middaeg | Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.

[He hasn't touched an instrument since he's been here, but one doesn't live for two centuries (and much of that spent in fine company) without picking up an instrument or two. While Red Wine favours the piano, this day finds him standing just inside a store with his eyes set on a violin.]

It would be a fine thing... [The vampire mutters.

At the prompting of the store owner - who had been watching him with trepidation after noting his 'species' but was inevitably drawn in by the prospect of a sale - he picks the instrument up, sets it to the curve of his shoulder and draws the bow across the strings for a shivering, gentle note.]

Mm. [He utters softly.] How much? I'll give it some thought.

[Though he's not ignorant to the current comings and goings and problems on the harbour, Red Wine does not come here to get himself involved in local squabbles. He comes here to play a few rounds of cards with a group of sailors on the dock who, after having him as a betting companion for many months now, don't even note his particular nature anymore.

But the game is over now, it's evening, and having done relatively well out of it Red Wine finds a spot to sit, enjoy a drink and set up a fishing line. With the water relatively undisturbed the only motion comes from the waves and the ripples around the line, and it's not the catching of anything that's the point of it, really.

He keeps his hands busy while he sits idling the hours into nightfall making tiny paper cranes, which he occasionally hands off to curious children if they come by wondering what he's doing.]

((open to this one segueing into Hazard at the Harbour, where Red would be more inclined to help the youngsters))

[As someone with a deep appreciation of the very particular benefits the underground city offers to him, Red Wine is all too happy to lend his sword to a cause when it's required. Or his skill with animals, which is far less developed. Luckily, the creatures he's looking for are easy enough to tempt to follow him.

He's already led two of the creatures back when he runs into trouble in the form of a small group of clearly infected individuals who have already backed his quarry into a corner.]

Now, we don't have to do this the hard way. [No use in turning away from this when they've seen him. Never turn your back on an enemy. He's outnumbered but has faced worse, and being stabbed in the back is not a preferable option here.]

But I suppose you're not going to listen to reason, are you.

I didn't realize you were the fishing sort.

[ There's a semi-familiar voice. Iramaat is down here to investigate the children (and everything else), but a familiar face caught her attention and now she's sidetracking. She sits down next to him without waiting for an invitation, mouth split in a grin. ]

It's been a little while, hasn't it?

Iramaat. [Ah, does he sound a little pleased to see her? Perhaps that emotion seeps in under his usual low tones along with the faint smile that pulls at his lips when she joins him.]

I'm not... [In fact, he's terrible at fishing.] But I find it clears the mind.

[Then he does smile, properly this time.]

And it has been a while. I should apologise for not being in touch with you.

[Bailey is at the shop for... Investigative purposes. They've heard rumors that fauns are known for being able to pick up instruments very easily, and they didn't hate the music lessons their parents put them in when they were a child. So they're interested in testing that out for theirself, and seeing how things work out.

Seems they aren't the only monster interested in picking up a new (or old) hobby.]

...That wasn't bad. [It was one not, but okay.] Hopefully you'll get a good deal.

[ She feels rather gratified that he's pleased about seeing her. It makes her mood soar a little. ]

Oh, think nothing of it - I fell off the face of the earth myself.

[ She settles in next to him, watching his line trail in the water. ]

If you apologize, I'll apologize and we'll call it done.

[Myr hadn't intended to venture out after any of the straying animals; there was more than enough for a Faun to do in keeping the remaining half of the herd in one place. Even a blind Faun who required a little more guidance than most could still block up a tunnel or steady a restive beast--especially with his own half-grown wormipede to act as eyes for both of them.

Though it's that same half-grown wormipede who got them both into trouble, by dint of being a cousin to the escapees. A little anxious curiosity about the missing part of the Herd sent the creature wandering down one of the open passageways, making vague noises about finding its family. Myr--sensibly--tried to call it back, and went that failed, heaved a sigh at the recklessness of youthful creatures everywhere (~~no one laugh at the irony~~) and went carefully after it.

He'd expected to catch it up in short order, else he'd have called one of the other wormherds to guard his back; and catch up he does--but just as he's laying a hand on his wormipede's back to pin it, a half-familiar voice reaches his sensitive ears. He freezes in instinctive response and listens, parsing out what he can of the situation from word and echo.

It doesn't sound dire, and Myr's every expectation Red Wine can handle himself in a fight... But he also can't simply walk away, either, having heard that.

Unfreezing, he gropes to take one of his wormipede's antennae in-hand and tweak it gently to get the creature's attention.]

Go back and find Tall-and-Broad. [...] No, back, silly thing. [...] Tell her there's trouble and where. She'll feed you.

[Convinced, the little wormipede turns back on itself to patter down the tunnel. Myr straightens, adjusting the fall of his robes to free his knife before making his cautious way toward the sound of Red Wine's voice with a tick-tick of hooves and staff on stone.

Attempt sneaking up or announce himself? He hasn't any idea whether or not they can see him coming, though the tunnel wall curves gently away beside him.

Best not to risk being spotted without knowing it.]

They'd best listen, [he calls, lilting and pretend-careless,] because they're about to be outnumbered soon.

[He wasn't expected to be overheard - or, at least, he wasn't expecting for his playing to be commented on. Red Wine's pride in himself extends to many things and not undeservedly so, but his interest in music has always been more of a personal pursuit than one necessary for his existence.]

