It's a wonderful spring day in Igen! The weather is fair and hot and the sky is clear of clouds. People mill in and out of the bazaar, running errands, shopping, going to their favorite haunts. But just outside the bazaar, a riotous noise can be heard and it comes from the caravan grounds. If one were to venture in, they'd see a magnificent carnival set up. Zingari colors fly everywhere as they hock out their goods and call people in to see the performances. "Come one! Come all! See amazing feats and pretty ladies! Buy pretty baubles here!" some call. "Zingari cloth and dyes! Get your fortune told!" This, amongst other Zingari wagons traveling into the grounds; Zingari families come to do their annual ritual of arranged marriages. Smells of exotic food drift from the carnival as well, meant to entice customers into coming in.

Willimina is running around trying to make sure everything is ready as the crowd starts to mill in from the bazaar and surrounding areas. Dressed in her dancing outfit, she flits from wagon to wagon, checking up on things. A line of suitors follows her around like a bridal train, all vying for some of her attention, but the young leader has no time for them now. As she checks the last stall, she fingers her musicians on the shoulders and leads them to the dance arena, where she'll be performing. It is built around the central fire, so that she can have the flames as a backdrop. She inhales and counts to ten as the musicians warm their instruments. Almost performance time. Time to zen out.

Dinsayde steps out of his wagon, his torches in a bag over his shoulder. It does not take him much to slip through the shadows to his staging area. He places his torches in a bucket, probably containing a substance to help the torches stay on fire after they've been lit. He hauls a bucket of water to sit next to this. After accomplishing this, Dinsayde opens a crate that was delivered earlier to reveal to bottles of liquor that he uses in his act. A smile crosses his face as he starts to get excited about performing again.
Dayne, Dinsayde's brother, slips into the area next to Dinsayde and begins setting up targets for the knife throwers, of which he is one. He grits his teeth and sets into his work; the targets are heavy and cumbersome. Off in another part of the camp, Dinsayde and Dayne's sister, Esmara, set up her fortune telling table, while her aunt Celesti seeks out the Matriarch Ethelinda for their story circle.

Ethelinda hobbles out of her wagon, shawl drawn over her shoulders as her cane clacks against the hard packed earth of the caravan grounds. She ambles her way over to one of the fires, where a comfortable chair has been set out for her, and furs and blankets have been set out, so that crowds may gather and sit to listen to Zingari folktales and histories. Ethel lowers herself slowly into the chair, and makes a contented hum when she's comfortable. She sends a caravan brat to fetch her a warm whiskey, and settles in for a long night of talking. She waves over Celesti when she spots her, and offers the young Zingari woman a seat next to her on a lush set of furs.

Having abandoned (been abandoned by) Garf as a guide animal, Finn is ambling along with Onari, a hand on her shoulder, stick used like a walking stick rather than a 'seeing' cane, trusting his sister's sure steps to guide the both of them. The young smith is smiling, garbed in his flashy finest (not a patch on the Zingari), and leans down to whisper occasionally in Onari's ear, observations on smells and sounds, or requests for descriptions. Currently a mix of both, "Do you smell that? I want to eat whatever that is." And quickly, because something that delicious surely won't last!

Willimina breathes in and out with her counting. One. Breathe in. Two. Breath out. She does this till she hits ten and has cleared her mind. She hears the instruments strike the first notes of the song, and it strikes a chord within her. The first of her dance is a set of elaborate arm movements - pretty, flowing gestures meant to get the crowd through the slow part of the song. As soon as the tempo picks up, Willimina's feet and torso kick into gear and she's off, dancing patterns around the fire.

Dinsayde makes sure all is well before lighting a couple of torches and going through a practice run. The crowd isn't big enough yet for him to do anything too elaborate. Tossing around two torches is too easy so he gets a caravan brat to light two more and toss them at him. The fourth torch is almost his undoing, but he sees his mistake in time and corrects it, a wide grin sliding across his face. He's got this.

Tallel…is trying to be slippery without being slippery, not lingering too long in the company of any particular girl as he makes his way around the camp to greet guests and keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, as a good second should. If he can just manage to keep someone from laying claim to him, he'll call it a good day! For now, he's focusing on getting his own acts set up - first some dancing, then his illusions, though he can wander around with those. Loose pants in a deep wine red are held to his waist with a gold silk sash, a violet vest trimmed in green and silver hanging open from lean-muscled shoulders for easy removal, as his dance will demand. A sword also hangs from his waist - dull, though that isn't obvious while it sits in the ornate scabbard that sheathes it. Purely ornamental? That remains to be seen. For the moment, he idles nearby as Willimina dances, arms folded, every now and then catching a flare of fire from Dinsayde's torches out of the corner of his eye.

Dayne the knife thrower has finished setting up, but has disappeared from his staging area for now. Hmm… seems the knife displays are for later…

And a good thing, too, because that delicious smell that Finn is angling for (COME ON, ONARI) will take him perpendicular across the knife display if they VTOL-line for it.

From the Bazaar area, a young Weyrwoman approaches with a small box in hands. Mayte is dressed up a little more grandly than usual, a demurely coloured dress made of light fabrics, hair bound lightly back from her face. She's moving slowly, ensuring she can't run into anyone in her path.

Naturally, Onari isn't going to take them through the flying blades; she's the one LEADING, after all. Unless Finn is being a deadglow and letting go of her shoulder to wander elsewhere… Deftly sidestepping the knife-throwing area - even if it is unmanned right now - the trader girl, smiles and laughs delightedly as she pauses a moment to watch a man juggling flaming torches before veering off a little way toward food. "Alright, alright, we'll find it!" she assures her brother. "I can smell a lot of things. Tell me when we're getting close…" To whatever he's smelling, specifically.

The music moves through Willimina as she dances for the crowd. Her chocolate eyes find Tallel's when she sweeps by and she smiles at him, but that smile quickly fades as she notes the line of suitors gathered around the dance area, eyeing her hungrily. She huffs and moves off to a different area, her movements becoming more wild and unpredictable as the song turns into a frenzy filled lament. Next song… Willa might pull Tallel in if he keeps standing there like that.

Ethelinda cackles at something Celesti had suggested as a small group of children start to gather upon the furs layed out in front of the matriarch. "Come wee ones, come listen to a story. Daring Zingari heroes! Tales of dragons and their riders!" Her voice is cheerful, even if she sounds like an old toad. She sips at her whiskey, waiting for a slightly larger crowd before beginning.

You overhear Finn mutter, "Onari, there should … … … kissing booth. We'd … … mint." to Onari.

