RP:Musical Awakenings in the Hanging Corpse

Blood Fountain

Beatrix had been sat at the fountain for around an hour, though she had been feeling rather lonely lately, she had come here to be alone. The fountain seemed the perfect place to her, not many came here anymore; the strong smell of stagnant blood was off putting, even to the vampires that inhabited Vailkrin, the blood had been coursing through the rusted pipes of the fountain for that long. Being thirsty made it easier for her to bear the smell, though there was no way that she would touch any of it!

Raphaline knew that many didn't venture this far into the dark lands, but Raph was drawn to it. It might be the danger, or the interesting people she might come across here, but most of all it was the emotions that seemed to be steeped in the stones. She wasn't an empath, but as a musician she had learned to listen and sense for the story behind what she was shown, and here, she felt the dreary tones of certain songs ringing in her ears. She knew she wasn't too far off from the Hanging Corpse, but first she wanted to get a good look at the fountain that reportedly had blood. As the overwhelming smell of metal hit the half elf, she paused in her step to survey the scene. A single vampire and the fountain, pipes, stone and otherwise coated in the sanguine liquid. She brushed her hand over her nose before striding with a confident air over to the fountain. "Afternoon." She says as she takes a seat on the edge of the fountain, her violin case set down at her feet.

Verthica is drawn to a familiar place in these darker lands, the metalic scent of blood on the air. He circles down from above and gently lands near the fountain. He carefully looks over the others, then gives a friendly, but toothy smile. He speaks in a deep throaty voice, "Greetings, how wonderful to meet new folks."

Beatrix looks towards the two strangers, one sat at the other end of the fountain, while the other, a male, stood a few metres away. They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, but Beatrix was cautiously glad that they had. The male, a dragon, seemed friendly enough, but Beatrix felt herself stiffen in response to him. It wasn't that she didn't like Dragons, it was more the fact that their blood could poison her if ingested and acted like an acid on her usually strong skin, making a fight, if one should arise that is, a lot more difficult. The other, a simple looking woman; though her red hair was very appealing in the mid afternoon sun, seemed harmless. A musician, Beatrix guessed without difficulty from the violin case that she held in her lap. "Hello" She greeted them both.

Raphaline admittedly had been a little startled by the dragon that had swooped in out of nowhere, but as his intonation suggested nothing but friendliness, she drew in a calming breath. When more words were uttered, she offers glances first to the dragon, "Greetings? It has been a long time since someone has so formally greeted me." She turns to the vampire, "That is more like it, a hello. So short of words, people 'round this land. Are you all so stiff and closed off?" She dusts off the dirt that had gathered from her long walk, off of the violin case. "If you all keep being so tight lipped I might just have to play a jig to rustle up a more jovial response." It was tease more so than a complaint.

Verthica smiles warmly at the half-elf, "Music in such an area like this is a blessing. Please, play us a tune." He then starts tapping a fore-claw to a rhythm that hopefully would inspire a tune. Sensing the reprehension, the dragon turns his head to address the vampiress, "Fear not. I'm a bit of a scholar, and a warrior. I like to hear the life stories of any I come across."

Beatrix let herself relax a little after the dragon had explained himself to be harmless to her. She hated that she had become so distrusting of people, but with her history, it was no wonder. She relished the idea of the woman beside her playing a song. It had been so long since she had heard quality music. Beatrix's smile broadened now. "Yes, do play a song" She asked.

Raphaline unclipped the latches on her case to reveal a deep, cherry wood instrument. It was worn around the neck and the chin rest from the many decades they had spent together making music. She always loved when people were so enthusiastic about her playing, so she thought it only appropriate to play a tune that would inspire such a rise in attitude. So she touched bow to strings and drew out the first note. Long and quiet, but as she picked up the tune, the notes danced from the higher register before tumbling down into the deeper sounds, but it was a song from an epic she had learned. It was song about two heroes, lost in the mountains, in desperate search of their king, feeling the wear of walking for days with nothing in sight. As she played, she felt her own magic tangling in a dance with the notes, calling for the times when any listening remembered hope and felt a longing to finally see something to completion. Sometimes Raph knew that her magic was reaching out, while other times it was merely a natural reaction to allow her magic to seep into her music.

Verthica was deeply impressed with the music, so to add an effect to the enjoyment he reaches into a sling on his neck and withdraws a blue glowing sphere of ice. He dips his tail into the fountain and begins lowering his body temperture of his tail, cooling the water in the blood and allowing a mist to form. He breaks the sphere and the light dances upon the micro surfaces of the ice crystals in the mist, changing the hues of light from reds and blues, at a mix of colors in between. So as the sound of music plays, the sound effects the array of lights. "I love music so. And showing off this trick is rare treat for others to see." He smiles eager for more of the music played, and hopes to get to know such a talented musician. He says so as well. "By the way, I'm Verthicha. A pleasure to meet you both."

