Fate - First Reply Vel Anirian Nights

[Ispir Sione]

Spoiler: Rainy Night

During a stormy night in Vel Anir as rain pattered down onto the rooftops, the cobblestone, the tops of heads, like an army charging to to their final battle gentle notes would drift through an open plaza in the richer districts of the city. A few homes owned by noble families were in the same quarter, temples to various religions, and it all overlooked those that lived below in both means and status. The soft, amber glow of the homes beyond seeming to clash with the blue-black hue of the horizon lit by the scattered light of stars overhead.

The storm clouds above were scattered things and wherever their billowing, ominous depths did not dwell stars shone like glimmering diamonds in the depths of a pit of tar. Twinkling and shining up above as a harp was played with masterful clarity and proficiency despite the weather, despite the noise that the rain made all around. The downpour was not torrential, at least not yet, and the sounds the rain made upon the ground were just loud enough to make cuddling up with a cup of cocoa before a hearth seem like the best way to spend the night to nearly anyone.

Save one lone figure.

Seated up a parapet's edge and swaying gently in time with the strum of their harp a cyan-clad figure did not at all seem to mind the rain. Their head was tilted back, eyes closed but raised to the stars above, as soft motes of magic would flick from their fingers to the gently-glowing strings of their harp with every plucked syllable. The slight figure would continue their song, continue to play, until they heard someone approach and would turn to glance over their shoulder at whoever should approach. Their eyes glowing a gentle aquamarine under the starlight and the wispy hues of their gently glowing harp.....​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

Usually, moving across rooftops simply matched the agility of this particular figure. He was used to the movements, taken to the navigation, finding himself night and day to negotiate his way through the alleys down below on the city streets, or hopping between buildings above their ceilings. It just depended on the occasion as much as what he was feeling.

Vel Anir was unique. A fortress city. A feat of engineering. For him, a drow and an outsider by many measures, that just meant there was that much more opportunity to traverse from one structure to the other without ever been seen, using the architecture to his advantage.

In a dark green cloak, black armor garbed by garment, armed with daggers and scimitars sheathed at either hip, the drow of the underground skipped upon the shingles and atop the tiles, his gait mingling with the rain, while the hood pulled over his head kept his visage hidden and protected his face.

Upon the parapet’s edge, the figure was spotted, with inns and houses, windmills and clocktowers in the distance, and an instrument in their lap. Curious as ever, Zyndyrr K’yhoshin wandered onward, until he paused his walk in the middle of the rooftop, and tilted his hooded head toward the musician as good as one could reckon with.

“Serene. Quaint.” His words cut clean between the slivers of rain on the rooftop. “What is the name of the song you play?”

Ispir Sione

 

[Ispir Sione]

Not seeing anyone at first it wasn't until their visitor spoke, betraying his position not on the street but above, that Ispir's eyes rose to glimpse the shadowed, nigh-invisible figure of a cloaked entity. Stray strands of white hair that may have stuck out from under his thick coverings the only visible feature save for the whites of the speaking man's eyes.

Ispir would freeze for a moment, wondering if perhaps the man was a member of the cult that had attempted his kidnap, but would swallow down his fear softly and speak through the rainfall to his observer.

"To tell the truth Ser I haven't named it yet."

Ispir's harp would lower as their aquamarine eyes glimmered in the starlight, their gaze lowering from looking directly at their unknown audience to look at the ground below.

"But tonight, for some reason, despite the rain and despite my recent troubles I feel...."

A timid, modest shrug would be given before he finished.

"...at peace."

Steeling himself, the thin shoulders of the small Bard arching upward as he took a steadying breathe, he would then exhale a single sentence to address his fears.

"If... if you are a member of some cult o-or here to kill me, I won't fight you, I spread joy and music, not bloodshed."

It felt, and sounded, to Ispir like a flimsy, cowardly excuse. Though it was given with all the mustered courage the little Bard could offer.

