Welcome to Gaia! ::

who: Lucia and Melisande
where: Plaza Cafe'
when: Early evening

Applause rippled through the spacious outdoor café, patrons twisted about in their seats to beam at the blushing muse. Melisande dropped into a graceful curtsy, her wings spreading wide enough to brush the flower twined pillars of the elegant gazebo. On some silent cue, the little lanterns strung in the potted trees began to flicker to life…casting twinkling reflections over the silver domed trays that dotted the tables.

It was her five minute break, and Pasha needed it. Her curls had come unpinned during the last aria, and while the crowd had murmured at the dramatic effect, Melisande needed them repinned. Alain preferred her hair to be up.

Slipping out of the gazebo, the Sigel wove her way across the plaza, heading for her private table at the edge. It was always ready with sparkling water and a little privacy screen, to give her a rest from the crowd. She inclined her head shyly at the comments that followed her as she passed, one hand resting lightly against her slender chest. Singing for an audience was still such a rush! Her heart fluttered like a bird, which was fitting since she’d always fancied her gazebo stage looking a bit like an old fashioned bird cage.

Taking a peek at the line of patrons still waiting to be seated, Pasha took a deep breath. Longer every evening, it seemed. Her break would have to be a short one!

Melisande jumped a bit at the voice...not because it was unexpected, but because it was familiar. Both of her hands were still up, pinning her hair back into place, as she turned.

"Lucia?!" The perpetual sadness that always seemed to crease the corners of Pasha's eyes faded as she stared in shock. It was a genuine and total surprise to see the Frei at the Cafe'! Wait...not a Frei?! It didn't take long for Pasha to notice the wicked line of the kitten's tight, athletic waist. "Oh, Lucia! How you've grown! You look so lovely!!" She dropped her hands from her hair and slipped them low around the other Raevan, pulling her in for a hug so tight that their tummies pressed together.

"What did you miss?" She asked as she pulled back a bit, blue eyes a bit puzzled. "I only have a few minutes until I get back stage, but you're welcome to my table until I finish singing!"

Melisande gracefully inclined her head, both at the kind words, and at Lucia's attempt to tame her curls. She knew she was fortunate...even when her hair was pinned up in a hurry, at worse it looked an artful mess.

There was something artful about Lucia, as well. The new form suited her, Pasha realized. The way she was lengthened, the expression in her pose. The muse pondered this for a moment, hands still resting lightly on the other Sigel's arms. Perhaps she should pay more attention to her body, when she was singing! In the past, she'd simply concentrated on her voice.

"I'm so sorry I didn't reserve a table for you. I hope this one is good enough!" In truth, it was an excellent table. The privacy screen divided it from most of the seating, but didn't obscure the view of the gazebo at all. "I'll send Dylan right over, in case you're hungry! I hope you enjoy the song~!" Pasha kissed the air to the right of Lucia's cheek, and ducked away, cheeks lightly pinked.

She drifted backwards, wings flapping lightly to give her some momentum. Offering Lucia one more bright smile of thanks, the Sigel turned and wove her way back to the center stage. Her long grecian dress hung neatly to the ground, even with her fluid movement...it appeared there were weighted hems in place to disguise the fact that Melisande had to legs. She paused only to have a word with a young server gliding between tables.

He nodded at whatever Melisande had said, and turned a brilliant grin towards the private table. His auburn hair looked as though it had just grown long enough to be tied back into a low pony tail...wisps escaped around his face and were tucked neatly behind his ears. He detoured only long enough to grab a single sheet of paper from the host podium before making his way to Lucia's table.

"Good evening! I'm Dylan, it's my PLEASURE to serve you this evening!" His tone was a bit more enthusiastic than a server of his caliber should showcase, and did a good job of illustrating just how young he truly was. The way he struggled to keep his eyes on Lucia's face spoke highly of his character, however. "This is the Chef's Menu...please select whatever you wish, or I can bring out whatever the Chef recommends."

The menu was hand scribed with a short list of fancy sounding delicacies, mainly in French. Dylan fidgeted for a moment, twisting to make sure Melisande was still preparing, before turning his bright eyes back to Lucia. "Pasha said you were a friend!" An understatement, the muse had actually said 'dear friend' with much more heartfelt emphasis. "Have you known her a long time? Are all her friends so beautiful?"

Ducking his head, Dylan murmured something that sounded far more server-like. He was properly abashed by Lucia’s dismissal…the Sigel hadn’t been rude, but she’d made her focus more than clear. He scooted away from the table silently, weaving back through the crowd.

The patrons hushed as he passed. Not because of Dylan, of course, but because Melisande was approaching the gazebo. One hand of the railing, the Muse paused, and turned slowly back to face the way she’d come. She met Lucia’s eyes, a curious expression dawning on Pasha’s angelic face. She’d already decided to try Lucia’s technique of using her body more, but it occurred to her that she actually had no idea what song to sing. Most of Melisande’s repertoire for the café was opera and modern adaptations…what could she possibly sing that would both entertain Lucia, and use what the other Raevan had shown her?