Beatrix was enthralled by the music coming from the simple worn violin. The music she remembered from her days as a human were dull compared to this. And then a mist ascended from the fountain, revealing an array of bright lights that danced and bobbed in time to the melody. The whole scene brought about a contentedness that she hadn't felt for a very, very long time. She didn't want it to end. "Beautiful" She uttered, her already large eyes, wide and shining. In response to the dragon, who'd given his name as Verthica, she said, "I am Beatrix" Before turning her attention back to the show around her.

Raphaline continued to play, the music coming to the crescendo before slowly fading out. When she took the instrument away from her chin, she could not help but grin. "Sure works up a thirst every time I do that." She runs her clothed arm over her forward to rid herself of the sweat that had gathered before noticing the reminants of the mist. It was interesting, and the chill she had felt seep into the air must have come from the same place. Those emerald eyes dance to the dragon, the only creature she could still feel the chill coming from, and could only assume as much. "Raphline, but I prefer Raph." Besides, Raphline had been what her mother had called her when she was upset. She places the bow in the hand still holding the violin and offers the now free hand to the dragon and then once more to the vampire. "Care for a drink? I hear the Hanging Corpse has a piano as well."

Verthica smiles, "That sounds like a great idea. Though I would have to change to go there." The dragon quickly finds a place away from eyes and polymorphs into his human form. This form has pale skin with a faint scaly pattern, black hair that is shoulder length pulled back into a ponytail, and stands at about 5 foot, 9 inches. He has a tone build, and sharp intelligent eyes that hold a cleverness to them. As per his usual attire a set of dark blue clothes. The sling he wore around his neck, now doubles as a belt in this form, it is lined with many pouches, and even glass bottles of water line one side of it. "So what is the plan then?"

Beatrix is calm when the song finally drifts to an end. She feels calmer now, than she has for a long while and wishes to thank the gifted musician, Raph, but cannot find the words that would honour such an amazing talent. Instead she humbly says, "You are very talented, it was beautiful". She sees the same, albeit diluted form of amazement in the dragon's eyes as he accepts Raphaline's offer to go to the 'corpse tavern. "Yes, that's a great idea" Beatrix agreed.

Raphaline does not pursue the dragon when he steps away, but she was well traveled and knew they did need to change forms. Instead she turns to the vampire, making small talk while they wait. "Thank you. I do pride myself on my musical expertise, which is why I am so driven to see the Hanging Corpse, it has been many decades since I have been able to lay hands on the ivory teeth of a grand piano." She sighs, it is like receiving a gift, or tasting something exquisite for the first time, the chance to just get to play. When she catches the sound of approaching footsteps, she turns, always cautious and alert of her surroundings. Admittedly, she was a bit taken aback by the dragon's unique appearance, she hadn't expected the scale like shading on his skin. But she doesn't let on, instead, she gives him a small grin before glancing in the direction of tavern. "Shall we go?"

Verthica smiles kindly once more, this time his teeth didn't give him such a usually intimidating appearance. "Ah I haven't been here in a while." He chuckles, "At least on my free time. Most of the time it's been all about business and locating folks." He sets down a at table and brings out some bottles from one of his larger pouches, though this pouch seemed rather odd at how he was able to reach clear up to his elbow, though that was clearly beyond the space of the pouches abilities. Care for some chilled mint tea? We can drink it and enjoy Raph's performence."

The Hanging Corpse Tavern

Beatrix marvelled at the dragon's human form. He was handsome, but in an unusual way. His skin was mottled with faint grey scales, kind of beautiful, if you liked that sort of thing. They walked in an acceptable silence to the tavern. The sun was starting to set making the sky pink. It just added to the magic that had been created by Raph's music. They stepped into the tavern, the blackstone decor cold and yet still fairly welcoming. Beatrix led the way to a table at the far end of the tavern, close to the bar. She had planned to order a blood wine, but instead accepted Verthica's offer of mint tea. She had never tried it, and it sounded quite appealing. She had always loved the fresh weedy taste of it.

Raphaline scrunches her nose and makes a face at the thought of drinking tea, too earthy and with the hour getting later she felt the desire for something stronger. "Thank you but no." She bounds off for the bar, and as she saddles up to the counter, she offers a harmless but flirty grin before inquiring, "Dark vodka." A small glass and the a bit of dark liquor later, and she was back at the table. "Either of you musically inclined?"

