PM to join Aching body or an aching mind? (Natsu)

[Calters]

Calters tugged on the ever-present ocarina around his neck. In answer to the woman's question, he nodded slowly.
"Most Akvatari are performers of one style or another. But yes, musicians are popular. I suppose I could sing you a quick song...After the tea is served of course." Cal waved his hand to dismiss them. "I'll be ready when you get back."

The Akvatari was not at all offended that the Pycon had not asked him for help. In reality, he was relieved that he would not have to stand up again. Additionally, the time that the pair took to fetch the tea would give him a chime to get his act together. What songs do I even know? Cal tried to sift through his foggy mind, but nothing came to him whcih seemed appropriate for an early morning tea.

Finally, he decided on his favorite tune- one that his father had taught him many years ago. The lyrics were etched carefully into his brain by bells of practice. Already, he could feel the music building in his chest, but he waited. Cal hummed the notes under his breath, taking comfort in the routine.

When Calters heard the quiet sounds of the pair returning, he inhaled deeply and let the song loose.

The song started deep and low. The tempo drug itself out, forcing the listener to wait in agony for the next note- each one more depressing than the last. Cal knew in the back of his mind that he was rushing it, but he had no way to fix it now. He was already started.


"What a lonely life we all live.
So separate,
So different,
So small,
When compared to this world, we have nothing at all
Then we lose all we have when we're dead.

It hurts to realize,
But our thoughts mean nothing.
Our feelings,
Our notions,
Our dreads,
It's all just stalling and waiting for us,
to turn to dust when we're dead."


Calters longed to peek at the others and see their reactions and expressions, but his father's voice in his head stopped him. Sit up straight, Cal. Keep looking forward. That's how you get the best air. And good air makes a great song! Calters was especially proud of the end of the tune. That was always his father's favorite part and he had passed this fondness on to Cal. So with great air and a straight back, he belted the last two verses.

"There's nothing here
that we can take with us
No Miza,
No person,
No thing,
So why do we all waste all of our time,
hating each other for things?

We each have our fancies,
Our loves,
And our pride.
But why do we favor one thing?
A tail, some wings, some scales, they're just temporary!
And aren't we all just dust when we're dead?"

[Edith]

"Happy to help", Edith says, popping her knuckles to prepare for the hard task of pouring tea.
 
She follows the creature into the kitchen to retrieve the heavy kettle. All the while watching his tail flick back and forth across the hardwood floor and his wings adjust slightly on his back. He must be so fragile. It's probably very frightening to live life on the floor of a world meant for much bigger creatures. Would he be offended if she offered to let him ride on her shoulder? We he be offended if she begged him to let her touch his wings? Ah the slippery slope of social niceties. She'd punt him across the room if he asked to feel her up like she is suggesting. As they pass a row of laid out cutlery Edith picks up an eggcup to cradle in her palm.
 
When they get back the young man is furrowed with a look of consuming concentration. He really is quite beautiful even when his face is lined like a desert map. He hums something she cant quite catch as she pours tea into his cup. Then she pinches a bit of leaf out of her own mug and packs it into the eggcup. She pours water into both and hands the tiny vessel to the tiny man.
 
"Since you can drink tea I insist you join us for a bit", she smiles for him.
 
Then the Akavarti opens up into song. It's a slow, sad, lyrical melody sung with quiet and humble talent. And while the singing is lovely, Edith finds she doesn't enjoy the song. It's as if a dirge had been injected with life, but is still a dirge. It speaks of how fruitless everything is with long, sad notes. And Edith discovers that she cant stomach mortality before the eighth bell.
 
The young man ends with a great, lasting note. Edith raises her steaming cup of herbal wakefulness in applause. Though inside she is glad the joyless tune can dissipate into the warm surroundings. 
 
"I see what you mean, Akavarti. You have great talent", she nods, toasting his verbose voice with a smile. She turns to the Pycon:
 
"How about you sir? Any unknown talent you can share?" she asks kindly, interested in what he may say.  

