Robert answered Sarinah nod with one of his own. "Glad you like it. But it's not mine, you know, I'm just the singer here." He was still a bit wary of the witch, but her appreciating music definitely showed her in a better light.

He then answered warmly Gem's smile, clearly more at ease with the curvy woman than with the pretty witch. "I'd like him to show up so I can have his feeling." The young musician answered the shouldering by placing his free hand on said shoulder, and joined the toast with his own jug of ale. "Yes, to music."

Sarinah raised her glass with the others, aware of the slight uncomfortable feeling coming from the human. She knew this feeling, had witness it first hand in Vienda. It wasn't just the gollies that were wary of wicks, it was the humans too. Somehow, her race stood inbetween the two, hated by both, liked by some. Loved by even less.

"To music." Downing the attractive and sweet drink, she placed the glass on the table thoughtfully.

"Is this a full time job for ye kov? This tavern I mean?" The dancer couldn't help but be curious, but mindful of the time. She didn't want to be out to late, perhaps one more Blushing Hingle.

"Ne, it ent." Robert tried to dig out what little Tek he had learnt to answer the witch, but soon realized he had never understood which words were really Tek and which words were sailor slang. Keeping to Estuan seemed safer.

"Man I'd like it. But I only play here once a week. On the eighths. I play in the Widow's too. On the seconds. The rest of the time, I just try to avoid getting too wet. I'd like to mount a band to play my own music, but I'd need to be living somewhere else than on the beach."

Using his free hand to enhance his speech meant he had removed it from Gem's shoulder. But he stayed comfortably close to her, or more likely uncomfortably close except for himself, as he was clearly encroaching on any personal space. He even added a smile in her direction, implying she was free to provide the lodging or audition for a role in the still nonexistent band.

The dread-locked musician didn't even try to imply he would also be glad to share her bed. For him, that was so evident that he didn't even need to state it. He was a handsome man (at least, that was what he had been told once), she was a curvy woman; a little intercourse would be perfectly natural.

Nodding as he spoke, the dancer could see where her welcome was being worn. The musician obviously had other things on his mind apart from work, and the talented human knew where to find her.

"Mmm, ye sound busy kov. Shame. I was going to ask whether ye were interested in a little permenant work." Shrugging nonchalantly, she decided the last drink would be quick. It was late, Tristaan was at home...

Pausing, she smiled. Home.

Shaking off the little thrill of delight at the word, she turned her smile on the man again.

"I need a band, for the..oh, chip," Sarinah reached out to touch the waitress as she passed.

"Blushing Hingle." A light dawned in her eyes as the girl left with a nod, and she chuckled, looking back at Gem and the musician.

"We require a band in The Blushing Hingle."

Not letting Gem the time to react to any of his signals, Robert suddenly turned his whole attention to Sarinah.

The pretty witch might have been a witch, but she was still a potential employer. And she was talking about a permanent job! And in music, as she confirmed after by talking about a band. He wasn't going to let her go away without a lot of questions? If the offer was genuine, he could live with checking the pay twice. Questions were fired as quickly as his change of attitude, in a rare display of energy for the young man.

"What do you mean permanent job? Everyday? What's the Blushing Hingle? Is there some place to hold the band rehearsal, and store all the heavy things like the drums in that Hingle of yours? Could I sleep in the premises until I find me some permanent lodging?" Would the pay allow me some permanent lodging? He was not going to discuss payment yet. Not before having proved his worth as a musician.

Rob felt a bit bad to turn his back so suddenly on Gem, but she was a musician too. She'd understand. And suddenly, unaware she might already have agreed another role with the witch, the thought they might help each other enter the place rose to his conscious mind.
"The band is not completely full yet, but it's on track. We were planning a rehearsal tonight, Gem and I. She's got a sure sense of pitch, it's amazing. With another player, maybe something more melodic like a fiddler, we'd be all set. And maybe even without. What kind of band were you thinking about?"

The young musician thought about elbowing Gem about supporting his sale pitch, but finally decided the move would be too obvious for Sarinah and just took his breath, hoping the human would understand and play along without needing the hint, waiting for the witch answers.

Robert's actions drew him closer than Gem had anticipated. But for the time being, it was nothing she couldn't deal with.



She raised a brow at him, Oh, we do, do we?



Flatterer... but it's true, she thought, internally accepting the flattery.



