Margrett took a deep breath, smelling the sweet smell of the flowering trees around her. This hill sloped gently, and was covered in the white and pink flowering trees. She loved the crisp smell, the small, refreshing bite of the wind. For once, she didn't have on her armor. It seemed unneeded here. Her civvies, the shirt Grayell had given her and dark purple trousers, weren't as intimidating as her armor was, and truth be told she felt a little naked. But it was a good sort of feeling, like she was letting her guard down for once.
The flowers floated on the breeze past her, and she felt sort of at home. The smell brought back memories, good ones. She was here to get some of the blooms to make a sweet-smelling polish, but for now she was content to walk among the trees, silently, reverentially.
The wind whipped her hair around, and she closed her eyes, feeling the cool air. She walked a little like that, just taking in the silence. Serenity had left...again. She felt a little alone. Her good mood fell a bit. Grayell had Kiko, and good for him. He deserved it, and from what she knew of Kiko, so did she. Margrett knew she didn't quite need anyone like that, but it still got to her every so often. Her father was alone most of his life, dedicated to his duty, and even after he met her mother he couldn't be with her for very long. And then what happened to her mother...
She shook the thought free and looked up to a tree. Maybe it would seem clearer up there. She grabbed a branch and pulled herself up.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic was out on one of his rambles once again. Wanting to maintain his knowledge of the area surrounding the town he would go out and explore, building his mental map. He also used it to keep his senses sharp in regards to navigation, clacking his staff left and right to allow him to walk. He advanced through the trees in a shuffle-footed gait, mindful for any low branches or tree roots. His staff would intercept both, his hatbrim catching the smaller twigs.
He began humming, inhaling deep breaths of the fresh air, not really knowing that he was approaching the tree that Margrett was climbing, though he heard the creak of wood. He dismissed it as wind, having already been jumpy enough at imaginary threats. Heck if it was some hunting cat he was far too stringy and tough to eat.
He sank into the lee of a nearby tree, folding up his legs and unslinging his instrument, idly plucking at it, searching his mind and his sense of his surroundings for inspiration.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
The wind did in fact pick up a little, as Dominic continued to idle himself with his instrument. There was a constant breeze, gentle, passing by the tree he sat next to.
He could easily tell there was something a tad unnatural about it, the wind effortlessly kept a stream as if it were running water, not breaking.
Should he pay closer mind to it, he would see that the source, if there is one, was coming from someplace far behind him, deeper into the woods.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom did notice the wind, stopping his play for a moment to tilt his head and listen. There was no phantom fanning person. Seemingly no living creature to create the breeze. He plays a small tune as an ode to the wind. He didn't believe in deities as such, but he knew the supernatural existed and the wind itself could be the incarnation of some spirit or other. Best to make nice.
As it continued to blow he frowned slightly, stopping his play again and rising to his feet. Slinging his instrument to his shoulder and securing his hat atop his head he began ambling toward the source of the breeze, keeping a mental note of his path and his relative position to town in mind at all times. Strange breeze might lead to something story worthy. Hopefully not dangerous though.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
(I just remembered that your character is blind, my bad lol)
As he walked, Dominic could feel that the currents of the wind now seemed to surround him. There was truly an oddity about them as they wrapped around him as if the wind had a mind of it's own. Yet there was nothing malicious about it at all, the currents were gentle and not at all oppressing.
Eventually, he came to a break in the trees that led to a brief clearing where he could hear the sound of running water, coming from a stream that emptied into a pond. Above all, however, he could hear the source of the wind.
Surrounding a tree stump was a tornado of leaves, whipping and tossing about as the little tornado carried them.
Suddenly, all the leaves came down crashing as if they had all fallen from the same tree at once. The wind had dispersed immediately, allowing for the slight, distinct smell of lavender to be perceived clearly.
The sound of a calm exhale of breath could be heard, followed by a shift in position, as the woman turned around to face her guest.
"It seems I can't get any meditating done," she giggled slightly, "My fault for thinking you'd go away on superstition and a small breeze."
The woman finally looked closer at Dominic's face, realizing that his eyes weren't quite sound.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir, are you lost?"
