"Tomorrow," Horatio promises Aldern with a small nod. He then turns back to his drink, only to be interrupted a moment later by Korl. He almost yells out in frustration, but catches himself just in time.
"Well, I'm sure that Iomedaean girl will be most happy to speak with him later, but if she's anything like myself, she won't be in the mood right now," he begins to say, only to have Pavanna herself show up and cut him short.
He stares into the mug, his features twisting into a scowl, before he picks it up and drains it, standing and grabbing his violin from the bar. "Then I'll air the bastards out instead," he mutters. "I'm going for a walk." Without waiting for an answer, he strides out the door, his long legs carrying him briskly in the direction of the town square.
It doesn't take him long to find a bench - the same one he'd aired his sorrows out on that very morning - and sprawl across it, one leg dangling, the other foot on the end of the bench, his violin clasped to his chest. After a minute, his eyes close, and his violin finds its way to his jaw. After a few moments more, he starts playing, somewhat awkwardly from the position, and a deep, mournful tune fills the air.
Asuriel lets herself be led to the couch to rest and gives the ointment to Lou. "Make sure you apply it very, very gently. Otherwise you are more likely to cause additional pain, she is very bruised and it will take the lightest of touch. Think of ten threads all a copper apart lined up in front of you and you need to pull one without disturbing the others. Go slowly."
She watches closely as Lou begins to resume her work but quickly leans forward when Noro grows frustrated. She shakes her head to Lou and mouths "It's ok, later" silently. Standing once more she gingery walks around the side of the table, holding on to the wall for support to make sure she doesn't topple herself.
That'd be a fine sight indeed. I'm here to assist you as I fall flat on my face.
Asuriel walks to the side facing Noro and crouches down beside her. Ever so gently she places her hand on a non-bruised area of Noro (if one exists). With nothing more than the softest of whispers she aks, "Know that however dark your path may seem right now, the light always comes again to guide the way. I would like to stay and make sure you are recovering alright if you do not mind. I do not have to apply the ointment if you do not prefer it, but it will help ease the pain from your bruises. If you prefer me to be silent, I can observe over there by window out of your way. If you wish to be alone I will take my leave as you request, I understand sometimes we need to be by ourselves. If that is not the case though, I am here to ease your suffering or wipe away tears."
Asuriel turns her head away slightly to wipe her mouth out of Noro's view and returns her gaze to her. She won't push the woman for help if she doesn't want it, that is not the way.
Pavanna raises a hand, about to call Horatio back... then lets the hand fall, the words unspoken. No. From what he said earlier, he might find music more comfort than ale right now. And I doubt he’ll be in a mood for company until he plays some of... all this... out of his system.
Sighing, she turns a rueful eye on Thirzin and shrugs helplessly. After a moment, she goes to the bar, asking Bethana for a glass of wine and a plate of food, before returning to join Thirzin . “Well, then, Thirzin Bronzebeard: what shall we do now? Do we sit here and participate in the general moping, or would you rather we go sit behind Saroune and glare at her would-be suitor like a couple of over-protective siblings?”
Noro lay there listening to Asuriel. she says nothing, she doesn't even open her eyes.
her only action is to grab Asuriel's hand and holds on to it. Noro's grip is pretty tight, considering.
it isn't the physical pain Noro is concerned with, that much is evident.
Though she has no way of knowing it, Pavanna's right - the music slowly calms Horatio's pounding heart and whirling thoughts, scattering his worries like leaves in the breeze as the piece progresses. When the final notes fade away, his entire body relaxes; he sinks deeper into the splintery wood of the bench, slips a little closer to peace. Though he's not there yet - his body aches from battle, his fingers are bruised from the pressure he placed on the strings, and something inside him twists at the memory of Noro's beaten, bruised body - it's the closest he's been to it for several hours.
Why do you care so much about her? Have you forgotten to the elbow to the cheekbone? he asks himself. His right hand gingerly brushes against the bruise that lingers from yesterday.
I just don't know. She's a bit rough, and not the type I'd associate with back home... But she didn't deserve that. I'm not it, but she could use a friend right now. I hope she has one.
Maybe some music would make her feel better? Or- He shakes his head. That's not even appropriate right now. Besides, she needs sleep. She's had a rough day. Just be there for her tomorrow... If she even wants your company.
