AChapter 13
Lee gets as far into the crowd of moogles as the crowd will allow, having no particular need to push for the front given that he's taller than the sea of poms and wings that separate him from the patch-cloaked bard, watching her perform with mixed feelings that become more and more evident, even if not particularly identifiable, by the moment. He does not share Cadence's smile as she finished her performance, the conflict of watching someone that he thought was, until recently, dead and gone too heavy on his mind, though he does, hesitantly, raise a gloved hand slightly in greeting as her eyes find his across the short-statured and kupo'ing crowd, breaking the met gaze only briefly to flicker to Ainsley, checking habitually on how far she's gotten through the crowd since breaking away from him and the rest of the group.
"Go to her," Silmeria murmurs to Lee with a quiet smile, nudging his arm with her shoulder. "I'll see to Ainsley." So saying, she begins to thread her way through the tightly-packed crowd towards the scholar, leaving Lee to make up his own mind whether or not to heed advice given.
Ainsley is a very feeble creature. She is very unlikely to have made any progress through the moogles, and probably gives up soon after starting her attempt because she causes some displeasure in one or two of the moogles. She puts her hands on her hips and huffs. She's short, too! Not too short to see Cadence, but all of the ears and poms are still in the way. She turns her head to regard Silmeria and Lee, frowning lightly. "This is problematic," is all she comments on the wall of moogles. She begins to search for a way around the crowd, sighing defeatedly.
Cadence remains on the stage, turnign her gaze to the crowd and bowing to them all once more and sweeping her cloak. "If you would all excuse me my friends, I shall return annon but for now fairwell." She looks toward the group, eyes fixing on Lee before she turns and steps off stage. It looks like it would be possible to move around the crowd to what looks like a door to the backstage area.
Lee blinks, with a glance at Silmeria, one corner of his mouth twitching into a brief grin in response to the advice before he turns his attention back to Cadence, watching his mother depart the stage before looking around the crowd, starting to make his way around the fringes, tapping Silmeria's and Ainsley's shoulders in passing, gesturing for them to follow, "Oi, o'er this way." Old habits of etiquette are still with him, from times long past, as, upon reaching the door, he raps briefly on it with his knuckles, in a quick and particular pattern unique to him before, without waiting for a response, he opens the door and steps through.
Silmeria takes hold of Ainsley's sleeve as she catches up, and is about to say something... when Lee points out the route for her. Bobbing her head and grinning, she leads the scholar after Lee, skirting the edges of the crowd and waiting for the door to be answered.
Ainsley squeaks in surprise as her sleeve is grabbed, and turns to follow after Silmeria. She slows down briefly to take stock of the rainbow of colors that can be seen bobbing around in the air above the moogles. Moogle poms are distracting, and she's always wondered if it's some sort of family trait to have one of a certain color. She has to jog some to catch up with Silmeria after that, looking a little panicked.
Beyond the door is another world! The world of the stage! Props, strnage things on ropes, wandering musicians, performers, people talking in hushed whispers as backdrops rattle past overhead in a hiss of steam and clack clack clack of gears! It is all quite chaotic with moogles and other species dashing back and forth and this way and that as they prepare for the next show.
Lee pulls his hat off briefly to scratch his head, looking around at the chaos of the backstage area. It's familiar to him, this frenetic bustle, from when he was younger, but, at the same time, it's been so long, and he's certainly never been to this particular theaterhouse before, and so he spends a minute looking about for the familiar technicolor-patchwork cloak before attempting to snag the nearest passing stage-hand for long enough to inquire after directions.
Silmeria snags hold of Lee's shoulder, as the trio reaches the crossing of two aisles, taking hold of the man's arm and tugging it down before he can ask the stagehand. "THat way," she whispers, nodding toward a side passage, eyes locked on the back of the head of someone in front of them. "Quickly, quietly. He's here." Glancing Ainsley's way, she tries to communicate by the set of her face alone, who 'he' is.
Ainsley doesn't really need to be told that ... 'he' is here, as she has given Silmeria a meaningful look just when she points that out. Yep. Pretty aware of this. "Looks like an actor to me," she replies, though, casually and with a smile, and turns to hurry off and try to catch up to Cadence down the passage to the left. "Let's go!" She may or may not be ready to run, by the hurried jogging pace she's doing.
