Villains-R-Us

It was a pretty cold night in the city of Brightgale. The city was not quite big. Many people wonder why the place is even called a city, but thanks to its massive port and fertile lands, the place expanded from a small fishery to a full blown commercial juggernaut! Brightgale was named after its many towering chathedrals, adorned with glass that shone like diamonds when the sun was at its highest point. It was quite a sight to see, and it was said to bring good luck for the rest of the day to those who witnessed its first shine.

Sadly Aearion barely missed it.

The Bard sat in a quant little tavern called the Fieldview Manor. It wasn't quite as big as a manor, but the inside was dressed up just as lovely as the real deal. The chairs and tables were crisp clean, expensive looking carpet was placed on the ground and a hearth as well as many oil lamps lit the entire bar. The many banners showing the city's colors, green and white, gave the tavern a homely and rich feeling.

In here was the blue bard, strumming a few notes on his trust lute, somewhere close to the hearth. He liked the warmth, especially because this was a cold evening. He didn't play anything too loud or jolly. There weren't that many people around, and from the looks of it, most wouldn't really appreciate a ballad about the joys of life anyway.

The bard might have missed the show of light, but Jackson didn't. It was, in fact, the primary reason he had opted to stop and stay in the chilly little city. He had heard talk of what a lovely sight it was, and he had listened to boasts of where the best place to view it from was. And, ultimately, Jackson was... satisfied.

And after all the bustle in the port, he was also satisfied to find a quieter part of town to unwind in for the evening - and even more to stumble across a blue-skinned man making quiet music. Perhaps there was something to those lucky first rays of light after all.

He listened for awhile to the light pluck of notes, only barely audible from across the room, while he busied himself with a small dinner and a drink. In time his meal was done though. The fair-skinned youth left a few coins on the table and wandered on closer to the blue one, finally sitting nearby with his unfinished drink still in hand.

With a relaxed smile and soft voice, he commented simply, "There's a friendly sound."

Aearion looked over his shoulder curiously to see who spoke to him. As he quickly examined Jackson he got up with a toothy grin on his face."My thanks, friend. I'm glad to see a friendly sight, myself." He mused."I'm always willing to chat with a man who has an ear for the musical arts. Sit with me." He offered as he sat down himself and pointed for the chair next to him.

"Would you like a drink? I hear the cider here is to die for." The blue bard spoke as his fingers strummed a few notes again.

"More than an ear, if I may brag a little. Maybe later I can retrieve my harp?" As he spoke, he moved on over to the chair the blue man had indicated. He also held up his mug. "I still have some left, but thank you."

Briefly, he considered mentioning how people tended to be much more willing to kill for things than to die for things, but not a bit of that fit into polite conversation. Instead, Jackson went for the most obvious question.

"You are... sea folk? Forgive me, I'm sure that question has been seared into your mind by now."

Aearion smiled as he nodded."Of course! I'd love to hear your arts at work." He replied right before he continued playing some tunes on his lute.

At Jackson's question, Aearion just chuckled."Oh, I do get it asked many times, but the question never gets dull. You have a better eye for races than most other people. They tend to be extremely clueless as to what I may be. But yes, you are correct. I am of the Merfolk. My name is Aearion and I hail from the Coral Reef in the ocean most people seem to call the Dead Sea. Odd name, for they're quite alive, to be sure!" He mused.

"And who might you be, friend? Are you from around here, perhaps? I've yet to figure out the story about these cathedrals, and I'm hoping to get to know them during my stay here."

Jackson waved a dismissive hand but maintained his polite smile. "Just a wild guess, really. I might have thought some sort of elf if not for the seaweed."

He relaxed back into his seat.

"Aearion. A fittingly musical name for a musical fellow. I go by Jackson, but no, I'm afraid I'm not from this area. I'm merely passing through because I heard the cathedrals were a lovely sight." The youth let out a small laugh. "I know some find it strange in a lad young as I, but I'm quite taken by beauty in... most any form, really."

Aearion couldn't help but chuckle at his little joke."Ha, the seaweed is usually what convinces folks." He couldn't help but take a half-bow at his compliment."You're never truly too young or too old to enjoy beauty, I say. You are quite wise to pursue it, my friend. 'Tis a most noble goal indeed."

The blue bard took a sip from his cider, wiping his mouth with the back of his palm as he leans back again."How long have you been playing, if I may be so bold to ask? If you're any good we might perform a duet tonight. It would surely liven up this place a little." He mused.

"Oh, good sir..." He tucked his head in slightly and raised a hand to his chest. "A duet with one such as you? It would be an absolute honor."

His smile turned sheepish.

"I've only been playing for a few years though, so I may not be up to par."

"Ah, but in a few years time a man can learn many things, can he not?" Aearion smiled as he started strumming his lute once more."At this point, I'm sure you can feel the music course through your body. A duet, dear Jackson, is sharing the course of music with one another. Following up with someone's tunes comes naturally, as long as you allow the music to flow." He explained with a smile."I have no doubt you will able to do the same. Go on, grab your instrument. I'm dying with anticipation here." He mused.