Her voice was velvet, sweet, with a hint of maturity and showed an honest alarm when she discovered that Dominic was possibly blind.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom tilted his head and smiled at the dulcet tones of a woman, rather than the rasping how of some air spirit. He'd had an all too close encounter with one of those. He leaned easily on his staff and responded in his usual baritone drawl.
"Ma'am, a traveller is never lost. I am precisely where I intended to be. Plus I'd wager you won't find a warm-blooded man on two legs who wouldn't appreciate the concern of a lady, no matter which side his bread holds butter."
He shifted slightly, half-turning away as if to leave, continuing in a breezy tone.
"Apologies for interupting your meditation, m'lady. It's just my curiosity gets the better of me sometimes. Don't worry, I know my way back if you wish to be left in peace."
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
The lady giggled, a little more audibly this time that was soon muffled by a hand.
"You've quite the way with words, sir, I don't think I've met a more interesting traveler."
She raised her right foot slightly, and with the heel of her boot she kicked the ground, causing a slight tremor below Dominic. Before he knew it, an earthen stump had rose just behind him.
"Please have a seat if your travels have made you weary, I hope you would indulge me in a tale or two? Surely an interesting traveler such as yourself must have one!"
The lady situated herself more comfortably on hers, her interest having been piqued by Dominic.
"Oh I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself, my name is Serenity."
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom inhaled a little sharply at the sudden tremor. He'd encountered every kind of mage on his travels, but he relied on the ground being relatively predictable or readable and having it suddenly shift was still unnerving. He recovered quickly though, sweeping his staff around in a slow arc until it hit the side of the stump. He folded into his seat and turned his face toward her voice, still smiling, still speaking in that usual calm tone.
"By name and nature." he began, commenting on her name. "My name's Dominic and my stock in trade is story and song. I'm no bard, not officially, no papers or training, but once I got up the guts to put one foot in front of the other at my mother's front door I never stopped moving." He grinned, resting his staff on his shoulder and his forearms on his knees.
"So, tales hmm? What kind of tale do you like to be told? It's too bad you missed the songs and such at the tavern in town. It's only by dint of folks liking them that I have something soft to sleep on by nights." He grinned, opening his hands and awaiting a response.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
"Oh, you sing you charming man?" said Serenity. Even though Dominic couldn't see, he could easily tell the lady was smiling as her curiosity rose.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch your performance then, I've been traveling away from town frequently...on business and of course to train my magics."
A natural breeze passed them by, whipping Serenity's raven hair across her face for a bit before she fixed it with on hand.
"Oh any story will do, unless you'd like to sing for me? I hope that wouldn't be to much to indulge me with, it's enough to have pleasant company in these woods, which is hard to find in such a place to begin with."
Though she hardly needed it, Serenity's sword rested on the ground next to the stomp she was sitting on. Rarely did the lady actually use it, and in fact was only a last resort in case her magic failed her. She was trained with it, but only enough to match against hapless bandits.
Last Edit: Jan 6, 2012 12:03:12 GMT -5 by Serenity
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic chuckled, responding only by placing his staff at his feet and unslinging his instrument. Taking a moment to check the tuning he bent to his work, lowered his head so that the brim of his hat obscures most of his face, leaving only his mouth and chin visible. He began to play, thumb and forefinger picking out a bassline while his three other fingers trilled across the strings to create a melody, givning the impression of two musicians playing in harmony.
"This old house is falling down around my ears. I'm drowning in the river of my tears..." he began, voice a soft, low sweetness that spoke of the ache of loneliness when forced apart from a beloved. It actually sounded like the piece was written for a woman, judging by the range and delicacy needed. Instead of rising from a rich contralto to a sweet mezzo he started at the low end of baritone and rose to tenor to catch the high notes.
The piece, thusly, was infused with less of a sense of wistfulness and more of something broken that needed to be mended. Contrasting that were the choruses which may have sounded romantic with a gentler female voice but seemed almost triumphant in the rumble of a male tone. Such is the dichotomy of male and female, pragmatism and sentimentality.
As Dominic was getting ready, Serenity was remembering a few other occasions when she would encounter bards and other street performers along her travels away from home.
Her upbringing had made her less than humble when it came to magic and the arts. She was trained by professionals and learned to perform like one, on a stage. Whether it was piano or her own voice, Serenity grew proud of her gifts and musicality. After she met her would be husband, all that began to change.
