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A Little Night Music

Started by DragonSong, August 15, 2016, 04:28:10 PM

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DragonSong

Tara smiled and took his hand, a little hesitantly, but she still took it. "I have a hard time imagining anything more beautiful than this," she laughed quietly, waving a hand to indicate the view of the ocean.

Eyes glinting, she added, "But I would be more than happy for you to prove me wrong."

Zero

"I would be hard pressed to present you something more beautiful to the eyes than this view, but allow me to find something as beautiful as the wine for your taste buds." Tatsu said with a soft chuckle as he took her hand. "I told you, they have very talented staff in the kitchens."

He lead the way from the veranda to the dining hall, which had many tables set up for guests. Although all but one table for two was bare. Even as they entered a server was lighting candles for their late night guests, having been warned of their impending arrival by the server that had taken the wine for them.

A white table cloth, folded napkins, and menus were neatly in place and Tatsu pulled out one of the two chairs for Tara. "You may order anything you like."

DragonSong

"Gods above and below."

Tara blinked at the pretty little set up, somehow still surprised by the finery around her. "Um, thank you," she murmured as she took a seat, blushing a little bit despite herself. She really wasn't used to being treated so politely.

"Um...wow, everything looks amazing," she chuckled. "Ah, why don't you just pick something? I'm not even sure what half of this stuff is," she admitted with a lopsided smile.

Zero

Tatsu couldn't help but be polite. It was practically ingrained in his blood to treat females with respect and care. That was just how his kind worked. "You are most welcome, Miss Tara." He smiled down at her as he gently pushed in her chair before walking around the table to take the seat across from her.

The table was large enough to give just a bit of leg room while still keeping the two occupants close enough for intimate conversation.

"If it pleases you." He nodded to the server who approached. "Bring us the seafood sampler and my favorite white wine." As soon as the man disappeared with their order he turned back to Tara with an easy smile. "While we wait, would you perhaps indulge me in telling me why you decided to become a street performer? I am most curious how you discovered your talent for music."

DragonSong

Tara opened her mouth, perfectly prepared to tell him one of her tall tales about how exactly she had become a bard- then she hesitated.

The man had been nothing but kind to her, and he seemed genuinely interested. Maybe she should give him a real answer.

"I've been sort of a roamer all my life," she answered after a moment. "A group of people- I guess you'd call 'em gypsies- found me when I was a sprout. We did all sorts of stuff for coin, mostly performing." She blushed a bit, then admitted, "Some of it...wasn't strictly legal, but it was mostly performing. I don't even remember when they decided I'd work best as a musician, but eventually they started teaching me to play and sing."

She shrugged and glanced away. "Now that I'm on my own, well...it's really all I know. Old habits, I guess."

Zero

"How lucky for you that they found you and took you in. It sounds as if they treated you well, for the most part." Tatsu didn't bother to ask about what caused her to blush and mention that some of what they did wasn't 'strictly' legal. He only hoped it was not something too terrible. A feeling of empathy welled in him when she spoke of being on her own.

"I have an adopted daughter. Her parents were butchered by criminals. Thankfully I was able to save her. She is a woman grown now and runs my business in Arca quite efficiently." There was a tone of great pride and affection when speaking of her. Nellie was one of the few lights in his life.

DragonSong

"Really?" She blinked at him, surprised. "Er- I mean no offense, but I wouldn't have thought- you don't really look old enough to have a daughter, adopted or otherwise," she said with a slightly awkward little laugh.

Dropping her eyes for a moment, she murmured, "Well, anyway. She's lucky you found her." Most children in such a position weren't so fortunate, it was nice to hear of one that had been saved.

Zero

Tatsu laughed softly at the comment. Of course it was something he heard often enough. He knew he looked young - far younger than he truly was. "No offense taken. Nellie informs me that I look very good for my age. I hope knowing that I am older than you expected is not...off putting."

While he did his best to always be a perfect gentleman, well, sometimes it had been suggested that perhaps he was a creepy or perverted old man, despite the fact that he never suggested anything with anyone that wasn't strictly platonic companionship. All he wanted was company. For a long time his daughter had provided the only emotional connection he could have ever needed, but now that she was grown she lived her life far more independently and he did not resent her for it.

It just meant that his travels had become lonely.

DragonSong

"Oh- no, not at all, it just surprised me a bit," she assured him quickly, flashing a smile. "And you certainly do at that. Look good for your age, I mean." She chuckled and began absently twining a lock of hair around her finger, a nervous habit.

"So... If your daughter is running your business, does that mean you are retired? Traveling?" He certainly didn't seem old enough for that, but she supposed she'd seen stranger things.

Zero

"I do not think I will ever retire, Miss Tara. Travel has always been a large part of my business." Tatsu paused as the server returned to pour them the requested white wine. "My shop deals in magical artifacts and reliquaries. I have a gift for sensing magic and the nature of that magic. It was why you were able to so captivate me."

