Request for Songs of Sorrow

The bright sunshine streaming through the east-facing windows paired with the high-vaulted ceiling makes the Fernwood almost feel as if it were outdoors, albeit without the breeze in one's face. The mood is cheerful, and service staff move about briskly, greeting customers new and old with bright smiles. The noisiest table has four old men chattering at each other while playing cards.

"Oi, that's table talk!", complains one. "Pff, not me fault 'e 'ad the left.", is the retort, a cheeky grin flashed to the other players.

In the background can be heard the dulcet tones of a violin and a little voice. The music is uplifting, while the voice sings about the childhood fields of home, the bridges over the ol' river, and the friends you made along the way. The player, and singer, is a Goblin, dressed in leather and mithril, the violin is a golden colour.

Volume seems to be the point of the day. Or at least of the moment. Why walk around town when you can annoy and bother -everyone- with your overly loud self-propelled merchant cart? Alaryn's cart is mounted upon what appears to be several dozen small tank treads, each on individual suspensions. For all the noise they make, it's a really smooth ride.

The sound of the cart gets louder as said cart approaches the pub. Finally, the noise cuts out. Then the door opens and Alaryn strides inside, reaching her left hand up to lift her goggles off of her eyes, onto her forehead. Her eyes sweep over the pub, and she smiles at the pleasant smells of food within.

That sunlight glitters off of the lightweight plate she wears over her chest as a part of her outfit and protection. It is difficult to miss all of the artifice she has on her. Little crystal studs that light up when things get powered. Similar studs wrapped around each wrist. That glittering breastplate seems to share at least aesthetic properties with the Goblin's mithral items.

For all that there is a pleasant vibe to the location, there is in fact at least one person who is not particularly... pleased. He sits at the bar as far from the musician as possible for one to be and remain at the bar. This man is wearing a suit of black armor that has the symbol of Vardama painted on the chest and he is surrounded by a bevy of drink glasses and bottles that the bartender for some reason hasn't taken yet. He watches the musician play with a bit of a scowl on his face which is visible because he doesn't seem to have a helmet handy.

The music and the voice slowly fade as the song comes to an end. The Goblin curtseys amid polite applause, announcing a short break. There's a sudden puff of smoke that envelopes the wee musician, and as it clears a few moments later, she is gone.

And takes a seat next to the displeased, black-armor wearing gentleman. The golden violin vanishes as soon as she lets go of it, and she leans against the bar, putting her chin on her hand. Acedia grins cheekily up at him.

"So uh, not a fond of that song, m'lord?"

Grinning in amusement, Alaryn lifts both brows. "Oh, oh very nice trick!" she exclaims as she claps her hands before her.

But then she heads for the bar herself, laying a few coins atop it before saying, "No rush barkeep. When you have a moment, I'd like a bit of the daily stew and a tankard of ale."

And then she turns her head to view the other two at the bar, "You are quite the performer." she says to the Goblin. "And you..." she says to the black armored guy, "... You are quite the frowner, aren't you?"

The gentleman with dark hair and bright purple eyes turns his gaze upon the goblin as she appears at his side. For a moment he seems utterly discomforted. "Lord?" He queries, his voice deep and languid. The man nurses his current beer and shakes his head. A dark eyebrow arches upwards at Alaryn's comment and he snorts. "Wonderfully judgmental aren't you?"

His inquiry is not so gentle and he rolls his eyes at her. "As for the music. Lets just say I found it a little... cheerful."

Acedia grins at Alaryn, leaning forward slightly to Alaryn. "Thank you! I'll be here all week... try the stew. OH! I see you have ordered it already. It's delicious."

Looking back to the black-armored gentleman beside her.

"Ah, well, I do have my repertoire of dirges and hymns to the dead, however, I've been asked to play cheerful music. Tis a pub after all." Acedia leans in, hand covering part of her face as she whispers, "Besides, the mood's not quite right, eh? So bright and sunny." Leaning back a little, the Gobbo wonders, "What would you have me play?"

Laughing cheerily, Alaryn shakes her head, "I would not call it judgemental so much as... stating what it is that I am observing. But then again..." she shrugs, "I have never had much in the lines of restraint when it comes to thinking and speaking. Usually, the thought just rushes out of my mouth before I can consider whether it'd be best to say it. Sorry."

And that said, she grins before looking to the Bard. "For the record, my name is Alaryn Ayers. Merchant at large, and enchanter of weapons, armor, and all sorts of other things. If you hear of anyone with a need for skills such as mine, by all means... I am usually in my assigned market stall daily... at least if I am not out grabbing a bite."

