Floating (Kat)

[Sapphire]

Sapphire walked into the Corus theatre and sighed. This place always had an amazing x-factor effect on her. She looked at the dancers dressed in amazing fabrics and watched as the cloth moved with the dancers movements. The material shimmered in the rays of sunlight coming in through the door, it sent sparkling darts of colour all over the place.

Soft undercurrents of music filled the air. She let it fill her and let her mind drift. This was floating. She knew it was probably unwise to let herself drift, in the City which held many theives who knew exactly how to pickpocket someone who let their mind wander. She found she didn't really care. It was her last day in Tortall and she was going to spend it any way she pleased. If that involved being pick-pocketed so be it.

She watched a dancer spin and twirl and smiled. Floating.

[Jazz]

Katrina spun, landing easily after a particularly difficult triple-pirouette. She was naturally agile, and she loved dancing, although it wasn't as dear to her as acting. It gave her that sense of freedom, the wonderful feeling of being able to fly. Today, as it happened, was not one of those stuffy affairs. It was a benefit producation, trying to raise funds for a new show that Katrina's band of Players had been wanting to do for a long time. So, instead of dancing on stage, a circular area in the huge ballroom had been corded off. Kat and five others danced, each donning bright colours, exotic make up and elaborately styled hair. People, mainly commoners, crowded around them, trying to see the dance. Players who weren't performing passed around hats, asking for donations. It was not an uncommon sight in Corus.

The music ended powerfully, and Kat took hold of the hands of the two dancers nearest to her. Smiling, they bowed to the audience. Soon afterwards, the dancers dispersed into the crowds. They didn't yet retire, socializing with the people who had come to see them.

Kat was decked out in a dark green, a floaty dress with black breeches underneath. It was beautiful, though in actual fact quite cheap and eay to make. Embroidery added flair, and the outfit contrasted well with Kat's black hair and pale skin. She smiled, nodding thanks to those who came up to her. She too, twirled a hat, asking for offers. It was a hard life, as a Player. you need funds to get funds, and more often than not, you have no funds. "Spare a coin or two, Mi'lady?" she asked sweetly, offering the hat to a distant-looking noble.

[Sapphire]

"Spare a coin or two, Mi'lady?" she asked sweetly, offering the hat to a distant-looking noble.

Sapphire jolted out of her dreamy state. She jumped at the sound of a voice, "Oh, um, sure, sorry, you gave me the biggest fright." She looked up at the girl and recognised her from the dancers, "You were brilliant," she said as she scrambled in her bag looking for her purse, "Really, I wish I could move like that."

She grinned as she felt her blue silk purse, "Success! How much?" she smiled at the dancer and twirled a dark strand of hair around her finger. She sighed, wishing the music still played. Wishing that she was still floating. Wishing for that dreamy state which she would not be able to achieve for the longest of time. She looked up at the dancer expectingly, "Hmm?"

[Jazz]

"Oh, um, sure, sorry, you gave me the biggest fright."

Katrina smiled apologetically as the woman gave a start. "Deepest apologies, mi'lady," she said, dipping a curtsy. As a Player, you know to take every chance, even if it's for just a few coins. Kat, in reality, hated being the submissive commoner, but - hey! - the lady was going to give her money, which she needed. She wasn't going to turn down a decent meal for a few morals. A girl's got to eat.

"You were brilliant. Really, I wish I could move like that."

"Deepest thanks, mi'lady. 'Tis a knack," Kat replied, smiling again. This time, a brighter, grateful smile. She was somewhat of a vain girl, and compliments tended to make her glow. Metaphorically speaking, of course. The lady was scrabbling about in her bag, searching for something to give. She was, upon closer inspection, more definately a lady. A Yamani lady, or part-Yamani in any case. She didn't seem to be very conservative, either.

"Success! How much?"

The grin Kat worn as the lady announced her success froze in place, more out of shock than anything. How much? What sort of thing is that to ask? Ask too little, you got too little. Ask too much, you got nothing. Never in her life had Katrina DeMenzes been asked 'how much?' as a response to a 'got any spare change?' routine. This was a benefit, not a hired performance. And this lady, Kat thought incredulously, was asking 'how much?'

"Hmm?"

Now it was Katrina's turn to jolt back into reality, realizing that she'd kept the Yamani lady waiting. She blushed, flustered. She usually liked being in the spotlight, but not this kind. "Well, mi'lady, whatever you feel comfortable givin' a gal like me would be most appreciated," she managed, hoping that she didn't sound like too much of a fool, "I'm not one t' name a price, ma'am."

[Sapphire]

"Deepest apologies, mi'lady,Deepest thanks, mi'lady. 'Tis a knack,"

Sapphire grinned, "Not a problem," it had really been her fault, she was in floating mode, anything would have shocked her. "And thats no knack, it must have taken you hours, you really were brilliant. I could never do such a thing, I get distracted way to easily!" she tugged at one of her curls and opened her purse. The dancer had been amazing, her musicality had been imaculate, it was really impressive.

"Well, mi'lady, whatever you feel comfortable givin' a gal like me would be most appreciated," she managed, hoping that she didn't sound like too much of a fool, "I'm not one t' name a price, ma'am."

