melodiesoflife | Calm Before the Storm

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Calm Before the Storm

WHO: Ramza Beoulve, Rialynn Kollmann
WHAT: Rialynn takes a break between ballads to chat with the local peacemaker and learn more about him and the world he comes from. He doesn't get to learn squat about her in return.
WHEN: April 15, Evening
WHERE: Space Saloon

The bow danced feverishly over the strings of her fiddle, building to a final frenzied pitch as the bard whirled in place. Her heavy skirts flared over her knees, long hair and bandanna tails fanned out until the hit the last three notes, ending the wild jig on one knee with her instrument tucked against her chin. Those who watched applauded as she panted for breath and smiled, bobbing her head in thanks. A few coins clinked into her hat. Someone tossed in a button.

Truth be told, she didn't make a lot of money as a performer, but that wasn't why she did it. Besides, since the city was nice enough to give her a house and a stipend, she needed very little. What she really wanted was that piano she'd seen in the music shop window. Slowly but surely, she was edging closer to her goal of being able to afford it.

Rialynn stood to her feet and swept a courtly bow before announcing that she would take a fifteen-minute break before returning to tell the story of The Green Dragon in the Crystal Forest. That was something she wanted to tell when she was fresh and rested.

She descended from the dais with a simple hop, making her way to the bar for a glass of water and ice when she spotted a familiar face. Ramza! Rialynn brightened immediately, lifting her hand over her head in greeting. He'd been right, his presence definitely calmed the crowd and kept things from getting too wild, and she was grateful for that. Once she got her water, she slipped past the tables and patrons to claim an empty seat beside him.

"Hey! Glad you could make it tonight!" she beamed. "I was hoping I could get another story of Ivalice from you." The land seemed to be filled with tales of romance, hardship, and adventure, sometimes all at once. And she was pretty sure he'd been through some interesting experiences of his own, which she was just as eager to learn.

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"Good evening," he responded. " 'twas a beautiful song you just played. Well done."

He had been dining on the evening's special, 'fish and chips' in a little basket. He pushed the basket a little closer and gestured that she could take what she wanted.

"What would you like to hear?" It would have to be a short story, since she was due back on stage after her break. "A legend, a parable, a retelling of a great event?" He knew Rialynn loved to hear all sorts of tales, but he had so far found no rhyme or reason to what she would ask for on any given occasion.

"Thank you," she responded with pride, her smile widening. Were he to compliment anything else, she might have shied back, but she worked hard on her craft. It was always reassuring to know that it was well received, as she didn't believe Ramza the sort to give false compliments.

Her eyes tracked to the little basket. She shouldn't eat his food, but... Her fingers reached for one of the chips anyway. Fried food was one of the new things she found particularly good in this world. How anyone could make a piece of potato so crisp on the outside and so soft in the middle was a miracle.

And she hadn't even tried ice cream yet.

Raising her eyebrows as he made his offer, she finished her chip and scooted forward, delighted that he didn't mind fulfilling her request. She knew she didn't have too long, so she would have to save the great event for later, but a parable? That might work! "A parable would be great. Thank you!"

Edited 2016-04-18 03:14 (UTC)

Ramza thought for a moment, before settling on a story to tell Rialynn. Few of the parables in Ivalice were happy ones. Lessons were not taught gently there.

"There was a tale told to the children of Ivalice, about a fearful prince and his beloved bride. He knew the world to be a treacherous place, so he guarded her jealously. Knowing he would have to leave her side to go to war, he built a tower in which to keep her. As he encountered dangers in his travels, he wrote to his architects, instructing them to build the tower higher and higher, to protect his queen. The more fearful the prince became of her safety, the higher up the princess was moved.

"It was when she was placed on the highest floor of the tower keep that a fire started on the ground below. Up the fire rose, barring her escape, and the gentle princess was forced to leap from her window and fall to her death, rather than perish in flames."

