[Flashback]The Fox and The Serpent (Rhakash)

[Shasshtekssemet]

Timestamp: 26th of Spring, 509 AV Flighty trills of the aureate wind instrument found themselves beleaguered by the equally flighty trills of a lark’s calls during fornication. Trying to keep her face passive Ssemet strove to enunciate each note above the sheer squeals of faked pleasure. Usually this spot was lucrative as it got for the musician, not skilled enough to perform for the wealthy the Pillars of Dust were where she chose instead. At least the only people to question her could be easily paid off by a portion of her meager earnings. There was one caveat to the situation; the flute itself. Worth more than many in the Pillars would hope to see in years, the golden instrument had many a time made Ssemet a target for thieves. Now though, most realized that the woman wasn’t easy pickings and generally kept away. Those that didn’t found a very good reason to disavow any such larcenous attempts if they watched her routine long enough; twice a day the Dhani would set a basket in front of her place. From this basket a very different show would begin, one that earned her as much as the rest of the day combined, Sseth the red spitting Cobra would dance for the charmer and her tune. While many a street performer could regurgitate her performance with the golden flute, few in the Pillars could duplicate her snake-charming feat. Or if many could, she was unaware of them. In an annoyed huff the musician finally opted to exculpate her spot, tired of the constant mangling of her song. Meandering out of the Pillars with Sseth’s basket under arm, Ssemet adjudicated on another potential. The Pillars were easy, that was why she preferred them; outside of the pillars who knew whose tones she might interrupts. At least in the Pillars she could understand the ‘politics’, the rest of the city seemed far more complex to the Dhani. But, sometimes risk could mean reward so she had chosen an area nearer the more respectable portions of the city, where perhaps her audience might have more coin to show their appreciation with. Still it was only the Pillar’s border, settling herself down against one the pillars. Momentarily Ssemet observed the floaters, that is what she called those who didn’t stop for performers. With a deep breath she settled Sseth’s basket before her and tugged off the cloth covering the opening. The cobra poked his head over the basket and flickering his tongue exploration. Most charmers would agitate their performers to force them to rear, Ssemet required not such harsh tactics. She also didn’t sew his mouth shut or defang him, instead she used a very different option though the chance for danger was ever present. While her hands supported the serpent, bringing his eyes in direct contact of hers her mind tried to clear of the surrounding cacophony of life. Slowly she pulled at the djed coursing through her body bring it to focus in her mouth, “It isss time to dance Sseth.” She laced her words lightly the power but held back the majority of what she had gathered. Replacing the viper into the basket, Ssemet brought her lips to the mouth of her flute and began to play again. Ushering her djed through her breath she expelled it in musical notes, calling the snake to follow her. Swaying rhythmically with her torso at the lead, she wriggled much like a snake naturally would and Sseth followed her. The snakes danced in time to her song.