There were some playful jeers from the crowd as the one they had called Holly called him out to sing and dance. Some of his good friends looked at him, expectant smiles on their faces as the hooted and looked excited, urging him on, their hands reaching out for his violin so he could show off as she did. Justice turned around, arms outstretched.

"You know what's coming, don't you my friends!" he called out, and there were more cheers, and he grinned broadly before he handed off his fiddle and turned back to Holly.
"I acknowledge now, my Lady, that I am not skilled enough to do all three as you are. As you have issued a challenge I will step up to the mark, but be kind, for I am not as quick of foot as you are," he said, and there were many chuckles and the nodding of heads from those who knew where his talents lay.

"All right, Ladies… this one is for you," he said charmingly. He nodded to the musical ensemble, and one of his caravan companions began plucking the strings of an instrument that was a little different than a lute. The plucked tones created a very different sound than what had been heard so far. Justice turned and looked at Holly.

"They say that I'm a bad boy,
That I just can't help myself
That even though I know I should
I'm just too bad to be good.

They call me a romancer, a chancer, a gigolo,
Who'll always have an alibi,
Who'll kiss the girls and make them cry.

I never meant to hurt you.
I never meant to break your heart in two.
I'm sorry if I hurt you
I'm sorry, but it's what I seem to do.

They call me a Heartbreaker
Nothing but a Heartbreaker."

Though he clearly didn't have the grace that many female dancers had, and clearly had nothing on Holly, Justice was still skilled at moving his feet and body in a smooth tango-esque motion that looked a little off without someone to actually dance with. He recognized this, and actually glided up to Holly and took her by the hand and pulled her in as the latin beat continued.

"They say I'm the dark destroyer
That I just can't get enough
of girls hanging on a string
That I'm only after one thing.


That I'm filled with desire
a liar, an Angelo
like a bee in a honey comb

Welcome to the pleasure dome."

 

“Alright I’ll be gentle,” she teased Justice just before his talents began to show. He wasn’t as swift-footed as she was. She danced and played her lute along side him but she let his voice fly high. This was his song and she had issued him a challenge. It would have been rude to duet with him.

She laughed as he pulled her in and for a moment stopped playing her loot. She danced with him for a long while. The day turned to night rather quickly thanks to how much fun they were having. Once night hit, pyrotechnics that Arri were famous for flew up into the skies and lit them. Cheers erupted in the streets.

She clapped her hands and joined in the cheers. She always loved the colors of the sky fire.

The sky was awash with colorful explosions and mystic patterns as the pyrotechnics were launched into the clear starry sky under the light of Canelux and Parvpora. The day had been full of laughter, dancing, and music, and song, so much so that Justice felt his face ache more than it ever had before, his voice felt hoarse and spent, and his long callused fingers felt the inklings of blisters. If there had been a god or goddess of music he was sure that this night would have pleased them.

The young bard looked at Holly, who for the rest of the day had been showing him around the bazaar of Arri and had more or less been his companion through all the dancing and singing. They had laughed together, sang, danced, and played more with each other than they had with the others at the festival, and Justice did not mind that. They had acquired a rooftop perch for the fireworks show, and he offered her a meat bun he had acquired.

"So, where are you going to go after this?" he asked as the explosions rocked the sky. "Judging by how all know you here, I am guessing that Arri is your home. Where will you travel to after this festival ends?"

She took the meat and thought about his question. “Back to my troupe I think. My troupe is headed to Abed but I decided to come home. Arri is my birth place after all.” She shrugged a bit. “My heart is here. This is where my music comes from. That or I’ll travel to the highlands and find my sister. She is a bard as well. She stays there often to write about the weather or the seasons. The highlands are her favorite place to be.”

She lounged on the roof and watched the fireworks. It was so gorgeous. “Arri is a place of art, music, and general good story telling. People from all over come here. Some to be saved or some to do the saving. Most of our population is female.” She took a heavy sigh as she closed her eyes. “I’ll have to head out as soon as we’re done talking here.”

Justice nodded and smiled.

"If you do head to the Highlands, why not come with the caravans?" he suggested. "I know I wouldn't mind your company," he offered. They were complete strangers, so if she turned him down, he wouldn't fault her at all for saying no.

Her mention of having to part ways made his spirit fall slightly. He too would have to depart after the last of the fireworks. Tradition dictated that the caravans be moved out before dawn and he would have to go and help pack up the stall and the goods before they could go. It was going to be a long night of work, but there would be room for sleeping once they were on the road.

"Will you be back next year?"

Holly chuckled a bit. “While I do like the sounds of that I’m afraid I would go way of magic. At least for getting to my sister. It does sound fun though.” 

She gave him a smile before she looked up at the sky. “I’m here often actually but yes I’ll be here for the festival next year. It’s tradition.” 

They sat in a little bit of silence as the finale of the pyrotechnics went into the sky. Once it was done she stood up and smiled. “I have to go now. I think I’m heading to Abed with my troupe. It will be wonderful there. Someday you should travel to Abed and sing in their streets. It’s like a city of love.” 

She parted from him soon after that so she could gather her things and set off.

They parted wordlessly from there, not really even saying good-bye. What was there left to be said, after all, when they did not know each others true names. He watched her go for a moment before he too got up and jumped down to the gold paved street and headed out of the city gate to where the caravan people were packing up their wares, tents and carts. He moved through the colors that were faded dark in the light of campfires and torches, and came upon his little sister helping their people pack up. She smiled at him, though she looked quite tired.

"Was it eventful?" she asked. Justice smiled. "Yeah… moreso than I expected," he admitted with a smile, and looked about at the things they had traded and been traded in return. Among the knickknacks was a poinsettia hairpin. He picked up the trinket and looked it over for a moment before he was struck with an idea. He quickly grabbed a scrap of parchment and scrawled on it  before he wrapped the hairpin in it and ran back towards the city gates, which had been closed.

He called to the guard, a strong looking woman.

"Do you know the girl that they call Holly?" he asked. The Arriese woman looked at him incredulously. "Of course I do," she said to him as though he was a complete fool.

"Could you please see to it that she gets this?" he asked and offered the small package as well as a couple of coins which the woman took and nodded the affirmative. Justice thanked her and turned again, and went back to the caravan.

All traces were gone before dawn arose, save it be for the small package that was delivered to Holly by the guardswoman.

Inside was the hairpin, with a simple message:

~H
Save a dance for me next year.
Best Travels
~J