"I can play guitar. It might do. What else do you have?" She asked genially. She didn't necessarily "play along," but neither did she leave him hanging. She spun the remainder of her drink in the bottom of her glass and finished it off. She ran a finger down Robert's back to get his attention, prepared to give him her traditional aww, it's gone look, topped off with a little you owe me, now. Hey, if he wanted her to participate, he had to pay the piper.

Robert winced internally as Gem started to question the band's line-up. We're suppose to have already ironed that out!
And what was it along its back? His free hand went automatically to it and found nothing. Had it been her finger? He wasn't sure how to interpret the look she was giving him, but if he was right, she was playing with him as much as along him. His answer was a frown mixed with an apologetic smile.
Can we please settle that later?

"I know," I didn't but now's not the moment to show we've just met "and I like to play guitar too, but it's just too soft for this kind of place, especially for melody. That's why I'm hauling this monster there, and why I was thinking about a kind of trio, with our voices, the drums I've stored at my mother's, the accordion for the chords, and something like a wind or a fiddle for the melodies. We've already discussed that, didn't we?" Yes, I know we didn't, and I hope that witch didn't catch the pleading way I'm now looking at you.

The musician turned back toward Sarinah and conceded "but we don't know what our tentative new boss has in mind. Perhaps Gem's right, a guitar duo might be enough, if you're looking for something soft. What do you think?"
That sales pitch was becoming really tiring. Robert hoped it would end soon. He felt like he had expanded his energy quota for the night. At least, it was for music. A worthy cause.

(( Point taken, and edit done. Thanks! ))

(( "tenant" means someone who leases. I think maybe "potential employer" might be better word choice ))

"Too true," Gem agreed when he mentioned not knowing what Sarinah would prefer. She nodded at Sarinah with a smile, "I'm sure we can provide whatever you're looking for."

If he wanted her to play along, she could do that. Didn't mean she wouldn't take advantage of it later.

It had been raining hard for the past two days. The music was really cheering everyone up. Being cooped up inside for 2 days wasn't easy.

(( sorry luv i had no net! ))

Well now, that was a change in tune. Sarinah nodded slowly to all the questions, leaning back in her chair.

"Oes kov, to all that oes. Of course, the lodgings will be discussed on audition night, but so far, we are looking to provide for our performers. Ent proper if we didn't."



"One that can play a variety of things, ye chen. It's a dance house, and dancers need music. Myself, I like ye wickish based music. Guitar, drums...thats about all I've ever needed. But other girls will like other things, and then the patrons. Well, we'll need something to keep them entertained, ye chen? Anything is on the table at the moment." Listening to the two performers weedle out their differences, Sarinah shrugged.

"Its all on the table, like I said. Come around on the 21st, and we'll decide then. At least bring your guitar. The rest, we can move when ye get the job, oes?" With that, she stood.

"Well chip, kov, I have to take my leave. It's getting on and I have many things to finish before the 21st. If ye know anyone else, please, invite them too. Benny to meet you both." With a nod, and a simmering smile, she made her way out of the Queen and down the road, a satisfied smile on her face.

Robert looked at the witch walking out, and then turned back toward Gem, beaming. "I hope this is going to work. Paid and lodged to play music... Maybe I can even present my own songs between the dance numbers?"

He glanced towards the stage "I've still got a set to play. You wait for me? Then we can find a place to prepare something, and for you to try the accordion."

There was no doubt in the young musician man that the curvy woman's room would be the perfect place... Until the audition, he still needed a place to sleep after all!

Gem grinned. She was so excited! More so than she had been all week.



Gem nodded, grin plastered on her face like a fool. She was giddy and didn't care.

She sighed happily and turned to Sarinah again, "Thank you. So much."

"You know, I don't think she's heard you..." Robert smiled at hearing Gem say thank you to the witch back. He felt giddy too, while he had not smoked during that break. It was just that there was a really good chance that tonight would lead to his first breakthrough since he had left the Vein.

He looked at her and his smile widened even more. He liked that woman. She wasn't shy, and she really seemed to look forward playing music as a job, which was something the tall boy found very respectable.

He quickly squeezed her shoulder before heading back toward the stage for his third and final set, totally unaware or uncaring about Gem possibly not liking such a physical contact. "See you soon!"

Gem didn't notice the gesture much at all, much less any hidden meaning beneath it. It was only her shoulder, after all. She half-waved to him as he went back to the stage for his third set.

It was just too perfect a night. She was certain nothing could spoil her mood.