Finn can't see but he can smell and the deliciousness is CLOSE. Where… where… he lifts his head like a canine scenting. No, amdist the festivities, Finn is not likely to turn loose of Onari. Not when Reika have a chance of sprouting knife-wounds in the Zingari camp. Even IF that was a special circumstance. *coughJhaelcough* "I'm really glad the folks haven't cottoned to this whole Festival of Life thing. I like the 'Festival' and the," whoops, he stumbles and staggers into someone who's making their way carefully between the stalls and shows, "Pardon!" To his sister: "Onari!" She's supposed to be guiding. Not ogling flame tossers. SHEEZE.

Dinsayde weaves through his routine, ending by tossing the torches one by one into the bucket of water. Keen eyes spot the roaming Weyrwoman and he grins, a slow smile crossing his face. He skirts around the customers and roaming Zingari to meet up with her. He gives an elaborate bow to the weyrwoman and grins. "Greetings weyrwoman! It is nice to see a personage such as yourself gracing our carnival."

Tallel simply keeps watching Willimina, his head subtly nodding in time to the music…until he too notes the small flock of suitors and starts moving about among them, waving them back a bit. Give the lady some space! In the process of drifting, he spots Mayte making her way through the crowd…but Dinsayde picks up on that and beats him to the punch. Oh well. He'll offer his greetings to her later. For now, he turns back to watch again, fully expecting Willimina to pull him in at any moment. They did practice a paired routine, after all - as she requested.

Amidst the riotous celebration, Mayte is watching the acts she passes by, mouth slightly open with amazement. She's come to a stop watching, in fact, but is brought back by her title. Lips crease up into a smile and she replies, "Greetings, trader…Dinsayde?" A teasing half-askance look to ensure she hasn't mis-named him, "I come on behalf of the Weyr for this occasion."

Willimina slows as the music slows, and as soon as it stops she flees to Tallel's side. "Well hello, second!" she beams, blowing off the suitors trying to vie for her attention. "Ready for our set?" she asks, grabbing a skin of water from a Zingari walking by. She eyes Dinsayde talking to Mayte, but decides to let him handle it, hoping he doesn't commit a social faux pas.

Onari can't help it if someone wanders toward them after she crosses beyond their intended path. People should notice when she has someone in tow; it's not as if it's all that common of a sight! "Sorry!" she calls to the passing partygoer before twisting a bit to get her voice back to Finn in a hushed tone. "That wasn't me!" Returning to his idea, she grins - not that he can see it right now, but it's plain in her voice. "And all we'd have to do is sit you at it for the whole night," she teases, patting her brother on the head before turning back…only to find that the fire-thrower has finished, and she frowns a little, looking about for him before spotting him off near the weyrwoman - whom they'll also have to greet before she slips away. "We're in the middle of the food now…" she notes, glancing about. "What were you smelling?"

"But of course m'lady." Dinsayde grins, offering his arm. "Is there anything you would like to see or eat? I can be your guide for a while." Dinsayde lets a slow cheshire smile cross his lips.

"Oh thank you," Mayte replies, "but surely you're a member of this wondrous event? I mustn't keep you from your duties." She does turn to look about for a moment and then ahems, "Though I am looking for the Leader of the Zingari?" She lets that trail off hopefully.

Dinsayde grins. "I have several duties here, beyond playing with fire. I am also in charge of entertaining the ladies." He winks and chuckles. When asked about his leader, the man stands on his toes and scopes the grounds. When he spots Willa, he points in her direction. "She's there, but I think she may be getting ready for another set, and you might have to beat her suitors off with a stick."

Or Tallel will. He grins at Willimina and bows, giving a single nod. "Ready as I'll ever be, my leader," he replies, then gestures past her to where Mayte and Dinsayde are not too far away. "Though I think we might greet the weyrwoman in our midst, first!"

Willimina nods. "Aye, that may be in order, before Dinsayde makes an ass of himself…" She takes another drink. "Well, let us go greet her then. Come on Tallel." She starts to weave her way through pedestrians and suitors, her target obvious. When she gets to Mayte she smiles and bows. "Greetings weyrwoman Mayte. Welcome to our festivities."

"The crowd sounds strange. Is something happening?" Finn cocks his head this way and that. There's a murmur rippling through the cheerful conversations and brazen hawkers. But… FOOD. In the middle of it they ARE. Finn casts about, sniffing, then points. "That." He yearns towards it. "What IS that?" It smells roasty. And meaty. And baked. And savory. And… Finn's mouth is way hanging open as he drools. "You brought marks, right? Or are we bartering. I'd kiss a dragonlength of W'rins for whatever that is." Who gets what out of that barter is not part of Finn's calculus.

Tiny for her age, Ravene's fosterling skips along beside the baker. The girl (who really could be mistaken for maybe seven instead of her eleven Turns) pauses to look at some of the guady ribbons, "Those are so pretty! What are they for?" A blink up at the nearest person that isn't Ravene. Ravene simply strolls along smiling as she readjusts the babe in her arms. "What is that wonderful smell?" is her own question, "More to the point, why don't I have something similar?" Or maybe she does, and she just doesn't realize it. Once a baker, always a baker.

Mayte chuckles quietly in response, "I bet you tell all the pretty girls that," is her response to Dinsayde's offer of… entertainment. And then the woman she seeks is right there, "Leader Willimina!" The box Mayte has been holding to herself is put forth, "I bring a token of friendship for such a marvelous day for your caravan."

Onari bursts out laughing at Finn's comment and leads on toward the stall with said baked meaty goodness. "I brought marks," she replies, still laughing. This is supposed to be a night for fun, not for business. "Ugh, that's…sort of a disturbing thought." It turns out what Finn is smelling is a spiced wherry pie - sort of like a bubbly, but savory, and dripping with gravy so that one needs a small plate to eat it. She grabs one for her brother, lays down the marks for it with thanks, and steers them back out of the midst of the hungry throng - being very careful not to get either of them run into.

Tallel approaches Mayte alongside Willimina, sweeping a deep bow to the weywoman with a bright grin, watching quietly as she passes that box to Willimina. "We are grateful for the Weyr's friendship, truly," he says, and he means it - at least on his own part. The Weyr is their shelter, after all! An expectant eye is cast at Willimina as he waits for her to open the box.

Willimina grins and accepts the gift. "Why thank you, m'lady. What a fine gesture." She gently examines the box before deciding to open it later, based on the tinkling inside. She hands the box to Dinsayde. "Make sure that stays safe. I'll open it when I can put it away right away." Back to Mayte. "This is my second in command, Tallel, is there anything we can do for you?"

Dinsayde is about to reply to Mayte when Willimina intercedes. He frowns, accepting the box. "Yes ma'am," he replies to Willa and scampers off to place it in her wagon. But he is not gone long, and is soon slinking up to the group once more.