He scratches the side of his head with his bow, toeing the dirt with his lowered boot. You've always had a way with women. Maybe she'll find you easy to talk to.
Or she'll punch you again. Maybe you'd be better off staying with Pavanna and... Tharis.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to clear the thought.
"Noro, I can't, not while my little sister needs me." He takes her other hand and squeezes gently. "It's okay to cry. Feeling grief and sadness does not make you any less strong, but bottling them inside does. Mother always told us that."
He stays by her, willing to take on her pain as Asuriel had, if only she'd let him.
"Well, That's a foirst." he mutters under his breath before turning to Pavanna and Thirzin.
"It looks loike ye're in need o' a new drinkin' buddy too. Moind if I joins ye?" he asks the pair.
Aldern continues to heap glowing praise on the party, and especially Saroune while Tharis keeps to himself.
Why does blood taste so metallic? I wonder if my celestial lineage that causes that. Regardless I do not particularly care for this taste.
Once her mouth is mostly cleared and no blood on her teeth show she looks over at Lou and says "I will watch over her, do not worry. I give you my word."
She gives him a slow nod of her head as I to indicate everything is fine and she will take care of his sister. She doesn't tell Lou to leave directly but hopes that he perceives the silent meaning in her nod.
Asuriel waits for the two of them to be alone and turns to Noro's hand ad it clutches her own. The woman's strength was impressive. Despite being beaten within an inch of her life she was squeezing her hand harder than any man had ever done.
I cannot fathom what creature claiming to be a father could undertake such violent actions against his own kin. I will speak to this alleged man on this matter. This is not the way.
Asuriel legs start to burn from crouching, her strength clearly dimished from her two links with this woman today. Her body starts to tremor slightly so she repositions herself and sits beside Noro. She doesn't speak but takes her free hand and runs her fingertips through Noro's hair slowly in a motherly fashion. In little more than a whisper she hums the melody of a soft lullaby from her childhood that her mother used to sing to her as a child.
he is LN by that character sheet I have, the ninja thing (I don't know where that came from)
Also Lou and Noro are both half Tien and half Varisian
and yes he is a drunken master, but does not drink all the time. but he does like to party when its appropriate.
I like the way he is portrayed here. so don't worry about changing anything. he is just fine.
Olivius finishes his repairs more quickly than he would have liked. The goblins did little damage to his armor. Suddenly he is left with nothing to do but relive bad memories, and this is wholly unsatisfactory. He grabs his spear, shield, battered spellbook, and polearm and heads downstairs dressed in his armor's quilted padding.
He is feeling better, all told. Seeing Saroune being waylaid by the cowardly noble makes him smile to himself. Mages always get the attention. He nods to Pavanna and Thirzin as he walks by toward the door.
He chuckles. "Its like what they say about flies and honey but worse."
"I think the expression in Westcrown wos somethin' loike ye can catch a nobleman's ear with ol' gloiries an' a noblewoman's with gossip. Eh, been so long since I lived there, can barely remember."
Korl says, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.
I'll be outside. Olivius says as he moves through the taproom. He exits and moves around the building to the stables where he is guaranteed enough room for his forms. He sets his Guisarme against a post and makes sure his spellbook is up off the ground before strapping his shield on, taking up his spear, and fluidly going through the paces of his practice forms that he was taught. He does each series of moves slowly, carefully, making sure every angle and every step was right. Then he goes through the same set again, faster. Then again, faster, until his spear tip whistles as it cuts the air on the broader swipes.
He then starts on the next form in the same way. Slowly at first, then faster, until he is a blur of deadly motion. In all, he does six such series. Steam from sweat rises from his shoulders when the workout is complete. He then sets his spear aside and takes his Guisarme in one hand. The longer weapon is awkward without the control a second hand provides. Still, he commences a form using his shield as a counterweight against the weight and employing a much smoother, more mobile, sweeping style than the short spear had called for. Most of these moves involved wide swings like an ax would use or downward thrusts. Olivius is obviously much less practiced with this kind of combat, and the Guisarme clatters to the hard earth more than a few times as he struggles.
The forms turn out to be just what he needed. His depression is soon washed away in the familiarity of the training, and the new challenge of the one-handed polearm focuses his mind.
