16th of Fall, 518 AV
Something has been gnawing on Mauriel's head for days now, randomly shifting from a backdrop of pain she was already habituated to to piercing fire through her skull. She seemed especially prone to such headaches at night, which was the time she was mostly at Scholar's Demise, working. This was one of such nights, and her frustration grew with each stab into her head by her own notes played on the lute. She felt a strong urge to just smash her precious instrument against the ground, or perhaps the closest guest, and run out onto the streets to be basked in Leth's light again. She no longer cared about the unpleasantness of her expression, which throughout the night shifted from flawless serenity into clearly clenched teeth and songless lips. That was it, she'll have to change shifts.
She didn't even take a break tonight. The place was busy and the guests were very cheerful and eager, perhaps still festive ever since celebrations for the fog clearing out, perhaps in anticipation of the Moon Festival, or perhaps a bit of both. Either way, she opted to please, deciding that she might as well end early then and go out while Leth is still strong.
A touch on her shoulder distracted her, both from suppressing the severity of the pain and actually playing the lute.
"What?!" she snapped, missing a couple of notes. She continued playing despite the distraction, though realizing that it was Aleah who interrupted her she prayed to whoever was listening that she'd be done for the night.
"Are you okay?"
No. She wasn't. "It's just a headache, I'm sorry." Her voice was sweet and tired, though one could not blame her, for she really felt embarrassed and exhausted.
The bartender nodded for her to come along and she hurriedly packed her lute, the sounds of her own music replaced with the banter and cheers in the role of causing her piercing pain. Aleah was serving and chatting up a few young lads as Mauriel joined her behind the bar. She passed her a couple of mugs and told her to help pour beer as they talked.
"I've actually wanted to talk to you for a bit. You really don't seem well recently, are you sure you're alright? Has your wound fully recovered?" Aleah sounded genuinely worried, but Mauriel was sure that was just a front. She was surely having second thoughts about keeping such a subpar bard, who couldn't even perform normally now.
"It's not the wound, I've just been having these terrible headaches randomly for a while now... They're getting worse. I think it might have to do with the lack of moonlight. How have you been dealing with it?" Glad to know another Ethaefal well enough to ask the question, Mauriel hoped for some useful advice.
Aleah looked up at her, frowning slightly. "You know that we designed this place to provide me with moonlight. But you were doing pretty good last season and you've been regularly performing at night. Honestly, I'd see a doctor. Though if you think it'd help, it's no problem to reschedule you. We get the best crowd at night and the other bards have been growing eager."
For a moment, pride cast a shadow over her insecurities. The other bards wanted her position, and yet there was no questioning the arrangement until she was unwell? The thought was very flattering after she remembered that the reasoning might have been the same as her own - she is way more beautiful and appealed to more customers in her Leth-gifted form. She felt a bit stupid over thinking it was related to skill upon figuring that out.
"I was trying to avoid it, I really like performing in this body, but I suppose it's inevitable. Any chance I can be scheduled back when I feel better?"
"We'll see about that." Cold. Perhaps the woman wanted to let her know she can't just demand whatever depending on how she feels at the moment. Rotating shifts would be one way of solving it, but humans had more trouble with getting used to that than she would. Rest hours meant little to her, as she'd rest only when she really needed it as an Akvatari.
"Perhaps-"
As she was about to propose the rotation in shifts, they were interrupted by a tall man in clothes far exceeding this tavern's clientele's purchasing power, despite this being one of the well-standing taverns, often housing rather well educated and well standing people. "Excuse me, I was sent by Lady Cylise to fetch Mauriel."
"Is Yvonne with you?" Aleah asked, ignoring Mauriel's baffled expression. The man nodded no. "I'll be done with her soon. Perhaps you'd like a drink in the meantime?"
"No, thank you. I'll wait in front of the entrance then."
Only when he exited did Aleah turn back and continued their conversation. "And don't be stupid, you're gorgeous in both your forms. Akvatari are very exotic here, and people of Lhavit love diversity. If you really want to perform in that form as some personal sort of worship, you can always do it in the streets, where there's lots of moonlight."
Of course! She was being really silly. She's been gifted practically eight bells a day to spend how she pleases, and instead she's been wearing her body and mind down, having to sleep during the day, and now developing these headaches. She could just use those additional hours she'd spend sleeping to perform instead. "Thanks, that does make sense."
