[Beach near Scaltown] Like a prism [Event]

[Kali'rial]

5th Saun, 717

Glancing over at Pash again, the Sev'ryn mingled with her friends whilst they enjoyed the music and the skies, handing Mero a cup of water when he followed her. The brunette was fond of the boy, and loved his quiet company. As they sat, Tio suddenly burst from the fray, a clearly delighted smile on his face as he all but shovelled water into his mouth.

"Careful you don't drink too fast their Bubbles, you'll give yourself a stitch. Besides, it's not going to run out anytime soon. Plenty more where that came from." Her smile faltered a little and her gaze became distant, conscious her words dragged up those precious few seconds that would never leave. Focusing on him again, Kali nodded to the blonde.

"But have as much as you need, just do it slowly." The music had changed, only slightly but enough for the huntress to notice a missing instrument. Chuckling, she turned and greeted the bard's kiss as she took his cup.

"Qes, it was wonderful too. Cold, but good." Smiling, she raised an eyebrow as she moved to get him a drink.

"Promises, promises." Laughing, she dipped the ladle and drew a serve for the musician and herself, moving back as he spoke to the others and brushing his arm gently to let him know she was there with the cup. The brush of his fingers come with a familiar look, one that Kali couldn't avoid smiling at. Catching Pash's last comment, the Sev'ryn nodded with a sudden serious look.

"A break from trouble, absolutely agreed. Here's to a safer season then Ymiden." She raised her cup in a toast, before downing the cool clear liquid. As the conversation moved along, the dark haired huntress would place her cup down, chatting politely with the group whilst the sun beat down and the music played. The warmth of the sea faring minstrels hand on hers drew the southerners periwinkle gaze, before she knitted her brow together and shook her head whilst he tugged her towards the crowd.

"Pash I can't..." Kali'rial blushed and looked back at the pavilion where they'd left their friends, before glancing back at the sunkissed sailor with a sigh. He was all charming words, disarming smiles and tempting tones of encouragement in the face of her frown, the brunette very sober and very much in public around people that knew her. Dancing wasn't really an appropriate use of time, not really.

Then of course, Pash begged and looked at her with those delightful eyes.

Laughing a little, the blushing Sev'ryn buried her face in his shoulder for a moment, before wrapping her free arm around his neck and lifting her head to sway a little with the music.

"Just a little." Kali said with a sigh of defeat, smile on her lips.

[Tio Silver]

Tio grinned at Kali as she used the nickname he'd gained on the Immortal's Tongue. It was so much more fun when people used nicknames, after all they were so much more accurate of a person's nature than a regular name could ever be. "Fear not Cupcake, I could drink a lake's worth of water right now and not feel a thing. I am beyond mere stitches!" He had noticed the slight falter in Kali's smile and could guess what had caused it, but acted oblivious to the matter. It was best not to bring up the past at moments like this, it would only serve to bring down the mood. Besides, he'd been trying his hardest to forget about all of that anyway.

Pash arrived then, his presence as always bringing with it a strange feeling of calm. He smiled at his comment knowingly and raised his hand as if making an imaginary toast. "Aye, here's to not getting drowned, chased or beaten up for one day! Although knowing my luck there's probably going to be an army of killer crabs getting ready to invade the beach any second now. Anyway sadly I think I'm all out of dancing energy for now, I guess I'll have to find something else to entertain myself with." He took a quick look around, and his face lit up with mischievous delight as he spotted an abandoned set of drums nearby the musicians. "You know I've always wanted to learn to play the drums! What better time to learn than now eh?"

He took a few steps forward in the direction of the drums, his body language clearly indicating that he had ever intention of wreaking havoc on everybody's eardrums, when suddenly he stopped and grasped at his side with gritted teeth.

"Bugger!... Stitches!... Oww..."

Well if there was ever a sign that the universe didn't want him to continue it'd be that. Pity, it seemed he'd have to hold off on his impromptu drumming lesson for now. But one day.... one day...