Mayte doesn't look perturbed by Willimina's decision to open her gift later - instead, she smiles grandly and nods, "Caravan Second Tallel, a pleasure." See, Mayte's on her bestest behaviour. "If I may, I thought I'd look around the festivities a little, perhaps try my hand at some of the…" Mayte sniffs the air appreciatively, "delectables I smell?" The young goldrider gives such a polite smile, and murmurs, "If you'll excuse me…" before moving away to see what a young man with an Igen knot is coming at her in a bee-line for.

As Mayte goes out, so does Sadaiya go in, exchanging a feminine squeal of a greeting in passing. The Senior, however, is post-fooded, emerging as she is from the general area of the snacks with a kebab secured between her teeth and a drink in her hand. "Hello! Hey! Yes, thank you!" and other sundry greetings get dispensed before she scootches herself onto a convenient crate to sit. Ahhh.

Food acquired; Ravene and Zisiene move to find a place to sit. Zisiene doesn't sit still for long before she's bouncing off to find something interesting, "I won't go far Mama, promise," is said before she's off. Ravene can only chuckle as she watches the girl who is soon lost in the crowd. It doesn't take long for Zisiene to bump into someone in her haste to find something interesting to do. She blinks up at the person. "I'm sorry," is offered. Who she's bumped into is a mystery to her. "I'm Zisiene. Who are you? What do you do? Is it fun? Can anyone do it?" Fortunately for Onari, the girl's run out of questions.

Well, that was a short greeting. Willimina shakes her head and pats Tallel, signaling him to follow. Willa skirts the crowd and returns to her spot in front of the central fire. She waves at Ravene and Sadaiya on her way by, but she has a performance to do! The musicians are warming up again and she does a few stretches, waiting for Tallel to catch up.

Dinsayde returns to his fire juggling, having been completely derailed from flirting by his leaders. He lights a few torches and begins his juggling routine in earnest, adding in things like a sword, a bottle and a hand knife.

Sadaiya returns Willimina's wave with a raise of her drink and brilliant smile, taking a moment to watch the warming-ups before a movement distracts her: JUGGLIN'! Dinsayde's antics have her full attention now and the Weyrwoman sets her now-denuded kebab skewer aside to trill out some loud, appreciative whistles that get punctuated with gasps and squeaks as the sword, knife, and bottle do a lethal, overhead dance of their own.

It doesn't take too long for Tallel to catch up, though a few 'greetings' from nearby girls have to get attended to first. He stretches a little bit too, though not nearly as much as Willimina. He doesn't have to move quite they same way she does. After that, he waits for the music, waggling his eyebrows at Willimina with a grin and a small bounce on the balls of his feet to silently show his readiness.

Dinsayde grins at Sadaiya's enthusiastic encouragement, but stays focused on his task. He ups the ante by adding height to the juggle, his feet doing a dance of their own as he adjusts to his tosses. A nearby violinist adds tension to the act with his music.

Willimina gives a low chuckle at Tallel's antics, she finishes her stretching and prances up to him, giving him a low curtsy and a saucy look as the musicians strike the first chord. The music is seductive, slow, and fun. Willa starts the dance by weaving circles around Tallel. She keeps her eyes on his, focusing intensely on the dance and the feelings to be portrayed. When the main chord of the song strikes, Willa positions herself to Dance with Tallel, her lips curving in a smile. This is what she loves doing.

Ravene smiles and waves at Willa as she passes by. As the dancing begins Zisiene's attention is redirected towards that. Fire juggling, dancing, and so much more for the girl to gawk at; she is left not sure where to look.

Onari has just found a group of crates to settle herself and Finn down at - the one Sadaiya sits down at, in fact. However, the fact that the Senior Weyrwoman is nearby doesn't get acknowledged for the moment when the trader girl ends up with a legful of little girl. A little girl full of questions. She simply grins down at the child, waiting for her to stop her stream of inquiry before stooping a bit, bracing her hands on blue-skirted knees. "My name is Onari. I'm a trader; it can be fun, and anyone can do it who likes traveling and working very hard, yes! What's your name?" She won't ask quite as many questions…particularly seeing as that juggler is back and handily distracting her and Zisiene both. The whistling from someone nearby has her grinning, and she sits down between Finn and the other woman on the crates, watching raptly.

Left! Right! Sadaiya almost strains an eyeball muscle trying to check out all the action! Then… center? "Oh!" Onari is regarded with blinks for a moment as Sadie attempts to stop her brain from spinning at all the spectacle. Then: "Hi! I'm Sadaiya and I WAS a Trader with the Chadeys before I became a weyrwoman. It's a great thing to be, isn't it? You must be very proud of how well this turned out today, huh?" Scootching, she grins over Onari's head at Finn as she allowed the little one more space. "My son's still a Trader with his dad, Akadriel, since I'm very busy being the Senior Weyrwoman at Igen now." However, the attention has gone away, despite the goldrider's mouth still running. At least she's found someone just about as conversationally yabby as she is.

For some time, Finn's world is a world of wherry-pie. Sweet wherry-pie. A grown man, he may yet cry. The pie warrants it. Indeed. He is tractable as Onari leads him along, settling them on a crate. Licking grease from his fingers he grins at the cascade of questions directed at Onari it seems. He reorients his face at the questioner, shifting to 'face' Onari as his sister answers. Sadaiya. Finn elbows his sister, springing to his feet, bowing at… well. Not at Sadaiya. He's close though. "Evening, ma'am." He leans over to Onari, but shifted as he is, it's Zisiene he questions in a loud whisper, "We're supposed to bow, right?"

He's my wherry pie?

He might be.

If the situation warranted.

Zisiene grins. "I'm Zisiene. I work with my mama," she nods towards Ravene (who she looks nothing like), "in her bakery. That's a lot of hard work too," she is still looking from dancing to juggling and back again then the girl looks, "Sadie!" she squeals with delight, "Mama's here," she turns to look around, then back at the Finn to giggle at his question. She gives Sadaiya a crisp salute, then she's peppering questions at Finn, "Who are you? Are you related to Onari? What do you do? Are you a trader too? E'bert says Seniorr Weyrwoman and Weyrleader get salutes, but he's a rider. You could bow?" she doesn't sound too sure about that, but sure. Why not?

Dinsayde gets rid of his juggled burdens one at a time. The torches go in the bucket - except one. He lets the sword fall into the dirt in front of him, along with the knife. The bottle he catches, opens, drinks from, and sprays the liquid at the open flame. The flame sprays out into an open, empty area. He douses the torch and takes a drink from the bottle before bowing to the crowd.

Tallel doesn't have much to do at the start of this dance except bow deeply and keep his eyes on Willimina with a suitably sultry stare in return - which he's both glad for and good at. When the dancing itself begins, he's right there with her, smiling in turn - if a little distractedly. He's concentrating; he's not as good at this as she is, but it isn't too terribly complicated. His movements are much more arrogant and powerful than hers, meant to show off musculature whereas Willimina's are meant to show off grace.

