((Well if you feel the urge, hit me up, though i'll be hitting the hay soon since it's midnight here.))
Elara, admittedly, poured her soul into drawing the bow over the string in quick and slightly chaotic movements, her playing blending with the band but standing out just a bit. While the music carried memories of her mother, they were happy, and easier to ignore as she focused on playing, taking advantage of the brief lull in the pain in her ankle to tap her foot along to the music. She may not ever look like a Princess, but she looked perfectly at home here, her eyes alighting on Kieran and her smile widening as she caught sight of his. Looks like he can feel, huh?
(alright. Okay! It's 11 for me lol. Also, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I may not be on a lot/my replies will be spotty, since I'm moving from Alaska to the Midwest)
Kieran was quiet, starting to tap his fingers to the beat of the music. He wasn't sure why; he never had before. He bit his lip slightly, wondering what exactly was happening. His whole behavior was changing as he guarded and followed Elara, and he wasn't entirely sure why, or if it was a good thing or not. He really wasn't sure.
((Dude, you’re from Alaska? Which part? I’m Soldatna born))
Elara tossed her head, throwing her hair out of her face as she continued on with the upbeat and definitely dance-able music, which sounded very much like some sea shanty. It was, in fact, one. She had learned it from Johnson a while ago, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out the music to it. They were quite the pair in taverns when she convinced someone to lend her a fiddle, her playing and him belting out the lyrics. She never sang them herself though.
(yes, I am! That's awesome! I live in the Matanuska/Mat-Su valley, in Palmer)
Kieran listened with a slight smile still on his face, fingers still tapping the beat on his pants. He didn't recognize the tune, but then again, he hadn't heard much music before, so. That was, most likely, why. And, too, when he had heard music, he didn't usually pay attention to it very much.
((Ooo, I've never been there. Then again, to be fair, I don't remember much of my time up there except for living with my aunt in Sitka briefly.))
Elara hummed along to her playing, humming the words she remembered Johnson singing, her eyes leaving Kieran as something almost like guilt at watching him flickered through her. They landed on Flick at the bar, who caught her eye and waved, and she lifted the bow during a brief pause to salute him in return, before returning to playing. She spun around, the closest thing to dancing she could get without falling right now, as the other instruments gradually quieted until the fiddle was the only one playing for this bit.
(ah. Oh cool)
Kieran continued listening, still leaning against the wall. His fingers continued their rhythm as he looked around the room. His eyes flicked over the dancers, around the diners, past the drinkers. Observing everyone. They all had some sort of emotion. Something that made them look happy or sad or tired or angry. But he had…nothing.
The song drew to a close eventually, leaving Elara flushed and grinning ear to ear as the applause sounded about the room. Flick approached, taking his bow back with a slap to her shoulder and something muttered in a low and conspiratory tone that drew a laugh from her as she attempted to get off the stage. Her eyes found Kieran’s again and she waggled her brows playfully, shooting him a wink without much reason.
Kieran frowned slightly at the eyebrows and wink, and walked over to help her. He remained as silent as he ever was, putting her arm across his shoulders and helping her down.
“Thanks, ktherion.” Elara said, still smiling as she steadied herself on the ground. “Maybe shouldn’t’a done all that foot tappin’, but man, is that a good song.”
Kieran nodded. "You're welcome. And yes, perhaps you shouldn't have." He agreed as he led her to the table. He sort of wondered what song it was, but also knew it didn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things.
Elara snorted, but didn't say anything else, instead humming what sounded like the same song she had played, but at a slower tempo. She plopped back down in her chair, checking to make sure her bag was still there as she hummed. Her good foot tapped along to her humming as she propped the other one up, looking up at Kieran. "So wha'd'ya think? 'S one o' Johnson's favorite shanties."
Kieran sat down, and shrugged slightly. "It was good. Although I have not heard much music." He replied, speaking in a slow way, as if he were thinking over each word before he said it. Strands of hair had escaped the small bun, hanging into his face, though he seemed either not to notice or not to care.
