"Wouldn't that me be paying you?"
"...Yes! That's right! If I'm not hiring you, that means you're buying out this place as a venue! So pay me with a tune!" Gerry let out a deep belly-laugh.
'I don't see why not.'
"Okay, then. Any requests?"
"Which fables do you know?"
"Any. I don't usually play fables, but I know all of them."
"Really!? If you know all of them, that must be your expertise. Then, why don't you play them?"
"I prefer to play original songs."
"Original... how novel! Play me something original, then."
Aliza chuckled at the large man's excitement.
"Okay, then."
She played a very short song. The chords were nothing out of the ordinary, though the tempo and key were much slower and more somber than what was typical of the music that was popularly played by bards at the time.
Aliza noticed Gerry's inquisitive but impressed face, and smiled. The juxtaposition of the melancholy song and her gently smiling face was art in of itself, even if you the beautiful tune playing fell on deaf ears.
Though the performance was short, many if not all of the patrons had found themselves listening to the woman playing right next to the entrance. When she finished, the tavern was no longer bustling or rowdy, but silent. And then they clapped for a few seconds, cheering for her to get on the small stage.
"So?" Aliza asked.
"Incredible! I'd be a criminal if I didn't let you go up there. It's what the people want, after all! Go on, go on," he said, pushing her towards the stage.
Once he thought she was out of earshot, he whispered to the waitress behind him to spread word of a special guest musician visiting, and to raise prices half a turn.
There was nothing to set up, since it was just Aliza and her simple instrument, and so she immediately started playing. Without her even asking, a waitress brought a small stool and set a glass of water atop it.
Aliza appreciated the gesture. She also appreciated how nearly the entire tavern was happily listening to her. And at the same time, the environment wasn't made awkward or anything, either. The patrons of Gerry's tavern were continuing on with their tavern-going activities, simply letting her beautiful music accopany the sounds of laughter and drinking.
After nearly two hours straight of playing, it was time for her break. The tavern had thinned out a bit by this point, but the environment was still quite lively.
When she retreated to a lonely table in a far corner, an unknown cloaked man approached her. Without even asking, he took the seat across from her.
"Uh, hello? I'm trying to sit alone. Obviously."
"Sorry," the silky voice replied. "I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to speak to you for a moment. It won't be long, I promise."
He removed the hood from his head, revealing his face. He, Aliza supposed, was handsome enough. But if her heart was what he was after, he'd only receive disappointment.
"Mmmm, fine. But, you have to buy me a drink, first."
"Of course, of course! Ms. Waitress? Wow, you're stunning! Sorry, could we have two pints, please? Thank you, thank you!"
'Smooth talker... is he a con artist?'
"So? What is it?"
"Oho, you want me to 'cut to the chase,' don't you? Ha-ha! I love a straightforward woman. Don't get me wrong, I'm not flirting with you. It's simply a compliment. Too many women fear retribution for speaking their mind these days. It's a tragedy, isn't it?"
"This man... so interesting! So impudent! Impudent, impudent!"
'What the hell are you talking about now, asshole? Don't distract me when I'm in the middle of a conversation, or you'll make me look insane.'
"I guess. It's been a long time since I've surrounded myself with other women, so I wouldn't really know."
"A tomboy?"
"...I'm a tomboy just because my hair is short and I don't hang out with girls?"
"My apologies. You're very womanly, I wasn't trying to be rude."
'Forget it. He's not smooth at all, just overconfident. A young noble, then?'
"So I'm womanly, now? You're pretty bad at speaking to girls, you know that?"
"..."
Aliza burst into laughter.
"Relax! I'm just messing with you, dude."
"'Dude'?"
She frowned.
"So you're nobility. I figured as much. You're here because you saw a pretty lady and you felt like messing around, right?"
The man's shocked face pretty much confirmed it. Nevertheless, he opened his mouth to speak.
"I suppose you could call it that. Though, your phrasing could really use some work, milady. I've not approached you with any impure intentions, I promise. I truly was just facinated by your music. And... your beauty, too."
At the last part, he turned away a bit, covering his mouth with his gloved hand. His face turned faintly flush, too.
'Is he smitten? Well, I guess that's not unexpected. I do have that effect on people, after all.'
"Really? Then, what are your intentions?" she asked, leaning a bit into the table.
"Ah, well, I planned to invite you to tea. Tomorrow."
"At your estate?"
"Of course."
"Isn't that...?"
"Don't misunderstand, milady! My estate, while mine, is anything but 'intimate.' It's practically a public square, I assure you."
'A public square? He's a bigshot, then. But, I can't think of any Corvailles noble men that match his age and have that much influence...'
"We don't even know each other's names, and you're inviting me for tea?"
"Yes, it seems presumptuous. But, I felt that... if I didn't come on strongly, I'd miss my chance. And... I didn't want to miss my chance."
Aliza leaned back in her chair, taking a gulp of beer.
"So? Your name?"
"...Malachai. Malachai Drowsen."
She spit out her beer and nearly fell backwards in her chair from the surprise.
Wide-eyed, she asked, "The Malachai Drowsen?"
Malachai covered his face with his hands once again, seemingly embarrassed.
"That's right. But, keep it down, will you? I'm in disguise, you see. It isn't good for me to be out roaming, all alone."
'What... the... fuck...'
"What will you do? What, what, what!?"
'What, indeed.'