[Syliran Theatre] Dancing Blind (Pahr)

by **Sayana** on April 11th, 2015, 2:53 pm

Sayana let out a soft sigh of her own, mostly of relief. She was glad that he did not seem to be cursed by Syna. It would have made him seem strange, unnatural. There could have been other reasons, perhaps an injury. Could an illness cause something like that? She looked at his brilliant blue eyes again and how they wandered almost on their own accord. But for now she would cease her questions and enjoy what he had to offer. The harp he held looked well made even if it appeared old and used.

“Yes yes! I’m ready to dance.” Sayana replied brightly with true energy in her voice making up for his forced energy. She gave a quick spin on the spot allowing her skirt to flare up and she reached into her pockets for her two pairs of finger cymbals. She played a short little rhythm with the cymbals creating a light airy sound as she did a second much slower turn in front of the Benshira.

“You said you had a Syliras song?” She inquired quickly. She readied her red silken veil so that she could hold the piece of fabric in her outstretched mid hands and also held her tambourine in one of her low hands. Bystanders might also noticed a couple of daggers in her belt but she hadn’t made any particular notice of them or intent to use them.

Sayana gave a long shake of her tambourine attempting to draw attention to the duo and the bowl with coins in front of them. “Gather round, gather round!” Sayana called out and gave a grand swoop of her silken veil. “We have a treat for you. A dancer and a harpist. And we’ll be playing a song near and dear to the hearts of Sylirans.” The last part was somewhat made up, but she hoped that Pahr had picked a song that at least someone might recognize.

She would mostly be performing for whatever audience decided to watch but she wondered if there was anything she could do to make it enjoyable for the blind Benshira. Of course she could emphasize some of her movements with a ring of the finger cymbals but would he even know what she was doing? A devilish grin crossed her face as she thought of an alternative idea. But would he be able to keep playing if she teased him so? Still, with a bit of friendly acting it might turn into something really engaging for the audience.

by **Pahr** on April 13th, 2015, 1:50 pm

Pahr couldn't help but grin as Sayana said she was ready to dance. The dark mood that had hung over him lifted slightly, allowing him to summon the good emotions he needed to play the song. All musicians would agree that playing a happy song while you were feeling dark would come off as sounding forced, unless you were a master. Pahr, of course, was no such thing.

When Sayana started to spin in front of him with a rustle of cloth, and play a short rhythm with her finger cymbals, Pahr followed along with a short, made-up song partly to warm his fingers and to gauge her—and the passing crowd's—reaction. It was a fast and absurd ditty, created only for the two of them at that instant before they joined together in song. He started to laugh softly, momentarily taken with the joy of doing this after a long time. Pahr used to do this back in Yahebah, but back then he was much younger and oblivious to other, more grown-up emotions that being in a duo would bring.

“You said you had a Syliras song?” She asked, and Pahr nodded. “One that I think they would know.” He said, the grin still on his lips.

There was so much sound to this woman! Clinks and jingles, rustling and flapping; it made him realize that dancing had always had a music of its own, one that, perhaps, he would be one of the very few that listened to.

When she raised her voice to call at the surrounding people, Pahr was momentarily jealous. With a voice so strong, she could also be a good orator. He didn't know whether she could sing or not, but her voice seemed to have the quality that made it reach to the corners of most rooms.

And then he started to play. The song was well-known, and sung in a lot of taverns these days. It was relatively new, and with the way music so slowly traveled through the world, the number of people that had heard the song would be questionable. However, it was upbeat and lively, and filled with a lot of repeating verses. Those that had not heard it could quickly join the chorus if they wanted to. It seemed like it had been made just for this; to draw listeners into the music as contributors.

Unaware of the grin gracing Sayana's features, Pahr went on playing. His fingers danced on the strings of the harp, seeming to coax the music out of the instrument. It was evident he was not even among what one would call intermediate players, but having been grown up on the stage when he was younger, he did know a trick or two about hiding his mistakes from the untrained ear. If sarcastic musicians would be drawn to the duo, however, things could quickly turn sour.

by **Sayana** on April 16th, 2015, 7:05 pm

When the harpist began Sayana’s devilish grin was momentarily replaced by a bright smile meant for anyone passing by. The lively beat prompted her to swish the silken veil in and out and through the air as she made her presence known to those in the courtyard. A spin here, followed by a couple of quick steps and a shimmy of her chest provoked a light playful mood. As the song moved into the first chorus, Sayana tried to pick out little breaks or pauses in the music where she could do a couple chimes here and there with her finger cymbals.