Verthica grins at Raph, "I'm no professional, but I try to make up for it." He stands uncorking a large flask on his belt, and allows the water to flow over his hand, up his arm, down his side and to his feet. so long as the water was in contact with him, a doppleganger forms from the water and likes like him only in a slushy state. As the water freezes, he pulls out a lyre, handing it to the duplicate. The duplicate takes it nodding to him and begins strumming. Verthicha goes ahead and pours the mint tea on the table and into a cup for Beatrix. "I hope you enjoy." He pulls a drum out and begins beating in sync with the strumming of the lyre. "I play by heart not by song. I can not read music so I just play how I feel." The lyre's notes reflect his feelings of loosing loved ones and his home, but then finding a new home and family.

Beatrix is again amazed by the talents of those sitting with her. She feels a little jealous that she has no talent rather than her necromantic skills. Those only did her well when she was fighting, which was rare. But she smiled at Verthica as he handed her the drink. She took a tentative sip. It was a little weak, but still quite delicious. "Thank you" She nodded to Verthica. And then turning to face Raph, she said, "I used to play Piano, very long time ago. I'm not sure if I even remember how to play now" It saddened her to think back to when she did play. She hadn't been as skilled as Raph, but she had loved playing for her parents on their birthdays. Taking another sip of the tea, she pushed the memories to back of her mind. They were become less raw now, as time went by, but it still hurt to think of her parents. She just wasn't ready to address all of her past yet.

Raphaline does not hesitate when the vampire says she has played, she leans in and snatches up her hand and give her little time to react. "Then you shall come and play a duet while our drummer and lyre playing boyo plays along, right?" She winks at the dragon before she sets her sights so keenly on the baby grand piano. With glass in hand and the vampire in the other, she makes a beeline for the instrument, and as she lets herself settle onto the bench, she cannot help but truly smile. It was flirtatious grin, nor smirk of playfulness, this was genuine, an expression that spoke leagues of what music meant to the elf. So she showed it. She placed her hands along the lower register of the piano and began to add her own notes to the music that was echoing from the lyre and followed the beat of the drum. She loved to create from scratch, or to add what she heard and felt, it was letting her heart speak, if only to release a bit of her own. But her loss, her notes, they were not family, no, it was a low melody of loneliness that came with the traveling musician, and the lives that had not been very long in other places. She could see faces, remember tender moments and sweet kisses and soon enough dashed them away, resigning the past to the past.

Verthica plays his drum as a heartbeat from a long ago tribe of warriors, his clone plays the lyre plucking at his heart as he does, the notes ring of a tearful departure and as new beginnings come up. If you couldn't tell this dragon is one of love, love of friends, and family. Ever going as far to call friends family, that way he would fight for any he met, should they need his help. "Times here and now the past can be. Old friends and new are family. Through the tides of life, together we can withstand our strife. Though some may go, and some come here. As a whole we have nothing to fear."

Beatrix protests when Raph pulls her towards the baby grand piano, she isn't sure if she remember which key is which anymore. When they reach the piano, Beatrix reluctantly sits beside Raph on the stool. Raph's fingers skim the keys expertly producing a melody that matches the tune of life that comes from the lyre played by Verthica's duplicate and the drum beat. Beatrix lets the music flow through her. It stirs the memories of her life, both lifes, human and vampire. She hears herself playing chords that are deep and sorrowful, she doesn't even think of what she is doing. The sound isn't perfect, doesn't match the rest of the rhythms exactly, but somehow it all meshes together telling each individuals story and a joint story all at the same time. Beatrix smiled, though her heart ached. She remembered her parent's smiles as she played their favourite songs, the warmth and happiness she experienced in her beloved home town. The smile didn't die, even when the memories of her mortal death came, and the others that haunted her. They seemed to flow into the music and out of her head. It was like she had been released from a hell she had allowed to burn inside her. And she felt so free.

Raphaline very slowly allows her fingers to stop playing, and instead she draws the vampire down the bench, giving her full reign of the keyboard. She may have had her own little tune, but she had done so, so the other woman would feel more comfortable with what was going on. And as she slid off the bench, she made for her case and the one instrument that called to her heart. Bow to string, she moved, danced along with the music. Turning and playing, she felt her whole body move with the song. Her hair danced like red fire around her, and her emerald eyes closed as she allowed herself to fall into the raw nature of the song. Each note, it surrendered another line of the lives she was entering, and as her own magic found its way into each note of each instrument, she called to it, beckoned them to dance too.

Verthica tosses a few bottles of water to the floor, making a layer of water to keep him connected to his doppleganger. He then begins his own dance flowing as the water he just covered the floor in. Circles and cycles, ebb and flow, he serpentines around the chairs and tables, dancing alongside Raph as she plays violin, and he his drum.

Beatrix hums quietly along as her table mates dance with their instruments.. She feels the notes rising to a crescendo. The melody is in full swing now, and it both heart wrenchingly sad and lively. A true tune of lifes up and downs.

