Secrets and Shadows (open to all)

The tavern sat in one of the wealthier districts of the city. It was clean bright and served better food and drink then the more lively taverns. But it was full it was the most popular bar on this side of town. It had a reputation of good food soothing atmosphere and good music. Today Meldara sits in a corner near the stone fire place shes wearing a simple worn brown dress a light blue kerchief is tied around her neck hiding the scar. Her brown hair loose curling slightly around the back of her neck and her shoulders her eyes seeming closed as she strums the lyre adding pleasant music to the tavern. Next to her chair was a small bag of belongings leaning on it was a small slate board a loop of string at the top and a piece of chalk tied to it.The tavern keeper let her play there with out the usual fee because soothed mellow people generally drank more as they lingered to talk. A small bowl for tips sits in front of he, but she was doing such a good job blending into the background that it was mostly empty save for a couple of small coins not even enough to buy a drink with. In fact most of the patrons in the tavern had forgotten she was there at all. This pleased her. it meant they would sit near her and talk freely giving no thought to the source of the soothing melody. It meant she was getting far more valuable tips then the meager coins that sometimes came her way. While her eyes where closed her ears where busy Picking apart conversations listening for anything useful, there usually was. It was amazing how much rich people talked when they where comfortable.

" did you hear about count Duaian and Lady ...." Unhelpfull she already knew about that

And then he said to me you have the more gorrguse eyes.. i could have just died right on the danc... Boring idle gosip

Im telling you my wife's family is insane they insist on dressing up even just for dinner in my home and the jewelry she wears.. its pricey but is so gaudy that it doesn't really matter what she paid for it. Not that it stops Him from bragging about it. and then..." hmm interesting she made a note of the owner of the voice for that conversation

" I promise the book is safe its in my personal safe no one could crack it can we please just relax for one evening" Ahhh Bingo this was the voice she had been waiting for. She smiles Opening her brown eyes and mouths thanks to the serving girl as she plunks a few coins from her tips into Mels bowl having felt a little sorry she was not making any money despite the prety music. She changes the tune to one she knows is the girls favorite who smiles at her and goes back to her customers as mel goes back to listening not having really stopped.

Isaan walked through the higher class city streets, passing by others who gave him odd looks because he was whistling the soundtrack of the great escape as he went. That wasn’t the only reason he was getting odd looks however, the main reason was that he was turning his whistling into a game. Using his powers he was randomly selecting people he walked by to make whistle the same tune he was, the result was entertaining as nobles and other rich people of upper society would begin whistling and completely disrupt conversations that they were a part of, or gain the strangest looks from the company they kept. A grin crept onto Isaan’s face as he left a wake of confusion, and in some cases, arguments in his wake.

He was here with a specific purpose in the form of a thief called the Blue Moth, known otherwise as Meldara. The elf was the final person on his list of people that Gigi had predicted would be of great help to him during his escapades on Aurela, not including the one whose circumstances made them unattainable. He stepped into the tavern at last, walking by a serving girl and plucking a small silver goblet of wine from her tray.

“Hey!” She exclaimed, looking at him annoyed. “That’s for Lord Edel!”

“Oh, I’m sure Lord Edel can do without.” He replied, turning his head toward an unconscious man who despite his fine dress was otherwise a complete mess. “I think he’s had enough, don’t you darling?”

A winning smile came to his face, and the serving girl looked him in the eyes looking ready to give her a piece of his mind, only to stop and look mesmerised all of a sudden. He offered her a cheeky wink, then walked right on by leaving the poor girl struck dumb, the natural allure of the immortal having won the day on that one. Now his eyes were on the elf who was playing music, he scanned her for a moment and recognised her immediately, he’s a god what would you expect? He could have gone right over to her, but instead he decided to play a game, he listened to the same conversations she was until he heard about the book - that would be her target then.

Now that he knew where he would find her that night, he made his way over and dropped more than a few coins in her bowl, far more than she would normally get in tips that was for sure. He didn’t say anything to begin with, he just gave her a look and then plucked one of the coins back out. Then after another pause he took out two more, though even removing them, it still left her with more than your average night of tips.

“You’re not that good.” He said, giving her an impish grin and taking a sip of his wine as he stepped past her to sit at a table with his feet up, not at all acting like ‘proper’ high society.

Meldara watches as the strange and slightly rude man walks in bothers the serving girl and stands near her, something about him had the hair on the back of her neck stand up and she wanted to move away from him but didn't. She blinks at the amount of money he puts in her bowl then watches as he removes some of it wondering what his game was and merely shrugs softly when he tells her shes not that good. while still playing with one hand she reaches down for her piece of slate and writes "Request?* in slightly messy large writing as if she where just learning to write or didn't write very often.