The stage hands aren't much use, they just shake Lee off and hurry off with a shouted appology. Following after Ainsley however the party turn left at Lee's insistance at the next cross-road, right at Ainsley's instructions at the next and come out in a large room. There are some people there, some very familiar people, Ainsley for one, at least a young nimble girl in an Ainsley costume. A thin, dark haired pasty white girl who could pass as Silmeria and a rather dashing and handsome man who looks nothing at all like Lee except for the outfit. They pause mid rehersal and turn along with the short moogle who appears to be in charge to stare at the party. "What.. .Kuu-popo! Are you all doing in here! I have actors for these parts!"
Lee blinks at Silmeria and her directions, and immediately thinking the worst when she mentions... 'him'. Ainsley's remark about it being an actor gets a raised eyebrow, though, "An actor? That'd jus' be plain wrong in all kinds o'ways." He hustles along, though, following the jogging scholar, until he enters the room. The room with people who look kinda-sorta like the people he is with. Except for the person dressed similar to himself, that is. All this brings him to a stop, and he stares. Particularly at the bloke dressed similar to him. The likeness of the costumes makes the leap of logic, be it right or wrong, rather easy, and Lee is struck silent for a few seconds before his brain decides on one of the myriad responses struggling to get out first, "Wat... tha fahk..." He levels a finger at the handsome-man-that-looks-nothing-like-him-but-is-wearing-his-clothes, sounding incredulous, his accent slipping deeper in his incredulity, "Wot, is 'at s'posed t'be me'r summat? Who t'ell made me t'a bleedin' fop?"
"U-uuum," Silmeria observes, eyes going wide as they chance upon the rehearsal. "This... well. I... hhhhuh." Shaking her head, she chivvies the pair away, smiling apologetically. "...This looks like a very interesting story that we'll have to hear all about later. Um. Don't mind us, sir," she says to the Moogle as she bundles Lee and Ainsley away, "we're looking for someone else anyhow."
Ainsley hesitates as she witnesses the costumes. Her mouth opens, but Lee's words frame her feelings well enough to leave the sentiment be. She looks around with a new viewpoint, looking more incredulous about this bizarre situation. "Feels like spirit trickery," she mumbles, looking for anything that might indicate as much. She even gives a quizzical look at the moogle as if that was the source of the oddity. When Silmeria starts pushing her along, Ainsley stares at her. "What, no, this... S-Sil--" she stammers, though she doesn't make much attempt to stop the guidance.
They are looking for me Arnaldo," Candance says as she steps out from behind a curtain, "These are your stars, like in the stories...." she moves over in a manner that can best be described as wafting, cloak swirling grandly as she does a slow loop around the actors and over to the party of interlopers. "Lady Silmeria, Ainsley the Mighty Scholar, and Lee... the dashing hero," she turns and points dramatically at the other door where Savourn and a large Viera woman in the costumes, very glitzy costumes of the Knights of Restoration have just enterred the room. "Battling in heroic struggles against the Dark Servants of the Whisperer!" Flitting from actor to actor, bobbing and weaving she stops in front of Lee and looks up into his eyes. "A fitting heroic story.... the imps from Rabanastre who sold us the play where filled with praise for your deeds." She reaches out to touch Lee's face, "Do I know you? You are not as.... handsome as I imagined, more rugged but still the story is what counts is it not?"
Lee sputters and stutters his disbelief over encountering someone dressed up to play him as Silmeria begins to herd him out, at least until Cadence Scarlet makes her appearance, and he stops, watching her flit to and fro, explaining "the plot", and even though the 'Savourn' that arrives is an actor, and far more glittery than the real one, he can't stop the flash of blatant anger and hatred, brief though it is, that flashes across his eyes at the mere mention and likeness of the pale-haired 'Knight'. His attention is drawn back to his mother, though, as she alights in front of him, crimson eyes looking into hers as she reaches to touch him, her question bringing a slight furrow to his brow as he pulls his hat off, answering quietly, "Aye, mum, y'know me well." A long-suffering sigh follows as he runs gloved fingers through his shaggy black hair, "Tha imps? Bloody 'ell, that'd figure... Though I'd've not thought them th'type fer screenplays, let alone profiteerin'."
"They're clever, Lee," Silmeria murmurs, loosing a long, slow breath as the 'Knights' are revealed for the fakes they truly are, "but no amount of cleverness can make food from nothing... It would have been nice if we'd *known,* but, that might not have done a great deal of good. So... if they've made a tale of our journey, may they have joy of it." Smiling crookedly at the actors, she dips her head in greeting, letting Lee and AInsley speak to Candace.