"Well I think that's my cue to call it quits, so if you'll excuse me I'm off to the nearest tavern to drink away the pain. Have a good time guys, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

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[Mero]

Accepting the cup he drank deeply draining the cup, slowly this time. Water was good, or at least water that didn’t come from the ocean was good. Bot wanting to get in the way of pash or Kali he contented himself with standing in the surf his bare feet wiggling in the wet sand as the cool water rushed about his feet. Watching everyone he smiled so many people all smiling and enjoying themselves.

He did note that there was more depth to the simple emotions people displayed around him as well. The mother and her child sharing a smile though the warmth of the mothers eyes vs the mischievous grin the child had bellied different reasons to smile. There was Pash and Kali who wore different smiles when they looked at each other, it wasn’t how they smiled when they looked at him or other people it was a special look. When their lips met however he found himself oddly unable to keep watching, he didn’t understand the meaning of the gesture but it was at the very least seemingly important enough that he had no desire to keep staring at it.

Then there was the wild smile of the blonde man. He looked happy but again for different reasons especially when his eyes alighted on the drums, though he stopped midway seemingly pained. Watching the people of Scalvoris beneath the incandescent sky he smiled and wondered what his smile said about him.
Plopping down in the surf he enjoyed the cool water beneath the two blazing sun and wondered if it was perhaps a good thing he’d ended up in this strange place. Maybe he didn’t need the tattooed man anymore if he could be surrounded by the smiles of others. Watching the impromptu dancers he was momentarily a little saddened by the fact that he could not join them in making music, and dancing… well even if he was beginning to like people he didn’t want to be so close to so many moving bodies, no observing would have to do for now.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

“I don’ know if now’s a good—aye, well.” Pash couldn’t help but chuckle at Tio, understanding well the risks of overstepping one’s physical limitations. At least the blond always seemed to manage such things with a smile on his face and wit washing off his tongue, that much was a boon.

Drink away the pain? Was that even possible? The other man had hardly seemed drunk in Almund just a handful of trials ago,

“It were good t’ see you. M’haps we can work on drummin' another time, as it’s been several arcs since I’ve touched one m’self.” And he missed it, to be honest. As much as it was obvious the lute was his strength, Pash still enjoyed experimenting with other instruments. Getting back into a bit of drumming would definitely be more enjoyable with others.

With a grin at Mero, who seemed content to observe and enjoy the surf a little instead of get too close to the crowds, the tall Biqaj was quick to take Kali up on her agreement to dance with him before she changed her mind:

Just a little.

The dark-haired Sev’ryn acquiesced to his request, letting him lead her to the outer edges of the gathered dancers. He understood she had no interest in squeezing past the sweating bodies of strangers, no desire to brush past so much moving flesh. The seafaring musician wouldn’t have been bothered, of course, but he didn’t linger on his curiosities, smiling and leaning comfortably to allow for Kali’rial’s arm to rest behind his neck. His tired hands found familiar places, resting them both on her hips.

Immortals, he was much more tired than he had thought he would be, the heat of Saun sapping his endurance and the enthusiasm of other musicians having pushed him to play louder, longer, and maybe even better than usual. He’d played alone for much of his time in Scalvoris, a few rare exceptions like this trial when others had found him and had their instruments in hand. At Cally’s, he’d mostly experimented, stretched himself, explored improvisational ideas. Here, on the beach, was much like his youth in Ne’haer: playing for an eager crowd, giving them something to dance to. It was nostalgic and Pash couldn’t help but miss home.

The familiar faces of friends like Mero and Tio and new acquaintances like Enrick didn’t really help assuage the ache of homesickness. If anything, they fanned the flames of his longing, despite the seafaring musician’s awareness of just how difficult the circumstances had been when he’d left his family home for the last time just less than an arc ago. This little party on the beach would have been that much more if Torim had been in the crowd or if his sister could tease him. But they were so far away. And he’d left them there, set sail. He’d fled.

He’d made the wrong choice.

But he didn’t know it at the time.

Did he now? Maybe.