One pale eyebrow quirked and Jackson couldn't help but smirk a little. He was not a particularly sexual being by nature, but he was quickly developing a similar enough attraction for the merman.

"Oh, please don't! Not yet," the young man said with a playful smile as he stood. "I'll retrieve my harp promptly."

Up the stairs and to his room he went, and it was with a small instrument he returned; smaller than any harp should be, yet not shaped quite right for a lyre. He returned to his seat with it and plucked lightly while he tuned it.

"A proper harp is... less than ideal for travel, of course."

'Not yet?' That was an odd choice of words. But still, Aearion thought nothing of it. He was just glad to have met someone kind in this city. So far the entire place seemed to be filled with dull people. To find that one musical gem within the heap of dirt was to much of an achievement to let fly by.

"Ah, but this is just fine. An instrument easy to travel with has charm of its own." He smiled."I'm sure you'll do just fine. Let's see what you can do." He said as he started playing a gentle tune, easy to follow up on, looking at Jackson expectantly.

Jackson's strumming seemed a little shy at first, as if his hands feared the merman's attention. He warmed up quickly enough though, and while he was no grand master, the blonde clearly knew his instrument well. With his eyes closed and a faint smile on his face, he was enjoying weaving a melody with the bard.

Until a loud belch elsewhere in the room struck his ears. The young man winced and his fingers struck suddenly discordant. His grimace was visible only a moment before all expression vanished and his eyes searched for the offender. The best he could narrow it to was a small group of laughing men; that did seem like the sort of thing they would laugh at.

But the gentle smile was already in place again by the time Jackson looked at Aearion again. "Forgive me. I... am sometimes easy to distract."

Aearion looked impressed with Jackson's skills. He too was enjoying this duet, though the burp did not stop him from playing. Only when Jackson stopped playing his part he too looked over to see what was causing him distress. It seemed to be just a bunch of drunks. Nothing Aearion isn't used to by now.

"Tis quite alright, dear friend. It was quite a loud belch, but it's not uncommon humour among the drunken peasants. I suppose you just kind of... get used to it." He smiled.

"Pity it must be suffered," he said with a mild mourning to his tone. Suffered for this evening, at least.

The bard helped to ease the irritation, though. And it gave him a lovely thought. "You've looked around the place a bit, right? Any place we might play more peacefully? And maybe even have a nice view to enjoy."

Aearion pondered this. He looked around and then seemed to suddenly get to a realization."Oh, I believe the balcony will be vacant. No one's sitting there due to the cold evening. I myself am used to much colder temperatures, but if you think you can handle the cold, we could play up there, undisturbed." Aearion suggested."Otherwise, I'm not sure. You have your own room, I believe? If it's big enough we can play a tune in there as well."

"Right, it is rather cold, isn't it? Not sure my fingers would be much use for long out there." He looked up toward the ceiling. "But I do suppose it should be early enough that there should be no sleepers to bother."

Jackson smiled at the bard once again. "I didn't get any sort of master suite, but there should be enough room, I think."

The Merman nodded as he got up, finishing what was left of his drink and flipping his long hair back over his shoulder."If there's enough room, lead on, my friend." He said as he picked up his lute and cradled it in his arms, ready to follow Jackson to his room.

"Absolutely, fine sir," Jackson said, always maintaining his gentle smile, though a wicked grin might have been more fitting of his mentality at that moment.

He, too, downed the remainder of his drink and stood with his instrument. He gestured forward and lead the way to the stairs. As he climbed, he commented, "I'd think you'd be wary of the rooms. As a such a skilled bard - and, if it's not out of place to say, attractive man - I'm sure you must get propositioned frequently. Heh, perhaps even by other men."

The young man paused and looked back with a playful smirk. "I needn't worry that that is why you offered my room, need I?"

Aearion raised a brow, but couldn't help but smile."Good sir, you wound me. I rarely enter the bedroom of anyone for such reasons. Shall I let you in a secret?" He chuckled."We Mer live a long while. As such, our sex drive is... slow. Humans seem to be able to get into a daily mating process, but my kind might get, frisky, for lack of a better term, maybe once a year or so. So please, do not feel threatened by any... different motives." He explained. It wouldn't do to give this man the wrong idea.

"You have my apologies, sir, and my appreciation for being so candid." More appreciation, perhaps, than the merman might ever realize. Jackson knew little of merfolk, same as most land-dwellers, but if their mating habits truly were as described, there were likely only ever few of them alive at once. That could very well explain why the creatures were so rarely seen. It was certainly something for consideration.

Jackson led on to his room. There was, indeed, enough space for them both to sit comfortably, or to even pace about without quite bumping into one another. It was a small bonus that Jackson carried little in his travels, opening up a little extra space where one's belongings would normally be stored.

"Is this suitable?"