Ainsley makes a face that properly frames her confusion and irritation. She keeps staring into space, and somewhat past Cadence's head. Her arms cross, and a frown shows on her face. She looks over to the actor that portrays Lee. And then the one that portrays Savourn. "This is dumb," she announces, grumpily, "I can make a better costume than that." She points at the Ainsley costume. And continues her (obviously fake) grumping for a beat or two, before turning to Cadence. "We came here to meet with you on our way to get to the spirit world," she tells her, "Because... uh... someone told us that we would."
Cadence smiles gently, "It depends on the imp.... we got a most fantastic play..." she turns to Arnaldo and flits over and kneels to hug the moogle. "Arnaldo here helped me transform it into a true master piece! With music and song! Come..." she stands up and flits over to Silmneria and Ainsley, "Come you shall have front row seats with me.... you shall see what I... what all of us have done with your adventures." she pauses as if remembering something, patched cloak swirling around her as she turns back to look at Lee. Her eyes seem to grow unfocussed and she tilts her head, "I have a son... yes... yes.... I think I have a son... if you are him." She leans forward and considers Lee, eyes still far away, "He was a nice boy... but filled with guilt.... but I don't remember him having been shouted at by his father but....." She takes a half step toward Lee, hand coming up again then Ainsley speaks and she turns to look at the lizard girl. "Oh... well... hello then, be welcome... yes..... well... we should talk then if you are off to the spirit world to fight he Knights I had a brilliant idea for the sequel to the play and.... Oidhchecloca?" She asks but before Lee can answer a gong goes off. "Oh! The show! COme.. come we must get to our seats. Places everyone!" She starts trying to herd the party out toward the ampitheatre.
Lee seems at a bit of a loss over Cadence's behavior, an eyebrow arching, shooting Silmeria an uncertain look before his attention turns back to his mother, "'If I'm him'? Damn sure should say I'm him, or sumfin' in this world's gone 'orribly, 'orribly wrong." He watches the bard flit about a bit more, before he's herded, looking to Ainsley briefly and hooking a thumb at Cadence, "Were she like this th'last time y'met 'er, luv?" A thought follows a few seconds later, and he mutters, "Though, this could explain why she'd not tol' me she was still *alive* b'fore now..." All in all, he seems to be keeping his mental balance well enough, if only just given how fast things are happening.
Silmeria's eyes narrow faintly as they get herded toward the theatre, an ear cocked toward Lee's murmurings. "Let's just watch the show for now," she whispers, "if something is wrong... we'll have plenty of time to see it, and perhaps do something about it after. Lee... sit between Ainsley and her, I'll sit on her other side. We'll see what happens as it comes." Ainsley stares at Cadence for a while, barely keeping up with the airy mental state she has. The lizard scholar's eyes turn toward Lee when the question is broached about Cadence's behavior, and a few attempts at a reply are made. "... Yes. Something like this," she finally admits, shrugging lightly. She moves over to grab ahold of Lee's hand as they're led to their seats. She keeps giving glances to Cadence, showing some great uncertainty.
Soon enough they are ensconced in seats and further conversation becomes hard as the crowd is loud and noisy, they have the best seats though and Cadence is sat next to Lee frowning up at the man who is her son. The prologue BLARES out, trumpets and drums and the first song starts! A Scholar's Work is Never done! The projectors whirr to life and Ainsley appears on stage, there is no sign of the girl in the costume you saw backstage, with some mog tech and some clever trickery she is Ainsley, or at least the right species if a bit easier on the eye as the song booms out! The temple, the trickery of Shemhazzi! The noble, knowledge seeking adventursome lizard girl being tricked into breaking the seal on Shemhazzi's tomb, accompanied by a chorus of rather handsome young "Archaeologists" in very flattering costumes that put a lot of nice leg on display. After that Ainsley returns home to her beloved Lee, the Noble Hero, he's brilliant, he's big, he's handsome and there are some HUGE cheers when he appears and then he starts to sing! He's camp as can be and the ladies love him as he seranades his love and swears to help lift the curse in "My Hero, My Hero!" with accompanying Townsfolk chorus. Silmeria and Marduke are met and hired, friends and companions, each with their own introductory verse in My Hero, My Hero. Marduke is... well frankly one very impressive Summoner who appears to have half the pantheon at his beck and call and then Silmeria and the men in the audicne, moogles and non-mogs WHOOP it up at the pale skinned, dark haired beauty. Handmaiden of Hades, she's hot, she's sexy, she's a dancing diva, shepherd of the dead and defeater of evil creatures! The song ends with a roaring final chorus, the party assembled, the destination decided, a valiant Quest begun!" Throughout it all however Cadence stares at Lee, a frown on her face as she idly taps her fingers along in time to the music."
