Intermingled Melodies (Day 4 ME Vel'tin's Corner)

[Zanebry Varliss]

Vel'tin's Corner, or just The Corner, as it was commonly called, was a fairly popular music venue in the lower city of Nar Shadda. Formerly a small theater, all the chairs had been removed from the lower level to create a dance floor, where people would mill about and watch the concerts.

There remained a upper level balcony, where one could actually buy seats, and not have to stand all evening, and three bars, two on the first floor and one on the balcony level. There was a decent crowd tonight, Darwi of the Sixth Sense, being a big draw even at last minute concert.

The pair wasn't the act on though, and Z lingered backstage with the Crimson Twi'lek as they waited for their turn to play. Z wasn't dressed as formally as usual, having removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He was playing a different brand of music tonight, and this would make it easier for him to move.

[Moyr Ahaya]

The side of the stage was still in preparation as the techie Moldo from the Wonderland employed for various stuff was setting things up for a live transmission of the concert on air, so they had to wait a bit anyway.

Darwi was dressed in a tight sleeveless black one-piece composed of sateen tapes sewn together, and had a leather jacket over her shoulders. It certainly complimented her toned silhouette without being ostentatious and vulgar. She was sitting opposite to him, one leg over the other, browsing the datapad balancing over hen knee and swiping suggestions to Zane's device.

"I am pretty flexible about repertoire, I would like your opinion what tracks could make our evening good from those I sent you. If you want us to cover something, that would be great too."

[Basically we can assume this is Darwi's repertoire, suggest what you like. ]

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane watched Darwi for a few moments as she worked, she a lovely woman and the clothes suited her to say the least. As she started to send titles her way, he looked through them thoughtfully. "I'd like to try shapeshifter again." He mused as he looked through them.

"Refrain as well, that's one I've been looking forward to. Do you have any suggestions? You know your songs better then I, perhaps you have some favorites I can take a look at?"

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Shapeshifter. Refrain." She tagged them, pouting in thought in a quite delightful way, with her lekku turning a bit round their axes without changing position, she then looked up at him, batting lashes once before seeking his eyes. "I don't want to go solo too often tonight because we're partners in this endeavour and I wouldn't feel well hogging the spotlight. In addition to the appreciation of your voice." She smirked lightly. "Also, two tracks have already been aired and while I like them, I don't want to be repetitive. This would leave us with... still a lot, hmmm."

She looked back at her datapad, still browsing.

"But I want to do 'It only takes one shot'." She glanced at him briefly, but there was some special scrutiny in her gaze, a slight thinning of lips and maybe a frown as a if a distant memory pushed through her mind without being too welcome. "And I think 'What you done' because it has good guitar solos I'd leave wholly to you. On a lighter note, 'I shall be released' would be nice for us both." It looked like that one improved her mood at least, as if she was finding something special in the message. "And 'Bobby, Baby', though we can put another name in if we want to remember someone, or tease." Sh tilted her head bringing her gaze back to his face, curious.

[Zanebry Varliss]

He didn't look away his grey eyes matching her golden ones, a slender smile playing over his lips. "Well, I'm willing to join you however much you like tonight. Though I'll have to be at my best to draw any eyes away from you Darwi." His lips curled into a smirk. "That outfit of yours is absolutely enticing."

"Oh, I like that one." He replied pleased with her first selection. He took note of the slight change in her features, and he offered, what he hoped was a soothing smile before he continued. "I like the idea of the guitar solo." He smirked. "It might help my chances." He nodded his agreement to the next one, taking note again on how her expression changed, there was probably something there if he wanted to try. "I think I'll leave any name changing of that one to you." He smiled. "Not that I don't have anyone to tease."

"How many more were you wanting to do?" He asked as he continued to browse through the selection. "We have six as is." He moved his eyes back towards hers. "And I know I can't keep you to myself all night."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Good I put this on, otherwise I would risk being visually unremarkable." She smirked, letting her tattooed-on brows arch and lektips curl. "But I believe you'll have your own pretty audience. You haven't brought me to a gentlemen's club, have you?" She leaned in to poke his shoulder with her finger, then smoothed off the shirt on it, perhaps banishing a hair or a grain of dirt.

