Music of the Night (Open)

[tam]

Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation,
darkness stirs and wake imagination...
- Music of the Night

A festival was the prefect place for a thief to work. There were crowds of people, excited and distracted with eyes for everything except their precious money. Tam had watched many thieves get away with stolen coins; a practised thief herself, she knew well what to look for. She had made a sweet profit herself, during the day.

But now it was growing dark. Now, in the lower city's market square, a small platform had been set up. It was the rough stage for the acrobats, musicians, actors and dancers. Tam held her wooden flute close to her chest. This was her second and more lawful profession. She watched the stage, waiting for her turn.
A dancer ended with a flourish that drew cheers from the crowd before she left the stage. Tam flew her fingers over the notes of her flute, silently practising the first few bars. Then the man who was in charge of the performances called out "Thomas the Piper!"
Tam stepped up onto the stage.

She wore a scarlet waistcoat over her ordinary boy's disguise of loose shirt and breeches. People always thought a performer was better if they worse something fancy, though Tam did not know why.
Lifting her flute she announced,
"Horses' Brawl," and began to play. It was an old song, well-known and well-liked. This was why she had chosen to play it first. Her audience responded with loud cheers, though many had talked all through the song. Tam was not worried. This was how it was, playing music at festivals. Her second song was another piece favoured by the people. But as she came to play her third, she paused. Did she dare to play something different? Judging the mood of the crowd, she thought that she would.

"Reflections in the Crystal Wind," Tam told them.
It was one she had written herself, the tune sweet and almost a lullaby. After playing a while, Tam lowered the flute and began to sing.

"And if I don't know where I'm going
Perhaps I'll wait beside the pathway
Where no one's coming, and count the questions
I turned away from, or closed my eyes to
Or had no time for, or passed right over
Because the answers would shame my pride..."

Tam knew her song was different from common taste, and so as soon as she had finished, she leapt into a fast and lively version of "Orange and Blue." She left the stage to cheers.

Trembling now from nerves, Tam backed into a dark, quiet alley. How funny that she could keep her head when thieving, when in danger, but performing different songs made her shake and sweat. She took a few breaths to calm herself. Then suddenly she froze, one hand flying to her dagger. Someone stood at the mouth of the alleyway. Someone had followed her.

Timeline: first evening of the five-day festival
Tags: Open
Notes: Tam is well disguised as a boy, and so will seem like a boy to your eyes.

[Gawain]

The festival had been a drastically busy time for Gawain. As the main blacksmith of the town, he was responsible for getting the necessary weapons and tools for the various competitions that would be held during the next five days. It was only the first day and he already felt swamped with work. Still, he could not deprive his little princess of enjoying the festival and tonight, there would be a many performances right here in the market. He ordinarily did not like the idea of Emma being out so late, but he was with her (not that that was a very reassuring form of protection) and they would hopefully not be out for too long.

As a young boy took the stage, flute in hand, Gawain held his daughter up so that she could get a better view. A smile broke out on her lips as she clapped along to the music, and the singing that soon followed. "Daddy! I want flute too!" She exclaimed excitedly. While it would be impossible for her to get everything a child desired, he tried to give her whatever he could. They were not considerably rich, but they were not extremely poor either.

"Maybe we can ask the nice man where he got it from," Gawain suggested. He could indeed make a flute, as carving was one of his trades, but making it was not the problem; it was playing it and he lacked the skills to be able to do that. But maybe they could get an encore performance. When Thomas was done, Gawain kept an eye on him, and still holding his daughter in his arms, began to follow him. Had he not had the child, some may think he was a mysterious stranger, up to no good, stalking a young man. But how evil could one appear to be when they held an innocent little girl?