Jowan followed not too far behind Isaan, a little irritated at the fact his prince wanted to keep him on such a tight leash, but all the same overjoyed to be exploring such a vibrant planet. He wore a huge grin as he examined the flamboyant and eccentric (to his mind at least) dress of the elven elite, undoubtedly drawing a few odd glances at his own appearance. The fact that he seemed to be staring at people despite the scarf over his eyes on it's own was disconcerting. He occasionally muttered something under his breath, usually following with a demented giggle at some joke he just made. When he noticed Isaan's whistling trick, he stopped walking for a moment and started howling with laughter, shaking his head a little as he resumed following. It was pleasant for him to see the fellow devil's more playful side.

He seemed, ironically. to sober up somewhat once they entered the tavern. He continued muttering under his breath, something about dearest not liking the liquid fires. Gods only knew what that meant, and in this case, they likely did. All the same, he was rather subdued as they wandered through, though his childish glee quickly returned upon encountering their target. He seemed a little disapointed when Isaan walked past with barely a word, choosing instead to approach her and bow deeply and theatrically.
"Greetings to you, oh tinkly strummer! Ignore him, he is a grumpy Tigger. Your melodies echo through our headspaces with a force to drown out the whispering yells! Please, do continue!" He smiled eagerly, his expression akin to a child pleading with a parent over a new toy. He apparently didn't quite understand the idea of tipping, but his manner alone was likely worth a smile at least.

His expression suddenly grew wistful. "Ahh, it's been far too long since we let the voices sing in notes of wood and string. We really should try some more, it used to calm them so. Especually Raspy." He winces a little. "Such a rude little owl that one. We hate owls, nosy flappy buggers. "

Mel blinks then smiles looking like she laughs lightly at the strange talking one. Then tilts her head when he speaks of wood and string and smiling goes back to playing her lyre her foot reaching around the back of the chair and catching the strap of a bag. Other patrons are looking at the strange man with distaste but other wise ignoring him. Mel flips open the flap reveling the handle of a surprisingly well crafted violin and smiles at him tilting her head toward the bag then back at him indicating he could use it..

Jowan appeared completely oblivious to the harsh looks he was receiving; he was used to such reactions even amongst other immortals so to experience such lack of understanding from naive mortals was practically expected. Indeed, if anything struck him it was the friendliness of the young woman. He had merely been idly voicing the discussions of his mind as he was want to do and had not expected her to actually pay any attention to him, most people rarely did. That she actually listened and offered her instrument to him touched him in a way and seemed to bring on one of his more lucid moments.

He reached for it carefully, holding it almost reverently with his face tilted towards her as though asking for permission. After a moment of examining it he shifted it into position under his chin and drew the bow over a few strings experimentally, producing a dischordant racket that didn't earn him any friends in the audience. He frowned and readjusted his position slightly, playing another note, this time sounding much better. There was a brief pause and for a moment it seemed he may return the instrument, but then he began to play.

While playing, he seemed dead to the world. He possessed the skill of a master despite his claimed lack of practice and proceeded to weave a haunting tune that seemed to echo of a lost past. What no one would be able to tell was that for the duration of his song, Jowan's mind was for the first time in centuries, silent but for the music.The tune drew on memories long buried and for a moment, allowed the man he once was to exert control over his rebellious mind. As he drew out the final note, he remained locked in position for several moments, a rather pained look on his face, before he slowly lowered the instrument and placed it carefully back in it's bag. He gave the woman a small bow and a murmured thankyou before he moved to sit next to Isaan, sighing softly as the voices returned.

"Yes Dearest." he muttered to himself, still ignoring the rest of the tavern, "It was for them. You understand? Yes? Good. Yes, yes, we love you too. But...you cannot replace Her." He then fell silent, lost in his reverie. Isaan would likely have to nudge him back to alertness when their target departed.


((The song Jowan plays- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_un3jOYapnQ Yes I know that's cellos, shaddap.))

Isaan had observed the exchange between Meldara and Jowan with a great deal of amusement at first, especially because he seemed to bother the other occupants of the rather upper class tavern. But then his face fell a bit more, the haunting sound of the music he played touching Isaan’s soul, enough that all thoughts of toying with the mortals in the tavern had left his mind completely. A devil broken by a loss in the past was a terrible thing to behold, he had been through such loss himself more than a few times, his sanity had been held on a thread more than a few times in his life. Jowan was a friend as far as Isaan was concerned, though few truly understood him, Jowan had been cast out by his fellow devils for the way he was and Isaan had taken him into Midnight out of pity more than anything.