Sapphire shrugged, "I'm not really one to mane a price either. You were excellent, so you should be payed well, no? It's only fair. How much d'ya think you should get?" she grinned, the dancer seemed shocked by her question. Thinking about it, it wasn't something she had seen many people ask, but it was only fair.

[Jazz]

"And thats no knack, it must have taken you hours, you really were brilliant. I could never do such a thing, I get distracted way to easily!"

Katrina smiled, inclining her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. Then she shrugged, before replying: "Thank ye again, mi'lady." Hopefully that would be up to protocol. It was difficult, accepting compliments from the nobility. She was never taught how to, and of course - you could never tell how a noble thinks of you, though this one seemed to be of the decent sort. Kat was a bit uncomfortable, but she quite liked the lady; this noble was relaxed, obviously progressive, and by Kat's guess, being herself.

"I'm not really one to mane a price either. You were excellent, so you should be payed well, no? It's only fair. How much d'ya think you should get?"

Katrina was slightly panicked, though she did her best not to let it show. "Er... I don't know, I'm sure mi'lady. I'm no judge. I'd be grateful for any sum, ma'am," she said, her eyes pleading. She didn't want to seem greedy, by naming too high a price - and if the price was too low, then Kat wouldn't come away with her money's worth. What a situation for a girl, she thought. Shows were so much simpler. Leave the finance to the organizers, that was her philosophy.

[Sapphire]

"Thank ye again, mi'lady."

Fhire grinned, "No problem, you were awesome!" she looked up at the dancer, "I'm Fhire," she said as an after-thought. She tugged her curls thinking, if the girl was in the rogue, which was a generalisation so she wasn't assuming as much, then she probably wouldn't tell Sapphire her real name. She had learnt most of her friends names weeks after she had been introduced to then. Some people weren't trusting of nobles, she knew why, but she was, as many people called it, 'progressive'

"Er... I don't know, I'm sure mi'lady. I'm no judge. I'd be grateful for any sum, ma'am," she said, her eyes pleading.

She saw the look in the dancers eyes, "Ummm..... this okay?" She asked, tipping the contents of her purse into her hand, "I need about this much for some food and abit of shopping," she said taking a few coins, "But the rest is yours. Is that the correct amount? I wouldn't know," She looked at the number of coins in her hand, Too little? It didn't look like it, but it could be. She looked up at the dancer and tilted her head, "What do you think?"

[Jazz]

"I'm Fhire."

Katrina was surprised, but it only lasted for a second. She was good at reading people, and this lady was loose, relaxed. Katrina smiled, and gave a mock curtsy. " 'm Katrina, mi'lady," she responded. It was only polite to give your name in return, and Kat had no reason to conceal hers. "Katrina DeMenzes

"Ummm..... this okay? I need about this much for some food and abit of shopping. But the rest is yours. Is that the correct amount? I wouldn't know. What do you think?"

Katrina watched, dumbstruck, as the woman - Fhire - emptied her entre purse and counted out the coins, muttering to herself. Was she crazy? It certainly was possible. She wouldn't be the first noble to have gone round the twist. Kat stared at the offered amount, trying to find her tongue. "Oh, no mi'lady! I couldn't possibly take that!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. The amount in Fhire's hand could feed the etire troupe for two weeks, and Kat wouldn't dare take it. She could be accused of stealing, embezzelment - anything, really. And it was just one dance, in any case.

[Sapphire]

" 'm Katrina, mi'lady," she responded. It was only polite to give your name in return, and Kat had no reason to conceal hers. "Katrina DeMenzes

Sapphire grinned, Katrina, that hopefully was her real name. It sounded like it. "It''s a pleasure to make your aquiantance Katrina" she said fingering her money, she looked at Katrina, and back down at her money, "So Katrina," she said holding out her hand.

"Oh, no mi'lady! I couldn't possibly take that!" she exclaimed

Sapphire arched her eyebrows, "And why not? It's my money, which I am now giving to you, making it your money. Why won't you take it?" she frowned at the dancer, "You comepletely deserve the money," she shrugged. Why wouldn't Katrina take the money, it was maybe alot, but she did deserve it.

[Jazz]

"It''s a pleasure to make your aquiantance Katrina"

"Likewise, m'lady," Kat said demurely, slightly confused. She liked the lady, certainly, but nobles weren't this straightforward. It was nice, but slightly disconcerting. She didn't have much time to be befuddled, though - there was the Money Problem. Which by now had gained the Capital Letters.

"And why not? It's my money, which I am now giving to you, making it your money. Why won't you take it? You comepletely deserve the money."

Oh, Goddess. Where did she go wrong? Nobles. Pfft. So difficult to please. She squirmed internally, looking at the money. It was a lot - much much more than was expected, higher than Kat's highest wishes. Truth be told, those damned point shoes had been bloody expensive, and she needed the money but... "You won't accuse me of trickin' you, then?" Katrina asked softly. She could hardly believe she was having this conversation. It was so... strange.

[Sapphire]

"You won't accuse me of trickin' you, then?"