[Natsu Nendo]

The Pycon chuckled at the antics of the female who cracked her knuckles to prepare for a kettle carry, as if it was some new competition. He could feel her curious eyes as he walked and it caused his tiny cheeks to flush red with embarrassment. He knew she was curious, many times he had met people who were, but she seemed to beg more of a hands-on approach to studying him. He shook his head to rid any inappropriate thoughts, and attempted to pass the shake off as a small sneeze. As they approached once more, Natsu noticed the concentration of the Akvatari, his poise, focused look... he was jogged out of his staring session by the woman handing him a cup of tea, which he took with a mumbled "Thank you". The scuplted ears of the Pycon twitched and perked with each rise and fall of the song, his head softly nodding along as the words painted a picture in his mind. It was a sad song, that was true, but it depicted creation in its most core and raw state, and for that Natsu had heaps of respect for the performer. Once the piece had ended, Natsu clapped as loudly as he could, both emotionally stirred and genuinely impressed by the male's voice. As he was asked whether he had any talents, the Pycon paused to think, his clay visage furrowed and his tail twitching sharply back and forth. "N-no, I can't say that I have any particular knacks... I've been told my tea is divine, but I give credit to the quality of the leaves than the skill of the brewer" he sipped the tea politely, trying to keep his back hidden from view. As his eyes roamed what parts of the Akvatari's wing could be seen, on Natsu's back his wings shifted and melded in an attempt to copy the beautiful glory before him, and with much more detail and delicacy than his previous set of carved wings.

[Calters]

Cal used the teacup as an excuse to cover his face. He didn't want either of his audience members to see the ear-splitting grin plastered on his face. It wasn't often that the Akvatari was complimented on his work. He knew he was good, but no one could see past his dark lyrics. These two, it seemed, were an exception.

Here he had found one who would applaud him, and another who would compliment him with honesty. If ever he had felt lucky, he felt it now.

All I needed to do was show up pants-less in an upscale tea shop and perform an impromptu song for a statue and a half-sleeping woman! It truly was a laughable scenario. Calters restrained himself though. Instead, he raised his cup for a mock toast in the direction of the scarred woman. Calters let himself grin then to show his open interest in what she had to say.

"What about you, my lady? You haven't said much of yourself at all. What's your story? Have you got a talent hiding under your skin?"

Internally, Cal flinched at the unfortunate wording, but said nothing. He would just have to hope that his company didn't catch the misstep. He turned his head away so that his light blush would be hidden. As he did so, he caught sight of a faint movement.

For a brief tick, Calters thought that he saw a twitch of movement behind the Pycon's back, but he shooed away the thoughts as after-effects of the earlier alcohol. Even so, he glanced back and forth between the woman who would answer him and the Pycon's unique structure. The musician promised himself to keep a careful eye on both partners from now on, just to be safe.
OOCSorry about the short post, but it seemed appropriate for the situation. I'll do a longer one next time.

[Edith]

'I happen to agree, Pycon sir, your tea is excellent." And it is very true. This dark, almost blue blend would bush the tail of a sleepy bear. But its disappointing to hear that he doesn't feel he has anything to contribute. Surly there is even some racial trait he can demontrate that the people flesh-n'-blood cant?
 
The Akavarti grins then, and its the kind of proud, happy grin that makes him look much younger. Has she seen him smile yet? She's not sure, but the sight warms her heart. When he turns to her to ask a cheerfully delivered question, however, Edith almost spits tea down her front. Is he taking a dig at her? But the sight of him blushing under the weight of embarrassment is enough to convince her he isn't. Poor guy, she smiles in sympathy and pretends she hasn't noticed.
 
"I'm a potter by trade, but it's been less than a season since I started so I'm only an apprentice; a step above useless but a step below useful", she explains with a shrug. She's a bit old to still be an apprentice, but if they want to know what her previous profession was they can go petch themselves.
 