The bartender was lifting four rather heavy mugs at the same time to carry them to a nearby table, a single drop of sweat on the side of her face being the only thing revealing any struggle with the task. "As for our Lady Yvonne... She's a local, very rich. I see by your expression that you have no idea who she is. You don't have to go, I have no idea what she wants with you, but she isn't a bad person. I'm curious at least." As she turned to leave for the table awaiting their drinks, she added, "Oh, and you're free for the night. Come the day after tomorrow for the afternoon shift."
She didn't even take a break tonight. The place was busy and the guests were very cheerful and eager, perhaps still festive ever since celebrations for the fog clearing out, perhaps in anticipation of the Moon Festival, or perhaps a bit of both. Either way, she opted to please, deciding that she might as well end early then and go out while Leth is still strong.
A touch on her shoulder distracted her, both from suppressing the severity of the pain and actually playing the lute.
"What?!" she snapped, missing a couple of notes. She continued playing despite the distraction, though realizing that it was Aleah who interrupted her she prayed to whoever was listening that she'd be done for the night.
"Are you okay?"
No. She wasn't. "It's just a headache, I'm sorry." Her voice was sweet and tired, though one could not blame her, for she really felt embarrassed and exhausted.
The bartender nodded for her to come along and she hurriedly packed her lute, the sounds of her own music replaced with the banter and cheers in the role of causing her piercing pain. Aleah was serving and chatting up a few young lads as Mauriel joined her behind the bar. She passed her a couple of mugs and told her to help pour beer as they talked.
"I've actually wanted to talk to you for a bit. You really don't seem well recently, are you sure you're alright? Has your wound fully recovered?" Aleah sounded genuinely worried, but Mauriel was sure that was just a front. She was surely having second thoughts about keeping such a subpar bard, who couldn't even perform normally now.
"It's not the wound, I've just been having these terrible headaches randomly for a while now... They're getting worse. I think it might have to do with the lack of moonlight. How have you been dealing with it?" Glad to know another Ethaefal well enough to ask the question, Mauriel hoped for some useful advice.
Aleah looked up at her, frowning slightly. "You know that we designed this place to provide me with moonlight. But you were doing pretty good last season and you've been regularly performing at night. Honestly, I'd see a doctor. Though if you think it'd help, it's no problem to reschedule you. We get the best crowd at night and the other bards have been growing eager."
For a moment, pride cast a shadow over her insecurities. The other bards wanted her position, and yet there was no questioning the arrangement until she was unwell? The thought was very flattering after she remembered that the reasoning might have been the same as her own - she is way more beautiful and appealed to more customers in her Leth-gifted form. She felt a bit stupid over thinking it was related to skill upon figuring that out.
"I was trying to avoid it, I really like performing in this body, but I suppose it's inevitable. Any chance I can be scheduled back when I feel better?"
"We'll see about that." Cold. Perhaps the woman wanted to let her know she can't just demand whatever depending on how she feels at the moment. Rotating shifts would be one way of solving it, but humans had more trouble with getting used to that than she would. Rest hours meant little to her, as she'd rest only when she really needed it as an Akvatari.
"Perhaps-"
As she was about to propose the rotation in shifts, they were interrupted by a tall man in clothes far exceeding this tavern's clientele's purchasing power, despite this being one of the well-standing taverns, often housing rather well educated and well standing people. "Excuse me, I was sent by Lady Cylise to fetch Mauriel."
"Is Yvonne with you?" Aleah asked, ignoring Mauriel's baffled expression. The man nodded no. "I'll be done with her soon. Perhaps you'd like a drink in the meantime?"
"No, thank you. I'll wait in front of the entrance then."
Only when he exited did Aleah turn back and continued their conversation. "And don't be stupid, you're gorgeous in both your forms. Akvatari are very exotic here, and people of Lhavit love diversity. If you really want to perform in that form as some personal sort of worship, you can always do it in the streets, where there's lots of moonlight."
Of course! She was being really silly. She's been gifted practically eight bells a day to spend how she pleases, and instead she's been wearing her body and mind down, having to sleep during the day, and now developing these headaches. She could just use those additional hours she'd spend sleeping to perform instead. "Thanks, that does make sense."
The bartender was lifting four rather heavy mugs at the same time to carry them to a nearby table, a single drop of sweat on the side of her face being the only thing revealing any struggle with the task. "As for our Lady Yvonne... She's a local, very rich. I see by your expression that you have no idea who she is. You don't have to go, I have no idea what she wants with you, but she isn't a bad person. I'm curious at least." As she turned to leave for the table awaiting their drinks, she added, "Oh, and you're free for the night. Come the day after tomorrow for the afternoon shift."
