Sipa; Vesutto; Darwin; Legitimate Farces

originally posted August 21, 2006


"Greetings, Little One," I offered. Many times, such a moniker is placed on a girl when it does not truly apply. For example, one might refer to a formerly arrogant slave as 'Little One' that she never forget who it was taught her humility. Sometimes, 'Little One' is just a pleasant thing to call a slave like 'Vulo' or 'Pudding'. In Sipa's case, however, the diminutive acknowledgment applied. She is a frail thing, Vesutto's little prize. I would guess she is a few stones better than two weight, standing less than five feet or, at best, right about five feet. She is curved, of course, but only slightly. You might take her for an exotic. She does not, as the description bears, meet the common standard of beauty. Yet, she is beautiful. And undeniably so. I have always believed women in many shapes and sizes and combinations thereof have the potentiality for beauty. Vesutto has chosen to ring her neck in a slender collar of gold. I would say it is of the Turian variety, but it fits a bit closer to her throat than that sort of necklace generally does. I do not think he would choose to leash her by this collar. Rather, a cuff of leather, perhaps, might be layered overtop it, there to connect the lead. She is bangled, too, at both wrists and ankles. Each time I see her, she is garmented in a different fashion. A belted camisk of fine silk one day, diaphanous chalwar and snug vest the next. She was wearing, at this time, however, a faded brown work tunic. It was rent in a few places and stained in a few others. I saw that Vesutto did not indulge her nearly as much as appearances suggested. She was busy tending to his laundry, folding and such. One could see evidence of other work, a pair of sandals and a belt, for example, buffed to a high sheen.
"Greetings, Master," she offered shyly, pausing in her labors a moment to do so.
I was enjoying a cup of wine with Vesutto, discussing business on the veranda of the apartment he has rented during our brief stay in Lara. While I have taken rooms on the main street of town, quite close to the Vosk, he prefers to enjoy his respite from the road at a slightly higher elevation. As with many river towns, expensive property is directly fronted by the river, but it is also had deeper into the city where one can build a larger estate.
"If she pleases you, by all means," he said to me casually to which I deferred. I could see by the lavishments he placed upon her and the sudden, ill-disguisedstart to the delicate thing's features, his generosity far exceeded his preferences. Still, if I chose to make use of her, I do not think he would think poorly of me. For her start, I do not doubt that he beat her soon after I left. And soon after that, I do not doubt he beat her in an entirely different fashion. Men have many whips at their disposal.
"She is lovely, sublime really," I said. "You are kind to offer."
He nodded, sensing I would prefer the topic changed. "I enjoyed the performance of 'The Magic Veil' a few evenings past."
"It is no 'Fall of Agamedes' or 'Merchant of Ko-ro-ba', but I think such farces have their place," I opined.
"Indeed. I, myself, have always enjoyed those that featured 'The Timid Captain'," he said.
"I have not seen a 'Captain' farce in a good while," I admitted. "You do not take offense at my portrayal of 'The Pompous Merchant, do you?"
We both chuckled for a bit before I spoke again. "The Cloth Worker did an acceptable portrayal of Chino the other night. I think he might do well as The Merchant also, with a bit of practice."
"I am told he stood against the bandits," Vesutto mentioned.
"He comported himself admirably, yes," I concurred.
It is worth mentioning that neither of us have forgotten from whence the Cloth Worker came, from what depths he has crawled out of. We are inclined, however, to overlook such things. He has learned what it is to pity himself and the dangers such an attitude can can introduce to one's life. Is that not enough? It is no small thing that Vesutto took little or no offense or even notice that I spoke of Darwin in conjunction with the role of 'The Pompous Merchant'. Yes, the role is a ridiculous portrayal of what amounts to more of a charlatan than an honored member of the Merchant's Caste, but the title is what it is. And it is 'Merchant'.
I did not stay long chatting away the afternoon with Vesutto. I've chosen not to rest on my laurels with the small success achieved by what was really little more than a dress rehearsal of The Magic Veil. I will continue to fine tune it and work in different members of my 'girl troupe' to play the roles of Brigella and Bina. Too, I have begun work on another road play. Not a strict adaptation of a classic, but a new, historical musical featuring a few of the beloved characters of Gorean farce.