Lee blinks as he's frowned at by Cadence, eyebrows arching, and about to ask "What?", until the start of the performance prevents him. What he was expecting is, perhaps, unclear, but whatever it was, it certainly wasn't the spectacle that plays out before him, and he can only stare. Stare, in horrified silence, as his not-so-likeness on stage sings, and as Silmeria is turned into a dancing seductress, and various other mischaracterizations and injustices are done. He can't quite wrap his brain around it all. Slowly, his head turns towards Cadence, his expression seeming to scream the question, even if he can't voice it over the volume of the performance, that goes something like "And you thought this was a GOOD IDEA?!?!"
"Well it's certainly........ epic," Silmeria murmurs, lacing her fingers on her lap, blushing *furiously* as the dark seductress makes her appearance. "...And the people seem to adore it.... um. ....Though I don't think Marduke *ever* got a kiss from Lady Shiva... Still!" she says brightly, leaning toward Cadence, "it is quite the masterpiece, though I *must* ask how you got Ainsley's actress to look like that?"
Ainsley stares at the play as if she were watching a peculiar alien ritual. She doesn't smile or hollar or seem anything more than morbidly fascinated by the display. When they announce they're going on a valiant quest, her brows lift. "... I can live with this," she decides, arms crossed. "Agatha is going to want to have words with me if she sees this, though." She reaches up to rub the back of her neck. Her eyes turn toward Lee, and she reaches over to touch at his arm to try and comfort him, because she knows he's having a bit of trouble with this. The show turns somewhat dark and moody as Savourn and his Viera companion are introduced, singing about their Mistress and their plan. Savourn seems to idolise Ainsley, a dark, forbidden love for the Conduit of the Whispering One. Their dark plot unfolding for the audience as they "Watch" the parties progress and lay their plans to ambush them! It's all rather romantic and dripping with drama. Cadence turns to Silmeria and smiles fondly, "Such a pretty girl... oh Ainsley? Oh the Moogle's do things with magic and mirrors or so they say I just wrote the music." She sighs and cocks her head, "Listen to him sing it... such a fine voice Rufus has... but yes you..." She turns back to Lee and frowns at him, tracing her fingers down his arms, reading... "You tell a story and it has me in it... fascinating.... I don't remember much from... before.... you would think I'd remember.... an egg."
Lee divides his attention between Cadence and the ongoing performance, his arm going around Ainsley's shoulder after she touches it, and once again he has that short-lived gut-reaction as Savourn takes the stage, and he can't help but reply to the commentary on the voice of this Rufus fellow, "Sounds nothin' like tha' smarmy bastard, though. A blessin', don't think I'd be able t'keep m'seat if'n he did." He glances at Cadence again, brow furrowing once more, showing a touch of concern, "Yeah, mum, one'd think... Jus', I 'unno, work on it. I'm sure sumfin'll come t'ya."
"What's the last thing you remember clearly?" Silmeria says to Candace, glancing back at the stage now and again, at one point fairly *certain* that she'd never danced quite like that during the quest... "Start from there... and see if maybe you can't reach back a little further."
"Oh by Ramuh's beard I'm going to throw up," Ainsley remarks, derisively, at the part about Savourn's 'forbidden love.' Her hand goes up to her face, a grimace marring her good mood. She takes comfort in Lee's hold, at the very least, but seems more distracted by the play then by Cadence and her memory problems. At least outwardly. She tries to think of ways to help, silently, while she enjoys a play about, well, her and the events around her.