"A short bow or salute is usually what's done, but we're all having a lovely time, so I won't tell." Sadaiya gives the adults a Very Adult Wink. "Ah! Zisiene, I hardly recognized you with how tall you've gotten, and how lovely! OH! Oh oh oh!" Now her drink is gone, and the Senior doublepoints at the juggling. "Fire! Oh oh, Tallel's really come along so well, too. So are you all doing well today? Everything's so colorful and fun." More smiles abound as she addresses those around her.

Willimina gives a confident wink to Tallel; he's doing great. As the music takes a more sultry tone, Willa presses herself to him before wheeling away to be chased. It's a cat and mouse kind of dance, and she shows it in taunting movements and graceful leaps. She keeps that saucy look, ignoring the glares from the side lines. Ha! Take that jealous suitors!

"Oh!" Bow Onari does, except from her seated position, unlike Finn. With his eyes still as they are, she reaches up for his arm and turns him a bit to face Sadaiya. "Hello, Weyrwoman! I didn't see you there; this is all a little…distracting." Dinsayde and his acts are distracting, specifically. "And, um…it's not something the Reika and the Zingari are doing jointly. It's all them. I'm just glad we get to be here to see it!" She tugs at Finn's arm a little bit, urging him to sit again and grinning as he becomes the focus of the little girl's renewed questions.

Dinsayde takes a towel to wipe his face and neck, careful not to smear the charcoal lines around his eyes. He takes a brief walk to cool off, being in that close a proximity to fire is hot work! He does have to pass by all the ladies when he walks, so he stops with a bow and a charming smile. "Good evening ladies! How are we tonight?" A wink to Saidaya, a cheshire grin to Onari and a flower from nowhere for Ravene.

Ravene has been quietly watching the festivities while trying to identify the ingredients within the savory wherry pie. It's only when she hears Zisiene's squealed voice that she looks around and spots Sadiaya. "Weyrwoman," is said politely, with a small bow. "I do hope Zisiene's not been annoying anyone." Finn is looked at for a moment, and there it is. "What happened to your eyes? Did it hurt? Will you see again?" Questions peppered at Finn from the girl. Ravene sighs, "Zisiene. Manners."

At the bright piping voice in Finn's ear - definitely not Onari's - Finn straightens with an amused look. Oops. Onari's re-orienting hand, "Ah. Thanks," with yet more grinning. He's doing his best, really, head bound in bandages as it is. He misses the wink, but can hear the kindly conspiratorial tone in Sadaiya's voice. "There you go. A salute or a bow. Some other time!" With some fumbling and a near miss the tradersmith sits himse- WHOA. He felt the HEAT from that blast out of Dinsayde and pats at his head and clothes. "Whew!" Falling the last bit to the crate, he leans into Onari, "Are we, uh, IN one of the acts and you didn't tell me?" Onari's got a mischievous streak. Don't let that sweet face fool you. He beams at the cascade of questions, "I'm Onari's brother Finn. I'm a metalworker. Tools and stuff. Do you have a favorite pan?" He wrinkles his nose, "Or a least favorite one?" He pauses a beat for Zisiene to consider that, "Someone like me made it." Though probably a proper Smith, rather than a Trader. He touches his brow, "I got a face full of grit during the last Fall." He nods, nose wrinkling again, "Yeah. It hurts. I can see now, but I gotta keep my eyes closed while they heal." Dinsayde's purr is noted, the Smith's shoulders straighten subtly and there's a sense of focus that falls about the young man.

"We are lovely, as was your juggling." After her compliments, shaking her head, Sadaiya gives Ravene a roguish roll of her eyes. "It's totally okay, Rav'. She was keeping me entertained, and was ve-ry in-for-ma-tive." Her voice takes on precision and is accompanied by nods of her head at the girl in question. "Plus there's so much to look at that I wouldn't notice my own mother if she were here. In fact, whoa," And Finn gets turned to in surprise post-introduction. "Are you alright, Finn? What happened with the, um, the…" Her hand circumscribes her face. "Oh oh, one sec, I think they're finishing their dance."

Ravene nods to Sadaiya, giving her fosterling a look. The girl grins impishly before she's smiling up at Dinsayde. "That was pretty! Did it take long to learn?" the questions are starting to die down. One Nika on Pern is probably more than enough, but Zisiene is certainly not too far off from the diminutive rider with the bubbly personality and the constant stream of questions.

Tallel might blush a little, but it's lost to the flush already on his face from the dancing. It's rather athletic stuff, this chase-and-be-chased business! Vaguely, he wonders if he's now in a position that might earn him an attempted thumping…but he'll worry about that later. He has a dance to finish…and then another to begin!

Dinsayde grins sheepishly. "Well, I am glad you enjoyed it." He says to Sadaiya. To Ravene he winks. "A whole life time of learning, but it's a lot of fun. Interested in learning?" He gives Ravene an eye wiggle, and a suggestive smile.

Onari gives Dinsayde a grin and a playful wink in return, appreciative of the man's skill. And perhaps his looks as well, but that isn't dwelled on as she returns her attention to those around her. "Hm?" That's to Finn. "Oh, of course we are! Just stay still." Deadpan, but just in her voice, since she knows he can't see her at the moment. Turning back to Sadaiya, she sobers a little. "Thank Faranth it was temporary. The Healers say his eyes should be fine, as long as he keeps taking care of them properly." She gives Ravene a smile and a nod of greeting, sliding another glance up to Dinsayde before taking a pull from the small waterskin kept at her hip.

Willimina grins at Tallel. She gets them through the last stages of the dance, ending with a flourish. If allowed, she gives Tallel a friendly hug and bows to the audience, chest heaving. "You did great!" She says excitedly to Tallel, nevermind the glares from her flock of doting sheep.

Zisiene giggles as Ravene gives Dinsayde a mock glare. "Tell you what. I'll pass, but if you can keep this girl quiet for a while I'll give you some of my best breads for a seven." Because Zisiene is a chatterbox that's full of questions. It really is Dinsayde getting the better end of that bargain.

Clapping along with the beat towards the end, Sadaiya flings herself to her feet as the dance comes to a close and applauds with great vigor, whistling shrilly and doing all sorts of Arsenio-style-whooping. Calming, she is re-seated, then gives Finn an unseen shake of her finger. "Well if you let yourself get re-injured, I'll tell W'rin and you'll have to deal with him. He'll yell so hard that your eyes will hurt for sure, believe me. Oh! Can you teach me to juggle?" Dinsayde is given a wide-eyed, breathless look of adoration. Several people in hearing range look on in terror at the notoriously attention deficient Weyrwoman's excitement.