Even when going into an abandoned alley way...... well this seemed dangerous. Maybe he should let the flute idea go, but Emma seemed so set on it. This was where he tended to spoil her, but that often conflicted for his overprotective tendencies. "Um... excuse me, Sir?" He could not hear them, he was too far away, but he seemed to stop. Gawain gulped. He was not the bravest man out there but this seemed like a seemingly innocent musician and so Gawain went closer to him. "Sorry to be a bother but..." WAIT! Was he grabbing for a dagger?! GOOD LORD! Gawain quickly shielded Emma's eyes, not wanting her to become alarmed at seeming such a weapon. He put his hand on the back of her head so that it was nestled in his shirt. A casual enough action not to raise concern in her, but still served its purpose. The blacsksmith's owns eyes widened, hoping that he wasn't about to meet his death. "Oh... n-never mind. We'll just be on our way then...." he said, eyes still wide as he began to take a few steps backwards, keeping his eyes on the musician's hand. This definitely hadn't been one of Gawain's brighter ideas.

[/size]

(Hope its alright that I joined)[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[tam]

((Of course it is fine. I so love Gawain already! He made me laugh. ))

Tam spun, the blade flashing in her hand.... and at once realised her mistake. This was no dark stranger - just a wide-eyed man and his child. But it was not the little girl who made Tam realise her mistake. In her world, children were always used as 'innocents' to put victims off their guard in thievery and even murder. She had been one of those children herself, not so very long ago.
No, it was the fear in the father's eyes and his stuttering speech which let Tam know. This man was no killer.

Quickly she returned her dagger to it sheath. Tam held up her empty palm and the other which still held her flute.
"No, no," she said, trying to calm the man. While Tam would fight and kill for her life, she did not enjoy to frighten innocents. "Please, I'm sorry. Forgive me. I come from... a dangerous place." Tam hoped that might explain her actions enough without her having to go into detail. "Do you want something I can help with?"

[Gawain]

Gawain was still wide eyed and did not step any closer to her. Despite the fact that she was apologizing, he was still wary of having his daughter so close to a man with a dagger! But he could somewhat understand. Most people probably carried weapons. But there was a difference between actually witnessing the weapon and then assuming that they had one. Gawain tended to be the more paranoid kind of person, which was why he was still stuttering a bit. "Oh, yes, I-I understand. Still, sorry to be a bother! We'll leave from this dark abandoned alley way where there is no one around." He spoke the last part in a bit of a louder voice, just so hopefully, a passerby would stop and look just in case this flute boy decided to stab him.

"DADDY! Flute!" Emma exclaimed. She had struggled so that she could see what was going on, and looked just in time to see the flute. She pointed excitedly, a wide smile on her lips. Gawain nodded awkwardly, with an equally awkward, and very forced smile on his lips. He didn't want his daughter to pick up on his fear, and clearly she did not. "I want to hear song! Play me song...please!" Gawain had to admit that he was proud she remembered her manners....but wait!

"I'm sure he's too busy to play us anything...." Or was he? Even if he wasn't, Gawain was still a bit fearful but was frozen in place while his six year old daughter engaged in a conversation with a stranger.....who had a dagger!

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(I'm glad he did...he's a bit silly. Love Tam so far by the way. I love how calm 'he' is.)[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[tam]

Tam almost laughed when the man loudly announced that they should leave the "dark abandoned alley." She knew why he said it that way - how obvious his fear was! Tam did not normally find fear amusing, but this time she could not help herself. It was so strange to see it in a man who looked strong enough to be a blacksmith.
Though she did control her laughter, the smile on her face was broad and amused as she replied.
"Of course, if it makes you happier."
And she returned obediently to the main streets. If it made this man feel calmer, she would do it.

And such a comical contrast that his little girl was so unafraid! Tam met that sweet, bright smile and the innocent eyes... and suddenly felt as strange tugging at her heart.
When I was that age, Tam found herself thinking. My family were dead. I was cold and hungry, and playing my flute while my listens had their pockets picked, so the Thief Lord would give me a home.

