RP:Music and Stitches

Kelay Tavern

Built and rebuilt, torn apart and set like stubborn bone, this tavern is the pinnacle of Hollow's entirety, wrought around the premise of peace, equality, and consummate amity. And of course, the old place had seen all of the three, but so much more. Dire markings of claw and steel cut deep into wall panels and floorboards. Set against the land's usual motif of destruction are signs of comfort. Twisting shadows and smoothing out a careful blanket of light with soft, quaint fires, a candelabra dangles down by thick cords, gripping the circular holder. Each twists up, converging upon the center, where they snake about one another and form a thick, secure anchor to Kelay Tavern's high, accommodating ceiling. The candelabra rattle now and again from the inn patrons overhead, pouring down globs of wax to the center of the room, which is wide and unobstructed. Cheaply carpentered tables and chairs grow outward around the bare dancing area, keeping to the rounded theme, and also keeping to a dwarven barkeep's avariciously born taste for 'economical' furniture. Hardly any expense has been wasted on the actual upkeep of the public center, as can be garnered from the smell of deep pine, rich tobacco, and even richer spirits. Stairs twist away dimly near the high bar. And atop that side rests the inn logs, quill, and ink. This establishment's fine keeper, Mesthak, can be seen smiling out from his post at the bar, straight across to the room's always crackling stone-wrought hearth. Behind him, atop lofty shelves, sits an array of dark, amber, and clear liquids. Food smells waft from somewhere near at hand. A carefully printed and hung sign details the purchasable items here in the place of merriment, loss, laughter, and life. Also, tucked into a corner near one of two windows closest to the tavern doorway is a thickly papered bulletin board. A sign has been added next to the board that reads, 'The management requires patrons be fully inebriated at all times and that no curing spells be performed in this tavern-Thank you'.

Ashe stepped inside the infamous – epitomical even! - tavern as if he owned the place. Swaggering in through the door and across the floor, weaving past tables and chairs, as he approached the bar with his arms spread wide to either side (spreading his black feathered cloak like wings in the process). “Ah, rustic!” he announced. Turning on the spot and walking backwards as he brought his arms together in front of him and beckoned with every finger he had for Artia to follow him. “Much more my speed, I say.” he continued. Turning back around to grin widely at Mesthak and bow with a sweep of a hat he didn't have and a flourish of his cloak. “A tavern ought to be a place of debauchery and good spirits. Not solemn marble and up-turned noses, yes?” the question was rhetorical. Which was just as well as the dwarf didn't answer it. Rather, the barkeep and the bard got right to business arranging a... well. An arrangement for the evening. As was customary.

Artia had followed Ashe here, it been a while since she had entered the place. Watching how ashe moved inside, with such movements like he owns the tavern. Causing her to roll her cyan eyes with gold freckles within at his manner of doing such, he was too much sometimes. (not in a bad way) Watching how Ashe spread his arms out with the black feathers cloak spreading outwards as if he had wings. She was not laughing until he walked backwards to beckon her closer to him with...every finger. Shaking her head, giving out a laugh at him, indeed following him up to the bar. Slipping upon a bar stool, while Ashe worked upon arrangement to do his thing, be a bard for the evening. Ordering herself a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass, pulling off her own blue silk cloak and hood. Revealing her hair had been curled, eye liner to enhance her exotic eyes. Some lip gloss to give a gossamer look to them, and of course mascara to show off the long eye lashes she kept. Upon her body a long dress reaching to her ankles, dragging slightly behind her. A sleeveless affair, low drop key hole neckline so she could show off her topaz necklace matching the topaz color dress. Such skirt from the hips down flares out, while the rest of the dress was complimenting her curving hour glass form.

