Fifth Chord - No Plot Here, Just Vibes

[fair_trouble]

Busking
Becoming a God had the happy side effect of covering most of Emery’s animal needs. His throne room gives him a place to stay- somewhere he can stash his belongings, sleep, or clean himself up- and it’s not hard for him to get food one way or another.

Anything else is a little more complicated. And unfortunately, usually requires funds.

Emery’s been busy dashing around dealing with the ongoing epidemic, so his money has been especially tight lately. He has to spend a few coins here and there on nursing supplies, and he doesn’t have quite as much time to do odd jobs as he normally does.

It’s as the year is well into autumn and Emery’s wallet is at the stage of coughing up moths instead of coins that Emery finally has to squeeze in a little time to make money. Getting a full time job is out of the question- but there are various taverns in Flotsam that won’t say no to having a lyre player entertain the guests.

So every now and then you’ll find him there, seated with a hat at his feet and his lyre in his hands.

“Got any requests?”

Flower Selling
The lyre isn’t the only method at Emery’s disposal for making money. Having control over the growth of plants is a perk that Emery doesn’t just use for medicinal herbs, and every now and then you can see a stand set up in various Corsair-controlled settlements where a pretty blonde girl is selling flowers.

Pansies, daffodils, crocuses and more, there’s a wide variety of flowers on display with the only commonality being that they’re all blooms that normally only appear in spring. Of course, being out of season flowers they’re priced accordingly, only a bit cheaper than what you’d get at a normal shop. Disappointing perhaps if you’ve met Emery giving out free plants before.

Emery has no apparent embarrassment about the prices, and cheerfully calls out to potential customers as they pass by, occasionally holding up some flowers: “You look like you’d go well with these.”

Getting Hassled (cw: drunk man harassing a girl)
Emery isn’t a stranger to flirting and subsequent activities, but she generally prefers to spend her time- which has gotten a lot more limited since her godhood- with more appealing sorts than a visibly and olfactorily drunken man trying to physically drag her off into drinking more with him. Such as the man who is currently trying to interrupt her attempts to sell flowers to Elysium-goers.

“Wha’s a pretty girl like you doin’ out here? Come wi’ me, I’ll show you a good time-”

She’d tried rebuffing him politely at first but it hadn’t taken long for the guy to grab her wrist and try yanking her out from behind her stand.

Emery yelps “Let go of me!”

Emery’s tone is frustrated, rather than frightened. If this guy gets too aggressive she’s confident in her ability to get away, it’s just a pain that this one drunken asshole is keeping her from what she came here for.

Comments

Hassled

[heaven_rooted]

Tau isn't very fond of most of the people of Elysium, and he's only thankful that even pushy people know not to test a healer too much. He's wrapped up another house-call, adjusting the scarf over his head as he makes way through the streets.

The sight he comes upon isn't an uncommon one, nor an occurrence relegated to the city, unfortunately. What a pain.

He starts over, dropping a hand on the drunk's arm. It's almost laughable how much the height difference is, but Tau doesn't seem bothered by it as he looks up at the man with an unimpressed look.

"You heard her," he says, tightening his grasp just a touch.

[fair_trouble]

There have been other people around but up until now, they'd been giving Emery and the drunkard a wide berth. Tau grabbing the guy gives both the drunkard and Emery a jolt.

"Ta-?" Emery barely manages to cut herself off from saying Tau's name. Explaining how she knows Tau and her current appearance is a conversation best saved for a different time. If at all.

The drunkard keeps his grip on her arm, but he tilts his head to sneer down at Tau. "Who're you supposed t'be?"

[heaven_rooted]

It's not a slip that goes unnoticed, the kodama arching a brow in her direction before he turns a bland expression up a the drunkard.

"An annoyed citizen who's sick of people like you forgetting common decency." His lips turn up on one side in a slight smirk. "But then again maybe you never had such to begin with."