He paused. "Then the storyteller would ask the listeners, 'What can be learned from the fearful prince and his bride?'" He had heard different interpretations, based on who was asked, so he was curious to hear what Rialynn would make of the morbid tale.

[[ooc: There's nothing canon to use, so I had to make something up based on a line from a FFT cut scene. We'll see what she can do with this mess of a tale.]]

Rialynn listened intently. He had a good cadence to his voice that suited him well for relating the tale of the parable. His words were simple, but chosen well to convey the message without weighing the tale down with unnecessary details.

When he finished, her smile widened. He hadn't asked her directly what the lesson to be learned was, but how could she not take a guess? Wasn't the lesson the most interesting part? Especially since it could vary to suit the mindset of the listener at hand. "There are so many," she sighed happily. It was a tragic story, sure, but she appreciate it for what it was rather than attaching her emotions to the characters. "It could be compared to parents who coddle their children, thinking only of the dangers they've known while being ignorant to the troubles their children are actually facing."

Her hand came to the side, as if to offer another choice. "Or for the melancholy, they could say that all love must die, so it's pointless to waste time on trying to make it last instead of enjoying it while you still have it. Or!" she added, growing more lively as she placed her fists on the table in front of her. "To a soldier, it might seem as a way of delivering a lesson of divorcing one's self from attachments at home and focusing on the war at hand, to protect himself from the tragedy of loss. It's a good parable, with lots of messages that can be taken from the conclusion."

She looked down, and blinked. Wait. Where had Ramza's chips gone? She'd meant only to eat a few, but maybe she'd gotten a little carried away while listening to him talk. Um. Oops. Embarrassed, she flagged down a server and ordered a fresh side of replacement chips, before smiling apologetically at Ramza. "Sorry about that. I guess I was hungrier than I realized."

Ramza waved away her apology over the chips. "Do not fret over it. You have little time, and I am glad to share." He would have time to replace them before he headed back out to finish his rounds, and Barkeep often gave him more than he really needed when he ordered.

He nodded at her assessment. "Yes, the lesson to be learned often varies, depending on who you ask. But they all agree on one aspect. 'Death comes to everyone, and not even the most noble endeavors can turn it aside.'" He had never claimed that Ivalicean stories were happy.

"But I always thought of it as a warning. 'Life is fleeting, so treasure your time with those you love.' If you try to run away from death, you run away from life as well."

Rialynn flashed a grateful smile. She was glad he wasn't angry. He even seemed to understand, and she appreciated his thoughtfulness. But she said nothing more on the subject, because she was more interested in hearing about the lesson he chose to take away from the tale.

So that was how he saw it. It was interesting. "I can't imagine you'd have that problem. I haven't seen you run away from anything yet."

But she did wonder who he chose to spend his time with. He did seem very close to the Barkeep, and she'd noticed the paternal way he was treated. However, she hadn't known him long enough to count the rest of his relations, so for all she knew, there might have been someone very special to him that he enjoyed being around.

Rialynn paused to glance toward the stage, and make sure she still had time enough before returning, before looking back at Ramza. "Not to call you a fatalist or anything, but you don't think that applies to us being here facing against the Calamity, do you?" Because she was optimistic about their chances of finding a way to stop it. Surely he hadn't given up just yet.

"I spent too much time in my youth running away from my problems. Here in Crystallis, I suppose I am making up for it." He still had a ways to go to be the sort of person his father was.

"It depends on how you look at it. Fighting the Calamity is dangerous business. We could run from that to prolong our own lives, but ultimately doom the world. I think that would be what the fearful prince would advise. But taking up sword in hand and facing our fears, we can control our destiny."

He took a sip from his mug of milk. "I tried to hide my sister away, when we faced a danger that might have destroyed the world. But she was taken from her monastery and nearly killed, because of my good intentions to keep her safe. Had I kept her by my side and been brave enough to trust that we could protect ourselves, she might have been spared much suffering."

Rialynn nodded slowly. She was still learning about his past, so she couldn't argue with him about his past one way or the other. But it was still difficult to imagine that he would run away from something...not for a selfish purpose, in any case. He was a really good guy, through and through.

