Open Singing in the Rain [Job Thread]

[Krisa]

9th Day of Summer 513

The sky hadn't looked so grey earlier, surely. There were still many faces milling about the Surya Plaza despite the oncoming summer shower that coloured the clouds above her head. Krisa stood, hair brushed and back straight, ready to put up a good front to earn some Kina. She was perched underneath the outcropping of a roof. Keiran sat inside his cage next her her feet, which were covered with dark boots. Her black Bryda was clean and crease free and blew ever so slightly in the pre-storm breeze. She had nothing but cheery melodies today. Something warm, something the would frolic about the dull square and fill it with light again. She could do this now, because the music was not for her, it was for others. She could lift their spirits with her music and she could feel happy about it. Happy. Music made her this way.

When the rain began to spit upon the ground in front of her, Krisa remained dry. Heavy raincoats or umbrellas began to go up. Her voice would have to carry extra power. Today she would be testing her Belt vocals. But first came the merry tune that would begin her song. She put her mouth to her flute and played the opening, tapping her foot in time to the beat. Once that time had elapsed, the countdown began to when she would sing. TAP ready TAP And- TAP now!

She opened her mouth and the first notes of accented common tongue began to spill from her lips. The Black top hat she had bought previous lay next to Kerian's cage ready to accept coin from all who would listen. Her foot started tapping on the cobblestone in time to the beat of the song which she now sung with all her heart going out to those around her. She would make others happy, they were worth more than she. She was the entertainer.

"Merrily we sailed along
Though the waves were plenty strong
Down the twisting river Rhine
Following a song... "

Louder the rain began to get, stronger was the wind, she had to stop people from going home. They would watch by her shelter under the overhanging of a roof. They would be drawn in. They had to. She was telling a story, and it would breath colour back into the dreary day.

"Legend's faded storyline
Tried to warn us all
Oh, they called her "Loreley"
Careful or you'll fall..."

Quickly, lips to the flute again, ready to start the tune. The break between the next verse must not be silence, but the chords she had memorised long ago. The chords of Loreley. The tempo was kept at a fast pace with the unyielding tapping of her shiny black boots. The cue was coming once more and the words began to spill from her lungs like the rain spilled from the sky. The song was getting louder, fighting the rain, fighting the damp. For she must play today to earn her keep.

Oh, the stories we were told
Quite a vision to behold
Mysteries of the seas in her eyes of gold...
Laying on the silver stone, such a lonely sight
Barnacles become a throne, my poor Loreley...

And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...



Her voice was not quite powerful enough to reach as far as she would like, however she did draw a small crowd. Not one had deemed her good enough yet, they were all far to sour and wet. But her tune continued, and the beat was fast and her whimsical song about poor Loreley was turning head in the dismal street of the Plaza.

The flute she played once more, ready for verse two, hoping that soon she would see some Kina in her hat.

OOC- if the below video doesn't work go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWhlbZ9gfCc

[Alses]

OOCHope you don't mind me popping in . Any problems, tell me and I shall retcon immediately!

A long and thorny session of classes, teaching – or rather, attempting to teach – the finer points of metadjed theory and how it related to ambient and personal djed and their interactions under an aurist's direction had left Alses tired and not in the best of moods, it had to be admitted.

It wasn't helped, either, by the summer storm that had broken over Lhavit whilst she attempted to instruct the bright young minds of the next generation in the twilight-pearl spire of the Dusk Tower, obscuring and scattering Syna's life-affirming rays. It left her feeling stretched and thin, almost literally starving for light, and the dapper cheerfulness radiating from Mr. Secretary, with his inexplicable fondness for wild weather, had made things worse again, all the more so because to snap at him would have been rude and unfair.

The raindrops struck soft chimes from her intricate, shimmering crown-of-horns as she made her way through the dripping avenues of the city with easy grace, the citizens moving out of her way, bowing and smiling as Alses passed, returning the occasional genuflection with a greeting of her own even as her brain freewheeled and fulminated against the climate that had decided a summer storm would be just the thing today.

Tyrian silk robes darkened to sodden near-black as she strode across the expanse of Surya Plaza, only the golden threads of her sunburst crest twinned with that of the Dusk Tower still glowing brightly, in defiance of the water. The skyglass expanse of the Plaza, part of the grand processional heart of the city and normally thronged with milling, chatting citizens, was now a shadow of that normally-bustling state of affairs, most people with their heads down and cloaks wrapped tight about their bodies, fighting against the rain coming down from the bruised clouds overhead.