Zyndyrr K'yoshin​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

In the dark and in the rain, a figure could stand far enough apart to still be heard without being seen, and Zyndyrr was one such person. Motionless, as raindrops dipped over the rim of his cloak’s hood, he listened to the other figure who shared his presence under open storm with his form no different.

Whatever Zyn could relate to from his contemporary’s words, from his lyricless music, he didn’t speak at first. This man at the parapet had given him thoughts to chew on but the focus was split. It was one thing to muse over music and instruments, but another to reckon with weapons and bloodshed.

“Joy and music, is it?” The question did not mock but the amusement wasn’t hidden. “I find no difference with both when it comes to spreading death and trading blades.” It was honest. Whether the man responded or not, Zyndyrr stepped closer, arms lowered.

“Yet fret not, bard. I am not here to kill you.” Closer. “And I find cults to be dull.” Closer. “I am simply here to gaze at the stars and listen to the rain .” Then he was at the parapet. “And your harp if you wish to play.” He gave his face to the view of the cityscape and waited.

Ispir Sione

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir was very confused by how their guest responded. He would tilt his head in abject confusion, trying to think the words through.

'He found no difference with both.... when it comes to spreading death and trading blades?'

Ispir scrunched their button nose. Both of those sounded like fighting to him so... not different? His head hurt thinking about it so he decided to stop as the man stepped closer. Ispir was, for better and worse, a trusting person so they nodded and believed the man's answer.

"Oh! Well I always enjoy company good Ser. Umm I suppose I could play more o-or maybe just talk if you would like some company?"

ispir would venture a small smile and even giggle a bit as he ventured.

"I can imagine you don't make many friends running around on rooftops in the night eh?"

Ispir was too naive to realize this likely meant the person he spoke to was a killer at worst or a thief at best but it didn't matter to him. Every stranger was simply a friend he had not met yet after all!

Zyndyrr K'yoshin​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

How this bard with a harp managed to make it through life, never mind in a city, was beyond the drow’s understanding. If Zyn was an assassin or just a murderer then, after having approached the other man even closer, a quick cut with a dagger could have ended him that instant, one fine stroke. Either the guy was so peaceful as to be gullible or just an idiot.

Nevertheless, despite how the drow could have been a liar plain and simple, he was more composed than looking for a throat to open. Not at the moment, anyway. Instead, facing away from his musical contemporary as he gazed into the distance, Zyndyyr listened and considered his words.

“I do not come onto the rooftops to make friends,” he answered, no less honest. “Or to any place, for that matter.” Rain pitter-pattered off the stone parapet, slicing past his eyes, but his face remained as hidden as dry.

“Talk. Play a song. Do what you want. You spread joy and music. I spread death with my blades. I find joy in this, and combat can be quite like a dance, in comparison.” He turned his head and, in the night, the man would glimpse darkness in that hooded countenance, if with a flash of red eyes. “Just with a different instrument than your harp.”

Ispir Sione

 

[Ispir Sione]

Pursing his lips at the answer the Drow gave Ispir's expression became one of something close to pity, but not given out of any sense of superiority, but because of what he said in response.

"Forgive me Sir. That sounds a very lonely way to live."

Pausing for just a moment to continue his soft, lilting song Ispir would play the notes more softly now so he could speak over them, and despite whatever the brief flash of clarity under the man's hood allowed him to see Ispir still treated him as a person.

"Have you no family? No hopes beyond.... death?"

He asked softly. Eyes wide and full of sorrow for the man whose life sounded like it revolved around the next quarry to claim. The next life to end. A fact that resulted in Ispir desiring more for the man before him even if he did not desire it for himself.

Zyndyrr K'yoshin​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

This one was a curious person, both with his questions as they engaged in conversation and in his very existence. He played his harp, as beckoned, or just because he wanted to, his notes slow, the melody blending with the raindrops. It was elegant.

However, Zyndyrr wasn’t certain whether it was their stark contrast that perplexed as much as began to vex him yet, in the end, that might make this engagement all the more fascinating for two strangers on a dark rooftop.

“I am alone but not lonely,” he answered first, turning his gaze back to the rain. “I have family though. Hopes. Dreams.” He hesitated, wondering how open he should be, but left it at that for the moment.

