Song: The court jester (Feat. Fukase) ~ Thquib // Lyrics
Right… so the scar is now ever present on my face, a reminder not to get too close to anyone else… clearly, I should’ve just stayed in character, of course!
Okay clearly, I just need to get back on my feet, regain my composure, refind my face… well I guess literally
I thought to myself laughing that Inla lady seemed like she would run a tavern…. She had the whole like, hearth vibe going on so yeah.
Right where was… okay lets just go for a walk… oh wait wait
I said pausing and looking over my face, and hair… I shook my head a bit floofing my hair up before putting my witches hat back on…
Okay better.
Right lets go find that hearth place… okay!
I said before turning on my heels… pausing as I groaned, fuck everything still hurts right… let’s not do those abrupt movements… okay.
As I began to walk around the town, I noticed quite a few people around… this… seems like a lot for a small town?
But the more I walked, the more people I saw… why?
However, as I walked by different stores selling items to the influx of patrons that they had just received I figured it out… ohhhhh these people are tourists!!! Oh shoot wait this could be good to… ooooo wait I can actually scam these people a bit
Well no no, not scam… just preform and they’d probably give a lot of money?
Ooooooo yes yes, that’ll be a nice bounce back from the previous week!
Okay right, right find the hearth, play the music, make the money, and then… well enjoy the money?
That… is a killer plan Ash, what could go wrong!
I said with a smile to myself, quickly continuing to scour through the storefronts until I ran across Azurea’s Hearth…
Perfect! Okay, Tavern time baby!
I thought to myself cracking my knuckles a bit with a smile before wantonly opening the door. Ready to kick butt, take names, and not get my butt kicked again.
“Welcome to Azurea’s Hearth.”
I paused and looked around, where’s all the like… nah this is just the foyer right… totally!
“Hi…”
I said pausing again before just deciding to go for it
“I met Inla the other day and was looking for a place to relax and vibe at!”
“Hmm. Do you play an instrument? What kind?”
“Yeah!!! I how did you…”
I pause before realizing that my violin was literally slung over my shoulder… duh
“Violin mostly but also sing, know piano… ummm I guess percussion kinda?”
“Violin might work. Our clients typically prefer music that can kind of… slip into the background. Set the mood for conversation, rather than being in their face. Could you do that?”
Right not in their face… okay so like… I have songs like that totally… sure sure… weird that a tavern wouldn’t… wait… I’m not talking out loud, this is awkward I’m just staring right….
“Absolutely, you know I normally like to be the center of attention”
I said laughing with a wink
“Butttt I can also play more, ambiance stuff too!”
“Excellent. Our standard rates are five gold per day, although I assume Mistress Inla will prefer to audition you before we sign up a contract.”
I paused confused, then said
“Audition? Contrac…. Ohhh were you wanting like… a full-time job thing? I was thinking maybe like a few nights before I started traveling again you know?”
“No, not at all. Simply a part-time agreement. Like freelance work, you know? It’s just a formality.”
Wack… never had to sign to play, but you know what… lots of tourists? That’s lots of money… soooo
“Ahhhh, that sounds perfect then… also do I have to call her mistress the whole time?”
I said laughing a bit.
“No, no, not at all. Another bit of formality on my part.”
I smiled and nodded
“All the formality, I fell hella underdressed… should’ve brought out my formal clothes”
I said sticking my tongue out and laughing again.
“We do have rooms available if you’d prefer to… freshen up, before meeting with Mistress Inla.”
I paused, feeling the side of my face where the scar is
“Oh do I…”
I paused again
“Yeah sure that’d be good just to… you know put on my best face”
I said smiling awkwardly.
“Oh! I just meant… if you have performance clothes, you could change.”
I nodded
“Ohhhh I thought… sorry thought It was bleeding a bit again and got self conscious”
I said smiling
“Nah this is… normally what I preform in? Does that…. Workkkkk or?”
“It’s very eclectic. I think our patrons will find it charming.”
I smiled, my face glowing (figuratively) a bit
“Welllll… charm is the name of my game”
I said with a big smile, chuckling internally to myself
“In that case, I’ll go retrieve Mistress Inla now. Feel free to tune up in the room over here.”
I smiled and nodded, quickly jotting over to the door
“Thank you!!!”
I said entering the room… okay what do I play….
I… right okay, lets think… ambiance… right… soooo
I paused and took a deep breath, thinking. Right lets go with some soft music, maybe… okay mood think…. We could, just…
I pause again…. Before starting to play a very calm song, one that I remember hearing Jenny play when I was younger…
I have to fight against the desire to be the center of attention, to put my flair into it but…. I’m able to gather the will power to do so… singing would hurt right now anyway thanks to that lovely mark on my face.
So now I just… wait? I think, continuing to play just passing the time…
What kind of formality is mistress… I say under my breath laughing, Imagine…
“Oh I’m sorry MISTRESS Foote”
I say laughing to myself as I play…
“Well, you’re certainly skilled. I can’t say I was expecting that, given our first meeting, so well done.”
