"Are you sure you don't want anyone else to come?" Saharah asked softly, her voice nearly as quiet as her footfalls. The sky hadn't quite darkened yet, leaving it instead a blend of oranges, reds, and hints of purples that made her wish her talent was in painting rather than singing and story telling. Oh, she could make some sonnets about this night but without something to frame the night around (lovers lost and found, a soldier returning home, maybe a lost son finally departing the woods to see his family again after fighting to return) it wouldn't have the same power as actually seeing it. And for Saharah it never felt right to make things up whole cloth. Oh, she didn't mind embellishing... more than one of the party's adventures had become far more daring and exciting thanks to her deciding to add a bit more 'oompf' or remove the more drab and boring parts. But just creating something that had never happened? It wasn't right. That was for fiction weavers... she was a bard who sang of what had come.
"I'm sure," Luisa said.
"I get some of them but Mirabel would support you no matter what."
"I know," Luisa said with a fond little smile. "I can trust her to do that." She paused. "But that is why I can't have her there."
"Ah," the dragonborn said with a nod. "This is a matter of proving yourself."
"Yes," Luisa admitted. "I'm scared to do this... terrified. Some of my family... they would make it worse. Others would make it better. And not inviting some and inviting others would… it would just make me nervous about what was coming after. This... just having you there? That will allow me to walk the line. Just the right amount of pressure."
Saharah placed her hand on Luisa's shoulder, though it threw her off to do so; it was so very odd to not be the tallest one around. Yes, there was Dryft so she was never the biggest in the party, and Ulika wasn't short by any means, but even then she was the second tallest in the party. And yet with Luisa she was able to meet her eye to eye. It was actually rather interesting, all things considered.
"You'll be fine."
"I can't believe I never knew about this," Luisa said, clearly wanting to talk about something else. She waved at the path before them, leading down into the village. There were still many lights on, as plenty of people were having late dinners, but they were heading towards the glow of El Burro Bailarin ('always donkeys' Luisa had muttered earlier in the day when Saharah had told her about her idea). The two could see a couple walking into the restaurant and the faint sound of a guitar filled the air as they got closer. "I've lived my entire life here and I never knew they did such things like this!"
"Sometimes that's the way it is," Saharah said.
Luisa shot her a look. "That's not what you actually want to say, is it?"
"...no," the dragonborn admitted.
"It's my abuela, isn't it? You blame her."
"You don't?" Saharah asked.
Luisa didn't answer though the bard got the sense that the Madrigal woman was remaining silent more out of respect for her family than disagreeing.
Saharah remained silent until they finally entered the restaurant, looking about with a slight smile on her face. "Yes," she said with a nod, "this will do nicely."
There were about 10 tables set up though not all were full, and there was a bar where a man was making mixed drinks. Nothing quite as fancy the drinks made at any of the Capitals Saharah had been to but it wasn't as bad as some small mud-hut towns she'd played in where the best you could hope for was the water wouldn't give you the shits.
Walking up to the bartender Saharah forced her mouth to take on the tight lipped 'smile' that she had practiced to flash at humans. It wasn't a true smile, as she knew that for many humans, if they weren't used to it, a dragonborn smile was rather fearful. Too many teeth and sharpening of the eyes that she'd been told made one feel like prey. She only smiled a true smile around those she trusted.
"A good crowd," she said. It wasn't for her, actually, as her reputation usually meant that she got standing room only, but for a place that didn't know her it was a good crowd.
"You remember the deal, senorita?" the bartender asked.
"Of course," Saharah said. "A free meal for us each unless you are impressed." Honestly she had no need of the coin at the moment, as their last adventure had seen them fill up the vaults rather nicely; that said if she managed to get some extra coins she wouldn't turn them down. A bard learned never to turn down the chance at coin. Turning to Luisa she said, "I'll warm them up, okay? Then you go on."
Luisa nodded, a chopping motion that showed her worries. But, to her credit, she still managed to look Saharah in the eye despite her fears.
There was not much else Saharah could do about that. Every bard got a case of the curdles before their first performance; that feeling in ones gut like they were making cottage cheese in their bowels. No kind words or reassurances would do to fix that... only bravery.
Saharah paused.
"You have something for a strong gal like my friend here?" she asked.
He stared at her for several moments before whispering the moment Luisa was distracted by someone walking by, "...I might, assuming I don't get in trouble-"
"She's a woman grown. And things are changing at Casita. Bruno, Pepa, and Julieta are in control now."
"Hmmm. Fruity and strong then," he said.
"Good."
Booze. Booze also helped.
Saharah smiled again (fake but it was the thought that counted) before moving to where the band was just finishing up, folding her wings just so in order to retrieve her lute from where it hung from her back. She tested the strings a few times before giving a dramatic strum. It was something many bards did to get the attention of others and while there had been some suggestions that she do something a bit different, such as letting loose a glut of flames, she'd always decided against that. Because as much as she was proud to be dragonborn now (in her youth not so much... of course she wasn't the same being she'd been back then... even on a physical level...) she also wanted to be known as a bard and not 'the dragonborn who acts like a bard'.