"A dirge might be fitting." The paladin of Vardama - or a warrior dedicated to that goddess perhaps - grunts and shifts his beer around in its cup. He's clearly been at drinking for a _while_. "Do you know 'Still Here'?"

The song suggestion is in fact one of the saddest love-songs that exists. Certainly unfitting for a bright and cheerfully sunshiny day. The man eyes Alaryn and snorts at her again. "You know, most people ask others for their name after introducing themselves. Not you though."

Turning his purple eyes from her to the goblin he nods his head to her. "What was your name? - Mine is Aragos." A simple and unassuming introduction for sure.

The Gobbo nods to Alaryn. "I can't speak for others, but currently I am not looking for magical gear. My adventuring life is perhaps at an end, or at least paused. I thank you though."

To Aragos, Acedia smiles. "I am Acedia. It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am formerly a player of some note, and having taken oaths, I am now a Silver Guard." She leans in closer to the Vardaman. "I would offer you a private playing, if it be your wish. I would give that song its proper, respectful due. I would be the ghost at your side, for a time, as it were."

Bowl being set before her along with the accompanying tankard of ale, Alaryn shrugs her shoulders. "Well. You just showed me that asking your name wasn't necessary. I said mine, and then you immediately told us yours. So..." She smirks and reaches for the brown bread served with the stew and tears off a hunk to use to dip into the stew. Why use a spoon when you have good richly flavored bread, right?

"Still here?" She asks after she chews and swallows. "Sounds like a lament or some such. Not that I know much about music."

Aragos nods politely to Acedia. "I might at that, but I doubt I could pay you your proper due." He stares at his drink a moment and then his eyes flash over to Alaryn. "I don't remember introducing myself to you. Just because you overheard me say it to someone else doesn't entitle you to it's use." His lips are twisted into a frown again. The paladin downs his beer and waves for another one.

"Now now, come, we do not need to dip into insults.", the Goblin comments, eyeing the two briefly.

She nods to Aragos, "You need not pay me, I am willing to do it as a favor. Or, perhaps... you could offer me some food and drink? A decent meal and some conversation is a form of payment to itinerant musicians and players alike."

Laughing mid-bite of her stew, gravy -almost- milkshakes from her nose. Alaryn shakes her head, "And -I- am the judgemental one." she states before picking up a towel and wiping at her mouth. Then she takes a pull from her tankard and shrugs, "Either way... who I am and what I do aren't changing. Know anyone in need of enchanting services?" she asks.

And then she grins to the Bard, "Now -there- is some negotiating skill. I admire that."

Aragos blinks at Acedia's offer and shrugs. "I'm not great company as I'm sure you've observed." He sighs happily as the replacement beer is given to him and he eyes Alaryn over it, flashing her a grin that's all teeth. "Never said that _I_ wasn't judgmental lady. As for your services. I think _not_. You've gotta trust your weapon or armor to someone, and you? Not for a hot second." He snorts.

Acedia exhales slowly. "Hmm, not necessarily negotiating, but offering alternative forms of payment. Some places you will find have little coin or reason to use such. Barter is a way of life. A good Bard learns how to bend like the Willow, lest they break like the Oak. Also, I enjoy being fat and happy." Her grin is full of teeth and very mischievous in nature.

"Pff. Everyone is great company in their own way. I'm not looking for rainbows and kittens, Sunshine. I am looking for your story, though, if you wish to tell it to me. But beer and stew will do for payment, in exchange for a song. Tell me your story, and I'll play several. Maybe even tell you how I died."

Chuckling, Alaryn just bobs her head, "Okay. I get it now. Must be a lonely life, never trusting anyone. By Reos..." she adds with a shake of her head, "... I wouldn't be much of a merchant if I weren't trustworthy with the goods of my customers. But I can't force you to change your outlook. Nobody can but you."

"Died?" she asks as her head turns towards Acedia, both brows raising, the forehead scrunching between her eyebrows and where the goggles compress the skin on that forehead.

"A day of songs for a story?" Aragos considers this for a long moment then shakes his head. "Wouldn't want you making a song about my life. That'd be... Discomforting." He eyes Alaryn and snorts at her for a second time.

"Better to not trust. I'd say you could trust me on that, but since we don't know one another..." Aragos shrugs, a graceful roll of his shoulders. "I've got good reason to be cautious."

Though he has as much interest as the next person in Acedia's 'death', he only raises his brow at her comment of having died. She'll either tell or she won't.

"Not a song about your life, since you're still living it. But songs similar to the one you requested. I assume that due to their nature, you don't get to hear songs like it usually. I'm offering to play for you, that is all."