The next song is set in a Tavern, half way to Rabanastre, Marduke and Silmeria are arm in arm in some sort of drunken revelry fighting off some "Brigands" who have attacked the tavern whilst Ainsley and Lee are doing what appears to be a VERY raunchy Tango in the middle of the room knocking out the enemy as they sing about their companions personalities. Silmeria is made out to be some sort of Dark Hero of the Night sending the restless dead on their way and fighting crime whilst Marduke's tale seems to revolve around Ifrit, a bet and Lady Undine's Wardrobe... it's quite the uplifting and light-hearted piece filled with some very impressive kicking action from Ainsley as she turns in the Tango. Cadence shakes her head, "The mist.. and fog... it was all.. so different back then... I remember..." she frowns, "The last thing I remember is a wave of fog... rolling in toward me and then... I woke up! I had my harp, I was a Bard... so I sing and play and write songs!" She leans towards Silmeria and murmurs, "I've been to all sorts of places... you said the spirit world... where are you going? Maybe I have been there?"
Lee stares at the stage again as the dancing and singing grab his attention again, and he's still firmly in the "I can't believe I'm seeing this" camp. It's too sensational, almost lampooned, at least as far as he seems to think, and he leans towards Ainsley a bit, "Luv... I'm gettin' th'sense that liberties were taken in th'writin' o'this show's script. An' I'm not sure 'ow I feel about that." He has the where-withall to blush slightly at the tango being performed, even, "A great many liberties..." He lets his attention wander back to Cadence, remarking, "Mum, y've always been a Bard, even afore th'mists. Fer better part o'some four hundred fifty years, from what I remember y'sayin' way back when."
"That would explain it though," Silmeria murmurs. "Mist sickness... something like what happened to the Viera, but not perhaps so strong..." Sighing quietly, she shakes her head, choking back *any* commentary on the play's portrayal of herself. "....*Any*way, it's quite clear that remembering is going to be... a bit of a job."
"Ultimately," Silmeria says to Candace, "we're headed for the Galactic Plain, though what we'll have to face between here and there... well, we're not certain."
Ainsley gives a look over to Lee, and then toward the stage. She looks back to Lee and with a completely straight face, she tells him, "We should learn the Tango." It's not a suggestion, by the tone of her voice. She apparently enjoys that part. Or... her grin says that she might be trying to tease Lee.
The first Act ends with a glitzy show-stopper between AInsley and Savourn, the Knight of Shemhazzi has attacked the party on the road to Rabanastre, outside the ancient capital and professed his love for Ainsley and his Mistress' hand in chosing her to be his bride! Ainsley of course rejects him. It's a very snappy, quick and speedy number with the pair of them rattling off lines back and forth back and forth. Cadence is quiet, staring at the stage as the curtain falls and she stands up and shakes out her patchwork cloak as all around her the audience cheer and applaud the actors. "I.... I remember... " she turns and looks at Lee and frowns, struggling to grasp at the hazy straws of her memory. "I remember you.... oh my dear..." she touches his cheek, "I cannot ... hold the memories, they come and go... but the songs... you need to offer... something new and different to the Mog Priest to get into the Galactic Plain. He is the only one who can open that path... maybe... I can help... there are mnay songs I know the mogs do not..... but... you have to help me to remember..." The curtains fall, the music is silent and the audience are breaking apart. Act 2 promises to be even more thrilling then the last and the parties Journey toward the Starsong Key has only just begun.
"Of course we'll help," Silmeria says softly, reaching up to rest a hand on Cadence's arm. "I'd be glad to be of service to the mother of my friend, Cadence... Never fear; we'll do all in our power to help you regain your memories."
Lee sinks a bit in his seat as the play comes to an end, frowning, and muttering to Ainsley, "I fink we should all go 'ave a talk wi'those Imps what wrote this script, an get a cut of th'profit they made usin' *our* names..." Straitening in his seat once more, he looks to his mother as she speaks and places a hand to her cheek, nodding solemnly, "As Silmeria says, mum; dun like seein' you like this, truth be tol'."
"Anything for my future mother-in-law," Ainsley says, with plenty of gravity and energy, over to Cadence. The lizard girl is mostly distracted by her acting equivilant on stage that is actively denying Savourn in a way she would love to do, instead of defaulting to fireballs every time. She can properly look toward Cadence when the act is over. "I think I agree," she tells Lee, with a light frown. "If I can get paid for them making a show out of our trials, I would be pleased."
Cadence stares at the stage, "Well Act 2 is the real bread winner... we... we should come back for it.. there is a brilliant love song between you two with Kupo de Maia as backing singers.... mm" she blinks at Silmeria and stands up, "What were you talking about my dear? Oh yes Interval drinks come my dear... lets go get a drink and talk songs." She smiles and tugs Silmeria toward one of the doors...
