Legend of Ransera

There was a lot he wanted to say in response, but Arry used the same trick he did sometimes, just not stopping until his words dropped things off at a safer place to go from. It was certainly off balance, this and everything, but at least he had had the day to expend nervous energy on preparations.

"Oh, yeah," he said drolly. "I thought it was a two-bit comedy act at first. Was fixing to get you an audition at the Peacock tomorrow. They do comedies, too." He snickered. "And you'd better not be sick. Might be tragic to walk your way to freedom only to die of consumption, but there are already like two operas about that and tragedy is fine on stage, less so in life."

Aurin refilled Arry's bowl, then, after a momentary pause to check in with his own belly, refilled his own. He had mostly grazed that day, never wanting to eat a meal in case Arvine was about to wake up. On top of that, he had been on top of two women last night, which tuckered a man out, especially one who talked the talk but infrequently walked the walk when it came to some of the services available at the Cabaret.

"Good on you, though. The roads are long, hard, and dangerous." Leaning over, he put a hand on the ex-thief's shoulder. "Don't pop a boner or anything, but I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you made it. Now I don't have to worry that my being a bitch fucked up another person's life." He smirked. "Now you're here, being a bitch and fucking up your life will be much more convenient for me."

"Hey, I never claimed to be a good man!" Although, if his plan had been to lure Arry back to his place for sex, it would have been much easier to do when he was staying in Antiris. "But you should attempt to inspire some erections from your audience. It's good for tips. Mm, more than one kind of tip, too."

He opened his mouth comically wide for a normal spoonful of stew, then smirked around it after removing the spoon. But the terms of his employment would be haggled between him and Madame Lunaria. She would be fairer than most. Aurin would try to push a bit on Arry's behalf, but not too hard or she would resent them both. It was a delicate thing, money.

"Well, if you can pick up choreography and music, they can always use another body on stage. Might be a while before they think you're polished enough for solo things. But I keep my nose mostly out of the artistic side. I'm an appreciateur, but... Yeah. Talk about pits of vipers. Ugh, artists. Anyway, I certainly want to hear the one about the bloke with four bollocks, but I don't want you coughing up lemon cake all over the floor, so... I guess I'll have to wait."

Pausing to peer at Arry, at least just with his eyes so he wouldn't lose his shit, he wondered allowed, "I should probably trim your hair before you meet Madame Lunaria. Get some ointment for that burn." While a little the worse for wear, he knew Arry would charm Lunaria. Well, she would see through his charms, but she would like him anyway. Might even take an extra shine to him for their shared mixed race. He knew it had gone hard for Arry in Antiris, though Lunaria didn't talk a great deal about her past, so he didn't really know if she was a child of trauma, as well.

"Well," he began, not really comfortable with earnest except in small doses, "when you're hosting swank parties out of your palace, I might try to bed you, get pregnant so you have to support me for the rest of my life." He winked. "You're pretty Arvine, but you should avoid men like me when it comes to that sort of thing. Trust me."

He rubbed his ginger-stubbled chin thoughtfully. "I am not the king of this castle. I don't know if you remember, but I said you'd have to start doing odd jobs, learning the art on the side until you were ready. "However, Marinia was saying how she needed more bodies for a piece she's working on, and she wanted different shapes and sizes and races and what-all... I think as soon as you're fit for going out, I'll take you next door when it's slow, introduce you, casually mention you're an up and coming dancer. I can hire her short-term dancers... You'll like her. She likes teaching, too. Some people lose their kindness working with the public, especially the drunk and horny public, but she hasn't lost it. You'll learn a lot from her without ever trying. You sing a little in her presence, give her the idea that you are multi-talented, then she can talk to the other artistes and then it won't just be my word for you.

"Honestly, if you aren't a little asshole... show up early, work hard, be dependable... that's one foot in the door already. And it's the kind of place where once you're in, you're in unless you fuck up utterly. This way's a little slower, but more likely for more time on the stage earlier. Start your career farther along, you understand?"

Aurin smiled. For all that he had no desire to perform himself, he paid attention and saw how the business worked.

"Then you'll be able to stay in the residential part of the building—off-limits to the public, even the paying public. Or you'll afford enough to get a place with a couple of friends. Won't have to put up with me anymore, except at work. And yeah... I'm just talking wet your hair, comb it straight, and take little snips so it's the same shape, just a bit neater. I can do that no problem. You want a totally different style, we have to find you an expert."

Considering his young guest, he asked, "Have you got a stage name? Arry the Arsehole? Arvine of the Allmighty Cock? Or were you thinking about leaning into the Hytori aesthetic? Aravalyn Val'Kavafis... Well, that's if I tell them you're my cousin. On your dad's side. So they take pity on you if you get stage fright and wet yourself."

"Faster is we walk over right now and you scrub pots and pans all night...? And then we try to get Madame Lunaria to think... hey, this scullery boy is pretty. I should strip him down, paint him gold, and make him go earn more gold with the paying customers... Faster to employment, not necessarily faster to stardom. Let's just finesse this. You've waited how long to actually get here half dead? Be patient while we put some meat on your bony ass so people will actually want to look at it. In the meantime, I'll work my magic."

Nodding slowly in thought, he decided he would borrow some shears on the morrow and clean up Arry's mop.

"No wonder you like hats," he scoffed. But he tried to leaven his cutting humor when he saw Arvine's face change. "Hey, I don't want to tell you who you are. Your father was human, your mother's an elf. That's just blood. You are who you make yourself. Whatever you choose..." He nodded as if to say he supported it, but saying he supported it would sound too much. "If you're going to play a caricature of yourself on stage... I would say that we are far from Sol'Valen, so passing as a pureblooded Hytori might be more exotic, more lucrative. Maybe that's something you want to talk to Lunaria about, though. It's not a thing I share with you... But, I guess, I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Sometimes, when they were understaffed, Aurin would be behind the bar. As such, when he saw an empty mug, he felt compelled to refill it. If anything, it might help Arry sleep through the night even though he had slept through the afternoon.

"Maybe don't tell them your parentage one way or another. Let them ask if they want, or guess. Just don't hide your light or your ears under a basket, hey? Don't forget the Iron Queen is an elf, as well."

"I've seen some ugly ass dancers," he admitted thoughtfully. "Some were so good it was like magic. The dance made 'em beautiful. I think it's one of those things... you want a little from column A and a little from column B... but preferably a lot of both. So look your best. Be your best. And hope your charisma parlays onto the stage. Some people, doesn't matter what they look like. Sometimes doesn't even matter how good they are. You just want to look. Dunno that it's magical charm, either. But Marinia and... there are a few who will help you out with technique. You'll be in good hands if you need molding. I'll just be here to mind you're getting fed until you're ready to spread your wings and leave the nest, eh?"

Aurin laughed at Arry's antics in spite of himself. It was good to see him, and good to see him energetic and in good spirits.

"Impressions might even be helpful for you. Never know. Oh, so... yeah, point of annotation, I guess. The bird boys rule the roost here. But Avialae ladies don't have the wings? Anyway, the first wife of the Shokaze is Sahfri. Siltori. Cold ass bitch from what I gather. From House Briathos, the sneaky, secretive mages of the lot. At least, that's what I hear. So, I know there's more than one type of elf, but elves don't have too bad a rap here because of people like her, I suppose.

"Speaking of baths. You can get a proper bath next door, but if you wanna wash up..." He indicated the ewer and basin. "I can take a walk and give you some privacy. Of course, there's still more to eat and drink if that more suits your fancy. Try to put it off tomorrow, though, and I'm going to dunk you in the well."