I pause, my face turning bright red. Fumbling the notes in the song as I tried to play it off as nothing
“Ohhhhh hey…. Yeah, that was… I…you know hadn’t had my….coffee… I um…. How… long were you…. Right Ummm… I’m Ash, a pleasure to meet you Mistress Inla”
I said, trying to recover from that… terrible timing!
“Just Inla, please. You’re working for me on a freelance basis rather than full time, and you’re not on the clock either way. Ash, you said? Where are you from, Ash?”
I nod, still bright red
“Welll Okay I wasn’t… I mean titles are… important yeah….”
I say freezing for a few more moments
“Oh around you know… Originally from… out near Moonhelm… but recently you know, all over…. Just traveling… yep!”
Okay this is not regaining my composure…. Come on…. You can do better!
“Relax, darling, I’m not going to bite. You’ve got the job, if you want it.”
I laugh and flash my canine teeth
“I mean if anyone here bites… its absolutely me”
I say winking, starting to get back into my groove after a terrible trip up
“Of course I!!!…”
I start a bit too excited… right cool bad bitch witch vibes
“Yeah… that’d be a good way to earn some gold before getting back to traveling you know!
“I’ll keep that in mind. Hopefully no one around here needs biting, though—I try to keep the establishment… friendlier than most. How long do you intend to stay in town?”
I smile and laugh
“No fun…”
I say giggling a bit and shrugging
“Guess I’ll have to keep my teeth at bay… boooo. Well, I wasn’t planning to stop by the town but you know… crazy day so, might stay and recoup for a few days… or weeks”
I say holding my side, trying to hide the wince from flashing on my face.
“Of course. Do you have a place to stay? I believe I suggested Hamil’s before, right?”
I nod
“Yeah, I have a room there for the night until I could… feel more comfortable with my tent and all that again you know? Just…”
I paused deciding what to say, do I say i’m partially broke… or play it… nah why am I thinking, of course its play it cool
“Always liked the outdoors… so can’t beat your own camping setup”
I say with a smile, shaking my hair out a bit before putting my hat back on… such floof maybe it’ll distract my…. Bad excuse… I’m better at lying I swear, I was just… out of it okay me!
“…If you change your mind, we would of course provide you a room here. It might be good for your instrument to be out of the elements while you’re playing so frequently, yes?”
I pause… okay she knows that was a lie… right? Fuck okay… that’s…. A nice bed would be really good right now…
“I mean… while I’m sure my violin’s been through worse, you knowwww…. Might help me pick up the atmosphere and… shape my music to be better to so….”
I pause, sitting down all nonchalantly.
“I guess that’d be good…”
I said with a smile, my eyes not meeting hers… out of both shame, but also because she knows I probably just openly lied to her so shhhh…
“Excellent. We’ll prepare a room for you, then. Room and board will be included in your pay, alongside the five gold per day. Drinks are extra, should you choose to partake.”
I smile, trying to hide my excitement at the pay… plus room and board?!? I nod a bit
“You know….. I always just bring my own, but thanks for the heads up.”
I said with a smile… laughing a bit before finishing my sentence with a joking
“Mistress”
I say with just a shit-eating grin!
She rolls her eyes but it’s very fond. “There’s that charm I was warned about.”
I laughed and smiled
“Oh… that? That’s nothing, I’m just afraid most people here couldn’t handle all of my charm”
I say, having regained a bit more confidence in the moment!
“I’m certain you’re right. Shall we go test your theory?”
I smile and nod
“So we talking full charm or more mild just chill charm?”
“Let’s start with chill charm and go from there.”
I smile
“If you insist! Ummmm…”
I pause and shyly add
“Thanks for… the help”
“Darling, don’t even mention it.”
I smile and nod
“You know… at this rate I’ll have to stop back here between my kick-ass adventures… I wouldn’t want to…. Deprive you of this lovely charm you know”
I say… masking the fact, that I’d absolutely come back if I need money… or a place to just hide out…
“Let’s focus on this next week before we think about any more… kick-ass adventures.”
I laugh and nod
“Oh just to clarify… I meant kick-ass, where my own ass doesn’t get kicked… of course… This is totally nothing… yeah I’m…. like I said, should see the other guy of course….”
Fuck why was that so bad… ASH you’re like way cooler than this shut up!
“Of course. Some days are just… more difficult, with more other guys.”
I laughed
“And that’s when bitting is good… clearly…”
I said smiling sheepishly, It’s rather embarrassing talking about getting the floor mopped with you
So… Hi me…
It turns out that… this was not a tavern… soooooooo that’s awkward butttttt
Inla is really really nice and… the pay is good… plus the other people who work here are a vibe so… I just… decided to stay and play regardless
It honestly pays far better than a tavern… I got to be actually charming, without using magic like I probably would’ve had to do in the tavern… and the bed is so freaking nice like hot damn!
I got to be out there, play songs, be charming, and just… enjoy myself again. It made me… well
After Brinescar I really needed that. I… really, really needed that so it was… super nice.
Plus, now anytime I come back I… definitely have a room… and good pay… and just friends!**