As she neared the entryway from the Plaza to the broad avenue that would lead, ultimately, to the Towers Respite and its glorious hot baths, her ears caught a twisting jink of melody, threading its way through the tumbling raindrops, defiantly sweet and cheerful.

Music wasn't uncommon in Lhavit by any means, just more often in the taverns and inns and with the pinnacle of the art being exhibited in grand style at the Ethereal Opera, and a street performer was enough of a novelty to cause her steps to slow as she drew closer.

The small crowd split and flowed cleanly around her as she approached, the process eased by the occasional blazing smile and grateful inclination of her horn-crowned head, and soon Alses was able to catch an unobstructed view of this optimistic musician as she played and sang, the notes valiantly trying to lift the pervasive damp atmosphere.

Alses' only real, sustained exposure to music was the spectacular performances of the Ethereal Opera – music entranced her, the way the notes and songs could effortlessly pluck at the heartstrings and evoke emotions in a manner quite alien to her – and this simple melody was nothing compared to the full-bore bel-canto majesty of the Lhavit Philharmonic making, for example, its triumphant way through Falkenhayn's Catastrophe suite.

Nonetheless, there was an indefinable quality to the cascade of fluting notes and to the soaring, raw voice which danced through the words of an unknown tune that summoned forth a similar response, an appreciation of sorts, though of a different, simpler, earthier kind.

Head cocked slightly sideways, Alses listened intently, forgetting for a moment the steady rain tumbling down.

The song was apparently about someone called Lorelei. Falling was involved, and apparently she was loved by the moon and the sea. It was easy enough to see the song was a tragic one, probably about a Lethaefal, but that was completely at odds with the lilting tune and the smile the performer flashed time and again in the brief moments of rest and silence the music called for, black boots twinkling in the faint light as she tapped out the strong beat of the song.

The small crowd – Alses included – watched and listened owlishly, unsure whether to follow the words or the tune and the overall impression of mirth all-but bursting off the musician herself.

When the song had finished, she was none the wiser, really, face mildly troubled as she tried to work it out. A ripple of movement went through the crowd as she stood there, pondering the performance, some people turning to continue their journeys through the shining, dripping streets and others darting forward to drop glittering kina into an upturned hat of some kind.

Curious, as the musician regained her breath – face almost as flame-red as her hair – Alses wandered over. A few kina tumbled over and over, bright raindrops, before vanishing into the maw of that hat.

“We believe that's the done thing,” Alses murmured, even as her outstretched hand, skin gleaming like fire-opals even in the storm-light, fell back to her side. “Forgive me, but wouldn't it be more sensible to perform inside in this sort of weather?” Not accusative, not sneering or sarcastic, just curious as to why anyone would willingly caper in a cloudburst.

[Liriah]

OOCJoining in, since it seemed fun and I'm currently waiting for responses. Sry if I interrupted with anything, I'll delete this if you PM me to do so >w< Sitting at her desk, Liriah stared outside her open window, hands folded across her lap. Today, she chose to wear the clothes that she arrived Lhavit in. It was perfect, in her opinion, for the droll weather accumulating outside, the Summer storm broiling away in the sky. "Maybe I should go see Terence. He always needed help with serving customers at the Inn." Liriah didn't mind the weather. The rain was music to her and the cold drops provided a welcome chill. Still, Liriah lifted the hood of her cape over her head. It wasn't smart to get her hair wet, it was practically a sponge for rain. Taking a step into the rain, Liriah began her journey to the Shooting Star Inn. The wind was picking up, and Luma's fur was soaking up the drops. Keeping a tight hold of her cloak, closing the wind off from her dress, Liriah sped up her pace. She really should have bought that umbrella she saw a week ago while window shopping. The grand plaza that was so filled with laughter and chatter the day before was nowhere to be seen today. The storm had washed it all away, chasing the crowd into their homes and sending them looking for shelter. It was the first time Liriah had seen it like so during her stay in Lhavit, and it was draining her mood too. Heaving a sigh, Liriah entered the warm and dry embrace of the Mhakula Tea House. The scent of steeped tea seeped into her lungs, warming up her body as she approached the counter to make her order. She would've liked to stay there, wait out the rain, but crowds were to be avoided unless necessary in her opinion. Leaving with a steaming paper cup of lavender & jasmine green tea, her favourite, Liriah was off, heading in the direction of the Inn. Stopping in her tracks, Liriah listened to the rain. She had thought she heard the melody of a flute. It was faint, the rain and her hood created an impressive sound muffler, and she didn't trust her hearing, so she turned to Luma, whose golden fur was sodden. Chasing after Luma, forgetting about her hood and keeping her cloak closed, Liriah finally caught up to him. He had led her to a gathering not far. Although relatively small, it was still a gathering. A gathering brought on by a busking flutist. As the untrained vocalist sang, recognition hit Liriah. It was the resolute voice of her friend Krisa. She was now part of the crowd, listening tentatively to a song she had never heard before. It was cheerful, Krisa's determination to make others listen to the story she had to tell evident, but the words spoke otherwise. It was tragic, the tapping sound keeping the beat but making no difference to the story, a song filled with death and about a woman who brought men to their downfall. Staying behind as the crowd dispersed, coins tinkling as they fell into the hat Liriah could now see, she saw that it was indeed her new friend. At this point, all memories of her original plans were forgotten, having lost it in the melody of the song and the sight of her friend. Smiling, Liriah took a step towards Krisa, her right hand ready to connect with her cup-ridden left hand in an applause. Her foot landing on the pavement, a familiar electricity shot through her body, a sensation she didn't mind but always gave her a sense of apprehension. Approaching Krisa was a lady, her dress, although sodden, spoke of wealth and status, who glowed gold. Her crown of horns told Liriah exactly what this lady was; an Ethaefal of Syna. Crouching down to stroke Luma's fur, who responded by spraying Liriah profusely with rain, Liriah continued to trail her fingers across the silky strands. She didn't want to interrupt their conversation, nor did she want to make the Ethaefal feel uncomfortable with her presence, so she waited.