Ashe finished the negotiation with declaration of: “And the same for this beauty here.” Slinging an arm around Artias shoulders as if there was any chance of Mesthak mistaking who he was talking about. The agreement was, by the end of it all, that the bard and his lady friend do not pay for drinks for the evening so long as Ashe preformed regularly enough for the evening. Not a generous arrangement by any means but there it was. After pressing a kiss to Artia's cheek and wishing her “Best of luck choosing drinks!” the newly named entertained for the night slipped off to set up in a corner. He produced a guitar seemingly out of nowhere – pulling the instrument in it's case out of the folds of his cloak like some kind of magic trick – and left the open case by his feet in front of the chair he'd dragged with him. That done, he settled on that same chair and began to ensure the guitar was properly tuned.

Artia had struck converstation up with the bar maid, Nancy when Ashe decided to move back to her. Putting an arm about Artia's bare shoulders. She didn't quit know what he was talking about other then this beauty here, until Nancy filled her in that the drinks were on the house for Ashe and Artia. Artia would not agree free drinks, but would still slip tips to Nancy and any of the establishment employees that would work to serve the evening. The kiss to her cheek made Artia smile widely at him, "Enjoy your performance, Trouble." Her nick name she gave him the first night they drank together, and it still stuck he proved to still be trouble. Turning about in the bar stool, to watch him do that trick he does. Making a guitar appear, she really needs to ask him how he does that. Adjusting the white flower in her hair that Ashe gave her, before she climbed off the stool to move up to him. Tapping his shoulder, holding a ring in-front of his face. "Try it on." Once he did it would magically adjust to his size, "I enchanted it, so any notes you thing in your head..and the instrument you know how to play. They will play to give your adoring audience a surprise." Placing a kiss to his cheek she moved back up to her bar stool.

Ashe looked up from the guitar when Artia tapped his shoulder. His hands kept working on the instrument while his eyes focused on her face. “Bored already?” he questioned, a smirk spreading across his face. The man was the image of the idea of a bard with his easy smile, golden locks and his two-toned vest and slacks. Except, perhaps, that he was more pretty than he was handsome. When Artia held out the ring without explanation, she was met by the obvious quip. “Well. This is really quite forwards of you.” Even so the bard lifted the neck of the guitar to rest against his neck and shoulder to free one arm while the other cradled the instrument. He plucked the ring from her fingers and held it up to his eyes, slim eyebrows slowly climbing. “A most wondrous bauble!” he assured and grinned up at her as he slipped it onto the ring finger of his left hand. “When next I hear someone brag about their grandmothers wedding band I shall trounce them thoroughly!”

Artia moved her head side to side to say no, giving him a calm grin. "No, not bored. Just figure it be perfect time to give you something I enchanted for you. It only works for instruments you already know. You think the music in your head, the instrument plays without your hands on it. So maybe if wanted could play one while you play one with out touching?" Ashe was very gorgeous, but so was Artia, together they were a gorgeous couple. Tugging gently on a lock of his hair when he thought she was proposing. "Sorry to disappoint you, Trouble. Just a gift, not asking for marriage." Though she did note the finger he placed it on, saying nothing of it. "You go ahead and do that, trounce them well." Moving away now, "Knock there socks off!"

Ashe caught Artia by the wrist before she got very far. The smile the bards face widening further as she stood himself up and stood the guitar against the stool. “In that case, why don't we give it a try? There's some time yet before tonight's crowd is expected to appear.” He suggested this in a casual but playful tone. His hand slipped naturally from her wrist to hold her hand as if he was asking her to dance with him. Which, considering he suddenly bowed and held out his other hand in exactly the right way... he absolutely was.

Artia was caught by her wrist, turning about to look to him. His smile widening only meant he was up to something, she waited for him to speak before she would judge what he was up too. Picking up on the playful tone, returning a smile to him. Not needing to say anything as Ashe had already slipped his hand from her wrist to her hand. As he bow she bent her knees, tilting her head down returning the gesture. "Why sir! I would be delighted for a dance." Stepping closer to him, resting her free hand to his shoulder.