He stopped once more so that he could sip his wine thoughtfully. "It used to be that Nellie went everywhere I did, but as she became a woman she wished to settle in one place. I bought the shop in Arca for her more than myself. Now I travel alone to collect new magical curiosities to display for our customers."

DragonSong

"Ah, I see." She smiled and murmured her thanks to the server and tried a sip of the wine herself. It really was delicious. "Your Nellie must be a special young woman- not many children grow up with the luck to see so much of the world."

She tapped her fingers idly against the table, then mused aloud, "Magical curiosities- what sorts of things fall into that category, exactly?"

Zero

"Yes, a very special young lady." Beautiful and intelligent, any father would have been proud to call Nellie their daughter. Tatsu was grateful for having her. Raising his own child, personally and with as much care as he had his adopted daughter, would have been impossible among his own kind. It was one of the few blessings he cherished after the loss of everything else.

"A great many things. I have a veritable library of ancient tomes full of magical spells and recipes; many in languages few alive can still read and even fewer can speak. We have entire displays of enchanted jewelry - there is a beautiful sapphire ring that glows faintly whenever someone speaks a lie to the wearer, a necklace that can unlock any door, among countless others." Tatsu waved a hand dismissively. "When next you visit Arca, look for The Cabinet of Curiosities in the merchant district. You would be most welcome to browse at your leisure."

DragonSong

"That sounds fascinating." She smiled and sipped a bit more at the wine. "I'll make sure to keep an eye out the next time I'm in the city, thank you."

Though she really wasn't sure when that would be. She usually didn't have much cause to go to Arca, and when she did she often found the city overwhelming. "So how long have you done this? Travel to collect your magical curiosities, I mean. If I can ask," she added hastily, not wanting to overstep her bounds.

Zero

"Tell Nellie that I sent you and she will welcome you with open arms for tea and gossip, I have no doubt of that. She is a darling child." Tatsu wished that she still traveled with him, but he didn't want to stifle her or pressure her into the lifestyle he preferred. Like any father he worried about her and wasn't looking forward to the inevitable - dealing with a young suitor.

Although he imagined grandchildren would be wonderful.

He frowned thoughtfully into his wine when she asked how long he had been doing what he did. The full truth wasn't exactly the best option, but he hated lying. "A...very long time. I have been to every country multiple times. Serendipity is where I consider home, but I do so enjoy lazy days lounging in the Essyrn sun. A generous Trade Prince accommodates me unfailingly when I journey that far south."

DragonSong

Tara's eyes widened briefly. "Wow. I've never even been south of the Serha Plains," she admitted with a laugh.

Her eyes softened a bit at the way he talked about his daughter. It was quite sweet, and made her heart ache slightly for her own family.

Zero

"It is a whole different world down there. The desert seems endless, but then you reach the jewel that is the city of Essyrn. If it were not for the culture I could love it as much as Serendipity. As it is, I abhor that women are treated as second-class citizens." Tatsu sighed softly, but perked up almost immediately as their server came bearing a steaming tray.

The platter held an assortment of what the ocean could provide, fried crab cakes, lobster tail with garlic butter sauce drizzled over it, grilled shrimp, steamed oysters, and a small bowl of hot rolls. It was placed before them and then the server disappeared again to give them peace and privacy during their meal. "Ah, this has a nice selection. I am sure you will like something it has to offer."

DragonSong

Tara crinkled her nose a bit. "Yeah. One of the women who raised me was Essyrni, a dancer. She hated the place, swore up and down she'd never go back." She shrugged. "If it weren't for that, I might be tempted to explore for myself. I know it's supposed to be gorgeous."

Her eyes went very round as the food was placed in front of them and she had to almost hold her jaw shut. It smelled amazing, but more than that she was near certain even the plate would cost more than she could make in a couple of months.

"This looks divine," she said with utter sincerity. Almost hesitantly, she cut a bite of crab and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes went even wider. "Holy shi- ahem. Wow. This is...really good."

Zero

"It is far better for women who wish to travel there to go in the company of a male escort. Much as I dislike the thought of a woman needing such protection anywhere, it is simply safer." Tatsu had known an Essyrni woman - branded an adulterous after being raped by her husband's friend. He had helped her and her very young son escape and begin a new life here in Serendipity.

The expression that came over his guest caused Tatsu to smile, a little bemused. Sometimes he forgot just how luxurious his lifestyle was in comparison to many he met.

His smile only deepened at her reaction to actually tasting the food. "I am so glad you enjoy it. Please, eat as much as you like." He reached for one of the rolls and tore off a small bite to pop into his mouth. Tatsu wasn't actually hungry, but he didn't want to completely forgo eating. He had the feeling if he didn't eat something that it would make Tara uncomfortable.

DragonSong

She chuckled quietly and tried a bite of the lobster. Equally divine. "You are going to spoil me, Mister Drake," she said with a small, playful pout. "And I'll get fat and I won't be able to perform."

Zero

"There is nothing wrong with spoiling a talented young woman who has been graciously giving her spare time to a humble fan of her talents." Tatsu countered with a soft chuckle. "And I highly doubt you will become fat from one night of indulgence."

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