Silmeria's mouth opens to answer the question, then closes again, words unsaid. With a quiet sigh, she rises from her seat, brushing away an invisible speck of dust from her robe, and lifts a helpless shoulder toward the couple. "Come, then... let's see what might be done for her." With that, she submits to Cadence's tugging, draping her backpack over one shoulder. Lee nods to Ainsley, "Well said, luv." He stands, chuckling as Cadence begins tugging Silmeria away, while he offers his hand to help Ainsley up from her seat, hefting his own pack to his shoulder with the other, "Right, yes, let's see what might be done."
Ainsley grasps Lee's hand and stands up, continuing to hold it as she gathers up her things and turns, ready to depart. She doesn't say anything at this point beyond, "I'm not touching any booze," muttered lowly and sourly.
Soon enough the party are ensconced in a small private booth in the bar attached to the ampitheatre, it is quiet and pleaent and there are drink orders taken by a friendly viera boy. Cadence settles down and idly plucks at the strings of her harp, "You wanted to know a song didn't you dear?" She asks Lee, "Something to give the Priest of Mog for passage?"
"I believe so-- tea, please... White, if you have it," Silmeria says, smiling at the waiter, and clasping her fingers together once the boy leaves. "I'm certain that would be a great help to us, Cadence... but it would have to be something new and different, if it's to catch the Priest's attention." Why she's talking like she hadn't just gotten those words right from Cadence's own mouth, but the words are dropped in pleasant conversation all the same.
Lee is soon seated in the booth with Ainsley, Silmeria, and his mother, ordering a small glass of port wine to sip at from the viera. To Cadence's question, he nods, "Aye, mum. Need ta get t'that Plain, an' you said that's what we'd need t'get there. Somefin' new an' diff'rent, like Silmeria says, so I'm guessin' somefin' they've not 'eard b'fore." He blinks a bit, and frowns slightly, as it seems to occur to him that what he just said was a repetition of itself within a single sentence.
Ainsley settles herself in close to Lee's side, gazing at Cadence uncertainly. The lizard scholar orders tea, too, and reserves herself to considering mental exercises that might help Cadence's memory, or obscure mixtures that might help heal any damage that might've been done by the mists way back then.
The bard nods her head and smiles, fingers playing over the strings of her harp, "Of course... of couse... now erm... well hmm I know lots of songs but... I can't quite... seem to... thnk of any dear....." It looks like the party are going to have to do something to jog those memories free beyond talking. She seems to be slipping in and out of them...
Silmeria's brow furrows, her lips thinning for a moment. "Give it time," she says gently. "Just.... think back." Her eyes flick to her companions, and she leans toward Lee just a bit. "Lee," she murmurs, "you wouldn't happen to remember bits of any songs from when you were young...?"
Lee takes a moment to try to remember songs he might have heard Cadence playing years ago, even as Silmeria leans close to suggest it, "Aye, maybe a few... 'Course, I listened t'more'n jus' me mother's music back then. I doubt any o'tha Archadian rock bands' ballads would do much for 'er, really; though, Red Shift Limit, fer example, was a damn good band. Lots of fast rhythm, blistering guitar, an' angry vocals." He slips an arm around Ainsley's shoulder, shaking his head to get his thoughts back on track, "Well, anyway... Lemme think..."
"There's a potion that might help," Ainsley suggests, with a few vague gestures of her hands, "But I'm not an alchemist, so I'm unsure if it's real or not. There's also, I think, a river in the Underworld that could help..." She looks off toward Silmeria for confirmation, frowning lightly.
Cadence smiles at Lee, "Oh i remember them....." her eyes brighten for a moment and her fingers dance over the strings of the harp in a rapid descant, a thrumming beat that has several other patrons turn to look. She nods her head along to it and smiles, "If I takes the skys the long way, you take the short way, In a blaze of glory we'll put the dragons to the test!"
"But do the Moogles remember it, is the question," Silmeria reminds, smiling faintly. "And Ainsley... the river you're thinking of, Lethe, is the waters of forgetfulness. *However,* it does remind me that my Lord would be able to restore memories from life... It would, of course, carry some risk, but..." Tilting her head, she looks at Cadence, eyebrows rising. "Perhaps worth that risk, all the same?"
