Esmeralda dances to the rhythm of the tambourine (changewillcome) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-10-22 19:22:00 |
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This wasn’t the usual kind of place Shaw liked to drink in but it had a bar and she’d been banned for fighting at a couple of others close to where she was living so she’d figured she might as well give it a go.
She couldn’t deny a lot of work had gone into the decor though, it was certainly atmospheric and she continued looking around even as she went to the bar and ordered a drink.
The good news was Clopin had finally accepted that the threat he was convinced of was no longer an issue. Or at least not so much that the Court of Miracles needed to remain closed. It was their livelihood and the last thing Esmeralda had wanted was for her dreams to have an impact on the others. But temporarily dying from smoke inhalation and the room smelling of fire and then a pyre showing up? The signs had been there. And so they’d been closed a week until Clopin was sure it was safe to re-open and things were back to normal.
Mostly.
Esmeralda herself wasn’t dancing at the moment. She was on the mend, but she struggled with breathing still and part of her was apprehensive. So for now, it was helping behind the bar and serving drinks now that walking wasn’t as painful.
Getting Shaw’s drink made, the brunette turned and handed it to her.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks. So how long has this place been here? I take it you do some kind of show too?” she asked, curious because it was unlike any place she’d been to before and it had caught her attention. She’d have to thank whoever recommended it, if she could remember their name.
“We have been here since about May I believe?” Time was strange like that. Already five months. They were settled, they had a base of customers and weren’t nearly as worried about making it day to day. And while Esmeralda had dealt with the dreams, the others had not and even that was over. “We have a variety. Palm and tarot readings, music. Usually I dance though I injured my ankle so that is on hold for now.”
Slight lie but necessary. It was the easiest explanation for what had actually happened at any rate.
“Palm reading? Well that's definitely different. I've never been to a club that offers that. Sucks about your ankle, you gonna be able to dance again sometime?” Shaw asked, knowing what it was like to not be able to do your job properly thanks to an injury.
“We do stick to our roots.” Yes, most of it was the expectations of her people, but it sold and allowed them to survive. Though as a club? That was interesting though she supposed it depended on person and location. Her understanding of club was more music and lights and everyone dancing. Oh well. “I should certainly hope so.” Esmeralda didn’t know what she would do if she couldn’t dance again, “Nothing major, just need to let it heal a bit more.”
“That's good. Though if you're anything like me resting and healing can be completely frustrating” Shaw said taking a sip of her drink, making it last a little longer than usual.
While Esmeralda was naturally outgoing and friendly, she did have to smile a bit at the comment. “Oh it certainly is but if I rush it, it will just make it worse.” She at least knew that much. That and she hoped that by the time she was actually able to dance again without coughing and once her feet were healed, she wouldn’t be so apprehensive about dancing where the funeral pyre had shown up.
“Ah you're more level headed than I am” Shaw said, she knew patience was not her strong point. It had never been a virtue she was blessed with. “But I'll stick around for the show when you are back on the stage” she smiled. She was a pretty girl and Shaw imagined she danced well.
And that just made Esmeralda laugh. “I am fairly certain that you are the first person to call me level headed. I know that everyone here would beg to disagree.” She didn’t mind it. Esmeralda could be reckless, she believed too much in others and hoped and she refused to back down from a fight. She just also knew that injuring herself further would serve no purpose. It was more survival instinct than being level headed.
“Oh yeah? Sounds like people who know me” Shaw grinned knowing that hot headed and impulsive were the words used to describe herself. Shaw had survival instincts but it was usually a question of when they kicked in. Sometimes they were a little on the slow side.
“Well, we have been together for… years really.” Life constantly on the move and doing what was necessary to get by tended to lead to losing track of time, of not knowing exact specifics. Esmeralda just knew that they had come together as a family and protected one another and it had been like that for a long time now. “I do find that most people tend to be stubborn though, it just varies on what they are stubborn about.”
“You’re not wrong there. People who don’t know me very well pretty soon discover that stubbornness is definitely a trait I have. In spades I’ve been told” she smirked, she never considered it an insult even when it was meant that way. When Shaw decided to do something she committed 100% even if it was a bad choice.
“Nothing inherently wrong with that.” At least Esmeralda didn’t think so. So long as it wasn’t stubbornness that was used to harm others, or lie to yourself and blame others. That stubborn belief of Frollo’s which… really didn’t matter here. It was the dreams, and they were over now.
“I’ll drink to that” Shaw said with a grin as she finished her drink. The only person Shaw’s stubbornness hurt was herself really. The fights she got into were equal parts her and the other person, nothing to do with stubbornness.
Well it wasn’t like she could really drink at the moment as she was working but she did give a nod of solidarity. Though she did noticed Clopin keeping an eye on the conversation, to make sure she wasn’t getting herself in trouble somehow. Typical. “Would you like another before I go on my break?”
“I’d love one” Shaw nodded, “Thanks. Hope I’m not getting you into trouble” because of course Shaw noticed that their conversation was being watched too.
Shaking her head some, Esmeralda just shot a look at Clopin before getting Shaw her drink with a smile, “Not at all.” Because it was less she was spending too much time talking with a customer and more Clopin being paranoid. Oh well. It was what it was. “It was nice speaking with you. See you around.” With that, she motioned to Gringoire that she was going on break before heading down to her room below the tavern.