Finn says, "I knew it!" Finn pronounces, thumping with open palms the crate he's sitting on. "It's knife throwing, isn't it?" This tossed out to those Not Onari. "She's trying to get me done in." He reaches out to grapple Onari into a I've-got-a-hostage hug. "You're coming with me!" He perks up at the offer of instruction. "What could I learn blindfolded?" They do that stuff in the Zingari, right? Blindfolded feats? "Oh! Juggling." Sadaiya, Finn has an appointment with W'rin soon! If she's sneaking looks at his books (or writing him appointments or love notes, Do You Like Me? Check This Box: [ ]) she might have noted this. Whether the dots connected or not WHO KNO—"Juggling!" Sadaiya's not alone in her distractability. "Definitely juggling." Finn's on his feet again."

*checks*

Dinsayde makes a face at the thought of babysitting. "As much as I would like to oblige… children and I don't get along so well…" And then Sadaiya is capturing his attention. He gives her a large grin and a sweeping bow. "It'd be an honor Weyrwoman. Come by anytime." He winks at her, suggesting slightly more than he was offering.

Dinsayde's suggestion? Not offensive to Sadaiya, and the notoriously Ultra-Mated Weyrwoman even offers him a bat of her long lashes. "I'll keep that in mind. Could even bring Zisiene with me!" Womp womp. "Oh, could you teach a blindfolded guy to juggle? I'd love to see that. Pretty please?" Part of the wonder of being The Boss is being allowed to use her charms to bully people into hopefully getting someone like Finn to fling knives around.

Dinsayde laughs heartily. "You have to master the task with vision beforehand, but yes, I could teach blindfolded activities." He grins at Sadaiya. "Blindfolds have a great many uses, you know…" That cheshire grin is back, lingering long after it should have. Coal ringed eyes twinkle with merriment and evocative intent.

"Zisiene." Ravene's voice is canted low, "I think we need to head back," the fussy sounds of a seven month babe are starting to be heard. "Can't we stay? Even for just a little while? There's so much more to see." Zisiene's voice is full of whine, which earns the girl a disapproving look. "I'm sorry, we have to go."

"Aw, already? Well, stay good, Zisiene! And promise to stop by sometime with the family, won't you Ravene? My weyr is always open." A fond smile, and Sadaiya turns back to Dinsayde, her head tipping. "Oh! I know. I wear one in bed all the time," she notes gaily with a nod of her slightly empty head. "It helps me to sleep if Tanmorand's up and about, or if my schedule is off. Especially in the sands. Lets me pretend like the whole weyr hasn't come by to see eggs and heard me snore. Any day now and I get to do that again. Jivayath is SO excited."

Dinsayde grins and laughs. "I couldn’t imagine the awesomeness of being a clutch mother, or a dragon rider in general. You are magnanimous in your status madame." He offers an arm. "Would you like a whiskey Weyrwoman?" He grins. "We have some of the finest around, and I have a feeling you're a whiskey woman."

Onari allows herself to be grabbed by her brother - barely - with a small fit of giggling. "You'll knock yourself out first," she notes of juggling blindfolded, turning her attention back to Sadaiya and Dinsayde and waving farewell to Zisiene and Ravene. Her brows rise as she notes just how generally flirtatious the Zingari juggler seems to be, even with the Weyrwoman. "Though I'm sure our fine juggler here would be a very competent instructor, blindfold or no." That said with a wink, and then she just watches for a bit as it seems he's about to depart with the Weyrwoman for a drink. She urges Finn to sit back down with another tug to his arm…though if he has something else in mind (besides juggling), she hopes he'll say so!

Allowing herself to be pulled up, Sadaiya hooks her arm amicably through the crook of the juggler's elbow. "Whiskey would be lovely. We magnanimous dragonriders are all big fans of the hard stuff." Blink. A question mark nearly appears above her head, but she ignores her own accidental innuendo with a slight shrug to herself. "Gotta get all the partying in before I'm stuck with eggs for the next forever. You two want any? We can, like, get you a straw so you don't miss your mouth and get a… hee hee… get a drinking problem!"

"Bye Zisiene! And…" whispering to Onari, "Who was her Ma?" Finn unerringly flicks Onari's ear with a sorry-not-sorry grin askew on his face. "Knock myself out!? What do you think I'm gonna be juggling with? Bricks?" He 'looks' at Dinsayde. Or… vaguely in Dinsayde's direction. "Come on, I'm a quick study." He flexes hands and forearms that are heavily marked with pale scars from work at his forge. CLEARLY a quick study. "She said…" Finn adds to Sadaiya's request and then they're moving off to whiskey. "…pretty please. PAH. I'll teach myself! Get me something to juggle, Onari," Finn straightens at his perch hands held out expectantly. NOT DISUADED.

After a grueling acting performance he's glad is over, Timotin comes stalking through the grounds and right past Dinsayde, his dislike for the man is no less now than before. He's stopped by the sight of Reika amongst their ranks. He walks up to Onari and brother and grins, though his eyes are slightly suspiscious. "We have more than him who could teach you that boy." He comments. To Onari he smiles. "Hello there."

Dinsayde blinks as Timo passes him and turns. "Yeah, but I'm the best one. Come see me some other time, kid." He salutes the group and hauls Sadie off to the whiskey and Zingari drinking games. "Do you like it cold or heated?" he asks of her, his gay attitude returning as he leads them off.

"Coooooold. It is … well, temperate, for here, but still too warm for heated, y'know? Ooh, is that Drinking Dragon Darts? Keep me a-WAYYY with my horrible hand/eye coordination." Sadaiya makes a slash through the air, laughing. "Likely the guy with the, y'know, could likely have me doing something that'd get me kicked from the weyr within an hour."

Dinsayde laughs at Sadaiya's other comments but replies to her first. "Cold it is then. Have you ever played Marks?" (The Zingari equivilent of quarters.) Dinsayde pulls them over to a large stall whee all you can see in the back is barrels of whiskey. "Give us two, cold please, and an empty glass." Dinsayde lays a mark on the table in front of the seller and smiles. There are small tables and chairs set up around the stall. "Pick a seat."

Sadaiya laughs hard enough to nearly trip over a rock. "Marks? Ohhh, goodness, not since the Harper Hall."

Dinsayde laughs and smiles, picking them a table since the Weyrwoman doesn't seem to. A waiter drops off their drinks and an empty glass, and a corked jug of whiskey. Dinsayde puts a mark on the table and slides it towards Sadaiya. "Ladies first!"