Tam gave her head a shake, annoyed by the emotion she did not want. She told herself firmly that she had a good life, the best life of adventure and fun.
But her voice was surprisingly soft as she answered the father.
"I'm not busy, sir. I would be happy to play for her." And then, to the little girl, "I have one I think you'd like..."
And Tam played the first dancing bars of 'Daytime Star', a song she had written for the youngest thief-children just before she had to leave her city. Then she stopped. It seemed almost rude to play more than a few bars, out here on the street.
"You should learn to play yourself," Tam lightly told the girl. "I was younger than you when I started. What is your name?" She asked suddenly, with a glance up at the father. "You know mine, but I don't know yours."

[Gawain]

He was still extremely nervous about this whole situation, even if his daughter was not. He also knew how excited his daughter was to hear the musician play again so Gawain was rather torn about how to proceed. He wanted to give Emma every she wanted but at the same time, did not want her to be in the company of someone with such a large weapon! Soon enough the, the musician played and Emma began clapping and moving around in her attempt to dance. Gawain was too scared to let her down so her `dancing`consisted of very limited and slightly awkward body movements.

She was clapping and giggling though, rejoiced by the music that filled the air. While the boy seemed rather nice and polite, it did not alleviate any of Gawain`s concern. You couldn`t be too careful in a place like this. When the music was finished, Emma applauded excitedly and before Gawain could make his leave, she started talking. And when Emma started talking, it was hard to make her stop.

"I want too!" She squealed at the idea of learning to play. "Daddy can make one, but he can not play. He is so bad, and he not a very good teacher, because he can't play." Gawain made a face at his daughter's explanation of his 'bad musical skills'. He was not embarrassed about that... ok, just a little embarrassed. But he was more concerned about how much his daughter was talking.

"I'M EMMA!" She exclaimed in a very loud, very proud voice. Gawain's eyes widened and he immediately put his hand on her mouth, stopping her from saying anything else. "What did daddy say about talking to strangers, and how its dangerous?" He hoped it did not personally offend the musician, but it was risk he felt worth taking. He slowly removed his hand from his daughter's mouth and looked at Thomas.

"We should really be on our--"

"AND HE'S GAWAIN!" Emma blurted out, again, very proud of herself. "He's a backsmoth. He can make flutes for you!" .... Now that Emma had offered his services, even if she had not said the word properly, Gawain felt far too impolite to take back the offer.

(OOC: I'm so sorry about the delay in posting. I hope we can still continue this thread.)

[tam]

…if I could bring myself to trust you
perhaps I’d stay throughout the evening
beside your door and watch the moonrise
pretending that I am dreaming…

Tam felt a smile dancing on her lips at the sound of the little girl's joy. But it was a smile mixed and twisted with sadness for she was not used to seeing children so carefree. The children she knew, the child she had been... they had knotted hair, bare feet and the instincts of animals. They had stolen and cheated and lied, played vicious games and ran in gangs because that was how they had to stay alive.

"Emma..." she softly repeted the name, eyes far away. Then at her father's cautioning she turned to look at him. Her eyes shone with mischief.
"Hardly fair to scold her for stranger-speaking," she pointed out. "When it was you who spoke to me first."
But little Emma gave it away anyhow, and Tam learned Gwain's name in profession (even if it had been pronounced wrong.) But heard that Emma was a blacksmith's daughter gave her heart a cruel twist. Her own father had been a blacksmith. It was difficult not to let this sudden new pain show on her face. She took a deep breath and pushed the thoughts away. That was long ago. It could not hurt her now.

Instead she turned back to Emma.
"Blacksmiths do metal," she said and held out the flute once more. "See how it is all wood? Inless your so-cautious father is also a carpenter, he would not know how to make one."
Tam flicked a glance back at Gawain and make her last sentance almost a question. Then she had an idea.
"If you let me stay the night at your place," she said lightly, as though it did not really matter to her. "And let me share your supper, I will gladly teach your sweet Emma to play a flute."


((Welcome return. If you wish to continue, I am happy. ))