Ashe smoothly pulled the lady up against him and slipped his other hand over her hip to rest on her lower back. Now in position he lead the dance, step by step, out onto the open dance-floor. Moving to a unheard melody. But not for long. Even as green eyes were locked on the vampires gold-flecked ones the strings on the guitar began strumming themselves. Before long the instrument was playing a slow waltz-tune all on it's own. The bard simply smirked and spun the lady. “Should've tried the violin.”

Artia moved with his pull to be against him, giving him a quick look to watch that hand. But was soon gone as she smile, being lead into a dance. Mirroring his steps and way of the dance he lead them into. Wondering it the ring was not enchanted right, only to hear a guitar strumming to a beat of a waltz tune. Resting her eyes into Ashe's a larger smile spread along her lips, "I am glad it works, it compliments you. Now you can really toss surprises at your fans." She winks as she is spun, letting a soft giggle escape.

Ashe chuckled and pulled Artia back in gently but firmly as the dance resumed. Now in tune to the music. “Ashe Stormcrow the one-man orchestra.” he half announced, half suggested. By now the experiment was done. But the bard was not. He swept across the dance floor with Artia. Leading on until the song came to it's end, his feet moving with effortless grace. As a finale the bard dipped Artia backwards, matching the imagination of many a young maiden. As the silence dragged on, Ashe pulled her back onto her feet and let go of her with another sweeping bow like the one he'd given Mesthak. “Thank you for the ring, Love. But mostly for the dance.” And with that, and a wink, he moved back to his corner.

Artia spun back into Ashe, going back to the dance, gracefully she moved about her feet as dancing was her favorite hobby. "Forgot the most Handsome bard. Most handsome one man orchestra come enjoy the sight." She jest to him, he didn't need to know he was handsome by now he should know it! With not expecting it, Artia was dipped backwards. Being brought back up as the music ended, giving her own manner of a bow back to Ashe. "Thank you for both." Blowing Ashe a kiss as both went to their places, her the bar stool, ashe the corner. Pouring herself a shot, and taking it. Talking to Nancy once more.

Ashe settled down at his seat for the night and began making his arrangements. Yes, he had already made them but a certain ring had opened new possibilities. Possibilities that require new and more complicated arrangement. And so, as the evening went on and the usual crowd amassed in the tavern – locals and adventurers alike – the bard was found sitting on the edge of a table in the corner, surely costing some brooding and mysterious young man his seat, surrounded by his instruments. A cello was leaned against the back of the chair where Ashe had been sitting – now the seat of the guitar – while the bard himself played the violin where he sat. One leg over the other as a foot tapped the air in tune with the music. Spirits were good. Men and women had come a few at a time to sit at their accustomed tables with their usual drinks and before long the tavern had been filled to bursting as it was most every night. But tonight was quite a bit more lovely than the usual gossip, verbal cock fighting or straight up tavern brawl. For once, the dance floor was in use as Ashe outdid himself with sprightly musical pieces. Folk songs, dancing tunes, drinking songs and tales of high adventure issued from the corner as if from a full on orchestra. Or at least a particularly spirited band.

Artia remained upon her stool, talking with who ever would sit by her and strike a conversation as Artia normally wouldn't strike conversation with just anyone. Especially already drunk paying patrons, or at least some thought they could afford their tab at the end of the night. Naturally she would turn to watch Ashe, smiling widely to him if he had looked in her directions. Other then that she would no disturb him while he worked. Before long word spread that their was a bard that could play more then one instrument without touching it! So, naturally the establishment got bustling busy. A few whispering if ghost were playing the ones he wasn't touching. Fights breaking out here and there, but one in particular caught Artia attention. Two grizzly looking men arguing over whose seat it was as they had both gotten up to get a closer look, while one was sitting the other was gone. Now both were wanting there bar stool back. As one of the men got up to leave, not dealing with the man he thought wrong. Only to hear a shatter of glass bottle, and the man shoving the bottle aiming to the back of the man. Luckily the one about to be attached stumbled, the broken bottle piercing into the shoulder. The attacker ran out, knowing he could get into a bigger brawl then he wanted. The injuried man climbed to his feet after falling from being trampled, climbing to the bar stool. "Get me a healer!" He shouts, not asking but demanding. Ashe was quick to address the unfolding scene as the fleeing drunk made a rift in the crowd, bowling people over and knocking others over tables as he made for the door. “Would someone be so kind as to get that man a seat?” he called out over the heads of the assembled, pointing with the bow of the violin. First as the man and then to Artia at the bar. “And if you aren't done being friendly and helpful just then, make way for that gorgeous lady over there as I hear she's quite the medicus!” he shot Artia a wink and went back to playing the second verse of the song he was in the middle of. Clearly unperturbed by the sudden bout of violence. But then, this was Kelay Tavern.