Sadaiya says, "There was the one I saw where people from Tsunami — that was a wing back in Ista — would bounce little balls into little cups full of booze. Didn't quite understand the point. It seemed a waste of good liquor to make it taste like balls." No laughing. No smirking. Stop that, Sadaiya. You're totally grinning, weyrwoman, and we all know what you're thinking. Clearing her throat, she scootches into her chair, releases Dinsayde, and slaps her palm down on the skidded mark. "Whoa I got it. Nice."

Tallel finally gets out from the midst of the press of girls intent on letting him know just how impressed they were with his performance to get beside Willimina again, ignoring any daggers being glared at him from Willa's suitors and simpering looks from those he leaves behind. "Thanks!" he grins, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "It was fun! Though I think I'd better do my routine now. To keep myself from getting pounded, if nothing else." That he's carrying a sword doesn't seem to count for much! Ah well. Everyone probably knows it's dull.

Dinsayde chuckles and shakes his head, removing another mark from his pocket. "No, like this…." He bounces the mark off the table by it's flat side and it lands in the cup. "Whenever you make it into the cup, your opponent has to drink." Dinsayde grins, the waggling of his brows showing just how much he understands what's going on in Sadie's head… kind of.

Sadaiya's face is inscrutable, amused, then green with nausea. "We… don't drink from those cups, do we?" she asks, faintly, eyeing the marks as if someone'd popped a squat on the table itself. "I… I mean… you seem a very nice fellow and all that, but I don't know the sanitary habits of the people that had that mark after it was pressed and it seems gauche to ask." Swallowing, she does manage a curious frown. "The Hall folks were accomodating, but I don't want to make you embarrassed if I drop a vom to follow local customs."

Onari looks about for something relatively harmless to hand Finn at his request. And possibly not pleasant to hold onto, since she feels a little impish. But then there's the young man coming their way, sniping at Dinsayde in passing, and coming up nearby with a smile. "Hello to you, too," she replies to Timotin, greeting his slightly suspicious gaze with a bright smile of her own.

Dinsayde almost dies laughing and raises his whiskey glass. "No ma'am, we certainly do not. I wouldn’t want to touch a drink that'd had a mark in it either. We drink from our own glasses." He grins and sips from his tumbler. "So… take a shot at it." He sets his glass down and lifts a finely trimmed eyebrow in taunt.

Willimina smiles. "Well, You'd better get to it then. The floor is yours. I'd better go check on things, and see if I can’t ditch the cavalry," she giggles and jerks her thumb towards the awaiting suitors. She smiles and slips out of the dance area, and is soon finding herself near Sadaiya and Dinsayde. "Greetings Weyrwoman Sadaiya! It is a happy thing seeing you amongst the Zingari once more. Are you enjoying yourself?"

Timo grins back at Onari, not being able to help it after seeing that smile. He pushes hs ever present hood off of his face, allowing the handsome lines of his face to show. "Are you enjoying the fair?" He asks, bright eyes flashing with mischief and a seductive flare. He ducks a group of giggling Zingari teen girls and re-appears when they are gone. He grumbles about Zingari marriage traditions before turning a much more pleasant attitude towards Onari.

Nausea: GONE. "Oh. Well that's fine then. Some of the apprentices… well, you know how nasty teenagers are." With her little tongue between her teeth, Sadaiya concentrates, her brown knitting so hard it's purling. "Okay. Watch out. I have no mercy." The mark gets taken between her fingers. There's a pause as she breathes. Then, a CLACK! … and it's sailing off, towards the entering Willimina. "OH! Willimina I am so sorry. Did I get you? Though I should pay you — you and your intended looked SO lovely out there. Lots of folks of both genders with broken hearts tonight. Dinsayde here's re-acquainting me with drinking games."

Willimina has Zingari reflexes! The mark is neatly caught between her two fingers and replaced on the table. She laughs and blushes at the insinuation that Tallel is her intended. "Oh no, no, Tallel is my second in command, and only seventeen. I have thus far avoided greedy Zingari mamas and their obnoxious sons." She wrinkles her nose, making a faux grossed out face. "I hate this season, even more now that I'm not allowed to 'be in mourning' and unavailable anymore." She takes a seat with the two and orders a whiskey.

Dinsayde waves at Willa. "Hail, o' glorious leader!" He says cheerfully. When she returns the mark he takes his turn, landing the mark in the glass. "I believe it's your turn to drink then, madam Weyrleader. I hope you can hold your whiskey," he laughs and leans back in his chair.

Tallel sweeps a bow at Willimina and takes a moment to grab some water, then stepping out into the middle of the dance space, and nodding to the musicians. A drumroll begins, then a very free melody in a minor key is strummed out from a lute. The young second is sparse in his movement to begin, most motions made simply to show off a simply fluidity as well as his build. It's a safe bet that that particular aspect of him will be put to very good use in the next few moments.

"I think I've made a grievous error in playing sleight of hand games with dexterous people," Sadaiya grunts, nevertheless taking her penalty shot. She's pleased, though. "Oh, this is SMOOTH! I can hardly tell it's whiskey!" DANGER DANGER DANGER. Her face is crestfallen, though, as her OTP is a NOTP. "Wait, you're not together? Oh, but you should be. All your peers are acting like you are, with the liver chewing jealousy. Which, admittedly, may be because of how gorgeous you looked. Okay, okay, here, my turn." This time, Sadaiya goes for the loft shot. It scores! … wait, no, it bounces off. "Wait hold up is that half a point? Are there half points?"

Onari tilts her head a bit as Timotin reveals the rest of his face. Yes, he is indeed quite handsome; it seems rather dangerous to be around this event, with that in mind! The Zingari men are quite charming, wielding the skill as easily as some wield a blade. "I am," she replies, blinking as he makes a quick disappearance. "Ahhh, so you're without a wife as well," she notes when he reappears. "There seems to be a fair amount of ducking and dodging here tonight. My name is Onari, by the way," she says, rising and holding out her hand to him.

Timo laughs and nods. "Aye, I am without a wife. And I am not against getting married, but none of the girls chasing are to my taste." He smiles when Onari articulates her name to him and he gives a slight bow. "Timotin at your service, though most call me Timo"

Zalara comes in and is carrying a crate of supplies that were ordered from the smithy. She takes a look around and she carries the crate over towards the people that she sees. "Hello there, I'm looking for someone that ordered some parts from the smithy. I'm here to deliver it." She says as she shifts the crate a bit, but she looks like she is easily carrying it.

The music finally finds a tempo, and Tallel comes into place, arms and abdomen undulating subtly as he finds the rhythm. The sword at his hip gradually comes out of its sheath, and he raises it, higher and higher still…until it's above his head. He places the back of the blade against his scalp, adjusting it bit by bit until it balances, the point ahead and the pommel behind. And with his precarious burden now set in the midst of his thick black hair, he begins to dance, his steps easy and his arms extended as he starts with a series of turns and bobs in time with the music.