When it ended he opened his eyes, having closed them to properly listen to the music. The tavern had fallen quiet at the sound, they clearly hadn’t expected the sound that the strange and clearly babbling madman had just created using the violin. Then he came to sit down beside him, and Isaan looked over at him with a more melancholy expression, the impish grin he’d worn when he first entered the tavern faded. He reached over and placed his hand on Jowan’s shoulder, giving it a light pat before he let him go and looked over at Meldara, nodding toward her in a way of thanks for giving Jowan the opportunity to play his haunting piece of music.

“Don’t go getting lost now, Jowan.” He said quietly, ensuring nobody else would hear him. “We still have a mute girl to bag and I’d get bored doing it alone.”

Meldara winced as the first note in the song was sour but her eyes go wide then turned sad at the melody of the beautiful song she doesn't close her eyes as many of the patrons and even the strange man do instead keep them on Jowan her heart breaking for him she doesn't clap when he finishes but smiles in gratitude shaking her head when he puts it back in the bag. She then packs her lyre away but takes out the violin leaving it out as she writes on her slate " You Keep it She never sings like that for me shell be happier with you. " she hands it to him also pulling out the protective silk bag she kept it in when not playing. She smiles at him and waves heading out not giving him a chance refuse her gift.


She doesn't go out that night or the next for her target something about the two strangers in the tavern had thrown her off so she thought it best she wait But two nights later the thief known as the blue moth was back to work It was early evening the sun just going down most the nobles at one part or another when "he" took to the side streets his garb dingy made to blend in with the alleyways not the dark of night. When working Meldara took on the guise of a male thief binding what little there was of her chest to make it flat and wearing cloths that as well as providing space for extra weapons padded her out to make her less feminine. Checking and not seeing any guards she slips into the third story window of her targets house.

The instant Meldara left, Isaan stood up and stretched. He behaved as if he’d simply had enough of his time there and nodded for Jowan to follow him, they had some work to do if they were going to capture themselves a little moth. They already had their flame, now they just needed to put the jar over her and keep her inside long enough for them to talk, or at least to make the moth trust them. Once they were out of the tavern Isaan paused, he hadn’t actually come up with a plan yet, but he did his best work on the fly. He knew where she would be going, but he didn’t know when and so he would need to watch her, and so for the new few days he did. Completely invisible, with Jowan in tow making it at least a little more entertaining than a stake out normally would be, he waited for the time to arrive.

When it did, Isaan put everything into position. He’d tipped off the city guard with a letter, having stolen the seal of one of the city’s most prestigious nobles to stamp on it and lend authenticity, the guards would naturally be tipped off at such a time that Meldara would get into the house thinking nothing was amiss and they would arrive while she was inside. Then he got into position with Jowan, they would swoop in to save her by taking out the guards who would surely outnumber her greatly, after all this Blue Moth character she had created was a very wanted criminal who had likely slipped out of their grasp a few times, the city guard were not going to take chances with this one and the two devils were going to be there to stop them. Like the kind, benevolent souls they were. That made Isaan grin.

“There she goes,” he said quietly, looking up at the third story window of the house. “Who the hell needs a third story on a house anyway? Even my manor back home only has two, stupid fanciful dandies. Bet they like to imagine it’s a palace.”

His eyes turned when he heard the sound of the city guard approaching, they were silent but his superior hearing picked them up easily and he grinned, the stage was set now. They were going to send a small number of guards in first and the rest were setting up a perimeter, this was going to be too easy. He indicated for Jowan to follow him, then vanished as he teleported into the building, appearing practically right behind Meldara at which point he tapped her on the shoulder and leaned toward her to speak quietly. Partially because it was fun and would likely unnerve her, but also so that the approaching guards didn’t hear their voices.

“I just thought you should know that the city guard are coming up the stairs.” He said, sounding as though he was troubled by it. “Oh and I’m here, of course. Hello Blue Moth.”

The guards were approaching up the stairs, but they were taking it slow, there was time to exchange a few words at least before they arrived. Isaan wondered if Meldara was going to try and behave like she was in fact a male, just like she clearly wanted the Blue Moth to be portrayed as, made it easy for her he supposed.

Jowan had remained uncharacteristically subdued after leaving the tavern, somewhat shocked at the gift. It had been centuries since he had last recieved one, longer still one with such sentimental meaning to him. His wife had loved to listen to him play and he had often serenaded his son to sleep with lullabies. He had not played since their deaths, and doing so soothed him in an odd way. The instrument itself reminded him of who he once was.

