Knap is just chilling, just one more song and he’s gone. He goes to call out for another drink but changes his mind. 

“oh hey Mae!” 

While the purple-skinned tiefling sort of agreed with Maeleve he was still a bit surprised to hear the aasimar say those scathing words. Her angelic beauty had made him think of her as more gentle, but then he had already witnessed her disposing of the annoying actor earlier at the Biblioplex, maybe she was simply like that, daring to tell it like she saw it.

As his pointed ears pick up Aurora telling Mae how he was eager for her arrival he freezes up again. "I...um...I was just thinking you would want to meet with the other musicians." He quickly says to the angelic aasimar, hoping it didn't sound too strange. It was the truth after all. As Guardok supports him he turns to the genasi with a look of immense gratitude, feeling both comforted and encouraged.

"You're up next right?" He then more confidently turns and says to the pierced performer. "I'm thrilled over hearing you play your instrument. I've actually read about the hurdy-gurdy. It's so interesting how the instrument combines the hand-crank-turned wheel with strings and tangents. It seems terribly difficult to play though but I'm sure you will impress us all down here. I will listen...and watch." He says with an encouraging smile, not knowing how confident Aurora was with going on stage as a first-year student but it couldn't hurt with some reassurance the knight of cups figures.

Charisma roll: 20 + Bardic inspiration: 5

"Then I suppose it's a good thing I came when I did, then isn't it?" Mae commented back to Traydark with a faint smile, before nodding at Knap. She leaned back into her chair, mildly surprised at the mention of a hurdy-gurdy as it was certainly a lesser known instrument but not completely unheard of. She had never tried one before though so the experience would certainly prove to be educational at the very least, memorable even at best. 

"Did you see the others before you came over, Mae? Chara and Mellori didn't fancy it?", Guardok enquires of the newly arrived Mae.

When talk turns to Aurora's imminent performance, he feels a little sorry for those currently performing. "I don't think it is too bad. Some folk like a good soppy song or two. Myself I prefer more upbeat songs with a bit of dancing. Though even in the circus there are times when romantic songs fit the bill. Especially during aerial displays, they can be quite...I guess sensual...if done right. There is as much performance as acrobatic skill involved when it's done right".

He then looks at Rubina, "I think I may be talking myself into that Playactors Guild!".

The first band does close up their act without much different than what they've played throughout.  There's a group up very close to the stage - some Half-Elves, a couple Elves, and a handful of Humans, all cheering wildly for the trio.  (They had also been a large contingent of those dancing to the music as well.)  Aurora gets up, her hurdy gurdy in hand, and starts to head towards the stage.  "Now for something different I guess," she says with a slight grin.  Glancing over at Malvyn, she gives the Tiefling a wink. "I'll be glad to know you are watching," she replies to his encouragement, She doesn't give any signs of being anxious about performing, though it could be she's just not showing it.  

Ven had returned with more wine for her and the Frost Fire for Guardok.  As Mei drinks her own Frost Fire, she realizes that despite being delicious and not tasting quite as much of alcohol, it probably has much more than her original ale.  But it is a tasty drink.  

"Anyone else need a drink?" Ven asks. Realizing Aurora had headed to the stage, he brings the drink to her there.  

There are a few minutes between sets as Aurora gets herself situated on the stage.  As she prepares to start it is just her, sitting on a high stool, holding her hurdy gurdy.  She turns the crank creating a single deep low note starts to play.  Gradually she starts to play a slow low tune.  In time she adds additional strings, creating a more complex, though still melancholy tune. 

Perhaps unlike the majority, Mei is sad to see the first set finished and wishes she'd gone up to dance with the group when she had the chance. But she listens aptly to the conversation--blushing at the thought of a sensual aerial performance--as she continues to sip her frost fire, wincing once or twice against the icy grip of brain freeze. As she sinks down a bit in her seat at the lull of the melancholic song, cheeks warm and pink from the alcohol, her focus gradually turns from the striking performer and her unique instrument back to Mae, finally taking in the bard's weary countenance. 

Leaning over a little too far and nearly resting her cheek on the Aasimar's upper arm, she whispers up at Mae, "Are you okay?" With a dreamy little smile she adds softly, "I'm glad you came." 

The purple-skinned tiefling keeps nursing his wine as he watches Aurora take the stage, watching her as she confidently makes her preparations and takes her seat at the high stool before starting to play her intriguing instrument.

With the long single deep note, Malvyn slowly enters an almost trance-like state, feeling it reverberate through his marrow, and as the melancholical music slowly builds from the fascinating instrument, images of a dark misty forest appears for the tiefling's inner eye, something moving slowly there between the old dark tress, moving to the music, dancing a slow sorrowful dance. It was her. He could see her now, that hauntingly beautiful one from his repressed memories.