After that, she just sat back and returned her attention to the datapad. For a moment, she scrolled in silence. "I believe two or three more, leaving a place for one encore if we convince them we're actually good at this." She tapped her lips, which suddenly creased into a wide smile. "This, Zane. We'll have fun with this one." She then looked straight at him. "And with 'Run The Night'. The last one is your pick."

[Zanebry Varliss]

He chuckled softly. "If I did it will be a surprise to me as well. I've never had much of a need for those sort of places." He almost reached for her hand as she pulled away, and something hungry flashed across his eyes for a moment. Darwi brought out a completely different part of him then Arsele, and he was sure this concert would have a entirely different type of energy.

"I'm sure we'll have no trouble on that account." He said with a soft chuckle, as he continued to browse through his own datapad. "I like both of those. He mused, closing his eyes for a moment as he made a list of what he listened to. "I like these two." He offered at last. Sending a pair of songs her way. The first was Little Ruby. "I just find this one sexy, and I think we could have fun with it." The second was Fire and Undertow. "As for this, well I just kinda like it."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Agreed. We'll need a bit of sexy so as not to cast the audience in an existential crisis if they're not in one already." She laughed. "This way Fire & Undertow can go for a possible encore. I think we have it, Zane." He extended her hand for a handshake. "Let's just get a bit more in sync with the guitar parts, and we can hit the stage."

[Zanebry Varliss]

He laughed along with her a smile on his lips as he responded. "I believe we do Darwi." He confirmed as he took her hand in his, turning it slightly as is he would kiss it, but not actually doing so.

"Sounds good." He replied as he took up his guitar and began to tune it. "I'm ready whenever you sre."

[Moyr Ahaya]

She put the holosonic transmitters on her fingers and used her datapad to project a guitar, then customised the settings a little to produce a deep, acoustic sound. She shited her position several times, weighing from one hip to another, until she found the angle best suited for the hologuitar. Her expression changed, became more focused, slightly distant, almost contemplative. It was in the last moment before she started playing that she looked at him with a focused look, seeking sync.

[Zanebry Varliss]

A slim smile was on his lips as he matched his eyes to hers. Z had always preferred the texture of an actual instrument under his fingers, certainly it didn't have the same adaptability as her holo instrument, but he simply liked it better.

Pulling a pick from his shirt pocket, he set his fingers to the strings and began to play, certain she would follow his lead, his eyes never looking away from hers.

[Moyr Ahaya]

A few things could be read from them. That she was serious about what she was doing, dedicated, and while she was also having fun, a big part of it was from being good at it. The focus in her gaze was reconnecting with his in intermissions, an attunement check, and they were turning inward for a moment once she made sure they understood each other. As they were progressing with the melodies, she was ceding ground to him, letting him take over the lead in keeping the music going, just accentuating the course with humming or singing isolated phrases. This was when she was smiling genuinely the most, when she was getting certain that she could rely on him.

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane liked this, playing together, learning each other's various quirks and rhythm. It was somewhat exhilarating, and he at least felt that he knew Darwi much better now then when he started. She would learn from his as well, about his confidence, and skill, though their existed a underlying emotion to his music that was hard to read. He did this for a reason, and it wasn't just his enjoyment.

As they continued to play, he'd start to take the lead more and more, bringing his own touches to the songs. Looking for the rhythm that suited them as a pair.

[Moyr Ahaya]

She didn't question his motives openly, but as he was showing more of himself through music, she was attentive. They both played a game of controlled disclosure, a man with a past and a woman with a story. There was some inherent danger in it, but she enjoyed it nonetheless, and let more of her emotions to surface. Under the soft smile there was sadness in her, deeply embedded, a condition of a mangled heart. The pain stopped registering or was just accepted, but it has never healed. The music offered... alternative circulation, the surrogate heart was immaterial, hidden between the notes.