Saroune stood chatting with Aldern, arms crossed, shifting her weight from one foot to the other like a cornered animal ready to bolt. She smiled at the noble's conversations, nodding her head along, thanking him for the praise he was heaping on her and her friends, but she glanced about the room nervously, hoping for one of her friends to notice her discomfort.
It wasn't anything wrong with Aldern. He was charming and warm, and admittedly easy on the eyes; he had a sort of easy charisma without coming off as snooty as a noble could. Saroune was just terrible with men. She wasn't sure how to hold a conversation without scaring him away or embarrassing herself by starting up about magic again. Unfortunately, Horatio and Olivius had both left the inn without noticing her plight and Thirzin seemed to be focusing on his drink. Pavanna was upstairs looking after Noro. She was trapped, so she might as well try to socialize.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your dog," she blurted, cutting Aldern off.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your dog," she blurted, cutting Aldern off.
Aldern stops mid-sentence, confused by the sudden apologies about the hound he had lost.
"As sad as it is to lose Tribbles, a hound can be replaced, and quite easily. People, on the other hand, can't be replaced." his expression darkens, his eyes take on a haunted look, but it soon passes as he looks back up.
"He was named by my youngest sister when I first got him. He was getting on up in years, but he was loyal to the last. I dread telling her of his passing, but I would dread someone else having to tell her of mine even more."
He stares at the table he and Saroune are sitting at for a moment, silence hovering between the two of them. His eyes soon start following the line of her arm, to her shoulder, then to her neck, and stop at her face. His lips quirk up in an almost smile and his eyes dance as if they had taken the fire in the lanterns for their own.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're cute when you blush?"
Looking up from his drink, he smirks at Pavanna and nods to Saroune, toasting her with his drink. An easy out if she were to need it, or an easy enough toast to return.
Definitely not burnt toast.
Noro starts to dose off, This is probably the most serene and feminine anyone has ever seen Noro.
Definately not the beating that has her in this condition, it goes deeper than that.
after a few minutes Noro whispers in her sleep I never wanted a teacher, I wanted a father. then few seconds later. ...No Please its not Lou's fault...
Saroune's face went hot as she blushed at Aldern's comment. Oh, Goddess, he's flirting with me. She glanced around again, spotting Thirzin raising a glass to her. She could go talk to the dwarf, but she didn't want to hurt Aldern's feelings. She might as well try to steer the conversation some place less terrifying, like family.
"You have a sister? What's her name?" Saroune deflected, trying to ignore the irony of her blushing after Aldern's flirtatious observation.
From the sounds of it, not a very sound rest unfortunately. She is strong one though it appears, she just needs to sleep to recover.
Asuriel pulls a blanket over to keep the chill off and somewhat unsteadily makes her way over to Lou. She places a gentle hand on his shoulder and leans in to whisper, "She will be fine, just needs rest. I'm going to go downstairs to get some water and a bite to eat. If she wakes or you need me, just send word downstairs."
She smiles at Lou, placing her hand along the walls she begins to make her way down the hallway.
Ah them, seems like he may be doing a little more than just congratulating her on her masterful performance earlier today. Good for her, it was quick thinking indeed.
Looking around for her earlier companions she notes Horatio and Olivius have gone missing, but the dwarf is still here as are all of the tieflings.
She walks with focus, trying her best not to let her current state shine through to everyone. Her skin is clammy and pale and shines slightly from beads of sweat on her body. Her walk is unsteady and she holds on to things as she walks past them. She walks over to a seat a bit removed from everyone, she doesn't need everyone looking at her and worrying about anything.
I'll be fine, I just need some refreshment and some rest.
She orders some food and drink and places her arms on the table and folds them. Overcome with fatigue and injury, she lays her head on her hands, sideways, and closes her eyes for a moment. She begins to think about the days events so far and what a trying day it has been in such a short amount of time.
I'll just rest my eyes until the food get's he--
Facing away from everyone, no one sees she has drifted off.
On the old wood of the bench, Horatio's breathing slowly evens out as the young bard slips closer and closer to sleep. Every muscle aches, and the speed at which he was drinking seems to have caught up to him as his head spins, all thoughts swirling down, down, down...