"You've never heard a sea shanty before?" Elara asked, looking almost personally offended by that information. "Ever?" She made a face, wrinkling her nose and frowning. Kind of a funny expression. She ran a hand through her hair and tucked it behind her ear, her eyes catching the loose strands of his own for a moment.
Kieran blinked, thinking for a moment, then shook his head. "No, i don't think so." He replied. "Like i said, i havent heard a lot of music, nor have I paid attention to it when I have."
"Tha's quite possibly the saddest thing I've ever heard." Elara said dramatically, shaking her head. "We gotta get ya listenin' t' more music. Tha's a new requirement for anyone with this job. Gotta listen t' music."
Kieran sighed. "Why?" He asked slowly. "Music does not mean much. Especially not to those who have no emotions. Music is fueled by emotions and feelings, and if you do not have them…" He shrugged.
"Music is fueled by emotions, sure, but ya know it causes 'em too, righ'?" Elara tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at him. "Ya listen' t' sad music t' be sad, happy music t' be happy, there's even music that makes ya angry, makes ya wanna fight someone. Jus' helps for it t' be well made music."
He looked back at her. "The Thari do not have emotion, your highness. It is just not in our wiring. We don't feel things the way you humans do." He shrugged slightly. I had thought this was known about us. Perhaps not.
"Sure. No emotion. If ya say so." She shook her head, like she didn't quite believe that, looking off at the people dancing. She'd seen evidence otherwise. Nothing major, just little things that pointed to him maybe having a bit more emotion than he thought he did.
He raised an eyebrow. "And what do you mean by that?" He questioned, tipping his head from side to side, his neck making popping sounds. He ran a hand across his horns, then dropped it back down to his side.
"People without emotions don' smile like tha', ktherion." She said, not looking at him, but instead watching a young woman dancing. Something pushed at her mind, the memory of the concern on his face after she had hurt her ankle even worse. But that was just because he didn't want to be blamed for any of her injuries.
"Smile…? Oh." He realized what she meant, and sighed. "I don't know why I smiled like that, your highness." He told her. "But I usually don't." He followed her gaze, then looked away, eyes flickering around the tavern. He knew that Jalaan was gone, but some part of him kept expecting to see the man.
"Ya don' usually, but ya did. An' that furthers my point." She said, her eyes still on the woman and something sad clouding them. "Music. Unless there's another reason ya were smilin', it was the music and the atmosphere 'round ya."
Kieran shrugged. "Still. Thari do not have much emotions." He replied, and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you alright?" He questioned. Did she want to head back? Or was her ankle hurting? He wasn't sure.
"Mhm." Elara hummed disbelievingly, blinking as he asked if she was alright. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, jus' fine." She shook her head, looking away from the woman and back at Kieran. "Just…woman looks kind of similar t' my mother. Felt like deja vu. You ready t' head back? Yer probably tired, I'm guessin', after the dancin' and eatin' and shit."
Kieran nodded. "I see. We can head back whenever you're ready." He replied. To be honest, he was kind of tired, but he would go with her whenever she was ready to go. He didn't mind waiting. He was just glad Jalaan was gone. He had hated that reminder.
"This has been fun, fer the mos' part, bu' I'm done with people 'n' the smell o' booze for the night." Elara said, pushing herself up until she was standing and leaning against the table, crouching somewhat to grab her duffel and slinging her arm through the strap. "Back t' the inn it is."
Kieran nodded, standing. "Would you like me to support you again?" He asked, walking over to her to help her if she wanted. He looked down at her, orange eyes blank. There were still strands of hair hanging into his face.
Elara looked up at him, having to crane her neck back to do so fully. She puffed out a breath of air, disturbing the hair in his face and snorting at herself. Gods, maybe she was tired. "Supportin' me the whole way back would be a pain in the ass. Imma walk on my own."
He shrugged. "Alright. Let me know if you change your mind." He replied, walking beside her. He redid the bun holding his hair back, sighing softly. I'm more tired than I thought I would be. Oh well.
