#earthrunes

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Emmaline hears music flowing through the halls, a woman's voice, Stevi the satyr and troubadour singing

"I was cutting a rug
Down at a place called JugWith a girl named Linda Lu
When in walked a man
With a gun in his hand
And he was looking for you know who
He said, "Hey there fellow
With the hair colored yellow
Watcha tryin' to prove?
'Cause that's my woman there
And I'm a man who cares...and this might be all for you"

For her, the music is playful, obviously a male part, but who cares? "I said, "Excuse me"" She stretches out the word as if sliding for an exit

Her ears twitch and she follows the sound - Stevi might spot a sparkling pair of dark eyes watching her.

"I was scared and fearing for my life
I was shakin' like a leaf on a tree
'Cause he was lean, mean
Big and bad, Lord
Pointin' that gun at me" The fiddle has joined in, quivering as if to mimic the shaking of the song's protagonist.

"Freebird!" She exclaims in delight, and takes a seat.

"Oh, wait a minute, MisterI didn't even kiss her
Don't want no trouble with you
And I know you don't owe me
But I wish you would let me
Ask one favor from you
Oh, won't you give me three steps..." She turns to see the eyes and hear the praise and bows but keeps singing and dancing and yes, playing.

She bounces in time with the chords, the tip of her tail bobbing like a metronome.

"Gimme three steps, Mister
Gimme three steps towards the door
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps, Mister
And you'll never see me no more, for sure" the satyress lets a bit of glamour loose, and the shadows join up, showing images of terrified man pleading for his life....almost cartoonishly as he EDGES to the door.

BIG EYES!

"Well, the crowd cleared away
And I began to pray" A reverent look up
"And the water fell on the floor" little zing drip sound on the fiddle "And I'm telling you son
Well, it ain't no fun
Staring straight down a forty-four" The shadow of the gun looms large
"Well, he turned and screamed at Linda Lu
And that's the break I was looking for
And you could hear me screaming a mile away
As I was headed out towards the door" the shadow hero turns into a dark streak of flight!
"Oh, won't you give me three steps
Gimme three steps, Mister
Gimme three steps towards the door
Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps, Mister
And you'll never see me no more
Show me the back door!" And the shadows take a rectangle form, and mime closing... like a door, as the song ends.

"Freebird!" She mimes holding up a lighter.

"That too," She winks, "You liked I take it?" Stevi takes a seat next to her.

"You were totally better than the Charlie Daniels original!"

"Why that is a high praise" She grins. "my great aunt was a groupie of the CDB.. Devil went down to Georgia gets her all misty eyed and romantic"

She reaches out, not-quite touching the fiddle. "Gold?"

"Spruce and Maple, which oddly is the street corner where I got my first kiss" The satyress says "I'm Stevi, local Troubadour. And I LOOOVE your accent. You Cajun girls got it best... touch of South, touch of old French class. I just have hillfolk twang"

"Aw, cher! Hillfolk are just swampfolk on a high shelf!"

Stevi laughs, "Ain't that so. Hard to reach, but I like how the echoes carry my voice."

"Yodel-o." She nods. "Amen."

"Oh I can do some yodeling, but not much call for it."

"More's the pity then. I rather liked your yodeling."

"You should hear my beat boxing" Straight faced

"Chicka, chicka chick-ahhhhh." A sober nod.

"Oh that, well, this is Fiona hold so I can um chicka bow wow pretty freely as long as I give folks a chance to scoot off if they feel shy"

She smothers a giggle. "Oh, I bet! "

"Want me to break out the gift?" Stevi offers

"Well, pooka are well known for their restraint and general stuffy attitudes.."

"I've noticed," A wink

"So you're a pea in a bowl of carrots here?"

"Oh there's an eggplant if you kknow where to look. Rumor is they're getting auctioned off...you should save up some coins"

"Ooo! Do they cook?"

"I'm guessing there's only one or two ways to find out."

"Two?

"Ask them to cook, or see if they start cooking when you do" The satyress winks

"Cher! Mama Thibodeaux didn't raise no... no non-cooking girl chile!"

"My apologies to your mama,I'm sure"

"Well, alright."

A figure shows up, Gideon the other troubadour reveals himself seeking out his counter part "Stevi? I oh...pardon. Stevi, we're wanted"

"I'd be hurt if I wasn't" Stevi rejoins.

"Oh! A summons! Where are we going?"

She hops up to her feet and smoothes out her sundress.

The boggan blushes "Not that.. ah, Delores has a guest she hopes we'll entertain and..." He looks at the pooka "I ..don't think he needs healing"

Her pink nose twitches in a little sniff.

"Gideon, you're being rude. Unless no one is allowedd to see this guest, then there's no harm inviting someone else. " Stevi turns to her, "Care to join us?"

"Think of it this way, I'm the ultimate spy - who would believe a word out of my mouth?"

"I.. oh very well" Gideon says "I certainly didn't mean any insult, Emmaline" He looks to the pooka apologetically

"Besides, I might just do things other than healing. Like... five things."

"Well, there you go" Stevi says and motions the boggan to lead on. Which he does. They make their way down the hallways to the special guest.