“And you?” He wanted to change the topic but his question was just as genuine. “You who spreads joy and music, what makes you do it on your lonesome on a dark rooftop?”

Ispir Sione

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir would listen to the man's answers with a puzzled expression on his face. Alone but not lonely? Everything else made sense to the small Bard except for that bit. Maybe it said more about him than it did his new companion but, regardless, as the question was turned back on him Ispir smiled. It was a simple, genuine smile and he would pause his playing to motion out over the warm amber glow of the city. After that he didn't speak for a moment, as if expecting the view to provide his answer for him, before he added.

"This rooftop in particular? Nothing really. But all the same Sir I practice where I can and this vantage point had not only a beautiful view but also the perfect acoustics to make my music travel far and wide."

Shrugging jovially Ispir would point down a street that was heavily illuminated, still possessing a scant few pedestrians going about their business despite the rain, and he would continue.

"For all I know my music is helping some poor soul trudging home in the rain feel just a bit better. Though... admittedly I-I suppose if I was offered to play in some sort of amphitheater for an audience that would be more effective."

He nodded and glanced up at the hooded man.

"Your... family... do you see them often?"

Zyndyrr K'yoshin​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

Sir. There the term was again. Though, in hindsight, this nervous if polite guy did not quite utter his verses as some coward, despite the hooded figure standing near him, alone on a rooftop, speaking of murder the way one plays music. Not so lonely though.

Zyndyrr followed his contemporary’s finger and spied the distance. He didn’t need to squint his eyes. His sight had since adjusted to vision in the darkness ever since he was a kid. It was the gift of his race. The drow of the underground knew only night, if not rain.

“Curious.” The one word Zyndyrr uttered carried as much weight as the thoughts in his brain, whether or not his counterpart could appreciate it. “That’s a rather naive and arrogant way of going about life. Even trite, I daresay.”

He sighed, and it didn't matter whether his words came before or after the other's latter question, or which verses were ignored like lyrics, but to dispute it was moot.

Zyndyrr turned back to face the bard, red eyes alive in the dark, and answered. “No.” The word was firm, like a dagger slipping between plate armor to rip into what was hidden. “Not since my lord father banished me, that is.”

Ispir Sione

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir was more than a little stunned at the man's words. Quite frankly they hurt his feelings and Ispir would pout as he mention his father banishing him. In fact not only was he surprised and hurt but he was also in pure disbelief that someone who just earlier had been drawn by his own music would then call him wanting to play it to help others 'arrogant'.

"It's not arrogant!"

He insisted softly, frowning up at the dangerous man without a drop of fear, and crossed his arms.

"I've seen music help people in all sorts of ways! Whether they were drunk and drowning their sorrows in a bottle, or lost and just needed somewhere comforting to stay. O-Or like in Elbion when I helped a scruffy man who was having some sort of.. umm... episode."

Drawing his knees up to his chest Ispir would hug around his legs, pout out over the city lights, and murmur once more.

"It's not arrogant. I've seen it work....."

Zyndyrr K'yoshin​

 

[Zyndyrr K'yoshin]

For moments, Zyndyyrr was quiet even after he listened to this man’s words. He just stared at him, letting his shadowed gaze linger from within the rims of his hood. Blades of rain slashed past, defiant to silence, and darkness took the rooftop, ignorant of daggers in eyes, absent of firelight.

“Not arrogant, is it?”

The cloaked figure stepped closer as the other hugged his legs to his chest. Closer, the man cloaked in shadow approached, offering no words, no indication of slowing his advance, whether he had any intention to take a blade in hand and attack.

So close now that the man, if he dared, could stare into the shroud, though the head was lowered. Yet he could glimpse those red eyes, iris of crimson, the dark armor beneath the green cloak. Finally, the figure lifted his head completely, and allowed the man to witness the countenance of a drow with his ashen skin and ears curved like knives.

“Fine. If you insist.”

Zyn grinned.

Ispir Sione