Broken Promise, Kept

"Don't worry about it. I sing here about once every other week." I reply, "Good tips, friendly crowd, and it's nice to sing some more upbeat stuff. Besides, it gives me a chance to expand my repertoire into more American music, which is cool. That and they give their performers drinks and meals free, so it'll save us some cash."
Adrianna drums her finger on the table. I smile slightly. "Sorry, shop talk. What venues do you play? You must bring down quite a bit with a gift like yours." I'm putting off the necessary words and I know it. But somehow, now that I'm here, I find it hard to jump right into it. 'Hi, I'm your half sister and I need your help talking round the Lords of the Fae' doesn't trip off the tongue.

Adriana's eyes go cold. "I play where the people are," she says crossing her arms. "But you know that... Like calls unto like." The venom lies under the words, an accusation unspoken.

"True enough." I say, trying to ignore the undertone. "I busk mostly myself, but it's nice to play venues on occasion."
She glares at me for a long moment. On my shoulder, Ailin hisses again.
"Sorry about her," I say, chagrined, "I haven't quite got her trained." I sing three soft, soothing notes, imagining Ailin's pillow back and imbuing the image with the contentment she always displays curled up on it . She settles, her little wings folding back against her sides.

She eyes the serpent a moment before turning her eyes back to Liv. "You wanted to talk; then let's. My escort will grow impatient if this goes to long." She touches her bag beneath her seat, just out of sight of the others, the strings yielding slightly within the grasp of the velvet sack. Drawing strength from the reassuring feel.

I nod slowly. So much for friendly overtures. "Okay. I have a project I'm working on. Something big. And I could use another voice in it, if you're interested."

She laughs, "What good's another voice? Your's hangs in the air and whispers lies in my ears and taints my eyes. You don't need my help to deceive."

I stare at her, cocking a brow. "Decieve? I'm a bard. I speak truth. That's my job. And I'm not the only one with glamours, am I? Yours aren't half bad, fairly subtle." Respect paid, I lean my elbows on the table. "But you can forget glamoury on me. I've got the eyes to see it."

"Wouldn't dream of it," she says, clenching her teeth. "And for glamour," she forces a smile, "The soul sees truth, and it's to that I sing. I've no need to clot their eyes with falsehoods."

"Sorry, but I call bull on that." I reply casually. "I saw you play. You pour out power. Nearly had me snared with it for a minute there, and I'm fairy good at this kind of thing.You had your listeners wrapped up in your playing tighter than a spider with a fly. I was impressed, to tell the truth. Most people don't have the strength of purpose to pull that kind of work off." But now that I've seen it, I know what to be wary of, a little voice whispers in my head.

"That's not deception." she grips the table, causing the cloth to shift under her fingers, rising a bit from her seat, "That's not forcing them to believe what isn't."

"No, it's not. It's just a change of the mood, a little nudge. Same thing I do." I shrug. "Sorry, I think we're misunderstanding one another. I use the old meaning for the word glamour. The word means 'to show intent'. Or it meant that for a long time. People use it badly today."

She nods, returning to her seat somewhat pacified. "Then show your intent. Show me the truth of you." She smiles, her eyes all but gloating.

I shrug, pulling up my sleeves. "This is the truth. I'm a bard-" I tap my hazel tattoo, "And I'm a daughter of the river." I tap my other shoulder. "And I have to convince a bunch of hidebound old folk that the way they've been doing things isn't going to work in the world we live in today. I have to talk them round, to tell them a truth they don't want to hear. I could use the help with that."

"Old folk," she says, her eyes narrowing.

I sigh. "My elders. Okay. I'm going to drop my seeming. I look a little weird under this, I'm sort of malshaped. Just don't freak, okay?" She eyes me. I take a deep breath, and relax the glamours.
"There. You asked for the truth, you got it. It'll make explaining things easier."

Her smile broadens. "Indeed," she says, studying the hands, triumph glinting at the corner of her eye. "You're fay."

"Not exactly. Half fay, that's why my hands look the way they do. Kindred bones and human joints. But while I got some of my magic from my mother, I got my gift, my music, from my father. I asked my mother about him; he left before I was born. My father was-or is, if he still lives-a fiddler. Betrys Ab'Ys was his name." I hold her eyes. "I've been told that your father has that name. That we share a father as well as a gift." I study her face hopefully. Nothing. Not even a flicker.

I sigh "The point of meeting in neutral ground is to avoid hostilities" I murmur glancing between both girls. before getting up to go get another coke. shaking my head and, once out of eat shot muttering about family traits. Coming back I am both amused and dismayed at the lack of progress either has made. Doing my best to hit a professional air "May I explain?" I ask Liv seeing her hesitation.

I shrug. "If you like."

I nod to liv "Miss Ab'Ys," I start "My companion, aswell as myself and a few others will be attempting to call together major players, literal and figurative royalty under a flag of truce and under the old accords to meet and discuss the direction events will go. since you are attempting to be a future queen this should give you a chance to gain allies, or at least contacts, We would like you to come with us. the choice however is yours." I Glance at Liv before standing "You will likely want to speak with the others whom you are associated with. When you have decided we should be able to come into contact with each other. take some time to consider but not too long, matters are escalating and many paths lay ahead of all. some more dire then others." I stand tapping the table to indicate for her to join me as i go to pay for our meals. the intent to leave her half sister to her musings.

I stand, but stare at the other girl. "We could really use your help. Our peoples have got to fix this mess we've gotten into. Otherwise, there will only be more warfare. More trouble. For all of us."

Adriana smiles sardonically. "Your people don't fix anything; the world decays as they play. Those I would represent would be far better off without your kind rotting the gears. I would guess that's not the opinion you would want in the voice at your side." Her voice is warm, almost soothing, belied only by the ice in her eyes. "I don't think we'll care much for each other, sister."

I blink. "When I say my peoples, I mean human and kindred. I'm not one or the other. And I'm not on either side. I just want things to be right again."

"And what is that 'right,' if you would?" Adriana leans back, crossing her arms. "Take the elder races and leave. Right is leaving the inheritance to those that remain, not clinging to it till its of no use to any. This world belongs to the young."

I stare at her, meeting her ice-blue eyes. "The world doesn't 'belong' to anyone. It's a living thing. And we already tried the leaving. It didn't work out too well. For either side." I take my seat once more, leaning forward. "The worlds are out of balance, out of sorts. The damage has to be undone, before it can grow any worse." I meet her eyes, puzzled. "If you don't want to help, fine. But why are you so angry? Because our father had more than one lover?"