[Zanebry Varliss]

A crooked smile touched hips lips as he listened to her play, perhaps they were both a bit more broken then they let on. Still as she shared more of herself he reciprocated, letting her feel a touch of the sadness in his heart, it was deep, dark, and mixed with another, perhaps regret? They were quickly pushed to the side as another emotion welled to the surface. It was impossible to tell what it was though, because with a sharp rap on the body of his guitar his playing came to a halt.

He paused for a moment taking a breath before looking up seeking Darwi's eyes. "Do you think we are ready?" He asked with a soft smile.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I think we are..." Her voice trailed off. She turned off the holo and holstered the datapad. Then, a sweet smile crept in. "At least for the concert. Come on, Zane. Let's do it." She rose from her seat the way she had risen on the arena, only now he could observe it from the front, her curves testing the fabric for a brief, seamless moment. It didn't feel like she was tempting him; more like she allowed herself to be less guarded, letting her natural instincts coordinate her body when the mind was preoccupied with other things. The golden orbs glistened slightly with excitement.

She strode out, looking behind once or twice if he was following. What awaited them was an unpleasant surprise: there were some technical issues with connection to the Studio, probably some aftermath of the terrorist attack, so their concert couldn't be aired. Darwi got angry a little and was apparently ready to throw a fit, but in the end she calmed down and settled on the whole gig being professionally registered and released the next day.

She hopped on the stage and waited for Zane to join her, plugging her pad to the docking bay and projecting the guitar once more.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Lets." He'd watch her for a moment as she rose, he certainly liked the way she moved,and a whisper of lust crept into the edge of his mind. He quickly crushed it way with a blink of his eyes, rising to his feet to follow her. That was not what he was here for.

Zane followed her as he strode towards the stage, confidence in his steps as he walked, her glances would be returned with a smile, but no words, they weren't really needed. The technical issues were a disappointment but he wasn't as upset as her, and tried to be a calming presence during the trouble.

When she stepped into position he joined her, setting up his own guitar, and offering her a smile. "Whenever you like Miss Bewitching."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Which would be now."

She fired up without ado or presentations, with minimum guitar into, to establish the sensual quality of her voice and make its vocalisations insinuate themselves into the minds of the audience. But her gaze wandered, and often met Zane's. She entered a musical dialogue with him, singing out a bewitching tease and not letting him fully respond until the guitar solo, having pounced him with gazes and notes of a passionate confession. When she was singing about hurting him, she was more than convincing, and a vicious smile danced on her lips. At the key line she pulled her fingertips down through the air with a clear intent to make him emerge from behind whatever veils that shrouded him. Or... it was just a part of the stage performance.

"Shape shifter
Let me catch a glimpse
You've got life, love
To push against

Oh-ohhh
Keep speaking
I'm a swirl of love
The funnel of desire
Suckin' at your dust

Shape shifter so no one knows (how to get you on the line, yeah)
Resistor of the easy road (keeps them hanging on your ride, yeah)
You make me wanna hurt you, hurt you, hurt you babe
So I can be the one to shift your shape

Write your name all over my skin
Carve out each letter, then color them in

Oh oh oooh
Shape shifter
Whisper in my ear
Let me feel your breath and
Let me hear

Shape shifter so no one knows (how to get you on the line, yeah)
Resistor of the easy road (keeps them hanging on your ride, yeah)
You make me wanna hurt you, hurt you, hurt you babe
So I can be the one to shift your shape"

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane didn't miss a beat, launching into the song as she started to sing, his guitar backing her up, his responses cut ff every time he tried. His face showed a casual indifference his eyes half closed as she sang her bewitching tease. When Darwi turned his way he'd meet her eyes but only for a briefest moment. This all changed when the moment of his solo arrived, and Zanee stepped forward with an intensity to match his playing. His eyes finally meeting hers fully as he played through his rebuttal. He'd entwine his music with hers more fully afterwards, no longer letting her have her way, barely restrained passion evident in every note. As the song came to a end he'd meet her eyes, finally letting a whisper of a smile cross his lips.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Shape shifter so no one knows (how to get you on the line, yeah)
Resistor of the easy road (keeps them hanging on your ride, yeah)
You make me wanna hurt you, hurt you, hurt you babe
So I can be the one to shift your shape