The purple-skinned tiefling seems fully absorbed by Aurora's performance, not seeming to even register the conversation around him.

Mae nodded once, "I think I'm just tired. I'll be alright I'm sure." She smiled softly and then turned her attention to the new performer on the stage. The unique instrument and more haunting voice brought a sense of empathy and calmness to Mae. It wasn't something she would have normally performed herself, of course, but it was a welcome change to the silver-a-dozen sappy songs most bards sang. She held her peace though, even Mae had had her detractors, just not many, although she suspected she knew the real reason. She settled in to watch the darker girl work her musical magic with genuine appreciation.

After the first piece, which was entirely instrumental, the next couple of pieces Aurora sings along to the somewhat haunting melodies from her hurdy gurdy. A few in the crowd seem to attentively listen to her music - especially the others at your table - but much of the tavern sinks into a low murmur of conversation.  Between songs, Aurora drinks her wine, until the glass is empty and the Haregon waitress quickly brings her another glass.

Rubina remarks after the first several pieces, "They all sound so dark and sad. I mean, I shouldn't have expected differently, but still."  Her drink is still relatively full, though some of the others have emptied their cups and glasses.  Ven is soon back over, "Anyone need anything more?" 

"It's an emotional release, isn't it?" Mei wonders aloud about Rubina's observations, now sunk so low in her chair just her nose and eyes are visible above the tabletop. "I think there's catharsis in music and lyrics that articulate emotions we don't know how to express on our own. It's comforting, don't you think? A paradox of pleasurable sadness." Did something sad happen to her? She blinks then glances over at Aurora's fellow bandmate. "I'm Mei, by the way!"

An empty glass that was once full of Frost Fire emerges from beneath the table and she lolls her head to the side to look at Ven before gesturing at Aurora, "I'll have what she's having next, please. She seems to really like it!" Her feet kick to find purchase on the ground and Mei pushes herself back up in the chair. "You knoooow, you're so great, Ven," she gushes. "Definitely the best I've ever had." Her fuzzy mind is sure she included the word "waiter" in there somewhere as she traces shapes in the condensation on the table before passing her empty glass to him, fingers brushing his. "Maaaeee, you should let him serve you too. He's really attentive and fast!"


((Mei inadvertently casts Guidance on Ven lol!))

The dark-skinned woman gives Mei a smile. "I'm Rubina."  She seems to ponder your question a moment before replying. "It is comforting in a way - I suppose through music the emotion is shared perhaps. It finds a resonance with the sadness within you. The comfort is knowing you aren't alone in your sadness, without even having to express whatever that sadness is." She grins as she realizes the scholarly tone of her response. "Or...  something like that. Sorry, that was probably unnecessary analysis."  She takes an uncharacteristically long drink from her glass, though it seems she still hasn't finished her first.  

Ven seems to hesitate a moment at Mei's order. Though he smiles a touch at her praise. "Of course. Aurora prefers a rich bodied and very dry red wine. I'd be glad to get you one. But it's... well, not what you would normally pair with the drink you just had."  He glances over at Mae, giving her a smile. "I didn't realize your name is Mei as well?  Was there something you would like?" After watching Mae a moment, he turns to the others, "Anyone else?" 

Guardok sits quietly, firstly contemplating his extracurricular choice, then marvelling at the frosty drink placed before him, and lastly listening to Aurora play.

He was being honest when he mentioned that he preferred more up beat songs, and he finds he hasn't got much to contribute to the conversation about shared sadness. Obviously he can appreciate the skill required to play, but he obviously didn't have any experience yet in his life that the melancholy can really draw on.

So instead he focusses on his drink, finally taking his first sip. So different to the cider he had tried before, this had a mixture of flavours all combining on his palate in a cold taste explosion. He can't help but take another, bigger sip, swilling it about in his mouth.

"Good choice Mei", he says holding his drink up to clink with hers before noticing hers is empty. "Oh, you've finished already. Not surprised, it's delicious. This will be my last though. I want to be bright and alert in the morning".

“It’s really good, right!?” Mei bursts at Guardok, excited to see he agrees. She’s curious why it will be his last drink though if he wants to be bright and alert. She’s feeling the brightest and alertest she has all day thanks to them.

“Ah, but you don’t think I’d like the wine?” She asks Ven, already trusting his opinion implicitly. “Maybe a fizzle… fizzy… fizzer then? Like Knap’s? Would that be okay?”

