"Whoa, these Parisians really go all out don't they?" Annaliese remarked. Callista just nodded dumbstruck and stared up and down the street in amazement. "Well, we'd better get our stuff out of the car and get changed. We don't want to be late for the beginning of the festival," Annaliese continued after drinking her fill of the spectacular view surrounding them. Callie just continued nodding as she followed Anna back to the alley, her mouth gaping open and eyes so wide they seemed about to leap from her head. As the alley came into view an idea dawned on Anna. If the people of Paris had gone to such great lengths to preserve the illusion of this festival's authenticity what right did she and Callie have to spoil it by sticking a car right in plain sight of everyone. Since there wasn't time to move it, they had to at least hide it. Using the resources available Anna asked Callie to help her pull a cart loaded with straw in front of the entrance to the alley and then both girls got around it to the car and their clothes. Anna opened the trunk producing two duffel bags and tossed one to Callie. As Callie extracted her faire garb from her bag rational thought and full use of her tongue returned to her.
She turned, flabbergasted, to Anna and exclaimed, "When you looked out there, did you see what I saw?"
"Yeah. They really did an incredible job with the place," Anna replied.
"What I saw was more than incredible, it was impossible!" Callie squealed.
"What are you talking about?" Anna asked.
"Obviously you weren't paying attention last night when we were driving! Not only have our surroundings completely changed, but so has the layout of the road, it's like we were moved to another part of town during the night or something. It's not right!" Callie raved nearly hysterical.
"Callie calm down. It was dark when we pulled into this alleyway last night. Maybe you misjudged the layout of the street. You're overwrought right now and overreacting. Finish getting dressed. We'll walk to Notre Dame, find our guild, spend the day working and the night partying, and see if we can't get you and Jean-Pierre some QT so he can relax you a little. Okay?" Anna coaxed Callie toward her clothes.
Callie ran a hesitant hand over her costume which consisted of a bright yellow muslin shirt cinched at the neck and sleeves, a bodice with a floral pattern woven into it and pink ribbons for lacing, a cranberry colored skirt, a mint green underskirt, white pantaloons, and leather boots that strapped up around her mid calf. As she followed instructions and began to dress for the day she muttered, "I'm not crazy... you can't do all that... not in just one night... that's impossible... it's just wrong," and more of the same.
Anna listened to her friend's mutterings with a smirk as she changed her clothes. She, too, was surprised by the amount of effort the city had put into its apparent transformation. It did seem like a lot of work and man-hours for one weekend festival, but for the effect Anna presumed it was worth it. There had never been an undertaking of this magnitude before in Faire history, so she presumed they were simply going all out. She laid her chosen costume for the day out before her. She had brought two with her; one was composed of nearly all male garments that she wore as Captain Kate, Pirate Queen for Halloween last year. The other was her usual garb that she wore to Faire regularly for work as the rules of the guild stated she must. However, in the spirit of the holiday the Renaissance Faire had come to Paris to celebrate this 6th day of January Anna decided to shake things up a little. She wore crimson hose, black leather and red velvet pantaloons, a crimson muslin shirt styled identically to Callista's, and a black leather doublet tied tightly bodice style. Her leather boots buckled just above her knee leaving only an inch of her hose exposed. She tied her short sword, which at two feet was more than long enough for her, to her side with a red velvet sash with fringed edges. It wasn't exactly period, but it looked good. She draped a black cloak with a three button closure down the front (that nicely hid her cleavage) and little slits for her hands to come through around herself and drew all her hair up and back into a bun that she tucked up under a broad rimmed black hat with red plumes in it.
"I wish I had a mirror," she said straightening her elbow length black leather gloves, then turning to Callie asked, "what do you think?"
"I think you look like a pageboy who has stolen his master's outfit. I hate to break it to you, Anna; but, you simply haven't enough hair to pull off your intended effect," she chuckled fingering Anna's chin.
"Au contraire, Ma chere," Annaliese countered removing a false moustache and a jar of spirit gum from her duffle bag. Slathering her upper lip with the foul smelling goop and affixing the piece with practiced ease, "Now how do I look?"
"Like a nobleman and the guild will be furious, but that's just the voice of reason. Please feel free to disregard it as usual."
"Don't worry, I will," Anna said gingerly running her fingers over the piece to make sure it was straight and firmly attached.
Both now fully dressed they climbed out over the top of the hay cart and began walking towards the towering spires of Notre Dame. Upon reaching the courtyard they were dismayed to find everything had been switched around there as well. They couldn't find Jean-Pierre's booth anywhere. Nothing was where he said it would be, including their guild. The only thing that had remained consistent was the stage where they had ended their tour of the square yesterday. They stood before it, both rather dismayed that it and the towers of Notre Dame looming behind it were the only recognizable landmarks in the entire city to either of them. Callie was panicking all over again about being lost and alone in Paris until Annaliese grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
"Calm down," she ordered, "God, it's early. Things haven't even gotten started here yet. We all just flew in last night. They probably just slept in a little. They'll be here. Just relax, enjoy the party for as long as you can before everybody gets here and we have to work."
"Work, Monsuier?" a man standing behind Anna nearly shouted, "Shame on you to use such language before a lady. The Feast of Fools is not a day for work, but for play."
Anna whirled around with a grin to look at the man addressing her while responding in her deepest tenor, "Too true, Monsuier. But when one's work is a pleasure, shop can be open everyday."
The man laughed robustly, "Stated like a true gentleman, ... Monsuier?"
"Wassic," Annaliese said extending her hand for a hardy shake.
"Wassic… Saxon, no?" the man speculated, returning the gesture.
"Yes, in part," Annaliese replied absently looking the man before her up and down. He was tall with a wiry yet well-toned frame. A swimmer's body she mused. He had a warm, vibrant smile she found quite contagious and deep, dark eyes that sparkled with mischief.
"You have traveled far to take part in our… little festival."
"Further than you think," Annaliese replied, reminding herself that in this get up staring at men was not entirely appropriate behavior.
"Well, Paris welcomes you, Monsuier, Madame," The tall man said bowing gallantly to Callista. A lone trumpet began to play a fan-faire across the square. That seemed to catch the tall man's attention. "And now if you will excuse me…"
"Of course," Anna said inclining her head in a respectful bow of her own. As he turned and hurried off into the crowd towards the now flaring music, Anna couldn't keep herself from grazing her eyes over his retreating form. His motley costume, comprised nearly entirely of tights and a tunic, left very little about his physique undisclosed. And it was a nice physique, indeed.
"Would you like a cup? Or should I just go fetch a mop," Callie's sarcasm broke into Anna's reverie.
"Am I that transparent?"
"Only to me dear, but watch yourself. Remember you're the one who wanted to wear that outfit, Anna--,"
"--tole," Annaliese interrupted.
"Huh?"
"Well, if I'm going to act the part you can't very well go around calling me..."
"Right... Anatole."
Anna responded with a grin and a nod. Then she turned her attention to the other end of the square where a strong tenor voice was now ringing over the horns and drums. "Let's find out what's going on over there."
"Read as: Let's follow the cute guy," Callista teased.
Anna gave her a sharp smack on the rear and began to make her way through the crowd. Thanks to the average reaction to her rather gregarious ensemble Anna was able to cut a quick and rather wide swath through the crowd, and in no time flat was once again faced with the, now singing and dancing, tall man. He seemed to have assumed the role of Master of Ceremonies as he was leading a procession of jugglers, clowns, and performers of all kinds and descriptions through the square back to the stage in front of the Cathedral. "Story of my Life," Anna mused to herself softly, "I would've had the best seats in the house if I could just hold still for 5 minutes."