[fair_trouble]

It takes a second for the drunkard to process that, as if it somehow hadn't occurred to him that Tau might actually talk back even a little. With a scowl, he tries to shake Tau off- fortunately letting go of Emery in the process.

"This isn' any of your business, brat."

While the drunkard is distracted by Tau, Emery takes a careful step back and gives a quick glance over her stall, wondering how much she can salvage if this turns into a more serious altercation. She keeps one wary eye on Tau- he can probably handle himself, but...

[heaven_rooted]

Tau's grip tightens just a bit, but there's a concerning pressure behind it that suggests breaking a bone wouldn't be out of the question.

"No? You're in the middle of a public area causing a disturbance, I'd say that's anyone's business," he points out. "Go home. I think you need a nap."

He's not really hurting for a fight but he's not above smacking some idiot down. Or tossing them into a convenient fountain if there's one around. Ah, but he's not in Corsair territory and he supposes getting into a tussle here would jeopardize his standing as a healer. He starts going through his mental list of the herbs and things he has on hand as an alternative.

[fair_trouble]

The continued resistance only seems to make the drunk man angrier. With a snarl, he twists and throws a fist Tau's way.

"A-!"

Emery doesn't really need to cry out. The punch is a hefty one, but sloppy and incredibly obvious; easy to dodge or perhaps use the drunkard's weight against him.

[heaven_rooted]

Considering that Tau had expected the man to respond more violently rather than peaceably, he's thoroughly ready for it.

His hand slips away from the drunk's arm, his body nimbly stepping aside to avoid the punch. He jerks out a foot to catch the larger man's own as he lurches forward, a quick and smooth movement that he masks by dancing back and away to let gravity do its part.

"What did I say?"

[fair_trouble]

The drunkard slams into the ground with a mighty crash and a series of oaths. It takes him a second to recover enough from faceplanting to raise his head to shout properly, during which Emery hastily stuffs her money into her bag.

"You bastard! GUARDS!"

Emery grabs onto Tau's arm. "I think that's our cue to leave?" she suggests, gaze darting around the street. Ah, there's the guards at one end-

[heaven_rooted]

Tau looks even less impressed by the guy, brow twitching as he begins shouting for the guards. He only startles when he finds his arm grabbed, jerking back out of reflex before he blinks at Emery.

"Wouldn't that just make us look guilty?" he frowns, following her gaze. Tch. He'd rather not deal with it either way.

"That way," he suggests, starting towards the nearest buildings they can duck behind.

[fair_trouble]

"This guy's probably a noble," Emery says, by way of explanation. The drunk man is indeed well dressed, which is probably why the guards didn't intervene in the first place.

Emery follows Tau's lead, dashing alongside him to the (hopeful) safety of the buildings. The guards call out after them but they're headed towards the drunk man first, giving Emery and Tau a head start.

[heaven_rooted]

Not that the thought hadn't crossed Tau's mind, but the reminder makes him wrinkle his nose in distaste. "Of course," he snorts.

He doesn't look back when the guards shout after them, but once they're out of immediate sight, he looks up, eyeing the building itself before he looks at Emery.

"I prefer the high road. You trust me?" he asks, holding a hand out.

[fair_trouble]

Emery bounces on her feet once they come to a stop, antsy to keep moving. Of course, as long as she doesn't have an audience the simplest solution would just be for her to pop into her throne room and pop out somewhere else in Esthere. But what about Tau...?

Well. It seems he has a plan in mind.

Tau might be a little prickly but Emery's worked with him a few times now. She has no reason to distrust him and accordingly beams at him.

"Take us away," she agrees, setting her hand in Tau's.

[heaven_rooted]

Grinning at that, Tau gives her a nod before taking her hand. He pulls her close so he can launch them up towards the nearest balcony railing. Hopefully there won't be any screaming; that'd be counter-productive to disappearing from the street.

He continues up to the next level, his intent appearing to be the rooftop.

