"I'm sorry, but I can't come with you right now. Or at all. Today, I mean. I planned on playing music here until... like, night?"
"That's alright, milady! I assumed as much. Does tomorrow, noon, work?"
"...I guess it does."
'Why am I doing this?'
"I'll see you, then?"
"I guess you will."
"Then, before I leave, won't you tell me your name?"
Swept up in the moment, she said something she hadn't meant to.
"Aliza."
Her name. She bit her tongue, regretting it immediately. She had actually met Malachai on multiple occasions before. That's what made this interaction all the more strange.
Both of them had changed in appearance so much that neither had recognized the other. Aliza only recognized him after he told her his name. But, if he recognized her... well, it wouldn't be too terrible, she didn't think.
It's not like he had any grudges against Lady Aliza Von Raffen. It would only make things more complicated. She only prayed he didn't know her current association with Alwyn.
Upon hearing her name, he frowned for a half-second. He quickly broke from it, though, and into a bright smile.
"Aliza. What a beautiful name! I'll be seeing you, Aliza."
With that, the man walked away from the table and out of the tavern completely.
'What just happened. Malachai? He looked nothing like that the last time I saw him! What happened!? And why are we having tea? Why did he even invite me? Was he the type to become smitten so easily? No... or was he? But, I don't suit a noble's taste at all. I know that. It's by design! Unless... he just has unique taste. Superior taste. Hehe.'
"The girl was right. You're a prostitute! Prostitute, prostitute, prostrate and wiggle your hiney for the noble boy!"
She jumped in her seat, surprised by the sudden loud voice in her head.
'Gaud damn you.'
"But, Gaud loves me! Gaud, oh gaud, gaud~!"
'Insane...'
****
'Job well done!'
Alwyn sighed, interlocking his fingers and deeply stretching. The sight was quite odd, since he was doing it in the middle of the street. At sundown.
Ah, but he had a big wizard hat, so that made it less strange. Wizards were known for their eccentric behavior, after all. Actually, that might've just caused more looks to be sent his way.
'Time for my drink!'
He pushed through the doors into what looked like an incredibly popular tavern. Sounds of chatter, cheer, and music were leaking out and onto the street. It was exactly the type of environment Alwyn was looking for! Perfect for unwinding!
Then, why was he hiding in the shadows, rather than breaking into song and dance and becoming the center of attention like he really wanted to?
'What is she doing here? I thought I ordered those guards to not let her go to taverns anymore! At least she isn't drunk... I think. No, her drunk singing sounds a lot different.'
She definitely wasn't drunk. If she was, her singing wouldn't sound so beautiful. Ah, right, that's my words, not Alwyn's—just to clarify.
The wizard chuckled to himself as he leaned against the far wall of the tavern. He found himself staring at her. She was the main spectacle in the place, after all. When he'd heard that a special musician was visiting, he would've never guessed it was her.
He examined her makeup, which was as it usually was recently—highlighted by the messily applied and streaked black shadows around her eyes. Her lipstick, too, was messy. Really, that was her look, now.
It extended to her hair, which was haphazardly chopped off into a short-ish and blocky, but memorable, haircut. Paired with her loose clothing bound tightly to her body by belts and straps… it was clear that she was purposely portraying herself as some sort of wild… slob?
No, not a slob—something free, perhaps. Is that who she was, or was it who she wanted to be? Or, just who she wanted people to think she was?
None of that really mattered. Alwyn knew very well where exactly to look, since, when he had known her in the past, she hadn't tried to look 'free' in such a way at all. She never cared to hide how… orderly, she truly was.
So despite her drastic measures in effort to change, she didn't look different to Alwyn at all. She didn't seem very different, person-wise, either.
No, because, when she opened her mouth and started to sing, there was nothing disorderly at all. Oops! That was something she'd forgotten to change. Her way of singing was far too 'orderly'!
And if you looked closer, too… her makeup was messy, but it still looked nice. There was purpose behind it. She wasn't sabotaging herself.
When you thought about it like that, it wasn't messy at all. And even without the makeup, she was naturally quite beautiful. No amount of makeup could truly hide that.
Her skin was smooth and soft, and her lips were plump and supple. Her hair, even cut so carelessly, still had a lush sheen to it. And her figure… actually, it looked even better, now.
'What am I thinking about, right now? Ah, that's why.'
Somehow, a pint had found its way into Alwyn's lonely hand. It was nearly empty.
"Hey, can I get another one of these?" he asked a waitress.
"Are you gonna sit down?" she asked, annoyed at the mysterious man for standing around like some creep.
Alwyn laughed, removing his hat and holding it flat against his chest. "Sure I will. Why? You wanna join me?"
Seeing his newly revealed face, her face went red.
"Oh... my break is in twenty minutes."
"I'll be here—as long as I've got drink."
"Of course! Y-you don't have to worry about that. There's a lot to go around!"
He sat at one of the small tables, meant for 3-4 people. He was alone, though. Hopefully not for long, though, wink-wink.
'Has she gotten better? She really is good with that guitar thing. I much prefer it to a lute. I wonder why it isn't more popular?'
Alwyn sunk into his chair. Though he had imagined his tavern visit to be a lot more exciting, he decided that this wasn't too bad, either.