[Krisa]

oocSorry for the wait. I had a responce to this but I lost it to my own foolishness of not saving and I've only just got the motivation up to re-write now. Thank-you both for joining.

The song reached its climax, the terror of the story was evident, and the crowd seemed to feel it, if not only a little. Krisa played with all her heart. The notes, the tapping of her feet, she immersed herself into the song whole heartedly. As the song came to a close, the last night hanging in the air, Krisa breathed deeply for a few moments, and stepped lightly out into the rain, to feel the raindrops on her face, and to cool herself down. She was not the best musician around, she she must look like nothing compared with the opera house that so magnificently showed here. But it wasn't yet her calling to entertain a crowd that large, and she couldn't even properly bring happiness to this crowd. This small gathering of owlish expressions and confused looks. Krisa had a plan for this very moment though. Krisa bowed deeply as the crowd put coins in her hat. She smiled at them with gratitude and she loudly announced her thanks. to the crowd. One woman stood out from the crowd like a beacon. Krisa met her eyes with a grin and a bow as she moved to place coin not half as bright as her skin into her hat.

Then she asked a question the brought joy to Krisa's heart. It was the perfect thing to keep the crowd going. "All of you, gather round. Did you hear? Did you hear what the Lovely maiden of Syna said?" She nodded at the lady and continued "Why is it that I play out here in the dark, and the wet? Why, all of you look so damp, and I'm here to lighten the square. This place that usualy shines so bright." She smiled, softly now as the redied herself. Into the thinning crowd she stepped, knowing this was not what a busker did. She was determined to lift the spirits of those who looked annoyed to be in the rain and in the cold. Let them dance in it. "Now I understand, that all of you are used to so many voices, so I invite you to join with me, and make a toast! For when today is cold and sunless, let us look to tomorrow." She took the opportunity to lock eyes with everyone who was left in the small crowd. She was going to play something that would make even the worst day uplifted


“Please, when you hear the words ‘lets make a tose till tomorrow, and one to days long ago’ Sing along with me, and clap your hands to the beat” She began tapping her foot and playing in the tune of the spoken part of the song. This song was a risky one, for it was not as well practised. It was the music of her Lemma, for she was a wonderful songwriter, and Krisa was not. Kris found herself to be woeful at stringing lyrics together. But the song was quick to start. It was not until now that she noticed the presence of her newest friend Liriah in the crowd. This made her even happier. The rain was not a discomfort, the only discomfort was the bad mood of her crowd. She would change it for the better.

Come and gather around
And join in the crowd,
Singing the songs that we know
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...

She had her leader and first follower to start the clapping. No one sung more than a mutter that went through the crowd this first time round, but Krisa's voice, although tired and sore, remained strong even through the summer shower she sang.

We will dance through the night
In the candlelight,
Warmed by the fires glow
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...

And we'll follow the stars
No matter how far,
Wherever the wind may blow
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...

People were beginning to sing at this point, not loudly, but they were singing. Mutters of interest and embarrassed smiles were all she got from those less inclined to joining in out of shyness. The reality that those people might be her on any other day. Today she was a performer, with the confidence of a goddess. It was her lifes joy and Krisa felt she might put a Vantha to shame! She just needed the crowd to continue with her song, to join together in the music and to sing the rain into obscurity, to bury any bad feelings and keep their spirits alive. This was the fire of an inarten.

