cataegis

Status: Open Location: Streets of Nassau

Fane liked busking. He got to see a collection of new faces as he played for spare change. He was doing well this month, having just gotten back from a stint on a ship. Fane didn’t need the money. He just liked playing.

With the violin tucked under his chin, Fane played a lively melody, attracting people interested in hearing the piece. He smiled at them, moving with the beat to encourage some of the younger audience to dance. Children dancing was always a great draw for patrons.

After a few lively numbers, the crowd was starting to wane, so Fane took a moment to rest for the next wave of patrons. He sat down to empty the cup of coins and glanced up. “I’ll be back to it in a bit, just resting the chin,” he said, noticing the shadow blocking out some of the light.

“your music is lovely,” moira leaned against the wall, her trusty mandolin resting on her back. “only thing lovelier is your face.” she winked and pushed herself off the wall. “seems the people agree with me,” she gestured to the coins in his collection. “you’ve got quite the crowd followin’ you. and so it seems do i.” she waved at one of the sailors who’d taken to following her hoping for some of her attention and perhaps more. “want to see if we can entertain ‘em together?”

the  table  roared  in  unanimous  laughter  at  the  expression  and  subsequent  declaration  that  left  the  songstress’  lips  ─  maddoc  allowed  a  slight  smile  to  slip  through  the  impassive  façade  they  had  assumed  once  company  had  found  them  and  dragged  them  into  the  festivities.  while  the  boys  had  thrown  back  pints  of  beer  as  though  it  was  a  race  to  see  who  could  be  the  drunkest  or  sickest  first,  they  had  stolen  the  small  bowl  of  spiced  nuts  set  at  the  center  of  the  table,  munching  on  the  fried  treats  while  watching  the  scene  unfold.  taking  some  pity  on  the  girl  that  had  been  the  latest  casualty  to  their  mischievous  game  (  something  about  switching  up  drinks  with  a  condiment  or  herbal  concoction  until  the  unfortunate  victim  cracked  under  the  disgusting  flavor  ),  they  flicked  two  fingers  up  to  call  for  another  round  of  drinks,  choking  back  a  snort  at  her  threat.

❝  well,  if  the  goat  is  roasted,  with  rosemary  and  butter,  that’d  be  half  true  !  don’t  sit  with  those  fuckers,  they  like  to  torture  each  other  and  think  everyone  wants  to  be  a  part  of  their  fun.  ❞  a  foot  pushes  a  vacant  stool  towards  the  singer,  chin  jerking  towards  the  offered  seat  in  wordless  invitation.  ❝  have  you  been  in  nassau  for  long,  miss  ?  don’t  recall  your  singing  the  last  time  we  were  on  land  and  i’d  remember  a  voice  like  yours.  ❞

moira laughed, sweeping up another glass and draining it without hesitation. the laughing crowd around her had her cheeks flushing with a pleasant buzz. “ahhh shite, you’re makin’ me hungry love! barmaid!!!” she collapsed into the chair next to the... man... who seemed content to act as a chair for her new friend. “’ve not been here too long- sailed in lookin for someone who may or may not be here. but if y’give me a reason t’ stay, maybe i will.”

          “  you think a fella like that will fork out enough to get you a decent drink  ?  start working on the goat fucking song.  “   cilla sits in the lap of one of the patrons, only giving him somewhat of her attention when necessary but she’s not being paid at the moment. he’s more so a piece of furniture in this moment.   “  throw more farm animals in for every verse, it’ll have everyone here tickled.  “ 

moira laughs, loud and unrestrained. “yes! fuckin’ a goat in the first and bein’ fucked by a pig in the next!” she plucked a few strings on her mandolin, testing out a tune. “i like you! you’re lovely! very pretty, beautiful eyes! even nicer lips!”

   There was very few times Alistair ever enjoyed having the company of another person, and drinking in a tavern wasn’t one of them. He had tried to moved Moira along when she had sat down, however, when she had refused to leave him alone, Alistair had taken to shoving endless amounts of alcohol her way in an attempt to knock her out so that he could continue the rest of his night in peace.

   Alistair let out a small chuckle at her words, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his grog as he did. “Ya might want to think that one through some more, lass” Alistair said, a smirk making it’s way onto his face. “Because if that’s the case, you’d be comparing your ma to goat” 

“you shut your mouth ya sheep fucker!” with an unholy strength, she hurled the partially empty cup of piss ale at the man. “my ma was a god damned saint, a queen among men! The god damned fairies themselves proclaimed her queen of beauty, and just because you had good taste one time doesn’ mean you don’t fuck goats ‘stead of goin’ to church!” not that moira had been to church since she was a small girl. hard to develop a sense of religion when the rest of the townsfolk refused her and her ma entry most times. with an irritated huff, moira grabbed a pint from a nearby table, winking at the confused man whom had been drinking from it earlier. draining it in one go, she hurled the empty glass, aiming for the spot between her ‘father’s’ legs.

“that’s not even mine, what you’ve just had,” kane lies—or half lies. technically it is his drink, something a client bought for him not that long ago, as if this piss-poor excuse for alcohol was going to bribe him into extending the due date for paying off a debt. the man left after a few threats of losing a finger but forgot to take the ale with him and kane’s definitely not touching it; over his dead body. he should probably lower his standards, considering the kind of place this is. “please, people say worse things about me. get in line,” he waves the comment off; he looks into his cup, depressingly empty, but doesn’t wave the barmaid down yet. it’s still too early for him to drink himself into oblivion; who would’ve though, kane pacing himself for once. unlike the girl, it seems. “you look like you can barely fucking stand. i’m not getting you anything. better get to writing,” he chuckles.

“well whoever’s it was-” she leans back, hands cupping her mouth to make sure her words could be heard over the crowd. “the only reason you don’ know who your da is is because your ma worked on a farm!” the crowd roared with her energy and moira beamed at the attention. “awww, love, don’t you listen to them!  you’re rather very pretty,” she winked, waiving down a passing barmaid. “beautiful, please, fill mine and my friends cups- goin’ to need somethin’ to wash that taste out of my mouth.” turning back to her new friend, moira sat herself in the chair across from him, adjusting her mandolin so it wouldn’t dig into her back too much. “now listen here, handsome. i grew up in places like this. i’ve not even started drinking seriously, so don’t you go thinking i need watchin. though, if you want to watch me for other reasons than patronizing me, i won’ be opposed.”

          “  a goat, huh  ?  well that surely spurs someone into buying you a drink.  “  dark hues roll but there’s humour in the curve of their lip.  “  though, i must admit- i’m curious what you’d come up with.  “  arms cross over a lithe chest,  a brow raised in almost a challenge. 

she’d been singing nearly the entire night, keeping spirits high and the alcohol flowing as people shrugged their worries off at the door. but even she needed to take a break, and luckily she was not wanting for something to drink. if her mum could see her now, she’d be shaking her head as moira downed glasses of beer and ale in quick succession. her face screwed up at the strong taste of something that definitely wasn’t beer.

💀 [ Saoirse Ronan | Cis Female | she/her | 20 ] 💀 hoist the black! MOIRA, the MUSICIAN, has arrived in nassau. the whispers in the square say that they’re allied with NEUTRAL and FRIENDLY, but can also be AGGRESSIVE. that is, unless you threaten HER PENDANT. beware the black spot.