and affix her gaze on the floor to evaluate the shine of coins at her feet. Oh yes, lucky indeed, this was her biggest audience yet since coming to Syliras.

The performer regained her standing posture. "Thank you, thank you, you've all been a great group!" Shale waved to someone towards the back of the crowd. A newcomer, and an unfortunately late addition to the audience."I'm going to take a break before the next act, but worry not lovely citizens, for I'll be back by next bell!"

Shale shook her tambourine quickly for emphasis and finished it with a thump and a second bow.

[Archon]

Shale's long bow gave her a better look at her earnings so far, a dozen or so copper Mizas and a single silver one. At her announcement that she was taking a break the energetic boy from earlier gave an overly dramatic pout and loudly cried out, "Awwwww!" A fair amount of the crowd began to disperse, apparently unwilling to wait around for the next act, leaving a fair bit of open area between the tall Kelvic entertainer and the dark-clothed scholar.

[Rovan Dermane]

Rovan approached as the crowd dispersed. He neared the slender entertainer, obvious enough in his intent to talk to her personally. The scholar cleared his throat behind his palm. "'Twas a very inspiring act you performed, I must say," he said, leaving a small pause, "But if I may be so bold, I would suggest you could put some more empatise in the words, themselves.". Rovna raised his lightly knuckled hand in regard, as if to inspire motivation to Shale. He realised she might grow defensive with his advice, and so he continued on quickly, "It is simply a matter of articulation and slow speaking, so that even the most dim-witted and simple-minded can follow."

[Shale]

Shale, with an eyebrow raised wasn't quite sure how to respond to this. This man was late to her show and now he was giving out advice? His critique brought the specific notion to mind of a scholar trying to become a bard to impress women. She was about to point how she had almost literally been doing this her whole life before another notion struck her.

In a city so diverse as this one, it's natural to find authorities or experts on culture and art. Was this man an art critic? Uh oh. For a brief moment, Shale's features were crossed with a blank look, tinged with a worried expression, as possible consequences of offending such a person flitted across her mind like lightning.

Shale put on a happy smile as if the man had just told her of some great joke. She taking his hand in a very direct handshake. "Of course, of course my good sir, please, introduce yourself, I simply must know who is so knowl-edge-able." She said her last word with a certain conscious slowness, taking care to enunciate properly.

[Rovan Dermane]

Rovan looked a little taken-aback by Shale's direct manner of greeting, shaking the hand given to him somewhat. In general, he was not very thrilled of shaking hands with strangers - one could never know what they might have stuck their fingers in. Well, at least she did not seem too offended with him, he thought. "Oh, why - you flatter me... Well, my name is Rovan Dermane. I am but a humble scholar and intellectual, with interest in the arts of performing." Rovan stroked back a few loose strands of hair from his face. "As such, I could not help but notice yours in particular," he said with a wry smile, appraising her from top to toe. "And what might they call you, my light-footed friend?"

[Shale]

"Ohoho," Shale gave a haughty sort of laugh and put her hands on her hips as Dermane noted her flattery. "Please, call me Shale." She leaned in a little. "So, just what brought you to my show, if I might ask?" Shale was eager for reviews, anything to hint at how make her show even grander.