Her dancing and the large movements of the red fabric had brought two or three people to gather in front of them. She proudly did another spin with the veil flaring out and consequently ditched the prop since she found it was best used as the initial attention grab. Sayana glanced at her small ‘audience’ with a suggestive smile and then turned towards the Benshira and gave a shimmy of her chest. She strutted across in front of him with her hips swaying with each step and then gave a coy glance at the musician over her shoulder. She looked again to her audience as she attempted to engage them in her little act and then blew a kiss in the Benshira’s direction. She was clearly playing the role of a temptress or flirt and her exaggerated look of frustration caused a chuckle or two from her audience. They may or may not have known that the harpist could not see the dancer’s ‘advances’ but it provoked amusement nevertheless.

As the next chorus came along, she mimed an exaggerated sigh and carried on with her dance in her typical way. She threw in some beats of her tambourine as well as some chimes from her finger cymbals and tried to coordinate it to the movements of her hips or chest. However, with the next verse she raised a single finger up as if suggesting that she now had an idea. This time she moved in much closer to the harpist and swayed her hips about. She moved a delicate hand to caress his arm and then did another spin. She was now close enough that as her skirt flared out it would brush against him. She continued to make just as many coy and meaningful glances at the Benshira as to her audience as she teasingly danced around him.

Another chorus came up and she switched back to dancing lively. She beat the tambourine in time to the music and skipped about the bard going from one side of him to the other. It was too bad that there was the wall in the way otherwise she would have been doing circles about him but it still worked. As the next verse came she reverted to her act as a seductress. It wasn’t like she was actually trying to seduce him, and she made it quite clear to the audience that it was all an act, but they seemed to be rather enjoying the comical mime. She brushes a hand against his cheek and then puckered up her lips. But she simply blew another kiss. Sayana then took a seat upon his knee and continued to move her hips up and down in time with the music. This is where she thought he might crack, if he did. And should he, then she would finish with a graceful bow. If not, she hoped there was only a chorus or two left so that she might resume her lively dancing (off his lap, mind you) and finish the song off.

by **Pahr** on April 17th, 2015, 4:41 am

As Pahr began to play, he noticed the fact that he had been out of practice for a while when it came to playing with a dancer. He should have played a verse and a chorus with poor Sayana before he launched into the music, so that she'd know what came next. As it was, he wondered how she was doing. Was she dancing already? Did she know this song?

The light footsteps confirmed the fact that she was dancing. Her footsteps moved to the side and then to the front, and Pahr could hear a few people gathering to watch. He would have cast out using his auristics, but he was afraid that would ruin his concentration on the song.

Sayana started walking in front of him, and Pahr wondered what kind of dance it was. It wasn't as quick as the previous steps she was taking, and it was making people laugh. A few seconds later, as the sound of the kiss followed, Pahr could tell why. She had just blew a kiss toward the audience. Pahr just hoped her clothing was modest enough. How far would she go to keep the people engaged?

During the chorus, Pahr could hear an audible sigh that was also partly copied by the audience. It was evident Sayana had at least gotten the crowd to play along with her act. Of course, since none of these were practiced or planned, Pahr had no idea what the act was, to begin with. The sighing didn't work well with blowing a kiss at the audience; why did they all sigh? They should be happy.

And then it happened. First, something touched his arm. Pahr jumped slightly, causing the audience to break out into laughter. They were probably thinking that Pahr was a great actor, or perhaps they were laughing because they had found how much of a fool this harpist was. Pahr put on a smile both inside and outside, preventing his doubts from taking root. On the stage, you had to be strong.

And then the skirt brushed against him, and Pahr finally knew. The act was all for him.

Pahr looked toward the audience, raising his shoulders in a shrug as if to say, “What can I say?” and continued playing. The corners of his lips quivered as he tried to prevent his smile from breaking out, and it was like this that her hand next found his clean-shaven face. Pahr leaned his face slightly into her hand and raised both eyebrows in what he hoped was the direction of the crowd, and his act was confirmed as the crowd called out in approval. He wasn't sure if their miming had drawn more people, but he sure was enjoying this. He hoped Sayana was, too.

And then, as he switched to the chorus, Sayana sat down on his knee. Pahr was so surprised that his music broke, and for just a moment, there was total silence in their part of the theatre.

Pahr was suddenly afraid. This would break their whole act, and they had done so well. Pahr couldn't bear to see Sayana's, and his own, future in this theatre be ruined. He wanted the people to know him, and perhaps, if Sayana proved to always be so creative and fun, to know them. But Pahr had just thrown all of that away. Sayana would hate him. “What did you think!” Pahr could imagine her saying, screaming it in his face. “You should all be slaves! You the most of them! Syna has not only cursed your eyes, she has cursed your wits as well!”

