Fantasy Nocturne of a Fox (Vixen & Titanborn 1x1)

[Vixen Dreams]

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It was about mid-morning in a little village out in the middle of no where. A little farming village, with little going on: In the center of town a little market gathered to trade goods and wait for wagons from both the farms and goods from other places. Far and near. A cool day, clouds helping to block out the warm sun, a hint of the harvest season that was just around the corner.

Yet, something new was happening in town today it seemed, in the center of the little trade square. Sitting on the edge of the water well was a woman, just into her adult years it seemed with sun kissed skin and long dark hair. Deep brown eyes that almost looked gold at the right angle. In her hands was a strange instrument, it looked like a lute...maybe a fiddle of some kind. But, it did not sound like at fiddle and she did not play it like a lute.

The songs she played were, long, filled with emotions that drew the passing crowd for a few minute before the would give her a few copper and move on with their day. Some staying longer then other to listen to the almost haunting, beautiful songs she played.

A few of the elderly even set up tables and chairs by her, to play their games of cards and chest while listening to the young woman and her odd fiddle.

Every now and then she would pause her playing, offering a smile or a soft thanks. Maybe chattering with a few folks that had questions or take a drink of water. Her face soft, kind, friendly, like the kind of person you wanted to walk up to and ask how her day was going. Then, just like that, she would go back to playing. Filling this small, quite town with music once more.

 

[Titanborn]

The weather was pleasant and the sky was spotted with white, fluffy clouds as Ymir arrived on the outskirts of the small town. He was making his way through the countryside to find another job in a bigger city. For the past decade or so, he's always been moving from city to city, never feeling like he actually belonged. He was a nomad by all accounts, taking on whatever jobs he could before moving on. He'd leave as suddenly as he arrived.

Letting out a soft sigh, Ymir figured he would stand out in this village, too. It wasn't uncommon, to be honest. Being so large and well armed, it always brought attention to himself. Also, travelling alone always seemed to draw eyes to him. It was something he lived with, but always felt a bit uncomfortable with the amount of attention, typically negative. He knew he just had to press forward and eventually find his purpose in life. Eventually he wouldn't have to travel aimlessly, taking on whatever jobs he needed to survive.

Walking slowly, he kept his head down, looking towards the ground in front of him. His mind was elsewhere as he began passing a few people. The familiar feeling of eyes landing on him made him tense up slightly. Soft whispers to one another happened all around him before they returned to their work. Obviously they were gossiping about this man, but he dismissed them entirely. He just kept walking before the sound of music became present. It caught him off guard, knowing that peasants wouldn't know how to play instruments. Someone else must be in town, as well. He might as well follow the sound and take a peek before continuing on his way.

After a minute of walking, he found the town's trade center. That's where the music seemed to be resonating from. A small crowd had gathered around what seemed to be a young woman playing an odd instrument. It didn't look like anything he's ever seen in his travels, but he wasn't exactly a connoisseur of music. He stood in the back, his massive size allowed him to see over the heads of the townspeople. He stuck out like a sore thumb, however. His bleach blonde hair and pale skin clashed against the fair skin and brunette and black haired people. Some people looked over their shoulders at the man, whispered something to someone next to them and stared at him for a few moments before returning to the music. It seemed that many of them were untrusting, but figured he was just a traveller passing through. Maybe even some of them heard about the wandering Northerner. Who knows, it didn't really matter.

As he took in the music, it seemed to bring a sense of peace to him. He didn't know why, but Ymir felt at ease with himself as the sound washed over him. A soft smile appeared on his face, his mind retreating back to the few pleasant moments in his life. It was odd, though. Even if he didn't realize it yet, but this wouldn't be the only time he would spend listening to this musician. Their paths would cross a lot more than either of them would ever realize.

 

[Vixen Dreams]

The woman at first did not seem to notice the odd looking man in the crowd, her eyes closed as she listened to her own music as she played. Each note seemed to pull at the crowd, a few people moving up toward the woman to place coins in the instrument's case. From the looks of it, she had made a fair bit and still people gave to her. Copper, silver...even a gold coin rested in the case. If he listened to long, to deep...the man might also be pulled to give the woman a coin for her art.

Yet, before the call to do so became to deep...the song would come to an end. The woman pausing in her work to look over the crowd that had gathered, her eyes pausing at the pale skin, blond haired man. Such kind eyes watching him for a moment, a matching smile given to him before she offered a light bow of her head. Had it been for him? Or for the crowd that had gathered? Then her gaze was pulled away, a young, good looking man had walked over to her.

The two talked for a moment, she giggled...he smirked. A playful scoffed on her end, eyes blinking some as she noticed the crowd had started to thin. People going back to their work and choirs. The man tried to pull her back into conversation, and though she spoke back, Ren also went to work gathering her pay and tucking it away. The playfulness in her jesters seeming to fade now, having lost the crowd that she had worked so hard to gather. The man seeming not to take the hint that she wanted to get back to her work.

After all the town was small, with not many people in it. It had taken a lot of effort to pull in so many, and she might not be able to do it again.

 

[Titanborn]

Ymir seemed to snap out of the musical daze as did the rest of the crowd. People began dispersing, returning to whatever activities they dropped to check out the music. It was a nice change of pace for the simple townsfolk. Not everyday could they experience the luxury of music. That's probably why they gave the traveller their extra coin to show appreciation so eagerly.

The man looked around briefly, not realizing how captivated he was by the sound. It was subtle, but she managed to draw him in with her instrument. That was the mark of a skilled bard, putting a spell on people through your music. It was a fickle living, but rather enjoyable when it worked out.

As the crowd quickly thinned, Ymir noticed the girl losing her calm smile from earlier as a persistent man kept trying to talk to her. She humored him at first, but then grew annoyed as he continued at it. Presumably, the man thought he was being my slick, trying to get the young woman's affection before she packed up and left town.

Taking a deep breath, something in Ymir's mind told him to intervene. He'd rather not see this guy get too pushy on this young woman. Taking a few large steps, he stopped in front of the two. He reached out and tugged at the man's shoulder lightly. "Hey... Take a hint. She doesn't want to talk to you."

His voice was stern and deep, giving a sense of authority to it. Ymir's face was emotionless, his sharp blue eyes piercing through the other man's. It was quite obvious that the man was more thsn a foot smaller than he was. His body seemed dwarfed in comparison to his own. He just wanted to diffuse the situation before heading out of town. He was still just passing through, after all.

 

[Vixen Dreams]

Those golden ember eyes turned from the young man to the one that had spoke on her behalf, a small smile pulling at her lips as he did. She took a moment to study the two side by side, taking in the differences in men. One was tall, pale, a woman could get lost in those blue eyes. The other, well, he was like all the rest: Average, dark hair, brown eyes. Maybe a noble's son, but these days such men could be found just about anywhere.

"Look sir, I just want to by the lady a drink. Make sure she gets a safe place to stay for the evening. After all, the roads can be dangerous for one like herself traveling alone." He cleared his voice some, tried to stand up a bit taller, though it did not help against the other man.

"And I told him," The woman finally spoke up, her voice as haunting and lovely as the song she had been playing just moments before. A heavy accent on her tongue just added to it. "I need to make it to the next town before tomorrow. I will be heading out as soon as I gather my coin and get rations for the road."

There was a click of a case as she set her interment into place, then she tucked her coin pouch into her backpack, "I do not need nor do I want troubles from him."