When the sun starts to rise
We'll not hide our eyes,
We'll greet her with a kiss hello...
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...
We'll drink a toast to tomorrow and one to days long ago...

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

The rain seemed to lessen slightly as if the collective voices were beating it away. Krisa was no expert singer, or flutist. She was untrained and not amazingly talented, but her fire would make up for her lack of competency until she could build up the skill to match. As her song came to a close she bowed one last time, too out of breath and to soaking wet to even say anything. She would step back to observe their reaction as she caught her breath. She looked to they eyes of Liriah, and to the eyes of the lovely daughter of Syna for their reactions specially. Had everyone joined in? She was so caught up in her own song that it'd been hard to notice everyone.

Maybe she was insane. Maybe she was stupid. But somehow she felt it was worth being called those things. But it was time to pack up now, she must get dry and warm. Maybe walk with Liriah, and the currently nameless lady of Syna who had spoke to her amongst a silent crowd.

OOC:
http://youtu.be/rt4X7NcWCgU?t=20s

[Alses]

OOCThat's two songs you've now got stuck in my head . It's always horrible to lose a response; write everything in Word or OpenOffice, that way you're much less likely to lose it all .

Alses had to cover a smile at the girl's words, a mischievous flicker of thought passing through her brain. 'We suppose she does know the skyglass will shine all the brighter for a wash?'

No time for a comment, though; another melody with a heavy, pronounced beat, audible even through a flute's light and delicate touch, was weaving its spell. The rhythm thrummed out through the tumbling raindrops, snaking itself through the crowd, the preamble to the energetic performer's next offering, this one more assuredly cheerful in words as well as tune.

A song of stars and suns, of warm lights in the night, of convivial celebration and delight at life – or at least that was the spin put on it by the energetic musician, the words and her actions merging sweetly together.

Perhaps it was because she was an aurist, attuned to the deeper mysteries of the world, but the song filled her with a sense of warmth and camaraderie, reminding her rather of the happy raucousness of the Shooting Star's taproom on the very rare occasion she'd ventured in there, back when she'd first arrived in Lhavit, and of the late-afternoon conviviality of the Scholar's Demise, a refreshing tonic after a hard day's teaching. The skirling tune as it whirled through the raindrops, into the brain and down to her tapping feet also brought out the usual spray of memories from lives long past – upscale inns, mostly, with the occasional pavilion and campfire thrown in for good measure, stirred up by the fall of the notes.

The assault of old lives, given focus and shape by the music, left her distracted, abstracted - the very picture of a head-in-the-stars Ethaefal - until the last stanza or so of the song, where she found herself joining in, snatches of the words dredged from long before she Fell, voice sweet and low and quiet. What held most of her attention, though, was the expression on the girl's freckle-dashed face, one of almost-religious rapture, swept up in the song and the act of performing, even on a rain-sodden stage that was no more than a few skyglass flags in one corner of the Plaza.

It was that intensity – Alses didn't even need her powers to see that, although they were always there, whispering information on the world straight into her waiting brain – that was the dynamo powering her raw performance, and a large part of what drew the people closer, rather than the singing and the music – although both were certainly passable; it wasn't as though there were shrieking, egregious flats and sharps, for example, and her voice was melodious enough, pleasant to the ear.

At the end of it, with a crowd half-engaged in a raggedy singsong, there was a rather gratifying sound, that of kina tumbling onto kina and smiles were on the faces of many of the crowd, Alses included – although hers was mildly bemused, even as the assembled citizens began to disperse, the entertainment apparently over for now, the street performer bent into a low bow and breathing deeply, evidently trying to fill her lungs and return to some semblance of normality.

“You know, that song had an excellent idea in it,” Alses said with a smile, absently shaking raindrops from her crown-of-horns. The sodden figure, her hair darkened from vibrant crimson to something darker and bloodier by the water, shivered as the energy of her performance drained away. Alses noticed this, and continued: “A drink would be just the thing to chase out the chill. Forgive us, but you rather look as if you could do with it. Ever been to the Scholar's Demise? They do some splendid cocktails.” She paused, suddenly contemplative, distracted by a butterfly thought chasing across her brain. “Which reminds us – what's it actually called? The song, I mean.”