Fortunately for Isaan's impending boredom, his usual quirky attitude had returned by the following morning, though he remained a little quieter than normal and often clutched the small silk bag protectively where it hung at his belt. Of course, his change in attitude would likely help their task. Though when the time came, his energy had returned and he bounced around like a five year old who'd just eaten a packet of sugar. "Hehehehe....the trap closes around the little flutterer does it not, Isaambard? Do we get to pull the strings? Do we get to burn the ants with the magnifying glass as they flock to their target?" His fingers twitched constantly, sparks flaring in and out of existence in anticipation.

When they finally moved in to strike, he looked ready to jump into the building never mind teleport. As it was, he materialised in front of Meldara immediately after Isaan did behind her with a rather more exuberant flash. "Greetings oh whispering songstress! A pleasure to see you again for all of us. But why does the flower disguise itself as a weed?"

Mel had been about to close the safe when she felt the tap on her shoulder and she instantly froze as the voice said in her ear she was about to jab her elbow backward when Jowan appeared in front of her and also spoke and she couldn't help but blink in surprise her cowl covering up most of her face as she tries to dive to one side and make a dash for the window thinking to her self damn magic users and their teleporting. But that wasn't right if it had been normal magic her throat would have been itching as it was it just had the normal twinge from the magical wards and lights around the house. As usual when dealing with any for of mages her surface thoughts are of useless mundane things song notes and lyrics. She stops when she looks at the window seeing the guard there on the street and there are others on the roofs of the near by houses* Well fuck she thinks her mind racing as she wonders how to deal with the two men in here and all the guards. She looks at Isaan and gives a clear. Ok what do you want look while the arms she crossed over her chest ready to pull out the smoke pods if needed

Isaan made a point of wandering over to the window and peering out of it, the guards were on their way up now and that meant time was up. He turned to Meldara and raised his hands, pushing them toward the entrances of the room of which there were actually two. Suddenly the guards came rushing up the stairs, then hit the doorways and...

There was a loud clatter as the first guards struck some invisible barrier, having been rushing upstairs at full pelt and in full chain mail and other armour, they were sent flying backwards and created a rather comedic sight as they fell into their fellow guards still coming up the stairs and sent them all rolling back down in a sort of domino effect. Isaan grinned and lowered his hands, giving Meldara a little shrug as if to say 'easy' before he walked over to her with his hands behind his back. 

"I'm not here to stop you, and I'm not a bloody mage or wizard, so you can stop thinking that too." He said, the last part sounding as though he was irritated by the suggestion. "I'm here to stop them taking you, so you can throw the smoke pods you're planning to reach for, in which case I'll catch you instantly because it won't impair my vision - or you can come with us and hear what we have to say."  

He took a moment to point toward the doorways, which still appeared to have no barrier over them, yet had stopped the guards once. But he looked at Meldara and seemed to make a motion that caused a shimmer near the doors, implying the barrier had just broken and he wasn't intending to put it back up. 
 
"Think quick, I won't stop them entering the room a second time." He insisted, then held out his hand toward her. "Come on, I can get us out in an instant. Don't worry about the allergy to magic, like I said, I'm not a wizard. I don't use magic." 

Throughout the exchange Jowan seemed to be growing more and more agitated. He paced back and forth in the small room, occasionally shaking his head, mumbling to himself, or snapping his fingers and producing small showers of sparks. "So many ants, closing in. You might kill one or two or three but an army of ants, no, an army could kill a moth...Quiet Raspy!"

He continued to mutter angrily, and for the most part incoherently to himself, every now and then turning his head towards the doors and seeming to struggle against an urge to set them on fire. At last he stopped still, after Isaan had finished speaking, and turned his head towards Meldara. "No, no...the spider spins it's web, catches the poor little moth in it, bites her with it's venom...." He gestured towards the scar around her neck, seeming rather angry about something. "The poison corrupts, yes? The bright shiny light of magic burns the moth. Except...." He drew close and summoned a fireball around his right fist, holding it in front of her. While she would obviously feel the warmth from it, the magic would of course have no effect.

"Choices, choices...We think curiosity wins out, yes? Only natural for a spy to be curious...Isaambard please can we burn some ants?" He turned to Isaan with the sudden change in subject, pulling a crystal magnifying glass form his robes and looking pleadingly.

Mel watches and listens to them both raising her eye brow and touching the scaars hidden under her suit when they use magic and nothing happens. She watches as the guards bounce off force field looking back at Isaan when he says he wont stop them a second time, looking from his face to his outstretched hand then at Jowan. Half of her instincts where telling her to run for the hills and not look back. But the crazy one was right she was curious so as the guards rush the door a second time she unhesitatingly puts her hand in his.