Sapphire raised her eyebrows, "Umm, that'd be no. But thanks so much for thinking so highly of me! Seriously, I will honestly, not, accuse you of anything. You are completely deservant." She shrugged. Commoners, so confusing! She grinned at Katrina, why would Fhire accuse her of trickery? It was very strange, some nobles were thought of as petty, and they deserved that, but really, accusing someone you willingly gae money to of trickery. It was so stupid.

She smirked, "On the other hand......." she said evilly, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Maybe, you are tricking me, and this WHOLE conversation has been a performance in order to get me to give you my money!"

[Jazz]

"Umm, that'd be no. But thanks so much for thinking so highly of me! Seriously, I will honestly, not, accuse you of anything. You are completely deservant."

What in Mithros' name had she done now? Had she done anything? Wait... what? She would never understand nobles. Just when you think you have them pinned down... someone like this 'Fhire' comes along. She hoped she hadn't offended the lady. "S'ry mi'lady," she said, uncertain. "There are some that would, soon as they'd pick up a penny. And it's a whole days wages, trod in the mud." This probably would have upset the noble, Katrina though on reflection. She tried not to, but she didn't think much of the gap between status. Hopefully she wasn't in any trouble.

"On the other hand... Maybe, you are tricking me, and this WHOLE conversation has been a performance in order to get me to give you my money!"

Katrina though the woman was joking, but it didn't stop her eyes from widening. Damn nobles! They should trifle so, with the poor girl! She got the fright of her life, though the womans eyes were laughing. "Not 't all, ma'am, not at all, I swear!" she said earnestly, hoping she'd been joking.

[Sapphire]

"S'ry mi'lady," she said, uncertain. "There are some that would, soon as they'd pick up a penny. And it's a whole days wages, trod in the mud."

Her eyes widened, really? Wow, nobles really were petty. Such a pity really, that there were people who did that, earning others the scorn of others. She frowned, that didn't even make sense in her own mind, "Well, I guess I just don't know any of them. I don't do that and I don't think any of my friends do. It really is horrible how people can be like that. Huh. And it doesn't matter, the whole highly thing, I didn't really mean it" She said earnestly. She could tell that Katrina was wary of her, and she could also tell that she was trying to remind herself of the whole status thing. This was always a problem for Fhire, diplomat at heart, people were just people, some in different circumstanse maybe, but still just people, in her mind.

"Not 't all, ma'am, not at all, I swear!"

Sapphire cringed then grinned at the girl, "I was just joking, honest. I don't think you would do that. But you are pretty gullable, I kinda couldn't resist. If you had been Jazz you wouldhave hit me over the head with a fan right know, so thanks. For not. Hitting me over the head with a fan type thing I mean." She looked up at Katrina, still smiling, "Are you going to take the money?"

[Jazz]

"Well, I guess I just don't know any of them. I don't do that and I don't think any of my friends do. It really is horrible how people can be like that. Huh. And it doesn't matter, the whole highly thing, I didn't really mean it"

Katrina grinned. It wasn't the full-on, confident grin she normally wore. Instead, slightly unsure. She noblewoman, to tell the truth, had bput Kat completely off balance. There were plenty of nice nobles, she knew, but sometimes an overthrow of expectations can turn the world around. It her mind, anyway. "Oh," she said, "Apologies, miss. I didn't mean t' accuse you of anythin', me." For a second time, Katrina entertained the notion that the Yamani woman was crazy. She obviously wasn't, but it would be a lot easier to understand if she was.

"I was just joking, honest. I don't think you would do that. But you are pretty gullable, I kinda couldn't resist. If you had been Jazz you wouldhave hit me over the head with a fan right know, so thanks. For not. Hitting me over the head with a fan type thing I mean."

Katrina nodded, shakily returning the woman's grin with a smile of her own. So much easier to understand, if she was insane. She didn't seem to be, but... we can dream, can't we? "Er... It's no problem?" It came out as a question to Kat's own ears. Jazz? Fan type things? What in the world?

"Are you going to take the money?"

"Are you sure you want t' spend all this moeny on me, miss?" she asked, her forehead creasing. Would it be rude to say 'yes'? 'No'? Oh Gods, what a strange world they lived in.

[Sapphire]

"Oh," she said, "Apologies, miss. I didn't mean t' accuse you of anythin', me."

She smiled, "Its not as if i thought you were accusing me, I was just stating it really." she looked at Katrina's uncertain face. Did Sapphire really have this effect on people? It was slightly unnerving. She tilted her head, if she did, everyone she had ever met thought she was crazy. That was bad. Hmph.

"Er... It's no problem?"

Sapphire laughed, Katrina must be one of those people then. "Thanks anyway. My friend Jazz, Jasmin, whatever you want to call her, would attack me with a shukusen or something. She doesn't like being made fun of. Not that a was making fun of you. okay, maybe I was, but just a little. But still." She smiled at Katrina, she knew she sounded insane, but it was her last day in the city, and it was one of those days that make you want to laugh at the world and its oddities and its beauties.

"Are you sure you want t' spend all this moeny on me, miss?"

Fhire raised her eyebrows, "Pretty much, I mean we wouldn't be having this conversation if I didn't, would we?"