[Liriah]

Watching the crowd reform around Krisa, merging with the few who remained with the two ethaefal and Krisa, Liriah laughed inwardly at those who had returned after leaving on the end of the first song, the very mention of the daughter-of-Syna's appraisal and question reinvigorating their interest in the flutist. Answering the ethaefal's question, Krisa began to explain to the crowd the very reason she was busking instead of playing within the shelter of an Inn or Tavern. Smiling at Krisa's selfless intent and desire to raise the Lhavitians' spirits, Liriah decided that it would be well to join in with the song; it would prove to be a good source of amusement and warmth to herself and those around her if she joined in the toast. The toast to tomorrow and days long ago. As Krisa made eye contact with her, Liriah smiled at her friend, waving a hand in encouragement and good luck as she began to play the tune. It was a pity that she didn't have her flute on her being at that moment, it would have been nice to learn a new song. The opening tune from the flute was jovial; a bobbing tune which invited the crowd to dance and to join in, loosening the gloomy mood gradually as the flute gave way to lyrics and vocals. The crowd was loosening, evident through the murmurs and snippets of lyrics that she could hear from the muttering crowd. Following the brave clappers example, Liriah began to follow along, clapping to the beat. By the third verse of this unheard song, Liriah was singing along with the crowd, her face split across by a smile. The song was an absolute joy! The lyrics were happy and sounded as if it belonged in and around an open campfire. Krisa was a true Inarten; brave in front of the gaze of the crowd and confident in her words. She was positively shining with confidence now. With the last shouts of the song, the rain began to lighten. Looking around her, Liriah noticed that she wasn't the only one flushed from singing, stomping and clapping. She was still caught up in the euphoria of the song when Liriah turned to face Krisa, their eyes meeting and a silent message passed between the two red heads. Bursting into laughter, Liriah couldn't contain the overflowing happiness inside her, promising that she would hug her friend after this. Her friend was becoming an infection; everything about her was radiant, the sheer amount of effort she placed in the performance was definitely what hooked the Lhavitians, herself included. With the performer's traditional ending flourish, Krisa dismissed her audience. She seemed breathless, cold, and wet, and Liriah decided to give her friend the cup of, oddly, still warm tea. Reaching her friend's side, Liriah forgot the other ethaefal's presence in the mood of the moment. Before she could offer the tea, the regal character beside her made her offer; a tempting invitation to Lhavit's most famous bar, The Scholar's Demise, to chase away the chill with alcohol. Determined to follow the two, Liriah heard another question, one that she didn't think of herself. What the name of the song was. It was all that was needed to spark Liriah's insane, Syna induced curiosity. Awaiting Krisa's answer to the mystery Lady's question, Liriah squatted and hugged her big dog, Luma's toasty warmth flowing into her icy limbs.

[Krisa]

Krisa backed up towards the dry patch as people left with smiles on their faces. She picked up Kieran who was snug in his cage under the cover of a absorbent towel material, and scooped up the money earned, placing it inside a pouch in her backpack. Once these tasks were done she scooped up her belongings and moved to face the two faces that had stayed behind after everyone else had left. "That sounds splendid." Krisa said, still on the hype that the performance had left her with. Then she stopped "Oh my, that is a good question, maybe one I should have Announced previous." She said her smile wavering a little "It called Toast To Tomorrow, a rather fitting name, I certainly didn't write it, but rather it was written by... by an old friend of mine." She ignored the tweak of sadness that caused. She ignored the guilt ridden voices in her mind that were telling her that she shouldn't have sung a song that was not hers. That she wasn't good enough to sing Lems words to such an audience.

She smiled past her new friend then, as she stood before Lira. She was glad to have someone she knew watch her perform. She really liked Lira, she had been nothing but kind to her. She even given her a new dress from her very wardrobe, one that she wasn’t willing to ruin by bringing it out into this weather. She turned, with a sunny smile to greet her friend "Lira, I'm ever so glad you're here. Thank-you for watching." She said warmly Turning back to the lady of Syna "Thank-you both.” She looked more closely at the shining woman before her and asked politely “Pray, might I have your name? This here is my friend Liriah, and her companion Luma." A bolt of anxiety shot through her as she realized she hadn’t introduced herself "Oh, And I'm Krisa" She said scratching the back of her head nervously. She began walking, next to her friend Lira and the newly acquainted Etherfal of Syna, whom she simply could not take her eyes of for long no matter how hard she tried. She could never quite get used to all of these god-like creatures walking around with their stunning beauty.

The three of them would make it into the tavern and Kris would, with her companions, move to find a table in the quoin tavern. She would place Kieran's cage at the end of the table and waited for the other to sit down before speaking again "Much better." She said, stripping off her coat and getting comfortable on the seat. It was turning out to be a wonderful day dispite having reminded herself of something she would rather not speak of over drinks, or at all really.