[fair_trouble]

No screaming per se, but there will be a startled yelp and an Emery clinging tighter. It's surprise that fuels it more than any real fear; trouble with heights would be a laughable characteristic in someone who grew up in the Isles Above!

They have enough time to approach the roof before the guards show up. Looking about, but of course not looking up right away.

"Maybe they're hiding in the building?" one suggests.

The other grabs the handle on the nearest door and gives it a good pull, but of course it's locked. "Maybe they made it to a balcony."

The guards look up at the nearest balcony, not seeing an open window... But catching a bit of movement in their peripheral.

"Wh- HEY!"

[heaven_rooted]

Tau curses under his breath as he hears the shout below, but he keeps jumping until he's on the rooftop, moving inwards where they won't be readily seen. He sets Emery down, but isn't long in tugging her along towards the end of the building.

"Hopefully they decide it's not worth the trouble to try following us," he grumbles, but he's not taking his chances.

"You okay?"

[fair_trouble]

Emery doesn't hear any further shouts from the guards, and her hopes are along the same lines as Tau's as she lets him tug her along.

She blinks a little at the question, wondering if Tau's referencing the trip up here or the encounter they just ran away from. Either way, she nods.

"Mm-hm. I'm pretty used to dealing with guys like that," she says. "But thanks for the save."

It wasn't strictly necessary, Emery knows she's much more powerful than that guy, but the gesture still counts. Besides, she's not fond of fighting. Using her magic might get rid of that guy quickly, but could cause more of a ruckus long term.

[heaven_rooted]

Both, really. But she's been handling things pretty well, so he's not necessarily surprised with the admission of being used to such things. Tau still makes a face.

"Shouldn't have to be used to it," he snorts, still facing forward as he continues to guide them across the rooftops. He keeps an ear out, but it also seems like he's no stranger to roaming up here. After a short hop across a space between the closely situated buildings, he starts towards the edge, cautiously peeking down towards the street before he looks to the balcony just below.

"We'll come down here."

[fair_trouble]

Emery isn't sure if she believes that; she knows her appearance attracts attention (...it still applies even when she isn't using illusion magic to pass) and that it isn't exactly her fault. (...Illusion magic notwithstanding.) But she's been hanging out in places like Elysium and Venach for almost ten years now, and drunken assholes kind of come with the territory.

She could theoretically have chosen to pursue being a monk. Or something.

This isn't Emery's first time hanging out on rooftops but it's not a longstanding acquaintanceship, so she shows much more interest in their surroundings than Tau does. It seems harder to navigate from up here, with the gaps between buildings to leap over and the way all the rooftops look similar.

It's interesting though, and when Tau leads them to the edge of a roof it's almost disappointing. "So soon?"

[heaven_rooted]

Drunk idiots are something that Tau doesn't tolerate even back at the Corsair bases. It's frustrating enough dealing with them, but it gets even more annoying when they pull other people into their less than ideal choices. He's got a reputation for chucking drunk Corsairs into the water whenever he's in Flotsam. It's his idea of helping sober them up.

Tau steps lightly along the rooftops, hardly making a sound. He pauses at the question, arching a brow at Emery. "Huh. I thought you'd rather be somewhere more level sooner than later. We can keep to the rooftops but they start getting more spread out down this way."

[fair_trouble]

"I don't mind heights," Emery says with an easy smile. "But I'll defer to your judgment either way. I take it you spend a lot of time up here?" Since he can make statements on how spread out the roofs are and all. And just generally seems to know what he's doing.

[heaven_rooted]

"Quieter," Tau says by way of admission. "And the less annoying people I have to run into, the less tempted I am to punch them in the face." He says this with complete seriousness.

"Want me to take you down or can you drop down after me?" he asks. "I'll catch you."

[fair_trouble]

Emery's eyebrows arch at the casual admission. "Not much of a people person, are you," she observes.