His bow slips from his fingers, falling softly to the ground, rosewood and hippogriff tail-hair lying on the hard-packed dirt of the town square. The hand clutching his violin over his chest relaxes, the instrument shifting slightly with each breath, but in no danger of falling to the same fate as its partner.
Pentru a dormi, cumva la vis... he thinks wearily, before consciousness slips away and slumber overtakes his tired form.
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His sleep is brief and frightful.
He's been asleep less than five minutes before something crawls across his face. Just across the border into Desna's realm, he feels it, feels the skittering of legs on his nose, his lips...
He starts awake in terror, seeing a black mass staring back at him. His body fighting against him, he somehow manages to get a hand to his face in time to swipe the spider away, sending it harmlessly to the ground. Flying to his feet, he crushes it beneath the heel of his boot, heart pounding with fear.
When the arachnid lies dead, he relaxes slightly, but doesn't linger. He grabs his violin and bow, and hastens back to the Rusty Dragon.
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The smells and sounds of the taproom are as close to home as he's felt in some time. At least there were no spiders here - he doubted Ameiko would tolerate such vermin in her inn.
He glances around - Pavanna and Thirzin were still at the bar. Asuriel was seated, facing the wall - probably just as weary as any of them. And Saroune...
Noticing the flushed and flustered expression on the wizard's face, he shakes his head slightly. Poor girl mustn't be used to such attention. Pavanna, please forgive me...
He fetches a drink from the bar - Cayden, I apologize for my earlier actions, but I swear this is one's for a better reason - and seats himself at the same table as Saroune and Aldern.
"A sister, eh?" he interjects, winking at the Varisian girl. "Ah, I always longed for a little sister of my very own! But alas, the gods didn't see fit to bless my poor old mother with another child - apparently I was enough torment for one woman!
"Say, Aldern, I just ended up giving a rather stirring performance from a park bench. I suppose I was in the mood after all. It's a shame you weren't there to hear it; it was most moving."
He drinks as he talks, hoping his blather will take some of Aldern's attention off Saroune. The poor girl's discomfort is obvious, and he hopes the reason he's thinking of is the right one.
Unfortunately, his smooth charm is marred somewhat by a red hand-print that covers his mouth and half of one cheek.
"He's a blind fool..." he says quietly to himself.
The last of the darkness clouding his expression fades away as he begins to talk about his sisters.
"I have two sisters, Senali and Zeeva. Zeeva is younger than I by a few years, and Senali is older than I by about five minutes." He says with a chuckle. "What about you? Do you have any siblings?"
As he asks this, Ameiko returns, with two women in tow. She spots Asuriel and sighs before motioning to one of them to come help her carry the woman back upstairs.
"Sorry Bethana, gotta make sure this stubborn little girl is okay. I'll be back in a bit."
"Oh it's no problem, you might want to do something to lighten the mood a little though."
Ameiko nods and leads the two newcomers upstairs.
"Lou. You were supposed to make sure she lied down." Ameiko says as she, and a woman Noro recognizes as Sabyl Sorn, the master of the House of Blue Stones.
"Sorry, I was--"
"Worried for your sister. I know Lou. I know." Ameiko finishes for him.
The third woman, Hannah, shakes her head.
"Wind and waves, how did she get into this state? I can patch her up, but this is beyond anything I've ever seen or heard of."
"Dunno," Sabyl answers, "but I'm less worried about this one than Noro." Her eyes meet with Noro's as she finishes, and a mixture of anger and worry flashes in them.
"Care to tell me what happened and why you challenged your fat--" she begins.
"Don't call him that!" Lou interrupts.
After less than a minute since their arrival, Asuriel is on the bed beside Noro, and Hannah is looking both of them over for injuries and wounds.
"Very well, tell me what happened and why you challenged Yuto." Sabyl says with a sigh.
"Not exactly the most subtle way to ask..." Hannah mutters under her breath as she pushes a lock of hair back, and shows her pointed ears to the others.
Horatio watches as the women go upstairs. Didn't realize Asuriel was in such a bad way, he thinks. The knowledge that two lovely - well, one lovely, one violent - women were in such a state saddens him, but he quickly turns his attention back to the conversation at hand.