Thank you. On both counts.

[Red Wine gives the violin another look, then hands it back.]

I'll take it. [And then, to Bailey--] What do you play?

As tends to happen sometimes.

[How many times had he and his small group simply upped roots and moved off somewhere else? It didn't pay to let the people they were protecting know where they were going.]

If that would be all you ask, then I'll happily apologise for my absence. Adapting to being here hasn't been easy.

No... I tend to agree. It hasn't been for me, either.

[ Which is a bit of an admission. ]

Still, we've got to stick together, hmm? Any bites? Any exciting updates? I've got a bond now, so there's that...

[Connor is on his way to the store in question when he hears the violin, and he nods in approval as he passes.]

Good choice. This isn't your first time playing, is it?

[The man he's speaking to seems comfortable enough with the instrument in his grip.]

[Distractions like the one Myr presents can sometimes be a blessing, but right now it's really the last thing that Red Wine wants to have to deal with. He hears the faun coming before he sees him, his keen hearing picking up the cadence of his voice through the tunnels, and he hopes--

He hopes that Myr will stay away.

No such luck. There he is, and the small group attempting to flank Red Wine have their attention diverted. It gives him the opportunity to ready his sword without being immediately attacked.]

Myr. [He can play this off, keeping his tone casual as he greets the faun like an old friend.] It's about time you got here. I was beginning to think I'd have to do this without you.

[No such luck, indeed.

Myr's sense enough to know he's not the best ally in this fix, and looks (small, blind, unassuming Faun) even worse than his skills make him. But he couldn't have stood by--nor run back for help himself, it wasn't in him. There's at least a kind of strategic advantage in brazenness and overstatement; he'll grasp for that with a will and both hands.

(How well he remembers Enchanter Philomela's lectures on a mage's part in shock warfare; if only he'd been remade a Witch...)]

And here I'd worried it would be over before I even arrived,[he replies brightly to Red Wine.

He halts a good two yards from the Vampire, ears working to take in the sounds of their opponents--and the distressed rumbling of the trapped wormipede. That's not a noise he likes but it is promising if the cornered creature is frightened enough to lash out.

Preferably while its would-be thieves have their backs turned.]

The others aren't far behind, [he bluffs,] so these lot have got precious little time to change their minds.

[They smile at him softly, pleasantly.]

You're welcome.

[They tilt their head, humming softly under their breath.]

I haven't played in a while, but piano, mostly. Tried learning violin, but I didn't like it as much.

No, nothing in particular.

[He sighs softly, giving his line a small twitch so the bait wriggles in the water. While he's not really intending to catch anything, there's something about just sitting here that's calming all by itself.]

I suppose... [And he looks up, frowning slightly.] I've been trying to find my place in all of this. It isn't something I've had to do before.

Ah.

[ Iramaat frowns and watches his line trail in the water. She's not sure what to say about that. ]

...I've been struggling with that, too, honestly. I've always known where I belonged, but now it's different. How do you navigate a world where you no longer feel as if you belong?

Hm?

[He looks over his shoulder, then back to the violin. Red Wine shakes his head with a small smile.]

No, though it's been a while since I last indulged. I'm a little rusty.

[Connor thinks for a moment.]

If you want someone to practice with, I'd be happy to. My name is Connor, by the way.

[He holds out a hand to shake, offering up a small smile of his own.]

Mm. That's the crux of it.

[He hunches forwards slightly, looking down into the water and the reflections shimmering over the surface, broken only by the small ripples coming from the line and the gentle waves rocking up against the wood of the docks.]

I always had some kind of place, on Tierra. From the moment I was summoned I had a place, and though after my Attendant died, it changed, I still had something. Here, it's... [A soft 'tch' clicks against the roof of his mouth.]

I suppose I ought to stop complaining about it and try to change it, hm?

That... would be the sensible thing to do.

[ She laughs, although there's a trace of something sad in it. ]

I've been doing my best, but... just recently I feel like I've finally come out of deep water. I finally have a bond. I finally feel like I'm figuring out who I am here, you know?

[ Even if that means being terrible. ]

Mm. I play piano, too.

[And a few other instruments, though not quite as well as that and the one currently being considered for purchase.]

It was a hobby I allowed myself to indulge in. Something to do outside of my regular work.

[He hesitates for a moment, then clasps Connor's hand in his. If the ashy-coloured skin didn't give away the vampirism, the chilly temperature of his hand might just do the trick.]

Red Wine. And I think I'd like that. I haven't played with another person in a long time.

[Red Wine? Hm. Interesting name, but Connor doesn't comment on it. The orange and blue scales that cover his hands and forearms signal his own Merrow status, and Red Wine's nature doesn't seem to bother him. Connor doesn't have blood, after all.]

I can get my violin if you don't mind waiting, I'll only be a few minutes.

[He'd use one in the shop, but he prefers his own.]

I understand.

[He puffs out a breath. Though he doesn't think he'll ever be happy being here, he feels like he could probably get used to it. If not for the full moon's pull on them all it might even be comfortable.

Red Wine glances to her with a small smile.]

I hope it hasn't been too difficult for you. Self-discovery can be a bumpy road.

Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.

open; music shop

open; harbour

open; Cavern Cowboys

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well hello!! ... apologies for text wall ROFL

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it is a beautiful wall

only the best 4 u

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