But she could at least agree with his views on the Calamity. "Cheers to that," she said. Maybe she wasn't able to contribute much herself, but she could at least make sure that what these Heroes chose to do would not be easily forgotten. She meant to preserve their memory and their choices, so the generations that followed would have examples to look up to and follow.

As he spoke of his sister, Rialynn leaned back, nodding slowly as if making a silent decision. "I'd still like to hear the fullness of your story, when we both have more time. You've been through a lot, and seen many things. I think it's worth recording, if you wouldn't find that too personal."

Ramza's gloved fingers drummed on the bar as he thought it over. On the one hand, he did not think there was anything particularly remarkable about his story, nor did he want anyone thinking he was seeking pity or recognition. But Orran Durai had seemed interested in his life as well. He'd said he thought it would have historical significance.

In the end, it boiled down to his friends. He had tales of the legendary knights, Agrias and Orlandeau, of the clever mechanic Mustadio, of the melancholy Princess Ovelia, and his resolute sister, Alma. There was Delita's tragic heroism, the commoner who would become king. Their deeds were worth sharing, and worth remembering, even if the telling of them was painful.

"Very well," he said after a moment's reflection. "When you have time, I suppose I can tell it. It may turn out to be less exciting than your imaginings."

"We'll see about that," she said, dusting her palms together as she leaned back. It was about time for her to get back on stage, but if he managed to stick around long enough for them to walk home together, and he wasn't too tired, she wouldn't mind inviting him in to talk about it some more. "You have cardinals that turn into demons, dancing horned beasts, and an intricate plot of corruption and brave perseverance. Like it or not," she winked at him, "you're the hero of this tale. A really good one, too."

A rhythmic pounding on the tables had begun, and the rest of the patrons were starting to take it up too. "Role! Switch! Role! Switch! Role! Switch!"

Rialynn glanced at the stage, then at Ramza, backing up as she did so. "Break's up! We'll talk later, all right?" She pointed in his direction, flashing a grin, before she hustled back to the stage. For some reason, they seemed to really enjoy the re-telling of a classic tale from a different point of view.

"My friends!" she spread her arms, and bowed. "I hear your request, and I shall grant it. You all know the tale of brave Leek Skyhopper and his friends, how they were captured by the Eyucks and about to become roasted before their shiny golden golem, C-MPO'd, attempted to use his language skills to negotiate their release. Ah, but do you know that PO'd was truly a backstabbing villain, who had grown weary of his shorter golems incessant beeping, and being treated as a glorified butler?"

A few heads were shaking, but the grins were many. They were anticipating something like this.

"Then I will tell you tonight's Role Switch tale, called 'What Did He Say?'" She waited for the chuckles as she perched herself on her stool, picked up her lute, and strummed a few quiet, idle chords to set the scene with a haunting tone.

"'PO'd, tell them that if they do not free us, you will use your powerful magic to destroy them,' said Leek, hanging from his pole with all of the grace of a spitted rabbit. PO'd looked at him," Rialynn squinted her eyes, as if she were the gleaming golem herself, "and thought to himself, 'Wot an idiot. I have no magic, and if I did, I would have crushed your head into a greasy pulp eons ago.'" A few more chuckles. "Then he realized the vast amount of power he held at this very moment. An army of furry creatures to do his bidding. His detested companions bound and helpless. And language barriers." She spread her palms slowly apart, as if painting a canvas with possibilities.

"'Ahem. I shall try my best, Master Leek,' he told the Cosmic Knight, before turning to address the Eeyucks. 'Taronto gohsh...BOOM!' Which translates to, 'And after dinner, there shall be fireworks! BOOM!'"

* * * * *

The crowd had been in a fun mood tonight. She could tell that the majority of patrons preferred comedy, partially due to the cloudy skies, partially due to the drastic changes that were slowly altering their world. The Calamity was still coming, but it was nice not to think about it for at least one night. She played them jigs so they could dance, sang about the dolphin who courted his lover by telling her he needed her like the hole in his head, and told tales of folly and quick-witted heroes defeating very stupid monsters.

