Two Brothers And A Bard

The TarRaCe, afternoon.

It's a fair-weather day now that the wind and howling rain has vanished from Alexandria, with the clouds fluffy and light in the blue sky. The breeze still provides a light chill, and the snow that's built up outside (and on) the TarRaCe glitters in Daeus's rays of light.

However, just because the rain and the wind aren't howling doesn't mean the people of Alexandria can't be. Inside the TarRaCe, it seems that Zero, the talent extraordinaire (or so he's billing himself on the TarRaCe notices of performances) is trying his hardest to make the crowd howl in delight, as his fingers dance rapidly up and down the keys of the harpsichord onstage. It's a technically challenging piece that demands attention. That is, if the cloak of peacock feathers that the mul'niessa man is wearing didn't already demand attention enough. He continues to play, his volume building to a swelling crescendo--

And then he stops. The song abruptly changes to a slow and soft movement, still incorporating the same melody as before, but interpreted with a more tranquil and gentle hand.

"I swear it's true brother!" Comes a male voice from just outside. While it's not exactly yelled, it certainly is loud enough to be heard over-top of the more gentle music that's being played now. The man who said the words is a tall one, his dark hair cut short and his green eyes bright. He's wearing fine clothes, almost as fine as those of the bard at the harpsichord, and a hat that rivals the cloak for being perhaps a little extravagant. There's three feathers poking out the back of the wide brim.

He looks around as they enter the room, and quickly makes his way toward a table without paying any mind to the attention that his words have drawn away from the one playing music. Instead he sits down and waves a hand eagerly for the server and keeps his attention to the identical - if not identically dressed - man that had come in with him.

The man that trails the owner of the extravagant hat is little less extravagant. Where the first is well-built and muscled, the second is a beanpole of a man in darker-green, ankle-length robes, no less finely made but perhaps just a touch less eye-catching. The cloak is warm and sturdy, well-made and practical. Looks-wise, the pair are identical, with military-cut black hair and green eyes. "I don't doubt you, brother. I know you're not allowed to lie to me," he replies with a sharp smile. "But it does seem - fantastical."

The bard playing on stage seems to notice this finely-dressed man (and his identical twin) who come in, judging by the flicker of his red-pink eyes to the entrance of the TarRaCe, but he doesn't miss a single note as he does. In fact, he seems almost bored by the very notion of this part of the piece--which he then confirms as he gives a little yawn that is followed by a cheeky grin to the crowd, as he then breaks into a more bombastic and technically impressive run of notes again.

He concludes with a group of attention-demanding chords and sheds his peacock feather cloak, placing it on his chair as he stands up and takes a bow. "Thank you all! I shall return to the stage in half an hour's time," he announces, before he hops off the stage and makes his way to the bar. Zero orders a drink name that would frustrate most people in that it isn't a drink name at all: "Something light, darling, I intend to perform an aria as my opener from my break and I shan't ruin my voice with anything before then."

Theo claps alongside the rest of the people, but it's not like he's actually enthusiastic about it. He'd been too distracted with his conversation to hear much of the music, but he's not rude enough to forget to clap for a performance. The waitress comes to him and he makes his order quickly with a smile for her and she flushes at him prettily; asking after Lheo's order and then wandering off away to leave Theo to talk to his brother in the ensuing silence of no-music. Though a low thrum of talk can be heard in the place.

"So I was saying, there's a place in the woods I was wandering through, and magic just does not work there! At least not mine. I'd be interested to see if yours does brother." He seems enthusiastic about the subject but also mildly concerned. "Can you think what it means that divine magic doesn't work there?"

The robed man settles down and gives his own order, although most of his attention is on his identical twin. He, however, does not even pretend to pay mind to the performance, so distracted is he by what the other man is saying. "If divine magic doesn't work there, mine's not likely to." Lheo's brows and lips turn down in concert, an expressive frown. "I'm not anywhere near that powerful. Still, I'm sure there's an explanation for it. Where did you say this was?”

He doesn't even appear to have noticed Zerthos yet.

In short order, the mul'niessa man appears to receive his order of "something light", which... appears to be just water with a dash of some sort of squeezed fruit and maybe a touch of honey mixed together, and he turns back in the direction of the very well-dressed man with three feathers in his hat. There's a certain sort of smarmy look on his face as he inspects both men for a moment.

And, well, the peacock (sans his feathers, which are still on stage) strides forward to the two brothers. "Dear me oh my, I couldn't help but notice your fine hat, sir. Daring to wear a hat with three feathers, but then again, I'm /all/ about daring." And he also looks like he's a fan of the number three, judging by the interested look on his face as he looks at both brothers.

"It was in the-" Theo looks a little embarrassed by what he's about to admit, but then he is interrupted by the gentleman who had been playing before. He blinks and looks up smiling broadly at the other man. "Hey! Thanks. You like it?" He, in his eagerness to talk to his brother had forgotten to take it off indoors, but he remembers now and sets it on the table, scrubbing his hand through his hair. He returns his attention to Lheo. "Felwood. I just took a quick walk out there."

Lheo directs the _stare_ of the ages at Theo. "You. took a quick walk. into the FELWOOD?!" The last word is not-quite-shouted, and he turns his attention to Zerthos with a sudden bright smile. "That head of his is a fine hat rack for a ridiculous hat. A shame he doesn't use it for much _else_." Another glare at Theo, that is obviously affectionate but exasperated. "Don't try to take it from him, though. He might chase you with a sword." No, this man clearly knows nothing about what might happen if one tries to kidnap one of Theo's hats.

