07:49 am
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Meren Ennostien mi Carnelatina: The Raleigh Renaissance Faire
So the weekend after the move, I decided that on Sunday, instead of continuing to unpack, I should go with ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) firebreatherjen to the Raleigh Ren Faire. And we did.
It was a blast! firebreatherjen wore her pirate-chick costume but insisted on being referred to as a "privateer." I wore my highborn-lady-probably-from-France-or-Italy costume with lots of blue fabric and gold trim. I'm sure we made for an interesting pair. At one point, a vendor asked if we were "a couple." We cracked up, then denied it. firebreatherjen, I informed him, was my bodyguard. He looked at me consideringly and then declared that I did have a body and, therefore, met the requirement for hiring a bodyguard.
Of course, we went to the joust. By the time we got there, however, there were not enough seats. As befitted her role, firebreatherjen allowed me a seat on the stands and sat next to me on the grass, quite a feat considering she was wearing her sword that's too long for her even to walk comfortably. I had fun trying to sit in my layers and layers of skirts and cloak and not spill my lunch, fish and chips heavily doused with vinegar.
We sat without (much) incident, and the joust began. Quickly I selected the knight who would be my favorite. There was Sir Olyssio of Italy (though they mistakenly declared he was from Ireland), Sir Hans of Germany, and Sir Antonio of Spain. I took a quick assessment of their apparent knightly prowess and selected the cutest knight, Sir Hans. (Sir Olyssio was quite the hottie himself, but his hair wasn't quite as long.) Of course, my heartfelt cheering spurred my knight to victory. Afterward, I managed to get a great picture of myself and my handsome knight with his horse. That one may have to be framed.
firebreatherjen and I got to watch some heavy fighting, admire much in the way of fine steel, and watch a man calling himself "Brun" heckle small children. A couple times, a drunken gallant declared us beautiful as we passed him on the street. He was obviously drunk, or he would not have dared to approach my fierce privateer bodyguard.
Later, supermer joined us, and we began to spend money in earnest. Every Ren Faire visit, I usually allow myself one serious purchase. I had considered all morning, and I wanted to purchase a circlet for my forehead. However, the reasonably priced ones didn't fit. You may be surprised to learn that it appears I have a big head. As we were admiring the wares of one vendor, the lady approached me, cocked her head to one side in appraisal of my face, then reached behind her and brought forth an absolutely gorgeous stirling silver circlet with pearls and an aquamarine. She placed it on my head, and -- lo and behold -- I became the Childlike Empress. I pretended to need time to think, but I was hooked. I came back there for my purchase and selected a similar circlet but with a moonstone. (I was on a white kick that day, for some reason. Maybe I thought it would go with more of my outfits, because I always have occasion to wear a circlet.)
supermer bought a nice bodice, which she tried on over her tee shirt. Hers, however, could be considered an investment, as she plans to be a vendor at the Texas Renaissance Festival in the coming fall.
Our day neared its end, and we were once again looking at wares. We passed lots of ridiculously priced clothing, of course, including a well advertised collection of "corset prom dresses." Where were these people when I was in high school? Oh well. We admired for the third time a beautiful black shawl designed with green leaves and a dryad, very Celtic-looking. There was no price showing. supermer asked the vendor, and she said it was $30. I couldn't believe it was so reasonable, and I cursed myself (okay, not really) for having already made my significantly higher-priced purchase. supermer saw my frustration and began to bargain with the lady. She asked for it for $20. The lady would let us have any of the other shawls for $20 but not the Celtic dryad. supermer went to $25; the lady would not have it. We were walking away disappointed when the lady asked, "Would that $25 be in cash?" So I gave in and made two purchases. I felt guilty for spending so much, but I didn't have any true buyer's remorse. I love each of my purchases.
(In fact, I wore the circlet again on Easter with a white Marilyn-Monroe-type dress. It was a definite mixing of eras or some equally heinous fashion crime, I'm sure, but who cares? It was Easter, a good enough excuse. I looked cute. And even though a (older) friend of mine took one look at me, shook her head, and called me "zany" for wearing it, all the rest of my feedback was positive. (Though most people, I'll admit, don't tell strangers, "Hey, I don't like your jewelry.") I got unstinting admiration from one stranger and her daughter and was declared to look "like a princess." A couple at a restaurant table next to us mentioned it would look good on a race of Star Trek aliens. I didn't know how to take that comment.)
We finally left the faire, tired and happy. supermer followed firebreatherjen and me to my new place. I parked, and firebreatherjen and I began to extract ourselves and our costumes from the car. supermer got out of her car, ran to us, and asked, "Did you see him?" No, we hadn't. What did she mean? "You really didn't see him? I waved at him like an idiot until he waved back. He was walking right across the parking lot. I can't believe you didn't see him!"
Apparently, one of my neighbors is a fellow Rennie (Ren-Faire geek). supermer saw him walking across the parking lot in costume. We all looked around, but he had disappeared. From where he parked (or at least from his path across the parking lot), we surmised that he lives in my building. But I may never find out who he is. I doubt he'll have occasion to don the costume again until next year's faire, and what guarantee do I have that I'll see him then? I may never know who he is, though I may pass him in my yard and in the parking lot. What an opportunity missed!
Tags: renaissance faire, renaissance festival
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