The crowd grew quiet and turned to her. She and the party had been in the village enough that they weren't too startled by her appearance, which was nice.
"Hello there," she said, plastering on her false smile. "I am Saharah and tonight I'd like to play something for you. It is a tale of greed and domination... but also of humble heroes, stern masters, redeemed students, and energetic girls." She began to gentle strums and began to sing. "In lands far from here, Jackie sought only peace. But living with his uncle? That would bring no release."
What followed everything she had claimed. The tale of the unlikely hero; an archeologist who stumbled across relics of great power, battling against human criminals, ancient chi wizards, and terrible oni. Of course she was only able to tell of the first part of his adventure, when he'd battled a criminal organization who sought twelve tailsmens of power, desired by a great dragon... one of her own direct kin, much to her own annoyance. Well... it used to be an annoyance. Now it amused her that she was able to make coin and entertain beings of all races by singing of her great great grandfather's failures. On the rare times she saw the stony bastard she always made sure to taunt him about that.
She ended with Jackie's uncle taking on one of the man's greatest foes as his student, letting the notes hang in the air, the crowd wondering what would happen (it ended well, with the giant man finding a wife even more physically powerful than HIM and producing a line of chi wizards that to this day fought against the dark forces that plagued the innocent). Once it was clear she was done the crowd cheered but it was muted so Saharah smiled and leaned forward.
"Perhaps I should come back to continue the tale?"
THAT earned her even more cheers and the villagers tossed coins onto the stage.
Saharah chuckled and played a few notes, causing one of her little soldiers to pop out of her bag to gather the money (she didn't stoop anymore... a dragon ALWAYS stood tall) before saying, "And now a daughter of this very village would like to perform for you all."
She looked to Luisa who was staring at her with terrified eyes, half slurping her drink.
Quietly walking over Saharah learned in and whispered, "You think you can't compete with me? You're right... don't. Create your own story."
Luisa swallowed at that but the confirmation that she wouldn't be able to match Saharah actually calmed her. It removed all the pressure... she wasn't going to be perfect so why worry about being perfect?
If it had been Mirabel she would have taken it as a challenge to BE perfect. She would have done well but she would have pushed too hard. Their other sister, isabella? Well... Saharah knew that saying she wasn't perfect would have been like biting into a hornet's nest. Luisa though reacted correctly: she relaxed and accepted that she would flounder, have problems, and probably embarrass herself... but that was okay.
She was ready.
Saharah nodded, readying her lute; Luisa hadn't found an instrument she could actually play with her strength so for now she'd need someone else to do the music. But that was probably for the best because it allowed her to focus.
"I'm the strong one, but I'm nervous. Might be tough as the crust of the earth is, yet something new, new challenges? Begin shake, 'cause I'm not sure I can do this."
Luisa took a breath.
"But while I know how scary this is, I go on, bring it on I will try this. Lyrics and song cords, I write 'em, I perform 'em. I shake with the tension, too nervous to mention…"
She paused before flashing a grin she wasn't quite feeling. The audience didn't need to know that though.
"BUT! Under the surface, I feel in command like the master of a circus! Under the surface, I know this is my dream, it's my new purpose. Under the surface, I know I'm more than what I do, how I service. I'm on the attack, I hold nothing back. And Saharah helps with the slack." The dragonborn nodded but never stopped playing. "And I think I'm getting the knack!? It's… Pressure like a drip, drip, drip, that'll never stop, whoa-oh! Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh-oh! But its okay, I am just fine. Just need to keep going, reach out to the next line." She stood up from the stool she'd been sitting out, beginning to feel the rhythm of the song and the lyrics. "Though I'm scared I'm having a ball. Enjoying all?"
And while she didn't need them to love her because she was okay with just trying this out and living out her dream… it made her heart flutter when she saw people focused on her, eating up what she was singing.
"Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa-oh. Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh-oh, But its okay, I am just fine. Take this music and I'll make it mine! I heard the call! I don't falter! Under the surface, I know I can do this, see now our gifts don't define us. Under the surface! Why not dream not matter how bit it is? Under the surface, I think about my purpose, I think it might be this? I just keep on going, and I'm knowing, I am doing it, and the words keep tumbling!"
Even as Saharah changed up the tempo, going from the strong fast cords to something softer, and then back to hard… Luisa lost herself in the music and the performance.
"Don't wait, might be fate, its never too late. The expectations, they should keep us from finding joy. Or relaxation, or simple pleasure? Don't life be ruined by the pressure (pressure) Keep growing (pressure), keep going (pressure), 'cause all we know is!"
Saharah joined in, not taking over the song but blending her own voice with Luisa's as they began to repeat the refrain, dropping out when Luisa chose something new while returning when the song went back to the familiar.
"Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa-oh. Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh-oh. But its okay, I am just fine. Just need to keep going, reach out to the next line. I won't buckle, and I swear today I will not break. No mistake, just… Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa-oh! Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh-oh! But its okay, I am just fine. Take this music and I'll make it mine! I know who I am, what it takes! No cracks, no breaks! No mistakes! No pressure!"
With a final smile she finished...
...and the restaurant broke out into applause.