"Wasn't the hat on him I was after, darling," Zero responds to Lheo, but the smirk on his face is clearly a little disquieted by the mention of a casual walk into the Felwood. "Goodness me. A quick jaunt into the woods. I daresay you're a man after my own heart, because that sounds like the sort of ill-advised stunt that /I/ would pull. I say that after getting a jumped-up octopus to the face last week, too."

He gestures at the seats. "May I sit?" he asks. "It would be lovely to make some new friends."

"Lheo..." Theo offers with a bit of exasperation. "It's not that bad. I just was looking for a quite place to practice."

Not such a 'short walk' then. Theo nods to the gentleman that asks to join them. "Sure!" He offers brightly, with a warm smile for the stranger, and offers his hand. "I'm Theo, and this is my brother Lheo. Don't think I caught your name?"

The _look_ Lheo gives Theo could melt metal. "The next time you're looking for a place to practice that could put your life in danger, at least let me know so I can go _with_ you?" he pleads wearily. Zerthos, however, gets a polite nod. "Lheo," he introduces himself, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Oh! How quaint," Zero adds with a bright grin. "All of our names rhyme. I am Zero. Clearly a match written in the heavens." He slides into a seat and takes a sip of his 'something light' before putting it down on the table, taking Theo's hand and shaking it quite happily. "Pleased to meet you both. I happen to perform here quite often. I sing and I persuade the keys to do their magic."

He looks at Lheo and smiles. "Does he often do that? Walk merrily into danger, that is?"

"Alright, alright. But the next time you decide to study a book, scroll, or spell that could turn you inside out you have to let _me_ know." Theo points out, but relaxes somewhat in his chair, looking troubled. "But really I want you to come with me, that place made me feel... wrong. I couldn't heal... ah..." He flushes to his ears suddenly, looking at Lheo side-eyes. "That is..."

"I haven't done that since the war, brot-" Lheo stops his protest short as the rest of the words sink in, and the _look_ renews itself. "I'm going to hate the end of that sentence, aren't I." It's not a question. "As long as you took care of yourself as soon as you left."

With that, he turns to Zero and offers his hand as well. His is immaculate. "Often enough."

Zero wisely chooses to not get involved in the brothers' spat about Theo's implied wound, choosing instead to shake Lheo's hand with another wide smile. "Perhaps we might all go together? I know I look like merely a fool or a songbird, but I am enrolled with the Explorers' Guild. Besides, I imagine in the Felwood, we'll have less in the way of octopi throwing themselves at me, like the last adventure I went on." He rolls his eyes. "I do not /mind/ my fans throwing themselves at me, but they tend to have less in the way of appendages."

Theo looks at Zero, surprised by the man's offer. "Have you any magic then ser Zero? Or do you beat the fans off with something more practical?" He smiles at this with just the faintest trace of mischief, and seems glad to have a subtle shift in the conversation to cover up his need to answer his brother's query about his wounded status.

Although Lheo quiets and lets the other two talk, he's still _staring_ at Theo. Someone is going to be answering questions later, from the look he wears.

It's about then that the twins' food and drink arrives, and he looks up with a polite smile. "Thank you." He goes for his coin pouch, to pay for both meals.

"A mixture of both, really," Zero says with a little smirk to match Theo's mischief. "My song itself is actually magical in the literal sense in addition to the artistic sense, but I am accustomed to matters that require more in the way of stealth and... flexibility. It is a necessity at times for a professional musician, as people see someone who tickles keys and sings as an easy mark, and I assure you--those that try quite usually live to regret it."

He takes another sip of his something light. "But usually, I find myself playing a supportive role when I am an adventurer. That's all right by me, as the stage is where I can command all the attention, anyway."

"It might be worth it then to see if your magical music is deafened in this area then. Though I warn that the sensation of being there is... unsettling." Here Theo frowns and he is quicker than his brother on the draw for money by a few seconds. He pays the waitress for their food and offers her another smile that has her twittering as she moves off and he chuckles himself a little before returning his attention to those at his table. "You hardly seem like you'd be able to blend in anywhere, that fancy cloak of yours and all that." He nods up and down to all of Zero.

Lheo picks up his fork and takes a bite of his meal, listening to the other two talk, but shakes his head, swallows his bite, and sets his fork down. "You're not going out there again without me, brother." The statement is very firm. "After all, how are you to know what this thing is until you know if it blocks my magic?"

Zero, of course, just takes the opportunity to smile winningly at Theo. "On stage, no, I am certainly not about to blend in. Outside of work--well, I dress a little less flashy than I do now, but I do like to /look/ good. And in adventuring--well, I do dress down a bit for that, although I certainly hope one day that I get called on to do some form of work that combines /both/ of my talents, shall we say."

He finishes his little glass. "At any rate--it sounds like the Felwood is worth investigating. I have heard some talk about it as of late. And who knows? Perhaps it will prove to be of interesting songwriting material."

Theo smiles at Zero, but the smile is short lived under the weight of his brother's reminder. "I know Lheo. I won't go back without you. I'm just suggesting that he come along with us. More the merrier, and the extra person will mean an extra pair of eyes to keep us safe out there." He smiles again and starts to dig into the food with gusto. "The Felwood is interesting at that, but we're not from around here. So I don't know much beyond that it's supposed to be home to all sorts of unusual things."

"I heard it's got all kinds of evil stuff in it." Lheo takes the time to take another bite of his food, but speaks around it. "But if you're going, brother, so am I, and I'm not opposed to more hands. I'm curious myself." Suddenly, he flashes a grin that belies the foreboding looks he'd been giving Theo.

"Then let's make a date of it," Zero offers the two brothers, taking his empty glass with him as he stands up. He offers them a wink. "Next time, won't you come on by for both the music and the drinks?"

He returns to the bar and gives the barkeep his empty glass, then walks confidently back onto the stage... Where he dons his peacock-feather cloak and begins to play once again.

-End