Ameiko chuckles. "Yep--and I imagine he'd really let me have it if anything happened to you on this trip."
She's about to say more, but the waitress from before comes around with your ordered cup of coffee. She gives you an odd look as she sets it in front of you.
"Anyway--what sort of music would you like to hear?" Ameiko pats her samisen and starts tuning it. "I imagine most of the people here are drunk enough that they won't care about it, so long as it sounds good."
Haru looks at the arrow, and shakes her head ruefully. "I spent too much on my new bow to afford fancy arrows like that, I'm afraid."
Shalelu gives Gergo an incredulous look as he shells out a fortune for one arrow and presents it to her. "Well... if you insist, I could certainly find a use for this." She takes it and stows it in her quiver.
She gives Haru a pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it."
With no one else around Friday simply wanders aimlessly around the town, shoving other heavy thoughts to the back of his mind for the moment as he focuses on... nothing, really.
"One of the problems of you having such a repertoire is that I always get stumped by that question. Uuuumm... Ah! There was this one you did a couple months back, very relaxing one. Said you wanted to go easy on the shamisen since it was needing a new string or two." She didn't want to mention that she'd been half-asleep the last time she'd played it - relaxing music, a lazy disposition and a monograph on illusions with the dullest writing she'd ever found were not a good combination.
Ameiko giggles. "Yeah, I think I remember that one--you fell asleep during that one, if I remember right."
"Well, I suppose I could play it for you--just as long as you promise to stay awake this time." She gives you a cheeky look.
Valeria blushed at the remark. "I was only half-asleep." she mumbled.
"I'll be fine; I'm not reading Avistan's most boring piece of arcane academia this time. Seriously; you ever want to torture someone with boredom..."
Ameiko lays her samisen on her lap and starts playing.
Her tuning of her samisen has paid off--the notes are clear and strong. Her fingers dance along the strings, plucking them like flower petals before strumming anew. She gives you a warm smile as she plays, oblivious to the other patrons' eyes turning to her.
Wandering the small port town leads to many interesting sights--well, Koya at least thinks so. The market looks more or less like the marketplace back in Sandpoint and the docks are busier than Sandpoint's as well. Truth be told, Roderic's Cove doesn't appear to be all that different from Sandpoint. But Koya's happy, and that seems to be enough for her.
"I can't remember the last time I left Sandpoint--heavens, I don't know if there ever was such a time." The priestess says as the two of you walk along the docks. "You know, I envy ya. Gettin' to go off and see new places before coming home."
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Your wanderings take you to a hilltop overlooking the riverside town. It looks much smaller from where you're standing now--the people below all look like ants, hurrying about before the night begins. The river's waters are flowing gently by.
The skies are a brilliant red as the sun sets. Not a single cloud can be seen anywhere. Such a peaceful scene might just be worth capturing in sketch, or paint...
Taking everything in Friday sets down atop the hill in a lull peace as he tries to capture the vermillion backdrop shading the simple town.
A Peaceful Red he quickly sketches onto the back of the painting.
Travelling does have it's charms, though I think sometimes a nice quiet life at home would be good too. The gods above only know why that is not always possible. The amount of times I have... accosted because of my heritage leads me to believe that sometimes being on the move is preferable. I can only imagine how ...Valeria?
He said pausing making sure he said the name right. He didnt think he had spoken much to anyone really this journey now that he thought about it. He would have to fix that.
How she takes dealing with her heritage. Do you think there is a place about here that might sell pieces of wood? Perhaps we can find an appropriate piece to work with on the road.
Ameiko was always a joy to watch and listen to, though having the bardess looking at her while she performed made it feel more intimate than she was used to, bringing some colour to the tiefling's cheeks. Not that she had a problem with this, so she relaxed and enjoyed the performance, her fingers faintly tapping on the table to the music.
A distant part of her mind noticed Xel closing the empathic link - the bird clearly not interested in knowing what Valeria was feeling at the moment - but that bit of information was drowned out by Ameiko's performance almost instantly.
"Travelling does have it's charms, though I think sometimes a nice quiet life at home would be good too. The gods above only know why that is not always possible. The amount of times I have... accosted because of my heritage leads me to believe that sometimes being on the move is preferable. I can only imagine how ...Valeria? How she takes dealing with her heritage."