When before she would probably think that a street performer would be an ear sore, as Serenity traveled she would give an honest ear to any who plucked a string or tickled a throat. She grew to admire them all the same and would pay tribute when the mage could on her long trips.
Having stayed in Wistvale for so long, the thought of artists possibly living there never crossed her mind, for as far as she knew, Serenity, was the only one capable of playing the old piano in the tavern.
When the song began, she smiled wistfully at the soft, short steps and the sharp, delicate tone leaps in the voice, supported by the guitar accompaniment marking the chords.
The song unexpectedly brought back the memory of her husband, and the short time they spent together in that cabin in the woods. How despite her riches, he ended up being the one thing she really wanted, and unlike everything else she had, he was the only thing taken away from her.
Serenity had already come to accept that it was all behind her now, and nothing could be done, yet this song gave her a lump in her throat that was hard to swallow. She did her best to suppress the urge, and not let Dominic know that the woman sitting not far from him was about to cry.
When the song was done, Serenity let out a small exhale of breath, calmly, and tried to collect herself.
"That was wonderful," she said almost quietly as she clapped for a moment.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic took a deep breath before looking up, swallowing the lump that had formed from the song. Oh he'd had to learn to sing around that kind of lump, because to put emotion into a song or a story you had to feel it yourself, at least partly. Of all the types of loss he'd encountered he'd not actually had first hand experience of that one, but he could still relate. If he'd heard she were about to cry he didn't let on. It became apparent why he'd lowered his hatbrim though, the corners of his eyes were moist.
"Thank you Miss Serenity. I'm always happy to perform, it's what I live for." He laughed easily enough despite having dragged those emotions up inside himself. "Been a bit of a loudmouth and show-off all my life. At least I can make a few coppers off that streak this way though."
His fingers resumed plucking, just improvising a merrier little tune that skipped and hopped around the little clearing, simply backing music
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Serenity sighed to herself, finally getting back to a calm demeanor after appreciating the song. Of all the things she expected today this encounter and performance would be the least.
She finally spoke up again, "How long have you been playing? Did you teach yourself or were you tutored?"
The day was still young and the natural breeze passed them by as various sounds made themselves known to Dominic; fallen leaves moved about over each other as if they were racing wildly toward a goal, along side a twig snapping; the scurry and creeping of small creatures carefully moving in and out of the space could be heard; and the running of water from the small stream just behind Serenity.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic wasn't entirely used to telling stories about himself. Most people either ignored him or simply wanted the epic stories he'd got saved up and that had been fine for the most part. It was nice, however, to have someone take an interest in him. When he speaks it's in an affable tone.
"Well...when I was a little kid I didn't really leave my house much. Pa had to work and Ma was the one who looked after me. They tried to give me something like a normal life, but it's difficult when you can't see. Ma would start telling me stories, which was okay for a while. Then she'd sing, and I'd love that. She had such a sweet voice."
He smiled wistfully, tilting his head slightly as if lost in the memory of his mother for a while. He continued in the same tone, though there was a hint of homesick sadness right there at the back.
"I started singing along and for my tenth birthday I asked for something that could make music, since Ma said I was good at singing. So they got me Prudence here." He reached over and patted his instrument affectionately. He plucked out a little tune as he continued speaking.
"So I just started playing with her, plucking and fiddling and trying to fit the sounds to the songs Ma sang. Took me nearly a year to do it. Couln't afford a teacher and I wouldn't be able to read music even if we could've afforded that too. So after that first year I started trying to make my own songs. Oh they were terrible to start, but by the time I was fifteen I'd gotten pretty good. People started comin' over to hear me play, and they brought food and drinks and everything was happy...yep..."
He paused, his voice going from wistful to sad for a second as he repeats "Happy..." once again. He brightened almost immediately and continued.
"Ya wouldn't think it by looking but all the treats the party guests brought to my house rounded me out something fierce. Was getting to the point that my pudgy mitts were getting to fat to play properly. So when I hit eighteen I struck out on my own. Ten years past and I've not been that way since. Far too much world to take in."
He grinned, leaning back a little and looking rather pleased at his effort.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.