who: @devanitoland
setting: the concord within highgarden, prior to devani's conversation with armaan yronwood and she needed to leave as soon as possible, devani toland stumbles across a different sort of party.
the banks of the rushing currents of the mander this night had become the scene of merriment personified; under the glow emitted from lanterns that were soon going to flicker out, there was a group of individuals sprawled across the muddy banks that had no doubt been in more sober states before. the scene was not one of danger or anything that made passers by peer anxiously; no, for one of the men had taken to sitting closest to the bank and ushering away any who had danced too close to the edge. the last thing they needed was this night to end in tragedy, with the current dragging a member of their group away - who would have to take on their shift in the morning? mir slapped the mud from his hands as he paid no attention to the mud on his clothes, using his foot to kick away the particularly rambunctious braavosi woman who had all but adopted them from the river's edge.
"what did i tell you about the edge, eh?" he called from his comfortable position, sprawling back on his elbows as he accidentally sent an empty bottle of wine to slip from the bank and into the river; he half went to try and grab hold of it before realising halfway through it was not worth it.
he was done dancing for the night, and pretended not to notice two of his coworkers at the pottery stall sneaking away from behind the trees; as though she had not insisted that she would go and look for him upon him announcing his need to pee at least half an hour ago. it was then he heard more joyous whooping and his somewhat blurred gaze followed to find the sight of more workers bringing some instruments, a range; yet there were two that caught his attention almost immediately. the sitar and the tabla, both originating from across the narrow sea opposite his homeland of volantis, and instead from the rolling dornish dunes. they appeared of interest to him, and whilst the dancing continued and the sounds of laughter rung through his ears in the best of ways, he left his defensive spot by the river bank to move toward them, wanting to see them closer.
the strings of the sitar appeared normal, and when he tapped the back of the tabla and checked the tightness of the chhavani against the base, he knew they were instruments of good condition.
"...these are expensive?" mir stated, yet his words ended up sounding more like a question - this would have belonged to merchants at least, and if not, nobility. the set of mischievous twins before him shrugged, rambling something about selling them to make money from them; and it was only then his gaze lifted to the sight of the barge on the mander itself - a different sort of party. for those who lived in the world above them, always above them, needing even the water to separate them from their lessers having their own celebrations on the bank of the river during their one night off this week. it was then his half drunken mind realised the both of them were soaking wet, and it had not taken long for him to put the dots together - the impish fool had all but managed to swim to the pleasure barge and hoist himself up, somehow bringing back with them not one expensive instrument, but two.
"you'd drown over some goat skin and strings? you idiot." he asked one, cleanly slapping him around the back of the neck, however it was then he wondered just how the twins had managed to bring them back dry. had they held it over their heads as they swam? how did the river not kill them?
the other bolted before he could give him a whack, laughter echoing - and when the pleasure barge grew closer, he noticed the silhouette of a woman rummaging through something, only being able to tell it was a woman due to the length of her hair. he suddenly found himself knowing he needed to spin some tale, or be accused of theft - whilst being completely dry. it was obvious he had not swum across, especially because he was not the best of swimmers - but gods knew what these nobles could do. "my lady!" mir called from across the currents, hoping his voice carried both over his music and her own - but he waved both of his arms as though he needed saving. she did not see him, and so he began waving more.
"hello?" he yelled again, bringing back of his hands over his mouth to ensure the sound carried. it was in that moment he threw a rock to try and get her attention via the water splashing on impact, and when she finally looked up, and a feeling of relief came over him as he waved again. far too casually and relaxed, some would say. "are these yours?" he yelled, wondering whether she could even hear him - still, he clearly extended the instruments toward her. how would he explain why they were far too dry to have somehow fallen into the current and swept up to him on the bank?