"Well, I imagine bein' chummy with Ameiko has quite a bit to do with it." Koya shrugs. "Got no problems with her myself--certainly helps that her family's been nothin' but good-hearted folks. Her bird's got quite a beak on him, but other than that, she's managed to get by fine."
"Kinda ironic, now that I think about it."
"Do you think there is a place about here that might sell pieces of wood? Perhaps we can find an appropriate piece to work with on the road."
"I reckon we could find one around the market. If one of us were to ask nicely, that is."
Each brushstroke is well-executed; each dollop of paint is brushed in just the right way so the whole piece flows together. Your work is well-done, indeed.
All it needs is a label and the piece can truly be called 'complete'. As you finish up your work, you catch a glimpse of Kavell & Koya--they appear to be in conversation about something.
Ameiko's performance comes to an end, and the patrons applaud heartily. She gives them a grin and waves. "Thank you very much--you've been a wonderful audience."
Quite a few of the wealthier-looking patrons toss several gold pieces her way; some land on your side of the table, while others bounce off the wooden table and roll on the floor. She scoops some of them up and pockets them while grinning.
"And not drunk enough yet to try anything funny. The best kind of audience, I say." She whispers to you.
"This is as much excitement I thought I would get from you...and I'm man who takes victories where he can get them, so you won't hear any complaints from me" Gergo looked to both Haru and Shalelu, his eyes brimming with an energy that was present since they entered this town "Alright seeing as how you got a nice gift, I say we hit the tavern where we can both have fun and learn what is worth knowing about this place!"
"Unless..." Gergo paused, then he turned his focus to Haru and placed a hand on her shoulder "You have a better idea Haru! Now you know I trust you more than anyone when it comes to finding fun, but this time its extra hard...cause she has to have fun as well" The wild man pointed a thumb in Shalelu's direction. The look on his face brimming with anticipation at what Haru might suggest.
Haru just follows Shalelu, enjoying her company and the new sights.
Valeria gave Ameiko a smile as she remarked on the clientele's relative sobriety. "We picked a good time," she said, "but you've always had a way with calming people down. Half the reason I came to the Dragon all the time."
Looking over his current work with calming disinterest he waits until it has satisfyingly dried enough before putting it and the rest of his supplies away.
Taking one last all encompassing look over the cove he then starts to make his way down towards the familiar faces.
Shalelu shrugs and starts walking off towards the tavern, with Gergo & Haru in tow. "Sounds like an idea to me."
Ameiko stows her samisen and ties her coin purse shut. "And I bet the other reason is my cooking, right?"
The tavern doors open again, and this time three familiar faces step inside. Shalelu walks in and looks around, followed by Gergo and Haru.
The patrons seem to be in a particularly good mood--a few of them are chatting about a recent performance by a newly-arrived bardess. Said bardess is sitting at a table across from Valeria, putting her samisen away (to the disappointed glances of a few customers).
Shalelu pauses in her walk as she sees the two chatting. "Think we should join them or give them some space?"
Koya looks up from the conversation she was having with Kavell to see Friday walking by with his usual stoic look on his face, his painting kit visible as he carries it. "Friday! Whatcha been up to, eh?"
Meandering more than straightforward walking Friday was spending half his time watching were his feet were going and the other half in lingering thoughts. So it came to no one's surprise except his when Koya called out to him, calling him to full attention.
"Oh, I finally found a pleasant scene to paint so I, um, painted it, Miss... Koya?" he says as he bows towards her.
Koya nods. "Aye, that's my name."
"Well, may I see it?"
Nodding back to her it still takes a few seconds before Friday reaches into his pack and produces the painting.
Koya looks the painting over and nods in approval. "Quite lovely--honestly, you're a man of many surprises."
"Kavell, what do you think?" She turns to the paladin next to her and nods her head at the painting.
The young aasimar paladin took a good long look at the painting, The way the paint captured the colors and the feel of the town was impressive. The look and feel of it was good, very very good.
Shelyn's grace is with you my friend. This is superb work may I ask whom you studied under?
He asked the mysterious quiet man, very much taken with the painting.
"That too," Valeria said, although she'd been thinking of a very different reason. Pulling her mind away from that, Valeria remembered something.