Lee arches an eyebrow as Cadence plays a bit, chuckling slightly, "Didn't figure y'fer a fan o'their's, mum..." He takes a sip of his wine, thinking a bit more, starting to slowly drum his fingers on the table top, the drumming soon settling into a rhythm, *da-da-da-bum*.... *da-da-da-bum*.... a couple seconds between each set of beats. And, after a moment, he starts to sing, somewhat under his breath, but easily heard about the table, a song he remembers from childhood, each line sung filling the space between the sets of beats, "Donald's gane up tha hill, hard an' hungry, Donald's come doon the hill, wild an' angry; Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly. Here's tae tha King and t'Donald McGillavry. Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald McGillavry, Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald McGillavry. Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly: Off wi'the counterfeit, Donald McGillavry..."
Ainsley continues to frown as Silmeria tells Ainsley about the river's real purpose. She stops frowning when she notes that Hades may be able to help, and goes on to add, "There's another spirit closely related to memory, I ... think..." she trails off, glancing at Lee as he begins to sing, staring blankly at him.
Cadence sits upright as Lee starts to sing and stares at him... she nods along and starts to play music on the harp, a rather beautiful piece that matches Lee's song. Her eyes are clear and bright and she is smiling as she speaks, "I know this song.. Lee... Ainsley... Silmeria... my mind.. it is... full of fog... I can only hold on to memory for a short time.... the song you need me to sing is the Maneno ya Kumbukumbu mchezo...."
Silmeria looks to Lee and Ainsley, nodding once. "...Very well, then... If you'll excuse me," she says, sipping at her tea, "I think perhaps I'll go ahead and miss the next act... I think it may be simpler to ask my Lord to intercede for a single memory, rather than all... And even that one memory may provide a place to stand, and recover more."
Lee blinks his eyes open, which had closed at some point while he sang, as Cadence speaks. his song trailing off and the drum-beat of his fingers stopping, trying to repeat the name of the song she speaks of, "Manami wa kam... uh..." His eyes dart to Ainsley, "I can'nae seem t'pronounce that wi'out manglin' it, luv." He gives Silmeria a nod as well, "Every li'l bit'll help, I'm fair sure."
"Maneno ya Kumbukumbu mchezo," Ainsley says, pretty much flawlessly, after Lee speaks. She grins at him with obvious smugness. "Language is one of the most important components of knowledge." She pulls her tail over into her lap to play with the tuft at the end. "I've never heard of that song, though."
Cadence is clearly struggling to keep her new found lucidity, she stares at Ainsley and smiles, "It is the Language used by the Shumi... it means.... the Song of Gemlike Memory.... " she blinks and her hands touch the keys and she blinks as a fan-fare goes off and she smiles. "Oh the second Act is starting, we should get back to our seats." She smiles at Silmeria, "ARe you sure you won't join us Silmeria?"
"I really would love to," Silmeria says, returning the smile as though nothing at all was wrong, "but there's something I *really* must do. As much as it would please me..." and here her smile falters a bit, remembering the acrobatic Dark Mistress she'd been portrayed as, "I shall have to rejoin you for the third act, I think... do let me know how Lee and Ainsley enjoy it?" Smile still plastered in place, her blue eyes flick to the pair, widening fractionally, as if to say 'No matter what *enjoy it.*'
Lee looks up as the fanfare sounds, grimacing a little, and shooting Silmeria an envious look, a bit of dread creeping into his voice, "Right. Act two. I'm sure it'll be... wonderful. Really." He downs the rest of his wine in a single gulp, then exits the booth, offering Ainsley his hand again, "You ready fer this, luv?"
Ainsley looks at Silmeria, seemingly oblivious to her subtle suggestion, smiling cheerily back at her. "See you after, Silmeria," she says, waving at the lady of death. She finishes off her tea, and griiins at Lee, "Yep! It's not so bad, once you get to see the silver lining around it." She emphasizes the word 'silver' pretty hard. She may as well have monetary symbols for eyes.
Cadence smiles at Ainsley, "Well I am glad you are enjoying it dear, come, you'll not want to miss this first scene it is... beautiful!" she grins and leads the way back into the ampitheatre leaving Silmeria behind to duck out and go ring home and ask daddy for a favour of two! That'll be an intereting conversation.....
Go back to Ainsley Quest Chapter 12
Go on to Ainsley Quest Chapter 14