Raphaline feels someone draw closer, and as he does, her emerald gaze flickers open and focuses on him. Her gaze, the magic ebbing through the music, suddenly, she feels all the emotion that is being thrust outward by her magic is now directed. She could feel it, the notes were like liquid fire, burning their way through her veins, and as so, the music carried on even when her hands stilled, but the sound of the violin continued to carry on dancing. The instrument was set carefully on the table, but as it did her gaze had never left the one who had answered her call to dance. Enraptured, it was the only word that could describe how music affected her, so when she moved forward and offered her hand, a request to join in dance, the spark of fire in those green eyes could not be missed.

Verthica gently places his drum on a table, and reaches out for Raphs hand, taking her and into his circle and into a flowing dance of his own. He smiles warmly, "Have you flowed as water in the mix of energies of the world over time?"

Beatrix brings her fingers slowly to a stop, knowing that the song will go on without her. She turns to look at Verthica and Raph dancing. It is beautiful, pure energy and life flows between them as they dance. It feels almost impolite to watch. She smiles, feeling on calm in her mind and body, as she walks over to the bar to order a wine. As she waits, the tune goes on, seeming almost endless.

Raphaline locks eyes with the dragon as she thinks about his question. "Sometimes." She answers. "Other times it is more like fire, burning, raging through until it simmers to a stop." Much like music, it started, flowed and ended. But she moved along with him, adapting her steps to the difference in his. "What about you, ever moved to an energy completely different to water? Ever played with fire?"

Verthica never misses a step in the dance, "No I haven't, though I have tried before. Usually got burned though." He smiles once more, and continues his dance, "Care to teach me on that, I'm sure it may come in handy." He laughs and allows her to take the lead should she wish to.

Beatrix takes her drink back to their table, the music has mellowed now, not as lively, but more sweet somehow. A soulful tune. Raph and Verthica danced on, oblivious to their surroundings. She looks away into the rim of her glass, before taking a sip. It was night now, and more people had started to pile into the tavern, making less room for her table mates to dance. It didn't seem to phase them as they danced and spoke. She wondered what they were saying.

Raphaline cannot help but allowing a lilting chuckle to escape her. "Ah Verthica, if only you knew all the connotations that could be taken as, but yes, I would not mind showing you how to live like fire does, led by the passions and enthralls of life." She was daring, unafraid and happily took the challenge of lead. As for the rest of the people flocking to the tavern, she didn't even notice, but it seemed like she was able to avoid each one and dance around them.

Verthica shakes his head even as they move, "Alas my words have always been one to get me in trouble at times. Though pure intentions are always meant, the perception of my words from another's point of view tends to obscure the meaning sometimes." He laugh as the truth comes about on his lips. "You think we should also include Beatrix, we've been neglecting her since we started our dance."

Beatrix Leans back into the high back chair, drink in hand. She watches the drunks lolling about on the bar, across the floor and in other positions brought about by inebriation. She had never been as drunk as half of these patrons, nor did she ever plan to. So in jest she raised her glass to them, a small laugh escaping her lips. She looked again at Verthica and Raph, they seemed to slow down now, more talking than dancing. They were close, their hands thoughing, their bodies mere inches apart. It had been so long since she had been enjoyably close to someone else. Seeing them made her happy and sad at the same time.

Raphaline nods, she could agree. So she stops, and pulls away reluctantly. "I agree, Beatrix deserves our attention." So she steps away and makes her way towards the table once more, flagging down a server on her way. When the server does arrive, she orders another dark vodka. "You played so beautifully Beatrix. I told you, you would be fine."

Verthica gives a warm smile to both of the ladies. He takes a seat at the table they are both at, "I don't drink strong things because I like to keep my head clear. Water and tea has been good for me, in place of such." He pours himself a glass of the mint tea and sips at it, "So how did you two come to Hollow? I've been here a long time, and I've been through a few things."

Beatrix nods and smiles at the pair whilst taking a few more sips of her wine. "I was born here, in Kelay, not very interesting at all" She laughed. It was now getting quite late, and her hunger/thirst was becoming an issue. She knew that she would have to leave soon. "I'm sorry, really I am" She began reluctantly. "But I must go now, I need to... hunt" Though really, she didn't 'hunt', rather she would wander around in search of willing donors, if she had no luck in finding one, she travel to the bloodbank. Though the prices, to her anyway, were quite absurd. "It was amazing meeting both of you, truly. I just hope I get to see you soon, you will never know how much you have done for me tonight, so thank you" She drank the last drops of her wine hurriedly, some even escaping down her chin. She wiped it away. "Good bye" She said finally, though she wished she could stay. She walked towards the exit, feeling strong and so very weak at the same time. And then she was gone.