Dinsayde shakes his head, laughing at Sadaiya. "There are no half points, no. My turn." Dinsayde takes his aim, shoots, and misses. "Your go Sadaiya"

"Hold on Willimina, I have to not miss this one." Sadaiya goes to make her throw, then promptly slams the mark into her lap, gawping as she is at Tallel's dance. "Wait, wait, that didn't count! I didn't really throw that! It fell. Seriously, Willimina, you're out of your miiiiind if THAT," Sadie's chin tips towards the feral blade dance, "isn't awesome to you. Okay. Really going now." *CLACK* "Booyah! I rule. Did you see that? Drink up, Dinsayde." Zalara's approach gets noted mid-gloat. "Supplies?" she asks, grinning widely at Zalara in her triumph. "For juggling?"

With so many staring at Tallel's strange, undulating dance, there's one eye that's on him that's a bit more professional than most — his aunt's. Keeping easy time on one of the drums accompanying him, there's a proud, intense sort of scrutiny on her face. Is he…? Ah, yes. Satisfied that his balance is as it ought to be, Melusine transfers her gaze to the crowd growing around them, smiling easily for the benefit of the gawkers.

Zalara hmms and shrugs a little bit. "Um, I'm not sure, it might be. I was just given this and told to bring in here." She tries not to shake the crate, as fun as that would be, as she easily lifts it up to look to see if it has anyone's name on it. She holds it over her head. "Sorry there doesn't look to be any name on this crate. Is there anyone in charge of smith type stuff?" she asks as she looks around the camp and gives a smile.

Onari grins at Timo's little bow, retracting her unclaimed hand with ease, not put out by the fact that it wasn't taken. "Well met, Timotin," she says with a chuckle. "Surely the girls after your favor aren't to your taste for lack of loveliness," she notes. "The Zingari seem to have that in abundance. Do you have to get married off this Turn? Can't you just go on having some fun with whomever you choose until the right woman catches you eye?" she questions with a wink. Presently, Kalfor wanders over to lay claim to their blind brother. Onari hugs them both to bid them goodnight and then turns her attention back to Timo, her arms folded easily across her chest.

Timo grins. "I've been wed once before, so no, I don't have to get married this turn. But we all make a game of dodging the eager a vailables. Specially Willa, who's the biggest prize here," Timo laughs.

Willimina goes redfruit red when Sadaiya comments on Tallel. She had been watching, but she couldn't wrap her mind around the idea. "I'm aware of his handedness and daring, but he is my second and I don't think he'd want that union either."

Dinsayde claps when Sadaiya sinks the mark and proudly takes his drink. He refills his glass from the jug and laughs. "Something tells me our grand leader is not liking the pickings this year. No beaus yet, Willa?" He takes his shot. *CLACK* "Oh! Drink up Sadaiya!"

Oh, if only Tallel was aware of the conversation carrying on no so far away. He'd likely find that sword slipping off his head in no time! As it is, he's concentrating even harder as his steps become more complex. He makes a show of pulling off his vest, leaving his torso completely bare because he needs to stay cooler, of course; this is hard work! It is hard work, too - there's no denying that! His vest discarded, he proceeds into a series of steps kept low to the ground…and yet the muscles of his stomach continue to ripple in between rolls of his hips, the fact that he really is still bellydancing on full display in spite of the sword he works to keep on his head.

As the shots go down, Sadaiya gets more and more relaxed, her volume no longer under strict control as she drops such gems as, "Girl, you are crazy if you think he wouldn't," she blabs giddily. "Hey, um… You're Zalara, yeah?" Sure, bring the delivery girl into it. "Tell me that her and him, the dancing guy, wouldn't make super pretty babies." The CLACK resounds just then. "Aw, for real? Okay okay. Shooting." Tipping her head back, the next whiskey bit goes right down the drain, and with it a bit of her ability to focus. "Sorry, I need a moment here. Gotta breathe so I can make good arguments 'bout why this dancing beauty here is super-crazy…. oh oh daaaang! CHECK! IT!" Tallel's chest is all BAM and Sadie's all 'WOOOOOO' over it. Loudly.

Willimina giggles. "I'll take your turn Sadaiya!" Since the weyrwoman needs a minute, Willa picks up the mark and bounces it off the table. *CLACK* "Drink up, Dinsayde!" Remarks on Tallel are stalled as Willa eyeballs Tallel's routine. Holy hereunder. "Oh … he makes it hard not to want him doesn't he?" the young leader admits. "But I think he may be sweet on someone else."

Zalara nods to Sadaiya. "Yes I'm Zalara, apprentice Smith, and I don't think that I'm qualified about saying who should be with who. I just know that I'm not with anyone." She looks around. "So who's in charge around here that I can give this crate to?"

Dinsayde eyeballs his leader, kohl swept eyes in a faux murderous glare. He downs his shot and pours another. He sinks his mark While Willa isn't looking. "Drink oh leader mine!" he whoops. A glance is given to Zalara, his lips curving into a grin. He points at the star struck Willa. "That be our leader there."

Onari laughs a bit, almost disbelieving. "You've been married once already?" she asks Timotin, eyebrows arching. "That's difficult to believe; you don't look much older than me!" Well, that's her impression, at least. Some people simply look young for quite a while. "What is it you do with the Zingari, Timotin?"

"Pffthththth." There's not TOO much spittle as our esteemed Weyrwoman expresses her opinion in onomatopoeia style, but Sadaiya does take a moment to surreptitiously dab at the corner of her mouth. "You're qualified if I say you are…wait wait… oh! Zalara! I… you'll have to excuse me, I almost didn't recognize you outside of Tanmorand's work area. That and shhh. I've been drin-kiiiing," she whispers far too loudly. "Jivayath said I could have a day off from the sands, so I took one in order to do my part as the co-leader of our illustrious Weyr!" She spreads her arms wide, grinning magnanimously at the gathered crowd. "Can't beat the atmosphere! Set your stuff down, take a load off, girl."

Timotin sits near Onari and nods. "The Zingari marry young; we go through our coming of age ceremonies between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, and as soon as we 'come of age' and both are of age, we marry our betrothed." He looks at the drinking games going on and then back at Onari. "My wife whelped another man's child, and to add insult to Injury, he wasn't Zingari." He looks a bit bitter still. "Our matriarch, Ethelinda, dissolved my marriage to her." Timotin sighs and shakes his head. "I'm a weaver, I make all those brilliant cloths everyone likes to buy."

Zalara smiles. "Well that's very nice that you have a day off the Sands. Sorry, I have to deliver this; I don't want Tanmorand or any of the other journeymen. After I deliver this I can come back to hang out." She hears what Timotin has to say and she frowns. "That's awful!"