But she hadn't forgotten about Ramza. Once the last patron had gone, and the last chair put up on the table, Rialynn was ready to go home. She'd changed out of her flashy costume in favor of her plain white blouse and plain leather breeches. Then she scouted around the bar to see if he'd stayed, or gone home to sleep. If so, then perhaps another day, she could hear his own tale.

Ramza had not been able to stay for the evening of storytelling. He had left quietly when the Role Switch tale had begun, heading out to continue on his patrol. When times were hard, more people turned to crime in their desperation.

He circled back by the Space Saloon at closing time, though. The better to make sure none of Barkeep's patrons got rowdy when they were sent home, and the better to make sure Rialynn did not meet with any more troublemakers on her way home. So when she looked for him, he was not at the bar.

"Ready to head home?" he called from the doorway.

[[ooc: We can wrap here if you want, or walk home. There probably won't be any more tale-telling tonight.]]

[OOC: MORE.]

After her first initial look around, she'd determined that he'd gone home a while ago. And that was fine. The bar didn't close until it was very late, after all. Walking home alone wasn't really so bad, so long as she had her rapier. She retrieved her rapier from behind the bar and turned to the door, just when he called out to her and stopped her in her tracks. She blinked owlishly for a moment before happiness washed away her surprise. Sure he'd done it before, but it was still really nice of him.

"Yeah," she nodded, grinning. She hefted her bag higher up on her shoulder and hurried forward, since it wouldn't do to keep him waiting for too long. "Did you stay the whole time, or were you on patrol tonight?"

Ramza gave her a half-smile. "I had to go back out on patrol. I would have liked to stay and hear the end of the story, but..." Crime did not wait, and the streets did not patrol themselves. He shrugged.

"How was the crowd? Did they enjoy your story of...what was it, Leek?" They walked down the quiet and mostly deserted streets.

"Oh! Right. I should have realized that," she gave her head a light shake, grinning sheepishly. Heaven forbid that she ever start taking these walks together for granted. It was kind enough that he stopped by at all while he was on duty, she didn't want to grow so accustomed to it that she became ungrateful.

"I think so," she replied to his question with a slow nod. "People were laughing, anyway, so I'll count that as a success!"

In truth, comedy was probably her weakest talent. Fortunately, alcohol had a way of broadening a person's sense of humor, and most people who went out to a busy saloon at night did so in an attempt to have fun, so they were ready for a good laugh.

But a good comedian had to be confident, so she wasn't about to let on that it wasn't her best genre to perform.

"What about you? Everything peaceful, I hope?"

He shrugged. "We have been seeing a rise in crime lately. There are...minor altercations...at times, but nothing with the makings of a great tale. The people are scared, and so they lash out."

It happened back in Ivalice as well, and Ramza has learned not to judge without considering the cause of it all. He sighed and shook his head.

"Keeping up the people's good cheer like you do helps. When they can laugh and unwind, they remember what life was like before the Calamity."

"Oh, um..." Her hand found the back of her head as a sheepish smile worked its way across her face. "...just...part of being a bard, you know? It's important to tell stories that not only entertain, but soothe and inspire as well. It's a worthy profession."

Rialynn couldn't take the compliment personally, but she was proud of her trade, and grateful that Ramza seemed to recognize that. Not many people did.

Her smile faded as they walked, and for a moment there was an awkward silence punctuated only by the sound of their boots clicking on the paved city streets. "I wish we knew how to fight the Calamity. Lifting spirits is well and good, but it's a temporary solution. The threat is still there at the end of the day."

Ramza let out a heavy breath. "Not giving up is part of the fight. 'Tis one of the most important parts, in fact. I wish we knew more as well, but it helps to at least know we are doing all in our power to help."