[Alses]

“Our name is Alses,” she replied to Krisa – the performer seemed to be unable to tear her eyes from Alses' form, she noticed with tolerant amusement, very used to that reaction. She was allowing her feet to guide her to the door of the Scholar's Demise through the dripping streets and the diffuse, disorienting skyglass glow scattered between a million tumbling raindrops; long years in the celestial city and work as a courier had imprinted the city's dizzying network of streets, alleyways, cut-throughs and bridges into her muscle memory, her subconscious – she barely had to think about it.

“I teach at the Dusk Tower. A pleasure to meet you both, I'm sure,” she widened the conversation to include the crouched figure beside a dog? Wolf? One of the two, certainly, or perhaps even a mix of the two.

She eyed it, wary, but the beast seemed tame, controlled enough as it padded alongside Liriah, evidently its owner. She was getting good at seeing the hidden things in someone's aura, the shimmering filigrees that regressed away into infinite complexity before twisting, shifting and suddenly kinking into total comprehension as her power flexed its sorcerous muscle. Liriah, she knew, was more than she seemed, a shimmering curl of fading lives twisting and twining around her core, a soul thicker with memories, thrumming auristic impressions from the past, than anything of a normal lifespan, a telltale sign of something inhuman wearing a mortal skin.

An odd companion, perhaps, for someone who tasted of nothing more than nerves and energy, passions boiling just below the surface - but then who was she to judge? One of Lhavit's honoured forty-eight resident Ethaefal, eternal and unchanging and surrounded by nine thousand mortals.

Even though Liriah was a member of her exalted race – a thought bubbling in Alses' subconscious – she was currently leashed in her mortal seeming, and therefore much easier to deal with, so long as Alses kept a tight leash on her powers, that was. Perhaps it was shallow, but as long as she blazed as a glorious celestial creature and the Lethaefal was trapped in an imperfect mortal seeming, they were easier to deal with, without the usual stab of jealousy, loss and pain that accompanied the sight of one on the rare occasions she ventured out at night, a reversal of roles that was most unwelcome.

The smell of the Scholar's Demise, drifting down its quiet street, brought a smile to her face, though, an indefinable melange of beer, wine and fine spirit cocktails matured over the years to a rich equilibrium. Rich golden light spilt out of its windows, a beacon in the gloom of the cloudburst, and their sodden party hurried forwards to the welcoming bastion of warmth and light in the rain-dripped city.

Inside was much as it ever was – dark wood furnishings, sturdy and battle-scarred from years of heavy use, the expensive gilt-edged mirrors on the wall acting as ersatz suns, catching and reflecting and amplifying the candlelight. Normally, during the day, the golden candle-flames were more of an homage to the Goddess of the Sun than anything practical, but right now they were doing sterling work making this place an oasis, an island of congenial illumination. Just across the threshold, Alses breathed deeply and smiled at the familiar sights all around.

Krisa – still carrying that odd towel-swaddled cage affair - headed for one of the many tables, peeling off from their little group even as Alses made a beeline for the bar and the sparkling figure buffing glass and crystal in a vain attempt to get it to shine as brightly as his skin and horns.

One-eyed, that was what everyone noticed about Roric the bartender and sometime-chef, once the blaze of his skin and horns had died away from their sight. Alses had met him many times before, however, eyes hardly tracking, as she approached, over the pale webwork of scars vanishing under the dense black material of his eyepatch. She leaned casually against the lustrous wood and shining brass of the bar itself, the reflected light glinting in the forest of bottles and liquids behind it.

Alses didn't quite look directly at the shining Synaborn – the sight of another Ethaefal, even another Synaborn, in their celestial form still sent the oldest pain racing through her body and mind. Roric knew this, of course – even if he'd been able to overcome that dreadful sensation enough to actually marry a Lethaefal, something she found completely alien – and didn't hold it against her – or any of his Ethaefal patrons. As far as she knew, Aleah was the same.

“Foul weather, Roric,” she observed, getting the pleasantries out of the way as quickly as possible.

The Synaborn nodded his agreement, hands poised over the ranks of glasses, cleaning rag having vanished about his person in a split-second of activity. “What'll it be?” he asked, voice a low and soothing rumble.

A smile. “My usual,” she requested. “Spiced vodka, lychee juice if you've got it, champagne-”

“And rose syrup over ice, I know,” he finished off for her. “Alses' Delight, we called it, didn't we?”

Alses blinked. “We didn't think we'd got so far as to give it a name,” she replied, slightly nonplussed, even as glasses and spirituous liquors began their hypnotic dance in his skilled hands. “But that's as good a name as any.”