Willimina frowns when she realizes she's been bested. She takes her shot and hands the mark back to Sadaiya. She has to stay keen for her performances after all. She smiles at Zalara. "I am indeed the leader of the Zingari." She laughs at Saidaya's antics and does a visual sweep of the area, things seem to be running smoothly and this makes her smile.

Sadaiya makes a big deal of gasping at Zalara. "But… but I'm his MEGA boss! He's my Weyrmate! He has to listen to me!" Just as she reaches for the mark, though, to take another try at the game, she stops. Listens. Groans loudly. "Speaking of bosses, Jivayath thinks I've been gone too long and could I please come nap and oil her hide. I'mma do a terrible job at that right now, man, this stinks." The grumbles are loving, though, and she struggles to her feet, blinking owlishly. "I'll try to come back. I super promise."

In other parts of the Zingari camp, Ethelinda has a group of children and young adults spellbound with an old Zingari folk tale, whilst Celeste adds sounds effects and aroma therapy - all part of a Zingari storyweaver experience! Dinsayde's older brother Dayne begins his knife routine, one of his apprentices standing against the target with several objects spaced around her outline. Dayne's twin sister Esmara tells fortunes and reads palms. The jewelers hock their wares, the clothiers hock Zingari outfits. All is a-bustle and the food smells have infiltrated the entire camp now, savory and heavy in the air.

Dinsayde looks slightly sad at the loss of his drinking partner. However, noting the time, it seems it is time for the second part of his duties to begin. He stands, brushing himself off and taking his last shot. "Excuse me ladies… but I must go and see if any of these milling lovelies is lonely tonight." He gives a wink and strides off, making pleasant conversation to the crowd.

Zalara smiles at Willimina. "Great to meet you, these are for you. They are some metal supplies tha got ordered from the Smiths." She holds out the crate for Willimina, "Where would you like me to put this? Be careful; it is very heavy," she says as she looks Sadaiya. "Well ,you can take that up with him, Weyrwoman; I'm sure he'll have a lot to say about it. I just do what I'm told." Her tone is very respectful towards the Weyrwoman.

Willimina nods. "Well, thank you for delivering them. Our supply wagon is just over there; give it to one of the guards and they will handle it from there. Enjoy the festival while you're here!" Willa is off then, heading towards the dance fire and her upcoming performance. Her crowd of suitors has finally dissipated for now, probably off sulking. She ends up near Melusine, and plops down next to her, watching Tallel.

Melusine is grinning like a loon behind her scarf as the drumming rhythm is set slightly faster to challenge her nephew's dancing and balance, eyebrows above kohl-lined eyes arching. There's a challenge implicit there, one that gets realised as the last measures of the beat sweep around. "He's getting much better," she whispers to Willimina, and grins. "I think he could do with a tiny bit of challenge though." Setting her drum to the side, she stands. Her hips flick, making the shell-and-bone ornaments strung around her waist ripple; then, with lazy steps, she dances up to her nephew with langourous movements. "Come on, Tallel," she teases. "Show the girls what you can really do."

Zalara nods to Willimina. "Thank you very much. I'm sure that I will," she says as she heads over towards the guards to give them the crate and she nods to the them. "Thank you," she says as she goes to take a look at what is going on here.

Willimina can do nothing but nod in agreement at Melusine at Tallel's progress. She whistles and cat calls when Melusine gets up to join Tallel. The usually somber Leader is actually having some fun! She grabs a tambourine and stands, playing to the music.

Tallel's brows rise as Melusine dances up to join him, his expression becoming a bit anxious. "Mind the sword, Auntie!" he warns, though he knows it's needless. What more can he do? Well, actually, he'd been preparing something for the absolute end of his routine…but pulling it out now ought to be fine, too! Dipping low to the ground for a moment, he comes up with a handful of sand, which he discreetly passes across his waist as the steps take him back up with movements of his arms around his torso. Then he pauses, taking the sword from his head and gripping the pommel in both hands. He looks as if he might try to throw it into the ground, sticking the blade into the sand…but as he makes that very motion, there's a sudden pop and a puff of smoke that obscures Tallel from the waist down for a moment. Suddenly, in place of the sword, he holds a deep red silk scarf, which he flicks into the air amidst startled gasps and cheering. That in hand, he's freer to move, spinning about his aunt as he brings his dance toward its end.

Given that Willimina jumps up to help them with the rhythm section, Melusine's laughing by the time she really gets into the dance. With the firelight playing on her sleekly muscled form as well as her nephew's, she gives him a merry eyeroll at the warning and spins clear just as the flash-bang comes, emerging from it with arms in the air and body forming a lean column for him to dance around. She's proud of him, heart-full, and fingers flick to invite the crowd closer to watch the end of his dance. "Faster, Willa!" she calls happily. "Challenge the boy!"

Willimina laughs and brings the tempo up, the musicians grinning at the change. Willa takes her tambourine and dances about into the ring, keeping along the outer limits. She keeps the beat as she dances around, drawing in a few more pedestrians to watch Tallel and Melusine.

Zalara moves over to listen to the music and she goes to clap her hands in time with it. She watches Tallel move and she cheers as he changes the sword to a red scarf. She smiles. "What more is he going to do?"

Tallel's expression wavers between consternation and a grin as the tempo of the music increases. Oh, he is going to have to find some way to get back at Melusine for this! His concentration ramping up along with the beat of his heart, he resorts to grinning, the most complicated movements he can muster without losing step coming one after another as he circles his aunt, the scarf occasionally slipping around her or coiling about a limb, only to be brought back in hand again. Finally, the music crescendoes to a finish, and with another flick of his wrist and a puff of smoke, the young second is suddenly holding a small red flower on a dusty green stem. He tosses it to Zalara with a wink - hello, friend he hasn't seen in a while! - and takes a bow amid the applause, stopping to swoop his vest up off the ground. Of course, pausing for even a little bit allows a small gaggle of girls to descend on him, which he skillfully evades with some further slippery footwork in order to come up alongside Melusine. "I'll be back in a moment, Auntie!" he says, still catching his breath. "I just need to take a break. I shall return!" With that, he gives her a quick peck on the cheek, then scoots away to do the same to Willimina before skittering off into the darkness beyond the fire toward his yurt.

Willimina throws herself into her next act, smirking as Tallel retreats. All seems to go well with the first night of the festival. And after much revelry, Willimina drags herself to the baths, knowing the second day would be even more exhausting than the first.

Dinsayde slips off to his wagon, a woman on one arm and a man on the other. His night is just beginning, it seems.

With everyone laughing and cheering, Melusine just nods at the peck on her cheek and takes off herself; she promised someone a dance, after all.