Elara snorted, but didn't say anything else, instead humming what sounded like the same song she had played, but at a slower tempo. She plopped back down in her chair, checking to make sure her bag was still there as she hummed. Her good foot tapped along to her humming as she propped the other one up, looking up at Kieran. "So wha'd'ya think? 'S one o' Johnson's favorite shanties."
Kieran sat down, and shrugged slightly. "It was good. Although I have not heard much music." He replied, speaking in a slow way, as if he were thinking over each word before he said it. Strands of hair had escaped the small bun, hanging into his face, though he seemed either not to notice or not to care.
"You've never heard a sea shanty before?" Elara asked, looking almost personally offended by that information. "Ever?" She made a face, wrinkling her nose and frowning. Kind of a funny expression. She ran a hand through her hair and tucked it behind her ear, her eyes catching the loose strands of his own for a moment.
Kieran blinked, thinking for a moment, then shook his head. "No, i don't think so." He replied. "Like i said, i havent heard a lot of music, nor have I paid attention to it when I have."
"Tha's quite possibly the saddest thing I've ever heard." Elara said dramatically, shaking her head. "We gotta get ya listenin' t' more music. Tha's a new requirement for anyone with this job. Gotta listen t' music."
Kieran sighed. "Why?" He asked slowly. "Music does not mean much. Especially not to those who have no emotions. Music is fueled by emotions and feelings, and if you do not have them…" He shrugged.
"Music is fueled by emotions, sure, but ya know it causes 'em too, righ'?" Elara tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at him. "Ya listen' t' sad music t' be sad, happy music t' be happy, there's even music that makes ya angry, makes ya wanna fight someone. Jus' helps for it t' be well made music."
He looked back at her. "The Thari do not have emotion, your highness. It is just not in our wiring. We don't feel things the way you humans do." He shrugged slightly. I had thought this was known about us. Perhaps not.
"Sure. No emotion. If ya say so." She shook her head, like she didn't quite believe that, looking off at the people dancing. She'd seen evidence otherwise. Nothing major, just little things that pointed to him maybe having a bit more emotion than he thought he did.
He raised an eyebrow. "And what do you mean by that?" He questioned, tipping his head from side to side, his neck making popping sounds. He ran a hand across his horns, then dropped it back down to his side.
"People without emotions don' smile like tha', ktherion." She said, not looking at him, but instead watching a young woman dancing. Something pushed at her mind, the memory of the concern on his face after she had hurt her ankle even worse. But that was just because he didn't want to be blamed for any of her injuries.
"Smile…? Oh." He realized what she meant, and sighed. "I don't know why I smiled like that, your highness." He told her. "But I usually don't." He followed her gaze, then looked away, eyes flickering around the tavern. He knew that Jalaan was gone, but some part of him kept expecting to see the man.
"Ya don' usually, but ya did. An' that furthers my point." She said, her eyes still on the woman and something sad clouding them. "Music. Unless there's another reason ya were smilin', it was the music and the atmosphere 'round ya."
Kieran shrugged. "Still. Thari do not have much emotions." He replied, and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you alright?" He questioned. Did she want to head back? Or was her ankle hurting? He wasn't sure.
"Mhm." Elara hummed disbelievingly, blinking as he asked if she was alright. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, jus' fine." She shook her head, looking away from the woman and back at Kieran. "Just…woman looks kind of similar t' my mother. Felt like deja vu. You ready t' head back? Yer probably tired, I'm guessin', after the dancin' and eatin' and shit."
Kieran nodded. "I see. We can head back whenever you're ready." He replied. To be honest, he was kind of tired, but he would go with her whenever she was ready to go. He didn't mind waiting. He was just glad Jalaan was gone. He had hated that reminder.
"This has been fun, fer the mos' part, bu' I'm done with people 'n' the smell o' booze for the night." Elara said, pushing herself up until she was standing and leaning against the table, crouching somewhat to grab her duffel and slinging her arm through the strap. "Back t' the inn it is."
Kieran nodded, standing. "Would you like me to support you again?" He asked, walking over to her to help her if she wanted. He looked down at her, orange eyes blank. There were still strands of hair hanging into his face.
Elara looked up at him, having to crane her neck back to do so fully. She puffed out a breath of air, disturbing the hair in his face and snorting at herself. Gods, maybe she was tired. "Supportin' me the whole way back would be a pain in the ass. Imma walk on my own."
He shrugged. "Alright. Let me know if you change your mind." He replied, walking beside her. He redid the bun holding his hair back, sighing softly. I'm more tired than I thought I would be. Oh well.
“Yeah yeah.” Elara led the way out, giving up on hiding her limp. She hummed the shanty from earlier as she waved goodbye to Declan, who was dancing with some guy who was for some reason not wearing a shirt. And then they were out of the tavern and down the street, Elara humming a sea shanty happily as she limped along, sort of swaying side to side to the rhythm.
Kieran walked beside her quietly, listening to her hum. He didn't say a word. Tomorrow will likely be very similar to today. He thought. Very likely. Carriage, then do something in the evening, then sleep, then repeat. He sighed softly. I don't want to be in that carriage after dark. Not in the dark, not in that small space.
With her filter gone thanks to the exhaustion rushing up suddenly, Elara didn't have much time to think before she was singing the words instead of humming them. Singing was something so intrinsically tied to her mother that she avoided it at all costs, but now, the memories weren't as bad, because her mind was too tired to make her thing.
"As I was a walking down Paradise Street, way aye blow the man down! A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet. Give me some time to blow the man down!"
Her voice was rich and musical, the perfect tone for singing the shanties, and something about the way she projected it caught attention. Anyone they passed, which wasn't many people because of how late it was, paused what they were doing to watch for a moment, the song drawing smiles from people who recognized it.
((Hey! I was gone for the day, on an outing with my parents, but I'm back now!))
Kieran walked beside her quietly, listening to her sing. He didn't recognize the song, but that was fine. It had an interesting melody, and, well…if he was honest, she had an amazing voice, too. He led her back towards the hotel that they were staying at, wondering exactly what the rooms layout would be. It didn't matter, though. He could sleep on the floor, if need be. Wherever they wanted to put him.
(Hey! Oh, cool. Alright!)