An idea occurred to him. He extended both hands tentatively, as if touching her shoulder for the first time. He laid both hands on her shoulders, as if finally coming round. He tilted his head to the audience, and then nodded as if to himself. He put on a broad, leering grin, and shifted slightly, as if finally seduced. He squeezed Sayana's shoulder in a secret act of reassurance, and then let her go so that she could get up.

When she did, Pahr played the chorus one last time, livelier and stronger, and as the crowd began to sing along, Pahr could hear the smile in their voices. It brought a fulfilled smile onto his own face.

Although Pahr wouldn't admit it, Sayana's attentions had made him realize that he was missing something in his life. And Pahr now knew what it was.

It was a companion, one that could deal with the fact that he was blind and sometimes needed help. One that knew what it meant to fight against the world every day. One that knew him for what he was, who he was.

As the final chorus finished with such thoughts in Pahr's head, Pahr got up and stepped carefully forward, now using his auristics just a tad to find where Sayana was standing. Shoulder to shoulder, he prepared to bow when she did.

by **Sayana** on April 17th, 2015, 1:45 pm

When Pahr leaned into her caress of his cheek, Sayana’s eyes brightened. He was going to play along. So often her flirtatious advances created brilliant blushes and the person looking away with embarrassment but this guy was bold. It made it all the more fun when she sat down on his lap and when his music stopped, she thought she might have pushed him too far. However, his hands squeezed her shoulders gently, almost comfortingly, and she gave a sly glance back at him. After a moment or two he was back into the final chorus. Yes, this guy had guts, and she liked that.

As the song concluded, the harpist stepped confidently to join her. When she found themselves standing shoulder to shoulder she gave him a smile and wrapped a low arm around his waist. Taking his hand in her mid hand, she made a subtle upwards gesture before bringing it down and going into a full bow. If he didn’t manage to catch the gesture he’d probably feel her bow due to the arm on his waist. The small gathering gave an appreciative clap and she released his waist to bend down and grab the dish of coins. With a little shake of the dish Sayana held it out and moved it around the semi-circle that had formed. A silver. Oh, another silver. A copper. Who puts in just a copper? The Eypharian still held Pahr’s hand so that he’d be involved and she wanted to keep him near for the next part she had in mind.

“Now good ser, would you care to dance?” Sayana asked in an overly formal voice meant for the audience. She set down the dish of coins and took both his hands to lead him back near the wall where they wouldn’t accidentally bump into anyone or trip on the coin dish. She placed her left mid hand on his shoulder and moved his hand on that same side to hold her waist. With her right mid, she held his other hand up and a little bit out in a formal posture. She had not often seen couples dance together, but the few times she had she longed to be able to do the same. It sort of looked like this, but she then realized that they had no music.

However, she still had her tambourine in her low hand as well as her finger cymbals in her highs. Sayana carefully slipped her highs out from their semi-embrace and more or less positioned them straight upwards. Now, how did that music go again? She played them both together for the first note and then each one at a time. Ching… chi chi, ching… chi chi. One… two three, one… two three. “Ready?”

Even though Sayana was quite skilled at dancing, this was definitely not a style she knew well. Though she knew if she wanted to become a better dancer overall, she should branch out. Besides, it was too good of an opportunity since Pahr was already interested in joining in with the things she came up with. As she began, she tried to step on the beat to the finger cymbals she played. It wasn’t long before her feet got muddled up and in attempt to save face she lifted their arms so she might pass under the arch in a spin. Well that seemed to work. She decided to try the spin again but going the other way so that they might return to their original semi-embraced dance posture.

Unfortunately, it seemed like their newly acquired audience was losing interest and slowly it diminished as people moved on to other buskers.

OOCIn case the reference wasn't clear, she's attempting a waltz.

by **Plume** on June 17th, 2015, 11:31 pm

Sayana

Dancing	+4 XP
Instrument: Finger Cymbals	+4 XP
Busking	+2 XP
Cosmetology	+1 XP
Instrument: Tambourine	+4 XP
Instrument: Shakers	+1 XP
Intelligence	+4 XP
Tactics	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+3 XP
Interrogation	+2 XP
Persuasion	+2 XP
Negotiation	+1 XP
Subterfuge	+1 XP
Seduction	+1 XP

Lores :

Notes :

Closed [Syliran Theatre] Dancing Blind (Pahr)