Melisande inhaled slowly, slender chest rising as she gazed at the Kitten across the distance. For the second time in her existence, Pasha turned her inspiration inward. She never forgot a song once she’d heard it, but there just was no song she could recall that would work! Meli’s hand lifted to her chest, fingers loosely curled as she focused harder. Words she’d never heard, a song with no source, began to curl delicately in her mind like a half-remembered dream. Last time such a divine feeling had come over her, she’d healed a heart decades broken. Excitement surged through her, and Pasha beamed at Lucia. Suddenly, it was as though the other Raevan was her Muse, and the feeling was almost indescribable.

Twirling with an uncharacteristic flair, Pasha plucked a large red blossom from a vase on the nearest table and tucked it behind her ear. The folds of her ethereal white dress were still settling as she grabbed one of the pillars of the gazebo, ending her spin under the roof of the elegant cage. Her eyes never left Lucia’s, but her gaze became heavy-lidded as her lips parted with the first few lines of song.

”Vuela esta canción
para ti Lucía,
la más bella de historia de amor
que tuve y tendré~”

Pasha’s voice was impossibly smooth, but still her sweet soprano. It rippled like white chocolate with an accent she’d never studied, liquid like the folds of her dress as her back slid ever so slightly down the support of the gazebo. The words were slow, almost coyly offered, and Pasha’s smile genuinely dimpled as she kept her eyes on Lucia.

”Es una carta de amor
que se lleva el viento,
pintada en mi voz…”

Melisande’s voice caught, lashes lowering with a flash of modesty, but she caught the Kitten’s gaze again effortlessly.

”A ninguna parte,
a ningún buzón!”

Pasha flashed a dazzling smile in response to her friend's enjoyment. Lucia looked happy! Getting into character, she rested her back against one of the delicate posts, and slid downward a few inches.

"No hay nada mas bello
que lo que nunca he tenido.
Nada mas amado~"

Her hair caught a bit, curls piling higher as she lowered. It was quite obviously a love song, even if the language was foreign, and love was in the air! Couples at tables held hands, leaning into each other, and gazing off into the...

Distance? Melisande's voice faltered a bit, but the catch was barely noticeable. She wasn't being vain, but it was becoming obvious the audience wasn't looking at her. Where were they looking at so lovingly? It wasn't until her eyes settled again on the kitten that Melisande figured it out.

They were looking at Lucia!!

Pasha relaxed a bit as soon as Lucia ducked behind the screen. The other Sigel was sharp! Melisande took a breath, lips parting and the silence stretching for a moment before she breathed the next lines. Lucia was certainly worth the attention, she had to admit! She settled down on the ledge of the gazebo, letting her skirt drape as though she could actually sit, and twisted to peek over one shoulder slowly and coyly.

"Si alguna vez fui sabio en amores,
lo aprendí de tus labios cantores.
Si alguna vez amé..."

Almost no one was looking. Not only were most of the patrons still twisted around, gazing at the privacy screen, several of the customers closest to the gazebo had actually gotten up. They wove their way through the tables shyly, couples holding hands, fingers pressed to their lips as though they'd spotted a beloved celebrity.

The first stirrings of worry rippled through Meli. She was too professional (or too scared about what Alain would say) to quit singing...this was her job! She cast her gaze to the side though, hands now grasping the nearest vine covered pole. Alain's door was closed...but Dylan was standing frozen in the kitchen doorway. Miracle of miracles, he was the only person staring at her, and not Lucia.

Emphatically, Pasha tilted her chin towards the other Sigel. Dylan gaped. Since no one else was looking anyway, Pasha lifted one finger and flat pointed at Lucia, motioning him that direction vehemently with the other hand. Suddenly, Dylan nodded, his short auburn ponytail bobbing. He moved through the crowd with practice, spinning past tables and expertly dodging past couples.

"Si algún día después de amarme,
fue por tu amor, Lucia~"

The Muse's voice had taken on a slightly desperate tone, but unfortunately, it only added passion to the song. The nearest couple had reached the privacy screen, and peeked around the edge like fauns peering at a bathing nymph. Murmurs drifted from the crowd as others drifted closer...all craning for a glimpse of Lucia. None of them touched her, but they edged ever closer...whispering admiringly behind hands, and some looking the kitten longingly up and down. Just in time, Dylan reached the edge of the crowd, and thrust a hand over the patrons to the other Sigel.

"Lucia!!!" The last line of the song, and an honest exclamation. Pasha rose up with a flap of her wings, but not much farther than a human could reach on tip toes. She locked eyes with Lucia and pointed towards Dylan hurriedly, cheeks flushed pink and blue eyes bright.