"I do have a hobby though", she says, a hint of excitement in her eyes. Oh yes, magic as a hobby. Most people use their free time to go fishing or build models; she messes with the very essence of her being. She considers showing them a sample of morphing to impress them, but her and Alaia's mishap has taught her that Morphing does not make the best first impression. She'll try Reimancy instead.
 
She puts her tea down on the table and rubs her hands together as a nervous gesture. Then holding her right hand out she mentally digs into the flow of dijed in her body, pulling out a ball of res from the palm of her glove the size of a thumbnail. The thing wobbles uncertainly as she tries to wrestle the energy under control. Her lips tighten with exertion and determination as the thing shivers, flexes and then transmutes into a solid ball of purple quartz. "Aha!" she exclaims as the thing bounces into her hand. Only for the thing to bounce off the leather and smash on the wooden table as if made of glass. Obviously something went wrong with the consistency. 
 
"...Oh", she says, sweeping the dust and shards into her hand and pocketing the evidence of that weak display. "Not my best attempt.”

[Natsu Nendo]

Natsu saw the grin which covered the Akavarti's face and he couldn't help but chuckle himself. Praise was something given much too freely, but honest praise, now that was worth enjoying, and the praise that was given unto the male performer was truly well earned. It occured to Natsu that he knew not the names of the strangers with which he had shared the morning, and he made a mental note to remedy that. For now, the mouse-like sculpture turned its attention to the female, eyes wide as she wrestled with the transmutation of a beautiful piece of quartz which then shattered on the table. The Pycon nearly dropped his small cup at the sudden and loud noise, but managed to keep his composure. He clapped as loud as his small paws could manage, saying "That was amazing, quite the most unique magic I have come across thus far" This was not far from the truth, he couldn't exactly recall every type of magic he had witnessed thus far. It was inspirational to the clay being, how a bond of such strength could fowm in such little time. A musician, a teab-brewer, and a magician... what a strange trio. The Pycon felt a moment of silence which gave him a moment to pipe up "Pardon me, it appears we have sidestepped an important conversation piece. My name is Natsu Nendo, which translates roughly as 'summer clay'. May I ask the names of my new companions?" He used the term very endearingly, wanting and hoping very much that they thought of him in the same way. His wings fluttered and his tail twitched back and forth idly, his wide eyes peeking from one to the other of his acquaintances. It was nearly opening time, and soon they would have to get a table for a meal, or be shood away by the owners.

[Calters]

Calters found himself enjoying the company more and more. Although the trio had started off rocky, they seemed to have bonded over the short morning break. When the woman displayed her magic to the group, Calters found himself- not afraid or disturbed as he would have expected- but fascinated. The Akvatari didn't clap enthusiastically like the Pycon, but he made his fair share of noise.

When the swirling energy tried to manifest and crashed to the floor, Calters hooted loudly, appreciating the noise it made when it shattered. When Natsu complimented her skill, Calters found himself nodding in agreement and even smiling at her for a brief moment. The nodding continued when Natsu mentioned the lack of names.

"My name is Natsu Nendo, which translates roughly as 'summer clay'. May I ask the names of my new companions?"

Summer Clay. It was a thoughtful name, making Cal wonder if the little statue had been crafted in the Summer. Did he celebrate a birthday? Should Calters tell them why he had his name the way it was, or would it confuse them? The pesky thoughts were silenced as Cal reminded himself that he was in a hurry.

Cal could only assume that Natsu wanted to know their names before they left, which must mean that they needed to get going soon. Politely trying to hurry the conversation along, he introduced himself.

"Well Natsu, thank you for the tea. It was delightful. I'm Calters, which is an anagram of Scarlet. Not as exciting as Summer Clay, but it fits. I hope that I'll see you both around sometime." Calters stood, trying his best to keep the cloak on himself. He was fairly sure he didn't have any Mizas on him, but he stuck his hand between his hip and the cloak anyway.

"Is that just a Silver?" He asked.