Artia looked on to the fight, shaking her head at the two trying to out do the other. Only for one man pull the classic bar fight move. Except instead of breaking the bottle over the man's head, he went to kill. A few of the man's friend went after the man the jumped their friend, while one of the man's friends was trying to get Nancy to give him a smooch. Looking to the bard as Ashe shouts for someone to help, following where he points to the red head. Smirking, "I'll definitely will help him to a seat for the gorgeous lady." Artia looks to Ashe to catch the wink, giving him a blown kiss in response. The friend moved to his buddy dragging him to a chair, plopping him down. Lucky for them Artia never left the house without her medical kit that had a few tools inside, for the usual mess that happens with a bunch of drunks about. Pulling her own chair up to the man, "Sir? Do I have permission to treat you?" Instead of getting a yes, the dirty man spoke out. "Baby, I'd treat you all night." With a glare to him, "I'm spoken for, do I have permission to remove the glass shards that are sticking out of you?" His friend smacks him upside the head, "he does."

Kanna appeared in the back of the tavern, lurching to hold onto a table as the nausea from the infrequently used power subsided. Though, was it really from the trip, or was it residual anxiety from the day spent with the samurai that refused to leave her thoughts? The tavern was much busier than she remembered, which did little to help the situation. Kanna took a few deep gasping breaths to calm herself and set her bag down near the staircase that lead to the upstairs. Crashing glass brought her attention to the bar, where she let out an involuntary shriek at the sight of the glass going into the patron's shoulder. The man repeated, "Dammit, someone get me a healer!" Kanna, whose breaths had quickly reached hyperventilation levels again, pulled her tsuzumi up to rest on her shoulder. With practiced motions, she began to play a soft drum beat that accompanied the violinist's tune. A sudden sense of calm washed over the tavern, with the more aggressive patrons even ceasing their usual fights to slump down into the barstools. At the tables, a few couples had stopped talking and instead leaned on each other to listen to the duet. At this rate, her spell of rest would put the whole tavern to sleep!

Ashe was focused on the music once again as the song was coming to a close. The bard appeared quite nonchalant about the situation with the wounded man – perhaps as order had been restored – but lifted his head just a slight as the sound of drums joined his performance. It did not take long for him to find the origin of the guest artist. Within seconds, Ashe shot Kanna a wink and tipped a hat he didn't have her way. But otherwise left her be. At least until the song finished just a moment later. Then, with only drums playing, he slipped of the table holding the violin by the neck and the bow with it in his left hand. “I will happily share the stage, friend!” The bard was saying as he put the bow and the violin away to lift the guitar from it's chair. “But I'm afraid both our skills are wasted on a sleeping audience. Why not try something slightly more merry? That would better suit the venue, I should think.” At that, he strummed the guitar, jauntily. Not so much overpowering or drowning out Kanna's music as warping the sound of it, undercutting it's calming influence. Co-opting the song into something completely different.