As Ven offers to take Mae’s order, Mei blinks again at Rubina and her analysis, then leans across Malvyn to reach a waving hand out towards the other girl. “N-No, no, don’t apologize, please! That’s exactly it, I agree! And there’s something really beautiful and,” she watches Aurora a moment more, the passion in her tone a contrast to Rubina’s scholarly one, “i-intimate about offering that vulnerability and connection to others. Even if not everyone who listens connects in the same way. It’s enough that even just one person might.” She smiles up at Malvyn from over his lap, suspecting he’s connecting in a similar way with the song and Aurora herself, judging by the look on his face. Realizing she’s both in his personal space and interrupting his connection with the performance, she squeaks an apology and rights herself in the seat.

Mae is to wrapped up in listening to Aurora to mind Ven, barely nodding at their direction while still focusing on the performer. Despite many other patrons paying less attention, she was lost in her own reverie, her angelic features a curious mix of beauty, fatigue, and sadness as she resonates with the darker performer.

Meanwhile for the purple-skinned tiefling, all but mesmerized by the hauntingly beautiful music, the emotional catharsis is real, his eyes filled with sadness, almost welling with tears and yet he has a faint smile on his lips, listening to and watching Aurora while the dark mystic scene continues to play out before his inner eye.

Feeling a presence close, seeming so real, Malvyn looks down to see the purple-haired girl smiling up at him, and it takes a moment to realize she is actally leaning in over his lap, being so close he could sense the warmth from her, her scent even, before she quickly sits back in her seat and he in his, glancing around at the others and then briefly at the purple-haired girl beside him. What had just happened? Why was she so close? He could still feel her warmth lingering faintly. Was that how it felt to be close?

His mind tumbling with thoughts on what he had seen, Malvyn continues to listen to the performance of the dark pierced performer, but he spell is broken now and he is not even sure he dares to go there again, not yet at least. Maybe the dreamer could make him understand what he saw?



 

Ven quickly returns with a Peach Fizz for Mei. "Here you are! I hope you enjoy!" 

Aurora plays several more pieces, singing along to most of them.  The final piece is a ballad of a young man and lady who fall in love. A love song, though still rather dark in tone. Each of the pair face many hurdles.  In the end it seems they will be together, until a final tragedy takes both their lives, abruptly ending the song. It was a beautiful, though haunting song.  She rises when done, thanks the crowd, then makes her way off the stage.  

A stout Owlin comes up on the stage afterwards, announcing there will be a short break before the next act.  He congratulates Aurora on her performance.  The coming act will be more focused on dance music and he invites the crowd to come up and join in once the next group starts.  Mei recognizes the Owlin as Javenesh Stoutclaw, who was pointed out to her earlier. 

"Thank you for that Aurora..." The purple-skinned tiefling says as the dark pierced performer rejoins them at their table. "...that was the most beautiful music I've heard, it really touched me." He continues with a friendly smile, seeming quite sincere and profound in his rather grand statement. "Also, I must admit I'm so impressed by how confident you seem, going on this stage on yourself after barely arriving here at Strixhaven." He adds, taking a sip of his wine. Admittedly his life so far had not found him with many performances to compare with, but he knew what he felt, that Aurora's hauntingly beautiful music was something that had truly moved him, had touched him profusely.

As the others chat, Guardok focusses on his frosty drink, finding a warm feeling working his way down his body from his throat right to his belly. 

As Aurora sings her final song, about lovers entwined in tragedy, he leans over towards Mei and Mal, "Imagine that song being sung as two people embrace 40 feet in the air whilst spinning around suspended on silken ropes. Only to be separated and swing in ever increasing circles away as they reach out to each other, before coming together one last time, just before they fall". His eyes tear up at the thought.

"Oh goody, music to dance to is next", he suddenly says, perking up at the mention of dance music.

Tears already at the precipice of her lower lids, the scene that Guardok paints sends them tumbling over as Mei sinks back down in her seat. She swipes repeatedly at them as they chase one another down her cheeks, the tragic love song having taken hold of her heart with a painful, wrenching grip. She thinks of her parents. Of her mother, whose death was the first she Dreamt of. Of her father who has never been the same since her passing, like a piece of him died with her that day. The song could very well have been about them. They could be the lovers twirling in the sky who fall at the last embrace.

Face hidden behind her sleeve, she sniffles with hiccuped breaths as she gropes blindly about the table for her drink. Perhaps there was something to the adage about drowning your sorrows. When she finds the glass and tips it to her lips, it’s only a few drops of melted slush that slide coldly over her tongue. Mei lowers her arm to glower at the empty glass like a disappointed parent.

Her teary gaze slides to Guardok again as he mentions dancing. "A-Are you going to dance?" she snuffles.

Aurora seems to show little reaction to the comments from Malvyn.  But she does look at him intently as she approaches. "I am glad you liked the music. That's my greatest wish, that people enjoy it. As for confidence, I've been performing for a long time. I'm used to it. And I don't really care what folks think.  Although..." She glances over towards Mae as she sits down. "I do wonder Mal if you think my performance even holds a candle to Mae here?"