"Ah, so you're a twin, then? Is it true that one of a a pair of twins is always fey-touched, or was the salty old dog who told me that just a superstitious bastard?" He takes another drink, swiping the ale foam from his lip with one thumb. "I've no siblings, but I always wanted a sister. Oh, wait - I already said that, didn't I?" He laughs at his own 'forgetfulness', shaking his head. "Ah, silly me. Must be the drink, you know."
Noro sits up rather suddenly fists up ready for a fight but winces as her broken ribs cause such pain.
Once she realizes who is there she once again seems to look past them like she is trying to see if anyone else is coming in. not seeing anyone Noro relaxes.
Noro just looks at Sabyl, like "you really have to ask that?"
Its seemed like the thing to do at the time. besides I thought it might be the only way he would understand. He had no right to say what he did about Lou, or Amieko.
As she is checked over Noro keeps shifting, not sitting still, You should see the other guy. she tries to joke but he chuckle is met with pain.
Look I'm gonna be fine, I've been hit harder.
Noro is being a rather uncooperative patient. just give me a nice cold ale or a shot of sake, and it will all be alright.
Noro is trying to stay tough.
Flying. I must be flying. I've always wondered what it would be like to fly. I always thought it would be smoother than this though. If I had been bestowed with a pair of wings then I...
She slowly wakens from her brief dream and opens her eyes as Hannah presses on her chest. Asuriel winces in pain, her eyes going wide and trying to take in her surroundings. She groans and tries to sit up and protest, pushing away the healers hands and arms. As she opens her mouth opens a pool of blood spills from her mouth and runs down her chin. Weary from her exhaustion earlier, she is a little confused and half out of it. She groans, "Ouch-fine, I'm fine. The girl upstairs needs your help. She has some internal in-"
Asuriel focuses and sees Hannah and scrunches her face, "Hannah? What? Where.."
She looks around the room quickly, clearly confused. She places a hand to her temple and groans. She tries to stand and says, "I should be getting back to the cathedral, there are wounded from today that need assistance."
She motions to try and sit up from the bed.
"One of you got knocked around by someone Sabyl isn't willing to spar with and the other keeps taking on her injuries, despite not having given them time to heal. No, both of you are going to be good little girls and lie down, or I will help Ameiko and Sabyl strap you in bed." Hannah puts her hands on her hips and lets the impish smiles from Ameiko and Sabyl speak for their willingness.
"Besides, anyone worse off than you two right now is either already taken care of or dead. Lets try to keep you from becoming the later, hmm?"
She shoos Lou out of the room, claiming that modesty trumps the need for him to be there, before setting to work binding wounds and salving bruises. She finishes ten minutes after she starts and looks to Ameiko.
"May I borrow your kitchen for a moment?" She asks the Dragon's Innkeeper.
"Not at all. I'll come show you where everything is." Ameiko answers before following Hannah out the door.
Sabyl stays and takes a seat.
"The thing to do? Noro, I've known you since we were little. You may be impulsive, but you don't pick fights with people unless you don't like them, or you have a good reason. What did Yuto say about Lou and Ameiko? I'm afraid she left that part out when explaining what had happened."
Meanwhile, over at the bar, Korl and Thirzin continue their war on sobriety.
"Ye-ye knowsh what, me *hic* me good dwarf? The besh drinkin' buddiesh are dwarvishesh!" Korl says before finishing pint number ten.
When Sabyl interjects to stop her, Asuriel slowly moves her head as to not make herself dizzy from spinning too quickly. She feigns a smile and prepares to state she is perfectly fine.
Unfortunately in her state she couldn't convince anyone of anything other that she is unwell. While staring at the door she mumbles, "My dear, I am perfectly fine. I simply wanted to move to the window so that I might say a prayer to the Dawnflower for strength."
Turning her head to look at Sabyl unsteadily she asks, "You wouldn't deny such a simple pleasure to me, would you now?" Used to usually getting her way impart due to her quick tongue and good lucks, her pale skin and unsteady posture work against her.
Ping pulls out a book and some charcoal sticks from her pack. She begins to draw, and for some reason, seems to be giggling every few minutes.
"Until Hannah says otherwise, you're staying there. Besides, she's a good friend and I will not hesitate to strap you down if she told me to."
Sabyl's stare definitely gives Asuriel pause. She looks away from the woman quickly, staring down at her lap, thinking.