And yet, smiling at Kali while she blushed and let him lead the motion of their bodies to the drummer, he hadn’t entirely made a mistake. He could only hope that the wrong he’d left in his wake could be undone, repaired, healed one day. Perhaps he’d return to Ne’haer with the lithe huntress in tow. Perhaps his family would forgive him. Perhaps he’d be strong enough to make things right. Finally.

Pash was content to dance until he was tired or Kali’rial had enough, the movement to music a way of processing his thoughts of home. She could see his smile as a little more distant, his quiet conversation a little less focused, and while he still attempted to entice her into stretching her dancing a little farther, with a few extra steps in one direction or a little extra shift of his hips in another, the heat of Saun made everything feel that much more exhausting. He kept himself tame, however, perhaps just distracted enough by his own thoughts for his hands to wander or for him to let the brush of his lover’s body to take his mind along other currents. For now, anyway. It wasn’t as though it was difficult to sway his mind in that direction … ever.

“Thank you, qua’ma, for humorin’ me an’ dancin’. M’haps it’s alright t’ sit a bit in th’ shade, eh?” He finally admitted he needed a break, grinning at the other musicians and knowing he’d spend some more time with them within the break, perhaps after some water and sitting for a few bits. The seafaring musician made his way to the shade of the little pavilion he’d somehow managed to put up, grateful it hadn’t fallen over on anyone that trial, to pour himself some more water and sit on one of the blankets with a heavy sigh, more than happy to enjoy some quiet conversation with Kali, with Enrick, or with strangers while he attempted to pretend the shade provided any relief from the baking temperatures on the beach and while he paused just long enough to enjoy the strange rainbow skies that the trial seemed to produce on a schedule every arc.

Off Topic

Just thought I’d work on closing out this thread too now that it’s Vhalar. Feel free to post again if you want to. Otherwise, I’m happy to just post up a review request if you want to PM me or submit your own.

[Pegasus]

What a fun thread! I really enjoyed reading this and watching how you all interacted. Great fun, fabulous read. I have to say, the image of Tio's dancing is just... resplendent for me. I love the way that you all just came together and wrote good stuff - real party atmosphere. Any questions, give me a call, drop me a pm etc etc. Enrick: if you want your part reviewed, please just pop up a request.

Thank you!

Kali'rial

Points

XP:15

Fame: +5 (Event participation)

Loot

Nope!

Knowledge

Swimming: Holding your breath
Swimming: Floating on your back
Socialisation: Picking up your guests needs without asking (serving water to the thirsty)
Socialisation: Dancing is almost a requirement in social gatherings that involve music

Non-Skill Knowledge:
Scalvoris Event: Rainbow Sky
Pash: Still trying to get you to dance, still succeeding

Pash

Points

XP:15

Fame: +11 (Event, Performance, Providing Shelter)

Loot

Nope

Knowledge

Carpentry: Building a small shelter
Caregiving: Providing refreshment for a beach party
Caregiving: Keeping a shady spot comfortable
Endurance: Playing music in the heat of Saun
Leadership: Leading accompanying musicians
Lute: Keeping a party going with the right tempo
Lute: Keeping up with your accompaniment
Persuasion: Charming persistence

Non-Skill Knowledge:
Scalvoris Event: Rainbow Sky

Tio Silver

Points

XP:15

Fame: +5

Loot

None

Knowledge

Dancing: All about footwork
Dancing: Be enthusiastic
Dancing: Go with the flow
Dancing: It's tiring
Dancing: It's hot
Rhetoric: Praising water
Rhetoric: Killer crabs?
Endurance: Dealing with stitches.

Non-Skill Knowledge:
Scalvoris Event: Rainbow Sky

Mero

Points

XP:15

Fame: +5

Loot

None

Knowledge

Fieldcraft: Lose a layer to keep cool.
Endurance: Drink water!
Psychology: Fake a smile
Dancing: Wild movements? Or intentional?
Meditation: Accepting your own presence.
Investigation: Kissing is hard to look at, but significant
Psychology: Emotions by Proxy
Acting: Hiding your thoughts

Non-Skill Knowledge:
Scalvoris Event: Rainbow Sky