Artia gave a silent, 'Thank you' nod to the injured mans friend. Rolling out the satchel that help everything she needs, reaching up her leg to the garter to pull off the garter that held a many types of medical vial in it. Shooting a look to anyone that would look, she made a mental note to start carrying a bag around. But soon, Artia picked up on the sound a drum being played along with Ashe's music blending into Ashe's tunes. Looking about as some people were becoming affected and settling down, looking towards the drum player to give a nod. Not knowing the other bard was aiming to put people in the tavern asleep. Standing up with a pair of medical tweezers, to go around him. Looking to his friend, "Go grab me a napkin or a bowl please." As he staggered off, she counted how many pieces were present making sure to have the same number pulled out. Once the bowl was brought back, she would grab the white vial. Sprinkling the powder upon the skin, "This will sting, a lot. It will make the glass that went deep bubble in the area it is to help aid me in pulling it out. You will need stitches, and babying this arm. Understand?" She would not look to Ashe as she was working, but overhearing his voice cause a smirk. That man of her's, was he always so sweet and jolly? Before she knew it the person had fell asleep, slumping over. With a shrug she started pulling the shards out, using gauze that was pinched with another form of tweezers to not get blood on her hands.

Kanna opened her eyes at the comment about the sleeping audience and let out a barely audible (but clearly flustered) whine. "I hadn't-- I didn't mean to make the spell so strong..." She started to defend before realizing the attention was back on the patrons and the rest of the bar. What a relief, she wasn't in trouble! Relaxing some, she moved to rest the hand drum on the table, beating a merrier rhythm with one hand as she dug into her bag and retrieved her newest gem: her tambourine! With the drum under her left hand and the tambourine in her right, the tavern soon became filled with merry music, which brought the patrons back to their senses within mere moments. She tried to turn her head to see the condition of the wounded man, but found her sight was obstructed from the back of the tavern.

Ashe grinned and shot Kanna a wink as she began a new song. As it turned out, Ashe was not above following someone else's lead. He began to leisurely wander through the crowd strumming the guitar to match wherever the newcomer took the tune. All the while exchanging clever comments with the patrons as he passed.

Artia almost had started to feel tired as well, until Ashe brought the idea up to play more merry. Her patient waking up, groaning about Artia pulling out the shards. His friend smacking him upside the head again as he woke back up, "Man it up, you wimp!" The injured man snap back, "Oui, you try having this much glass in your flesh!" With a last pull she had removed the surface foriegn objects from the flesh, next using the gauze and tweezers she pressed on the flesh. Causing the deeper shard to poke out like a splinter, helping her pull it out. Placing the two tweezers down as she grabbed another vial, this one clear. Using a clean gauze to dab the solution on, "This will fight any infection that could occur, also cleanses from the foreign objects being forced in." Grabbing needle and thread, as well smaller tweezers to begin stitching him up. Using scissors to finish the job, "There you go."

Kanna laughed as the more inebriated patrons catcalled her while she played. After a while, the merry tune came to a close, garnering her scattered applause from the room. Having felt better, she realized she may have overstayed her welcome, and reverted back to her timid state, starting to put away her instruments.

Ashe sauntered along, almost dancing through the crowd to the song. Until it ended, that was. Then the bard simply sat down on the edge of the closest table in smooth movement. As natural as breathing. Coincidentally – if anyone was willing to believe it was a coincidence that is – that table happened to be that of Artia and her patient. “Good evening!” he greeted the lot of them with a smirk. “How's the night treating you?”

Artia handed the man a vial of contents with pills inside, "These are to be taken for the next four days, no more drinking or next four days or you will turn green. And the green last a month, I doubt you will want to be green a month. Which means do not, I repeat do not takes these until you are sober. You will still turn green." With that she placed her medical equipment used in the bowl so she could go sanitize and put it all back away. Only to have the table barely sway due to Ashe's graceful ways, looking up to look into his eyes. Smile growing upon her lips, "Mine is going good, but this big fella night just got ruined." Meanwhile the friend had grabbed one of the pills, crushing it into a glass of water. Handing it to his injured, stitched up friend. "Here mate." After the stitched man took a drink he grew green, the friend boastfully laughing at himself. Seeing the look the man gave she, moved away with her bowl and rolling up the equipment that wasn't used yet.