How obstinate are you going to be here woman? She is threatening to strap you down if you don't relax, but she wouldn't dare do that to a priestess of the Dawnflower. Surely she is bluffing. I need to return to help those wounded from battle, I'm doing no good laying around here. Get off your bottom and get moving.
With effort, Asuriel pushes up off the bed into a standing position. Being stubborn is one thing, but Asuriel was determined to make her escape from this room. She would move slowly and talk her way out of this like she always does.
I'm not stubborn, I'm focused. There is a difference. She doesn't understand is all.
Without glancing back at Sabyl she slowly starts to walk towards the door. "I'm just going to go downstairs and talk to Hannah. Surely she is misinformed is all, I will go work it out. I appreciate the effort, but it is better spent on our friend over here. I need to attend to those in the cathedral. I told Father Zantus I would be back to help and I won't be caught laying down while. There are those that need my help."
Inching closer to the door, "Besides, Sister Elizabeth will have my head if she finds out. You wouldn't wish a priestess harm, would you? That is simply poor form"
She wipes away some blood from her mouth on the back of her hand again. Looking down at it she smiles and fibs, "I bit my lip earlier by accident."
As she continues to inch towards the door she turns to Noro, "Would you like me to fetch some water for you Noro? Anything to drink or eat while I'm up?"
"We all come to enlightenment through different paths. Perhaps you are on a more painful one than you had hoped. If Elizabeth takes your head, I'll be the first one in line at the viewing. Besides, I'd risk Elizabeth's wrath over Hannah's any day. That woman is scary when she's mad."
Sabyl is in a relatively good mood, the banter seeming to have picked up her spirits a bit. But despite the joking, there's a note of anxiety in her voice when she mentions Hannah's wrath.
Saroune smiled at Horatio when the bard when he sat down, her eyes thankful. He might have been a bit of a rake, but he seemed decent enough. And now she wouldn't be the sole focus of Aldern's attention.
"I'm an only child, actually." she replied to the question. She smiled again at Horatio. "I would have loved a baby sister as well."
Saroune's noticed Sabyl Sorn enter the Rusty Dragon and her heart fluttered at the thought of the monk's library. She had forgotten all about her book hunt from earlier and her surprise at such an extensive collection in a town as small as Sandpoint. She made a mental note to talk to Sabyl later.
That reminded her of something. "Is your family from Sandpoint, Aldern?"
Asuriel stands in front of Sabyl and frownd. "Gee, thanks a lot. Don't go out of your way for me or anything."
With a heavy sigh she looks down on Sabyl and puts on an overly pathetic pout that pushes out her bottom lip. "Pleeeeease?"
When she sees no sign of Sabyl moving she crosses her arms in frustration and spins around quickly intending to head back to the bed to sit. In her fit of mini temper tantrum she loses her balance. With the gracefulness of an ostrich she does her best fallen angel impersonation and windmills her arm as she falls over onto the floor with a loud THUMP.
In frustration she lets her head fall the last two inches to the floor. She lay there a moment, frustrated that she moved so quickly.
It's been awhile since I've linked with someone twice in one day, I've forgotten how much it saps my energy. I will need to be more careful next time.
With some humility she speaks into the floor "Perhaps I should just lay down for a bit longer. If I'm going to die at Elizabeth's stick I should rather stay here and comfort my friend."
She shakily pushes herself up Into to bed, barely mustering the strength to do so. Afterwards she collapses from the effort, out of breath. Laying in the bed and staring up at the ceiling she asks between gasps of breath, "As your prisoner I formally request a glass of water."
Looking like she night pass out any second she turns to Noro and puts her hand on Noro's and closes her eyes. She begins to hum a soft melody once more.
Noro just sat there watching the exchange. She looked like she was about the say something but Asuriel calmed down on her own.
When Asuriel makes a request for water, Noro chimes in and an ale
of course not really expecting anything. Noro just lays back in the bed. I alwaysh hated recovery periodsh. I thought that wash what divine magic was for. she says with a sigh.
Asuriel grabs Noro's hand and starts to sing. Noro pulls away what do ya take me for? shome sort a panshy bard?
Noro rolls over to rest.
Noro really isn't angry at Asuriel, it is definitely the tough girl side of her Noro probably actually enjoys the singing, but is afraid to admit it.