Faire
In case you weren't reading the blog this time last year, allow me to explain a bit about what this "Faire" scene is, if just because I'll be writing about it for the next several months before I go to Japan.

Really, the whole thing is Justin's hobby. I'm in it by proxy but also because I tend to adhere to strange and eccentric experiences. You can't really find a crowd stranger and more eccentric than those in the Renaissance Faire circuit. We've got fairies, furries, BDSM enthusiasts, Pagans, bellydancers, sword fighters, trekkies, hippies, microsofties, swingers, LARPers, faire booty, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on. I think it goes without saying that everyone is, in some way, a fantasy enthusiast. I mean, DUH, it's a renaissance faire.

So why are "we" involved? Justin's always had a 'thing' for swords. And not in the phallic/Freudian way way that some people (Alex!!) seem to think of it. Before joining the troupe, he'd collected a few odds and ends-- two katanas, a broadsword and a short sword... something like that-- enough that it was apparent he had a bit of a fetish. Enough that before I met him I thought he would be weird and gothy because he collected swords, wore a cloak and owned fitted fangs. Enough to get him almost arrested by the Bellevue police department when he asked me out in an orchard on Kindergarten property while playing Dartanian with a blunted sword. He'd been a card-carrying SCAddian for a few years and attended "fight practices" in Seattle to have the chance to beat on/ be beaten on by other schmucks in padded armor. (Sorry SCAddians, you're just not that cool) Sometime in 2000 he heard about a group in Seattle that did a different kind of re-inactment: choreographed fights with live steel. Combat and acting for renaissance faires, movies, etc. I thought it was pretty freakish at first and I didn't really want anything to do with a bunch of sword-swinging enthusiasts until I met them. Granted, they made me nervous for a good long time but I got over it.

The Seattle Knights are booked for a variety of renaissance faires, school shows, weddings and corporate events in the Washington/ Oregon area. Gigs range from very small to large casts and pay is minimal. It's a hobby, not a job. Only full members of the troupe are paid, not students or trainees.

The summer before last, Justin started his lessons with the troupe. Lessons consist of four classes, each several weeks long, in which students learn various "safe" combat techniques with an assortment of weapons. After all four levels of classes are complete, the students then attend the next season of shows as "grunts." That was last summer. He (and I by proxy) helped set up and take down the camp, ran water, kept up "Shoot a Knight" between acts, and were generally lackeys for the big dogs. As a first-year actor, he was required to lose all his fights except those against other first-years. I was required to stay out from inside the lines during shows and was generally just treated as "family." This year, for some reason, Dameon has adopted me as his "daughter" and included me in the cast list. Like I said, I don't think I'll get paid but I have a role and full troup priveleges. Justin gets to win some fights and doesn't have to get dragged around like the students. He's a helpful fellow though; so he opts to do work whenever neccesary.

What do "we" do at renaissance faires? The Knights are the "main attraction," the group that runs the joust, sword-fights, etc. We act. Sometimes poorly-- (ahem, I'm getting used to it) but we do. Everyone on the field has full combat training but they aren't actually trying to kill each other. Usually they coreograph fights according to what the plot requires.

Sometimes accidents happen. Sometimes not everyone works hard enough to get the audience involved. But there's always a big audience so I assume that everyone loves the Knights. It's weird seeing things from the "inside." I'm certainly NOT the biggest geek there. Justin's certainly not the most skilled fighter (but he's damn good if you ask me). We're both accepted as part of the group. There's some part of me that rebels against slipping into a role. I've always had a difficult time with roleplay (outside of standard social lubrication) and it's hard to be addressed as "Lady" and treated as such all weekend. I'm afriad to let go. But eh, whatever, it's some of the best, cleanest most amusing fun to be had. I'll remember these last two seasons for years to come. I'm even thinking about getting trained on horse and ground myself when I come back from Japan. I bet Dameon would loooove that. =D Can you imagine?