Shape shifter so no one knows (how to get you on the line, yeah)
Resistor of the easy road (keeps them hanging on your ride, yeah)
You make me wanna hurt you, hurt you, hurt you babe
So I can be the one to shift your shape"

Her finishers were not as assertive, more like amused and a bit contrary. As if she was happy to have tested the scope and nature of his defiance. For that part she sought more coordination than challenging, what led to a smooth end.

"The handsome man with a magic guitar." She called to the audience, then looked at Zane with a small smile, more restrained this time as her focus was turning inward. The next one... could be personal.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"The lovely lady with the enchanting voice." He smirked. "I believe she nearly caught me there." He finished his tone slightly teasing as he spoke more to her then the audience.

As she looked his way, he returned her smile and added on a small nod. Encouragement perhaps? He wasn't sure why but her body language told him this would be something important.

[Moyr Ahaya]

She nodded a few times before she struck the cords. Her smile vanished, and some inner sombreness slipped in. It was with the benefit of the performance, however, as she led her voice to vocalisations with angelic undertones.

"Days fly past, will we outlast this ever changing time?
How do you fare with me out there? It seems you're satisfied
Satisfied, satisfied...
With your cold and hard refrain."

Her guitar didn't lead, making space for his. She focused on the voice. When the moment came for him to join her with his, she looked at him intently. Her golden orbs were slightly glassy, misted.

[Zanebry Varliss]

He joined her in the song fluidly in the song, his guitar taking the lead as she began to poor her all into the song, a linger presence that flowed together with her words. When it came time for him to join her he stepped towards his Mic, his smooth baritone mingling his her voice, as he looked towards her matching his eyes to hers.

Used to be you looked at me but now we hardly meet eyes
I said seems to be you've become the sea tomb, sinking head of the fire
Head of fire, head of fire
Against your cold and hard refrain

His contribution to the vocals didn't last long, his pale grey eyes finally looking away as she alone, made her way through the last few lines.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Used to be you looked at me but now we hardly meet eyes
I said seems to be you've become the sea tomb, sinking head of the fire
Head of fire, head of fire
Against your cold and hard refrain"

She made her voice quieter for the shared part as they held each other's gaze, letting him claim equal footing, then made a brief pause after it was over, as if resolving to do something she had reservations about. She blinked several times, maybe trying to banish a visage she didn't want, but in the end for the last part she simply closed her eyes. The first like was lower, as if she was regaining her voice, but soon she climbed up and regained command.

"Hold me one last time
and tell me that the fault's not mine
you're only letting go because I've asked you so
And don't try to realize that forgotten luster of my eyes
It's easier if you maintain your cold and hard refrain
Hold me one last time and tell me that the fault's not mine
You're only letting go because I've asked you so
And don't try to realize the forgotten luster of my eyes
It's easier if you maintain your cold and hard refrain
Your cold and hard, your cold and hard refrain."

The instrumental finisher allowed her to get off the track and smile and once they finished, to bow and gesture toward Zane.

"Now that you've heard this gentleman both play and sing, I can join you for a drink knowing that the stage is in good hands. Zane."

She teased the audience, then took a swig of water.

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane's guitar would become a bit quiets as she sang through the first few lines, better now to let her voice tell this story. It'd pick up a little as she recovered, adding it's voice to hers again. He'd turn to face her again as they went through the final instrumental portion of the song, a smile on his lips.

He'd return her her bow with a tip of his hand, his fingers drifting back to the strings of his guitar as she put him in charge of stating the next song. A few presses on the synthesizer and he was playing again. The notes ringing from his guitar almost reminding one of another instrument he played.