Because it was foolish to expect more from themselves than they could possibly give. Ramza still would, of course, but he could at least console himself with the notion when he failed.

Rialynn nodded absently. He had a point, and it was good advice. But nobody liked feeling helpless, or being unable to do anything but watch while the things and people they cared about were ruthlessly destroyed.

"I know we've probably been through every book in the library a dozen times. What about the other cities?" Rialynn lifted her head to look up at Ramza, furrowing her brow. "Do they have libraries too, or schools? There's got to be more information out there somewhere."

Ramza shrugged. He had never thought about it.

"I assume so. Literacy is very common here in all the towns and cities we have interacted with. That means they must have schools or something like them to teach people. And if they have no library, than they at least have a mognet office with a record of letters sent. I do not know if we would have access to any of those resources, but they must exist."

She nodded again, this time more vigorously. Her mind was made up on the matter, and that focus gave her confidence. "Looks like I'll be hitting the road pretty soon, then. I can let someone else tell the stories for a little while." She smiled as they neared the streets of the two-occupant homes. Bright orbs of light hung suspended in the iron lanterns that lit the cobbled streets, chasing away the shadows and casting a safe and comfortable atmosphere on the pedestrians who walked in the evening hours.

"What about you? You've got your hands full with the refugees, last I heard. Any plans?"

"Nothing set in stone. I am keeping my ears open and waiting to see what comes. 'Tis hard to make plans and keep them when the world is in the state this one is in."

It was the way life often went for him, so he did not sound particularly upset by it. He smiled at Rialynn. "Stay safe in your travels."

"Ha...! Don't I know it." She grinned, feeling comfortable and easy as they walked side by side. At his command, that grin widened, and her hazel eyes twinkled. "You know I can't..."

By now he probably had at least some idea that she had a tendency to attract trouble and hijinks in her adventures. But saying as much wouldn't really put his mind at ease, and she wasn't going to drag him around to play bodyguard when he had much more important duties to tend to here. She rubbed the back of her neck and nodded.

"Yeah, sure. Of course! They're just libraries, after all, psh." Just a trivial matter to be shrugged off, right? It wasn't as if the libraries were secretly run by any cultists this time ~~she hoped~~.

Ramza had seen some dangerous things happen in libraries, but he did not want to worry Rialynn, or imply that she could not take care of herself, so he nodded.

"I pray you will find what you are looking for."

"Yeah..." Her hand drifted back to her side as she nodded. "Yeah, me too."

At last they reached the porch of her two-person home. She hardly ever saw her roommate, and there didn't seem to be any lights on in the house. Either he was absent, or had already gone to bed. Rialynn's performances did wind up being pretty late.

She slung her costume bag off of her shoulder, reaching down to fish the key out of one of the pouches. "Well, this is it. Thanks again for taking time to walk me home." Rialynn wasn't quite sure how to express her appreciation appropriately, so he would have to settle for a very awkward pat on his upper arm. "You take care on your way back too."

Ramza accepted the pat on his arm. He did not reach out and touch people often, but he usually did not prevent others from touching him. It was nice.

He inclined his head in a slight bow. "No need to worry about me. Good night, Rialynn."

"Good night, Ramza." She smiled, then turned to unlock the door, and dragged her belongings inside.

Once the door was shut and latched, Rialynn stood there in the darkness of her living room for a moment, just listening to the sounds of the crickets outside her window, and Ramza's inevitable fading steps.

It was strangely nice in a way she didn't expect, just to talk with someone who doesn't immediately assume she's one way or the other. He's a friend. As often as she traveled, friends weren't easy to come by, and lasting associations were rare. This one, in particular, granted a certain sort of inexplicable peace. It was easy to relax around him, and let down her defenses.

It was really, really nice.

Unaware of the dumb smile on her face, Rialynn hoisted her gear up onto her shoulder and retreated to her room to prepare for bed.

Edited (I CAN'T DOES GRAMMER TENSE) 2016-06-01 05:55 (UTC)

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Calm Before the Storm

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