A gentle nod, visible to Alses more by the change in the lights from the shifting of reflections than anything else, hands busily dancing their fandango, mixing and stirring and tasting with long glass rods into a high tulip glass, making sure to get the optimum proportions of spirit to juice to champagne before adding that final touch, a dash of thick rose syrup drizzling down and perfusing the cocktail with its delicate, elusive, flavourful sweetness.

“I'll start you a tab,” he rumbled, pushing the completed cocktail – a delicate pink colour – across to her. With a nod of thanks, Alses swept the drink up into her hand, its curve nestling companionably against her palm, and made her way back to the table Krisa had claimed, just in time to hear her exclaim happily: “Much better.”

“Even better once drinks are served,” Alses replied with a faint smile, looking forward to the rich flood of impressions that would tumble across her tongue and light phantom fire in her stomach once she brought her powers to bear on the heavenly drink in her hand.

“Roric – the bartender – is very good,” she confided, and then her voice and manner turned speculative. “Might behoove you to introduce yourself – they like to display new talent here, you know. We think he might rather appreciate your repertoire – especially a Toast to Tomorrow. Very appropriate for the Ethaefal, no?”

Sitting comfortably, now, she nodded across at the towel-swaddled object. “What is that? If you don't mind our question.”

[Liriah]

Following the two women, Liriah caught the Ethaefal's name as she introduced her self as Alses, albeit in a strange way. Alses had addressed herself in the same manor others would address a party or group. Maybe it was because of the mortal seeming split, it was still odd even if that was true in her opinion, and so she decided to ask when they arrived at the bar. With her hood forgotten and the rain soaking into her sunset hair, its feathery waves now sodden rivulets the color of dry and crusted blood, Liriah enjoyed the way the cold soothed her left eye. Snapping from her reverie of self reflection, Liriah caught Alses' announcement that she (or is it they?)teach at the Dusk Tower. What she taught was beyond Liriah, although she would have liked to learn quite a few things herself, and so Liriah added that to the list of things she would ask when they arrived at the bar. "It is my pleasure," the soft acknowledgement mostly scattered by the drumming of the rain "to meet you, Alses." The way she looked at Luma was disheartening to Liriah, not quite accepting and mostly tolerating, as if Luma was her pet. He was Liriah's closest companion for the 13 years she had memories of, and he shall forever remain that way to her. Yes, he was mostly meek and well behaved around her, but it didn't necessarily mean that she owned him. Oh well, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, Liriah won't argue with that. Now Alses was looking at something around her. This was all new to Liriah and she didn't know anything about auras, so she remained silent as they got closer to the Demise. It was incredible the way Alses could traverse this maze like city without much thought of where to go, her stride confident on its route, the destination clear in her muscle memory. The kin before her was definitely younger than her, having never seen her in the original group of those who survived Ivak's emotional upheaval that raised these lands, but it was evident that she has more memories of importance than Liriah's amassed years of memories which had only her in its picture. It was a bitter sweet thought for Liriah; the younger generation have already surpassed her, she was no longer needed and never have. No, Liriah couldn't afford to fall into darkness, not today. Only a few chimes before, she was happy, Krisa's song warming her heart and screening over the holes she felt so accurately now. Recall that feeling of contentment, and you'll be fine. If you don't, Luma will be worried. Calmer than she was before, the despair she harbored quelled for now, Liriah was surprised that they were already at the bar, having followed the group instinctively as she fought her private wars. The light from the windows were welcoming, homeliness and warmth radiating from the candles which lit the room, and that was something Liriah appreciated as they hurried inside the Bar. As the trio filed in, Liriah last with Luma on her heels, she took in the sight before her. Everything was simple yet elegant in this place, nothing she expected from a bar. It was relatively organized, no chaos or brawling, and the furniture were made of glass and wood, the two materials locked in a lovers' embrace. Mirrors were set around the bar, rejecting the light which headed their way, illuminating that which the candles' light could not reach. Watching her two companions head in two different directions, Krisa towards a table with Keiran's cage and Alses towards the counter, Liriah was torn between where to go, and who to follow. Should she follow her friend to the table, or should she follow her kin, the one with the most experience in this city, to the counter and try alcohol for the first time? Deciding that it was a good Idea to head towards the table, having come up with the conclusion that Alses would return to the table anyway, Liriah made her way to Krisa. Taking a seat, her body impervious to her current sodden state, Liriah watched Krisa peel off her sopping wet coat, her exclamation of relief as the moisture left her a source for Liriah's amusement. Turning around to face Alses, who she had seen from the corner of her eyes, Liriah smiled at the lady's comment. The tantalizing scent exuding from the fluted glass in her hand reminded Liriah of the flowers at home, sending her into a brief state of homesickness, as she ruffled Luma's perpetual coat of golden, cookie scented fluff. The words that followed took Liriah by surprise; introducing herself to an ethaefal would be good, but she was no talent. Blushing at her own daftness, Liriah realized that it was Krisa Alses was addressing, not her. The song was indeed appropriate for the ethaefal, but how it was appropriate was something Liriah didn't understand. Content to stay silent for awhile longer, Liriah was surprised when Alses asked what the cage was. Yes, the towel was draped over it, but it was still through and through a bird cage!