"While I think of it; you didn't happen to see a bookstore or anything in town, did you? Always good to have more reading material on a long trip." she also wanted to see if they had any good story or music books for Ameiko, but wanted to keep that a surprise for now.
Ameiko scratches her head. "I haven't looked around too much yet--I imagine we could find one in the morning."
"Wishful thinking, I guess, only just got into town after all." Valeria was never any good at flirting, she always had problems thinking of what to say and this being Ameiko only made things worse. "So; where do you get ideas for songs like that? Does the tune just come to you, or...?"
"Sometimes it does." Ameiko pats the neck of her samisen. "Sometimes I go looking around for songs to learn, and sometimes I overhear some being sung at the Dragon."
She blushes slightly and looks down at the table. "Some of which I can't really sing in public because there might be kids around to hear them." She coughs and looks back up at you. "Anyway, you need a refill on your coffee?"
"Um... no one," he replies hesitantly.
"I grew up surrounded by art, especially paintings and tapestries, from all over the world. I really liked them so I would ask how they were made and when people told me I would start looking for the things to do so myself to see if I could... I don't really know. I don't know why I like painting. I've only been able to start once I came to Sandpoint. I-" he stops himself, realizing he had started babbling.
"Really now?" Koya asks. "Where'd you come from, by the way?"
She beckons Friday to walk with her and Kavell. "Wherever you came from, it must be a classy place to have birthed such an artist."
"Ustalav. I grew up around people who had gathered large collections over lifetimes."
Koya's eyes widen. "Ustalav? Well, bless my little heart, I've never been that far east. What's it like there?"
The old priestess' eyes shine with genuine interest.
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"Um, dark. And damp. And foggy. The buildings are a lot more ornate than those over here, inside and out. Same for the graveyards, not that anybody uses them. And plenty of art. And Varisians. They travel through there a lot."
"No, I'm good - I want to actually be able to sleep properly tonight," she joked. "You know; I wouldn't mind hearing some of those other songs sometime, when there's... less of an audience." She had her head lowered, almost mumbling the last of it and she only hoped that her hair was hiding her face well enough to hide how bright red it had gotten.
The tavern doors open again, and this time three familiar faces step inside. Shalelu walks in and looks around, followed by Gergo and Haru.
The patrons seem to be in a particularly good mood--a few of them are chatting about a recent performance by a newly-arrived bardess. Said bardess is sitting at a table across from Valeria, putting her samisen away (to the disappointed glances of a few customers).
Shalelu pauses in her walk as she sees the two chatting. "Think we should join them or give them some space?"
"Hmm, they look pretty cozy. Let's take a large table not too far away, so they can join us if they want."
Shalelu nods at Haru and leads the group over to a table on the far side of the common room, taking a seat that gives her the best view of the entire tavern. She makes sure two seats are left over.
"Now, onto the business of drinks. What'll each of you have?"
Ameiko just smirks. "Maybe one day, I'll play one for you."
She takes a look around the common room again, spying Shalelu and her group in the corner. "Huh--they actually managed to get Shalelu to relax? Now isn't that surprising."
Koya listens attentively to Friday as he describes Ustalav, even if it is in... somewhat less-than-flattering terms. "Hmm. Not sure it's any worse than Riddleport, from the way you describe it--maybe I'll be able to go there one day."
Her eyes are shining as she walks with the two men through the town, back to where the caravan is staying for the night.
"Hmm. What's your favorite drink, Shae? My parents never let me drink much but I'm feeling like, if I'm old enough to be out on an adventure, I can drink what I want."
Shalelu taps a finger on the table and wrinkles her nose. "I've never been one to turn down a glass of red wine, myself. Never made a habit of it, though--dulls the senses."
"If you do, I hope you are able to find beauty in the darkness there Miss Koya."
Haru waves at the server. "Two glasses of red wine please!" She then looks at Gergo, "How about you?"
Valeria was glad for the change of subject. "Yeah; thought she was always serious. Unless there's a part of her life we've never seen; maybe she was a real party girl half a century or so ago."
She tried to visualise that; an effectively-teenage Shalelu dancing and drinking with wild abandon in a Cayden-dedicated tavern somewhere. She immediately burst out laughing. "Nope, no way; I just can't see that!"