The Gobbo smiles at Aragos before looking to Alaryn. "Trust is hard to earn, at times, and too easy to lose. I can empathize with Aragos' point of view. Though, I see no reason myself to distrust you."

She pauses to wave at the barkeep, and gestures to Aragos' drink. "I'll take one of what they're having, and bring them another one too, please." Ace tilts her chin at Alaryn, "And give her another of whatever she wants." A gold coin is left spinning on the counter. "Yeah. I died. Obviously, I got better." Wink.

Aaaand Alaryn shakes her head, "I appreciate the generosity, but I don't really have a ton of time. I'll pop by sometime to listen to your death and life story." she says to Acedia.

"I am not trying to insult you by not accepting your purchase of a drink." She scoops up the last bite of stew and smiles. "I just had a few minutes to eat. I am actually on a project right now. I should get back to work so as not to betray the trust of my customer, right?" she asks, eyes flickering between the other two before she stands and smiles. "I'll pay for the songs sometime." she adds to Acedia before she turns towards the exit.

Aragos watches Alaryn go with a trace of displeasure in his gaze. "Wonders why I don't trust her. She's flakey." He shrugs and turns his attention back to Acedia. "Alright. Deal. You tell me how you died, and I'll tell you why I requested that song. Then you play it for me." He grins, knowing he's getting the better end of the deal there.

Acedia also watches the departure of Alaryn. "Ah, don't be too hard on her. Artificers are often such. Tinkerers, engineers, explosives experts and so on. They tend to get jumpy because... those things have a habit of coming apart at the seams, sometimes explosively. I'm a Goblin, and I had to leave my parents because they were working on massively improved firearms. I was tired of the house exploding all the time."

The Gobbo snorts. Nodding, she smiles, offering up her wee hand for shaking. "Name the time an' place, and I'll be there with bells on. I'd offer you up the story now, but, it is lengthy, and at some point I have to get back onto the stage. For now, let us smalltalk and drink?"

Aragos takes off his gauntlet, a twist and pull before it sets down on the counter and he offers his hand back to Acedia. "I'll be around here so whenever you're off work'll do. And I won't say no to a drink - ever." A rough half-laugh that trails off a bit and he takes his hand back after a short but polite handshake is given. Then he replaces his gauntlet and downs his beer so that he can accept the one that she'd bought for him.

Her grip is firm, for a Goblin, and she chuckles. "A drink is a drink." The little Bard sucks back about half her glass before setting it down on the bartop. She winces slightly as it goes down. "So, a Paladin to Vardama. How long have you been in Her service, if that's not too nosy to ask about?"

Aragos thinks about the question for a long moment. "Nine, almost ten years." He says quietly, as if the question means more to him than it perhaps should. He shakes his head. "I don't mind the asking, but... Well - you're a Silverguard right? I'm sure that how you came to be one is a little... personal right?" He looks at her.

"Oh yes, finding one's self in the service of a God or Goddess is often very personal. While I am happy to tell you my story, you may not wish to share so much. I understand. I was just curious how long, is all. For me, it's only been about hmm three years? Fair is fair."

The Goblin sips at her drink. "Do you have a song request? Perhaps one that is a little more upbeat than the one you requested? Doesn't have to be as honey-sweet as what I was playing. But it can be a little sad. I will make it work."

The paladin of Vardama looks toward her stage and shrugs. "No. I don't know many songs that well, and anything I choose would be... Something that no one else is likely to want to hear." Aragos shrugs again. "You'll have to excuse me if I'm feeling even more melancholy than usual."

Acedia smiles lightly. "Not everything in life is going to be what a person wants to hear. I'm willing to do play for you a song. While I would wish you to be happy, I can see that you are seeking a different mood. As a bard, well, mood's what I'm about.

The Gobbo pauses, her expression curious. She ventures a hand out, attempting to pat at his forearm lightly. "You need not excuse yourself for such. We all have our moments of melancholy."

He doesn't resist her hand touching his forearm, but then he's covered in armor so maybe that has something to do with it. "Then... how about you pick something? You surely know more songs than I do. Something sad - about the Gray Halls perhaps. Something hopeful enough that the rest of those listening don't wonder at it." A small trace of a smile.

Her fingers tap across his armor arm, and she nods. "I have a song in mind. Valhalla Calling." She rubs at her chin, and grins. "Not as sad as you would hope, I think, but, it is hopeful. Falling in battle and going on to halls of eternity." She cants her head slightly, "What do you think?"

"Good enough for me." Aragos says with a nod and look of appreciation. "And my gratitude to you. I'll be here when your set finishes." He lifts his cup to her. "Maybe I'll even buy you something to drink afterwards. Return the favor."

-End