[Krisa]

Krisa had no experience with drinking, and had never really found all that much time for it. It was not something she was used to. She had never been intoxicated either, only every recently trying a few basic drinks over dinner, but in the company of other she was willing to try whatever they were trying, so as to bring up a hearty atmosphere. There was an uncomfortable air between the two opposite etherfals that even Krisa could pick up on. The Etherfal of Syna, Alses, seemed slightly prideful, higher than Lira. She figured this was to do with the fact that One was in their immortal form while the other was not. Krisa felt slightly uncomfortable in Alses presence, not yet sure what she though about her. But in Lira’s eyes she could see a spark of sadness. Krisa could feel her pain, and she wished she could reach out and take it away. She couldn’t imagine being immortal. A life like that seemed so lonely, with other growing older and forgetting them while they stayed fixed to the same appearance, the same existence. Yes they were beautiful, immortal creatures, with changeable horns and locks of perfect hair that also changed with each passing season. But Krisa felt that she would rather be mortal, and never be bothered with by the gods and goddesses in the heavens.

Lira made it to the table before Alses did, and Krisa gave her a fleeting smile and a knowing look, trying to communicate that she had picked up on the darkness in her eyes, and that she was here. Even though the sadness seem to be suppressed for now, Krisa knew it was still there, beyond the surface, and that there was nothing she could really do to stop it, but to convey the mere fact that she was here for her friend, Even if she was naught but a mortal, a child to Lira. Alses certainly made her feel like one, with her dazzling beauty and her searching eyes, and the way she carried herself with utter sureness. The feeling of ease she had felt when she met Lira had not been preasent this time. Perhaps it was because she was in such a familiar form, a kin member of Krisa’s, seemingly mortal. But it wasn’t just that, Liriah had been so happy, so kind, and had made her feel equal. The feeling Alses gave her was far from alien to Krisa, as a Dek she had felt it most of her life.

The bar had a wonderful atmosphere, even if the atmosphere of the Trio was not as hearty. It was not like most taverns which usually held raving, obnoxious drunks, and the sloshing of beer. Soon Alses returned to the table having ordered and began to speak to Krisa again. “That sounds like a good plan. I do not often drink and so haven’t been here much., but he does seem very good, and I would much like to perform here.” She smiled, trying to bring the joval nature back to her face, dispite all that was just running through her mind. It would be nice to perform here, she thought. Maybe she would have a conversation with him later, before she left. Though he intimidated her more than a little. She always felt ill at ease talking to men.

Alses’s next question brought a giggle from Krisa’s throat. She’d forgotten to lift the protective towel as she entered the shelter of indoors. Kieran wasn’t making any noise meaning he was either asleep, or very nervous, which he would be if he was not inside his cage in a place like this he might go into panic and start flying around the room squawking in a shrill tone. He didn’t like people, especially not lots of them, but as long as she got to him first and calmed him down she knew that wouldn't happen. Slowly she lifted the cloth and found the it was the first speculation that was accurate, he was fast asleep. That would change in a matter of seconds as his darkness was replaced by light. So she made sure that Krisa was the first one he saw, and this meant he did not panic.

Turning back to the Etherfal of Syna she said “He’s my companion, Kieran. I couldn’t let him get wet, and I simply forgot to take off this cover once we got inside. He’s quite shy you see so I wouldn’t put your fingers near his cage just yet, he might attack them” With a smile she let him out of his cage, and he jumped onto her fingure. She placed him gingerly onto her shoulder and he nestled against her neck and behind her hair as usual, staying quiet for fear of the new faces he saw around him. She placed the empty cage into her bag, and looked back at her companions with a small smile. She wanted to keep the conversation going so she added “You said you teached at the Dusk Tower, Alses? What is it that you teach there?” Kris asked pleasantly, a hint of polite curiosity added to her tone. She was changing her behaviour to be slightly more confident. It was easier on a good day to change her usually meek and inferior aura for the better. Said day being one where she was able to perform, for it made her feel stronger, more purposeful.