Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure

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Myala does not seem all that relaxed with the dancing.  She moves generally to the rhythm of the music but does not seem comfortable. <snip> Eventually Myala leans in toward Chierhy. "This seems odd. I'm more used to having a dance partner and not just this..." She motions with her hand, seeming unsure of what to really call this. "Well, this moving around with the group."  

“Dance… partner?,” Chierhy echoes, her brow rising slightly in curious attention. “We have a dance style … it’s very formal, Kizomba. Like this.” Chierhy, without drama, demonstrates a close partner box step much like a waltz.

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Having already made it back to the table and readied to go, Aurora gives Malvyn a long kiss in return to his before she parts. And with the previous group wrapping up, she is soon taking her place on the center of the stage.  She wastes little time in getting started, beginning to play her hurdy gurdy with a long low drone as she starts to play a slow melody which gradually accelerates into more of a jig. It has a darker tone to it, seeming appropriate for the black-haired, pale skinned woman.  

When Aurora takes the stage, Chierhy with great interest, returns to her seat and gives her her full attention. At first, the young knight’s daughter claps, but politely, for in the courts of Wagadu, she has witnessed more polished musical acts. And the particular choice of instruments… a more foreign sound would be hard to imagine–foreign to the singing drums and pipes of Koumba Saleh, that is. Chierhy studies Arinchu and Malvyn, obvious fans of the performer, wondering if something will show in their faces. Disappointment or empathy for a bad night? Still, there is a certain glow to sitting with the featured star, and it has been a fun evening so far. ‘Even if Aurora does not quite hit the mark of excellence, I am enjoying myself,’ she thinks.

"Yes, dance partners," Myala says. She grins a little bit. "I see that look. It was nothing like that! Generally, for a formal dance, you would line up a number of gentlemen to dance with. Most of the time it would be some of the boys from the guard unit. Not that there was anything wrong with them."  She lowers her voice a little bit conspiratorially. "And sure, one or two might have been extremely strong and handsome. But it was certainly never something serious with me." 

She finds herself nodding along as Chierhy demonstrates the box step. "Yes, very much like that! We had a number of dances similar to that. You learn the steps, and it was easy to know what to do. Plus, usually the man would lead. So much better than whatever this is."  She looks around at the various people just kind of randomly moving to the music. "I probably look the fool here. I've no idea if I'm doing any of this right!" 

Myala is more than ready to sit down once Aurora takes the stage. She takes in the beginning of her performance, the instrument clearly foreign to her as well. It is possible to notice a bit of a shift in the atmosphere of the Bow's End. It's hard to call it a hush, as there is certainly still a background murmur of conversation going on. But Aurora has seemed to capture far more of the attention of the crowd compared to groups up to now. More eyes are focused on the stage. 

The purple-skinned tiefling would savour the dark music, even closing his eyes to have his full focus on it, although the end of his tapered tail still sways and moves to the rythm of the dark jig. 

Arinchu seems eager to remain dancing, moving freely to the music. When the music is more upbeat, she would move quite energetically. And with the slower pieces she moves with a fluid grace. She also seems to keep an eye on Aspen, not wanting to wear her out and deferring to her if she wants a break. 

When Aurora takes the stage though the Half-Orc would immediately be back out to the dance area, weaving her way towards the front. She is clearly excited, applauding enthusiastically when she begins her first piece. Despite the darker tones of the music, the jig is fairly upbeat. She seems to know a simple pattern of hops and foot changes that matches the meter of the piece. 

As the first piece comes to an end, Aurora moves directly into a second. This one also has a dark tone but a slower melody but is still clearly a dance tune. But at the end of that pair a new song is introduced, a ballad rather than a dance. Arinchu seems inclined to remain standing, although it does give her a moment to catch her breath a little. 

After a bit of a respite, the music continues to intersperse dance pieces with various tales and even a tragic love song. Aurora seems to cover a diverse range of styles. 

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"Yes, dance partners," Myala says. She grins a little bit. "I see that look. It was nothing like that! Generally, for a formal dance, you would line up a number of gentlemen to dance with. Most of the time it would be some of the boys from the guard unit. Not that there was anything wrong with them."  She lowers her voice a little bit conspiratorially. "And sure, one or two might have been extremely strong and handsome. But it was certainly never something serious with me." 

She finds herself nodding along as Chierhy demonstrates the box step. "Yes, very much like that! We had a number of dances similar to that. You learn the steps, and it was easy to know what to do. Plus, usually the man would lead. So much better than whatever this is."  She looks around at the various people just kind of randomly moving to the music. "I probably look the fool here. I've no idea if I'm doing any of this right!" 

 

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After a bit of a respite, the music continues to intersperse dance pieces with various tales and even a tragic love song. Aurora seems to cover a diverse range of styles. 

Chierhy is surprised by Myala’s insecurity. “You don’t look like a fool,” Chierhy protests, “and who cares anyhow. You’re here to enjoy yourself. If anyone else has an issue with what you look like while you’re doing that, it’s their problem.” Her mother’s words. But not the first time she’d shared them with others. Indeed, in the viper’s nest of Koumba Saleh’s teenage politics, Chierhy had only barely survived by invoking this mantra repeatedly.

“Ah, the man… leads?? Well that would work perfectly dancing in circles!,” she says with a smirk. 

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When Aurora’s music turns to story songs, Chierhy’s opinion about the bard's talents begins to shift. The droning hurry-gurdy lends a surprising and almost hypnotic subtext to the ballads that is reminiscent of exotic Ikaki throat-singing from the underwater Gilled Folk, and Chierhy loses herself in Aurora's telling of the tales. Chierhy had always been quick to learn song lyrics — despite her being, according to Remi, “beautifully tone deaf." She supposed it to be true -- the tone deaf part -- since she had no idea what he was talking about. It would explain why when she sang Wagaduan songs at home, she would usually notice her older brother and parents had gone out by the time she stopped. Yet whatever her deficiencies in making music herself, her appreciation for song dwindled not a fraction -- especially narrative songs. And so as the evening passes, she observes Aurora's developing performance with increasing interest.