Despite this, she moves closer to Tau. "Oh, I'd feel much safer if you held me~" she says.

[heaven_rooted]

"Not particularly. Depends on the people," Tau shrugs. He makes a face when Emery steps closer, giving her a flat look.

"Is that right."

He shakes his head, but he doesn't step away. Instead, he moves to scoop her up so he can drop down to the balcony below.

Busking

[blessmefather]

It's good to take a break from all the secret deliveries and nursing. Bustling streets are a welcome whirlwind of excitement. Matt had been out to buy some food from an old haunt of his last life and comes across Emery and his lyre on the way back.

"Do you know the Ballad of the Gladiator?" he suggests. Matt hadn't heard it played often away from the arenas where his father once fought, but it's worth asking.

[fair_trouble]

Honestly, tildes aside, Emery wasn't really being dishonest when she said that; it's kind of nice to have something solid to hold onto during each successive drop, even if they're not individually that long.

"It was kind of you to step in," she says, between jumps, "Especially when you don't like dealing with people."

[fair_trouble]

"I can give it a shot," Emery offers. He's not even sure if he's thinking of the right song; an upbeat, heroic marching tune that he's heard a few times during live performances. The one he knows is a deceptively complex song, one he'll definitely need to rely on the lyre's help for in order to play it competently.

[heaven_rooted]

"Not everyone's annoying," he replies after the next leap. "But most of them around here think that just because the Empire runs things, they can throw their weight around to get what they want."

Another drop. He snorts. "Doesn't work that way with medical problems. Not everything can be healed, somethings take time, and looking for shortcuts never works well for anyone in the end. They don't understand even when it's for their benefit or whoever they want treated."

[blessmefather]

Matt's smile turns more genuine as Emery plays. He got the right song, and even if it's not the same as when a group sings it or a band plays to pump up a crowd, it's unmistakably the tune.

Matt thanks him when he finishes playing. "Do you accept payment in coin only, or would you take some food?" He shifts the bag of food in his arms.

[fair_trouble]

"I'm familiar with the type," Emery drily admits. "It's like trying to argue with a toddler."

Which makes her think of, with a pang, her younger siblings still living under Imperial rule- Ansel's no doubt a toddler already and Mom might very well be pregnant again by this point.

[heaven_rooted]

"Exactly." Not that Tau has too much experience with children. "Only I think sometimes even they're more agreeable."

He drops down another balcony before they're on the street below, setting Emery on her feet.

"Ride's over."

[fair_trouble]

Emery settles on the ground, still keeping a hand on Tau's shoulder.

"Thanks for the save~"

And then Tau is rewarded for his heroism with a smooch on the cheek.

(Emery lets go immediately after that and takes a step back, in case Tau's a flailer.)

[heaven_rooted]

It's so quick and unexpected that Tau's response is almost delayed once it sinks in as to what just happened. He jerks back, startled, his face going red. To his credit he does not flail.

He snorts, looking away. "Just take care of yourself, all right?" He doesn't seem too keen on sticking around, turning almost immediately after as he tugs his hood back into place.

[fair_trouble]

Emery's focus is absolute for the next few minutes, putting all his attention into letting the lyre guide his fingertips to the right strings, at the right time. It's quite a job to keep up; he's better at slow ballad tunes. But evidently he hasn't done too bad a job if Matt's willing to pay for it.

"Money's preferable for being more versatile," Emery says, "But food works too." Not only does Emery need to eat, but when he has leftovers it isn't hard for him to find some serfs and slaves still stuck in Imperial territory that he can sneak extra food too.

[blessmefather]

"Let's see if I can split the difference."

Matt reaches into the bag in his arms and produces a warm, stuffed bun, which he passes to Emery. "Hope pork is okay with you. This was a favorite cheap meal to eat during a late night staking out a place in my last life."

He reaches for his pocket to find a coin to drop into Emery's tin as well.