[table][row][cell][/cell][cell][/cell][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/MrFrT8O.png[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240714/3001ee5176d2d725b016218b6c5bde89.png[/img][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][/table][sub]Location: Eye of the Beholder [/sub]

Nyla felt a wave of dizziness wash over her as she entered the warmth of the tavern, the familiar clamor of people, the scent of alcohol, and the hum of low voices filling the air. She quickly found a corner near a table lined with bottles of alcohol, folding her arms tightly against her chest, her breathing shallow. She focused on the wooden floor beneath her feet, her eyes tracing the worn lines in the planks as she fought to hold back the wave of panic threatening to consume her. Why did she do this to herself? What was she doing here? She knew what she’d find, who she’d find. Why had she come?

She was pulled from her spiraling thoughts by a voice—low and soft—speaking close by. She looked up, startled, to find a man watching her with an almost amused expression. His eyes, mirroring her own pale blue, seemed to look right through her. He spoke words that seemed more poetic than conversational, his gaze drifting towards the bottles of alcohol nearby. Nyla’s eyes followed his, and she bit back a retort, resisting the urge to snap at his assumption that she had come here to escape her reality with a drink. Normally, small talk came easy to her, but with her emotions so raw, she struggled to summon her usual charm.

She forced a faint, half-hearted smile in response to his advice, nodding politely. [color=DBA73D]"It’s nice to meet you, Gadez."[/color] she said, though her tone was distracted, her mind still reeling. The mention of him being a "snake charmer" made her curious. Was he being serious, or was he referring to the snake woman she had seen outside? She had seen true snake charmers in the sands of Aurelia, but there were certainly no snakes this far north. 

[color=DBA73D]“My name is Nyla.”[/color] She introduced herself by first name only, keeping things simple. Long ago she had mastered the art of being a courtesan, and clients seldom sought conversation beyond discussing their own interests. Plus, she had no desire to be known on a deeper level.

Her eyes shifted to the wood planks balanced on his shoulder, and she couldn’t help but lift a brow at the mention of a puppet theater. The last time she’d seen one was in the capital, mostly for children, and there didn’t seem to be many of those in this frozen land. Who was he planning to entertain?

[color=DBA73D] “You wear many hats, it seems—gardener, snake charmer, puppet master.”[/color] she remarked, attempting a lighter tone. Despite the strangeness of the interaction, Gadez’s presence was helping her feel slightly more at ease, a welcome distraction from the turmoil in her chest.

Just as she opened her mouth to ask him more, her words stalled in her throat. The door to the tavern opened again, and there he was—Flynn, standing just inside, his gaze sweeping the room. Nyla's breath hitched, her heart pounding even harder, her eyes locking onto his. [i]Had he come for her?[/i] For a moment, everything else faded away. Her expression, despite her efforts to remain neutral, betrayed her longing. She wanted to go to him, to feel his arms around her again—but she couldn’t move.

Then, just as quickly as he had appeared, Flynn’s attention was stolen by the call of a brunette woman who addressed him by his first name. [color=DBA73D][i]‘They must be close.’[/i][/color], she thought bitterly, watching as the woman guided him away to the back of the tavern. And just like that, he was gone again.

She let out a shaky breath, her chest aching with the effort of holding herself together. Turning back to Gadez, she forced herself to focus on the present, on anything but the sight of Flynn. [color=DBA73D]"What brought you to Dawnhaven?"[/color] she asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though it was clear that her mind was elsewhere. No matter what answer Gadez gave, Nyla doubted she'd fully hear it. Her head was spinning, and her heart was a tangled mess.

Nyla’s attention was instantly pulled to the rich sound of music filling the tavern. She turned, her eyes settling on a man, clearly blight-born, standing confidently among the crowd, a violin beneath his chin and a bow gliding gracefully across the strings. For a few breaths, she stood captivated, lost in the way the tavern lit up with his song—people clapping, cheering, their spirits lifted by his music. 

Nyla couldn’t help but smile. This felt like home—music and laughter filling a space, the joy of people losing themselves in the moment. It tugged at her, a familiar urge bubbling up inside to dance, to sing alongside the notes, to be free and forget her worries if only for a moment. Her heart fluttered with the memory of all the nights she had spent doing just that.

As she continued to watch, something shifted in her gaze. Her smile faltered, replaced by a look of curiosity and then sharp focus as she studied the musician more closely. There was something about the way he played—the way his hands moved, the sway of his body, the passion in his music. She knew those movements, that style, and the energy that could set a room ablaze. 

Her heart skipped a beat, this time not because of Flynn, but because of the sudden realization that this bard was no mere street performer. No, this was [i]Aldrick Corveaux[/i]—famed bard of Aurelia. Her former friend, the man who once stood beside her on stage, their flirtatious banter as seamless as their duets. The one who had teased her with a smile that promised mischief and adventure.

Nyla’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could it be him? Her heart twisted as she took in the faint glow to his eyes, the red tinge of his skin, and the horns that sprouted from his head. He had transformed, much like she had. She had not seen him in over two years, yet here he was, a changed man, but still undeniably himself. She continued to watch in awe, lost in each perfectly executed note. He had changed, but at least he had not lost the magic in his fingers or the soul that poured out through his music.

Despite the ache in her chest from seeing Flynn just moments ago, Nyla felt a warmth spread through her. Aldrick had survived whatever fate had thrown at him, just as she had. And even in this distant, snowy corner of the world, his music managed to lift her spirits.

[color=f49ac2]“Keep it PG,  least until later, no Kissing booth ok. Maybe after the kids Done, got some odd idea's.”[/color]

Nyla’s attention was pulled to the tall brunette woman speaking to Gadez, her words ringing out with a confidence that couldn’t be ignored.  She was clearly a Lunarian guard, judging by her attire and subtle accent. Nyla raised a brow at the comment, a mix of amusement and curiosity crossing her face as she wondered why on earth this guard would think that she and Gadez wouldn’t keep things "PG." People in Dawnhaven certainly had no reservations about speaking their minds—perhaps it was the Lunarian way of things.

She stole a glance at Gadez, gauging his reaction to the notion, half-expecting some witty or dramatic response given the way he’d been talking to her earlier. Feeling her spirit somewhat rejuvenated, Nyla smirked, [color=DBA73D]"No kissing booth? That’s a shame. I thought Gadez was going to show me how he charms all those snakes he mentioned earlier."[/color] she said, giving Gadez a playful look. 

The jab felt good, lightening her mood even further. It was like stepping back into the performer’s role, where every quip and laugh was a way to help people mask whatever turmoil churned below the surface. At least for now, the music and banter made her feel almost like herself again.

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[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Gadez [@Dezuel], Daphne [@PrinceAlexus]
[b]Mentions:[/b] Aldrick [@SpicyMeatball][/sub]