Backscene: Sit for a spell and I'll sing you a tune Who: Ordhan Wyland and Arja Serik Where: Gwaren, The Bronze Butterfly pub When: 9:44 Summary: There should be a sign on the door of the pub, 'Ye travelers beware, our dwarf will accost you if you let her.'. Rating: PG In progress
A busy night was a good night, as they say. When the taps were flowing and the crowd was large and lively, the Butterfly was in her prime. The time would pass like it was racing for paradise and there was always a very nice shimmer to the air afterward. People came in for a strong drink, good food, and company or entertainment, most nights everyone left satisfied. Arja, however, preferred the slower nights. When there were only a few patrons to see to and the mood was a little more peaceful. Of course she loved the rush of people and socializing that a busy night brought, but when they were slower there was time to actually sit down and start up a real conversation with someone. Or sing a song or two without someone interrupting to ask for another drink. Not that she minded serving a pint to a willing patron, that was her job after all. (And usually a step closer to drunken stories, which were some of the best.)
The night was slow, the pub was only half full, with most of the customers sequestered to their own tables having a friendly conversation or game of dice. A couple of men sat at the bar proper, nursing their drinks of choice. The scent of smoke and yeast filtered through the air and every so often the scrape of one of the old wooden chairs against the worn floor would echo in the room. By Arja's standards, the scene was just a little too quiet. And as no one was starving for her attention or at least rapping their tankard against their table, she decided it was time for a song. With a cheer that many found indomitable, she plucked her lute up from behind the counter and steadied herself on the tall stool that she'd begged Micah to let her drag behind the bar.
Music had always just been a part of her. From unintelligible humming as a kid to the day she got her very own instrument. The notes and capricious ways of a song had just come naturally. Coaxing a lovely tune from the strings of her darling lute, the bar faded just a bit and the warm glow of pleasure that playing brought along filled her. It was a song she'd been piecing out for a few months but it still didn't have any words. Instead she filled the spaces with random vowels that could sound pretty. Though the song was a bit more on the sombre side, it still held a hope at the core of it, most of her stuff did.
As the melody came to an end, Arja was sad to see it go. But felt refreshed from it. Just another night in paradise. Maybe, now, she could get one of the bar patrons talking and finish out her evening with a story or two. Living out adventures vicariously through another. The cap to a perfect evening.