2024.11.05:What do the Drums Say/Text

Midnight Market - Plaza(#7896RM)

Stepping through the door feels like entering another world-a realm that exists just on the edge of reality. The entrance leads you into a tunnel of graffiti-covered brick, the art swirling with hidden meanings and symbols only a few might recognize. Rusted metal pipes snake along the ceiling, dripping occasionally into small, stagnant pools, and the faint hum of the city fades behind you. As you move deeper, the muffled sounds of the world above are swallowed by the pulse of low, rhythmic beats. The air grows thick with the scent of rain-soaked stone, oil, and a hint of something more exotic, while the soft, insistent thrum of distant music seems to echo with a life of its own.

Around the edges of the plaza, the true heartbeat of the Midnight Market unfolds. Vendors, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods or wide-brimmed hats, stand behind stalls filled with arcane trinkets, mysterious relics, and forbidden tomes. The merchandise is as varied as it is dangerous-shelves of bottled moonlight, blood-stained knives, and amulets that thrum with barely-contained energy. A dealer leans in close to a potential buyer, their words barely a whisper, while nearby, someone tries to outbid another for a small vial of something glowing faintly in the darkness. Coins change hands, but so do promises, contracts, and favors-currency that holds far greater value than gold here.

Everywhere, there's the sense that this world operates on a delicate balance of shadows and silence. Deals made here could reshape fates, ruin lives, or save them-but only if you play your cards right and keep your secrets close. This is the beating heart of the Midnight Market: a place where the rules of the outside world fall away, and only the whispers of the night matter.

+Views and Places used here

The Midnight Market is busy, as the time once more has struck..well, midnight. Vendors peddle their wares, strange visitors, both open and anonymously cloaked, slip betwen the stalls. There is the feint smell of food and the sound of sizzling, by the few food stands that are about. But today...today something else is in the air. Something that can also be essential for such gathering places.

Music.

In the distance, towards the plaza, the sound of some drums can be hear - and the sound of rhythmic shouting and clapping to the beat. Interesting. It seems that, over there, somewhere, is a small commotion of sorts - the good kind. A quite varied amoung of people gathered in a larger circle, watching something, as they make the music, clap along, and let out those shouts. For...some reason?

The Midnight Market thrummed with life as Tyler slipped through its shifting entrance, catching his breath as the flickering glow of candle-lit stalls opened before him like stars scattered across a dark horizon. Tonight, the Market seemed more vibrant than ever; maybe it was the pulse of the crowd, the occasional sparkle of magical wares, or the drumbeat vibrating through the air. People moved past in cloaks and dark coats, and even through the density of strangers, Tyler caught glimpses of familiar faces-regulars like the quiet sorcerer who sold charm-infused crystals, and an elderly woman with talismans jingling from her sleeves.

As he neared the source of the music, Tyler noticed how the Market's usual pace seemed to change. The usual chatter softened here, edged with the crowd's collective focus on whatever performance was unfolding within the circle. It was a commotion, but one of eager anticipation rather than chaos, with strangers leaning forward, craning for a better view, caught up in the excitement.

Tyler paused on the edge of the circle, letting the music take over. The clapping drew him in, and he joined with his own slow, steady rhythm, getting a sense for the energy here. This wasn't just entertainment; this felt like ritual, something shared and ancient, meant to bond those who bore witness.

After Xiu introduced him to the area last week (or was it a few days ago? Who knows!), its going to be natural that Sark wanders his way back to come take a look at things again. Of course, the smell of food has the young man hooked, rumbling his approval as he wanders his way a little further in to see what the source of that lovely smell is. Hands firmly clasped behind his back so he doesnt end up touching things he shouldnt, he gently shoulders his way past people, spying Tyler at some point to give the young man a bright smile, but says nothing for the moment, still trying to find the source of everything and maybe use some of his height to see over the other lookie-loos.

And there it is, in that circle. Or rather, she. Tyler was of course right when he guessed some ritual or performance was going on, but probably neither he nor Sark would have guessed *what* it was.

Xiu.

And not just Xiu. The girl is dancing to the drums. A tribal beat, the sounds and shouting making her gyrate, twist and turns, make her arms wave as she makes damn good use of her long hair, swinging and shaking it to the rhythm, making the braids fling and whip along in a primal, almost ecstatic dance.

That, in itself would be quite a sight. But it is not two arms that wave their paths around her, but four. Not just hairs of her head that whip through the air, but a second silken mass od black hair sprouting from the base of her spine - very much like a horsetail. The combination of the exotic dance, along with her very exotic appearance, and green, tribal paint on her skin just make the sight....captivating.

<OOC> Xiu says, "Pretty much like this, except the braids are as long as they usually are. Couldn't be bothered to fix that: https://purple.sh/img2/galleries/WoD/Ref/Xiu-ref/AlleyDance2.jpg"

Tyler's eyes widened as he spotted Xiu in the heart of the circle, her movements fierce and hypnotic, swaying to the beat of the drums with a rawness that both drew and startled him. He'd seen her agility and strength before, but this-this was different. Here, she seemed less like herself and more like a spirit unleashed, flowing with each rhythmic pulse, her limbs and hair weaving together in a motion that was both utterly wild and strangely beautiful.

But it was the four arms that made him pause. For a moment, he wondered if the shadows were playing tricks on him-until he noticed the second set of arms, and the tail, moving in sync with the drums, almost as if alive in its own right. The green paint streaking across her skin seemed to catch every flicker of candlelight, casting her in a haunting, primal aura. Tyler's breath caught as he took in the sheer intensity of her dance, something he'd never expected to see from her, and yet it made perfect sense. He'd heard her stories, her talk of ancient rites and warrior traditions, but witnessing this was different. This was Xiu, stripped of all restraint, lost in something ancient and deeply personal.

He glanced over at Sark, noting the golden hue of the skin that he's occasionally spied upon the man and nods in greeting. Then flicks a glance back to the four-armed dance...and back to Sark. With a faint shrug he is content to watch the performative ritual and slowly make his way over to where Sark stands.

Sark blinks a few times when he finally gets a good eyeful of the performance going on - in his case, its most definitely the multiple arms and the tail that he is surprised to see. The young man shoots a few glances at the spectating crowd, perhaps trying to get a good idea of how they are absorbing this, one brow going up lightly as he surveys the faces, then lightly rolls a shoulder in sort of a 'huh' reaction. Spying Tyler's look earns him a warmer grin again and this time, lifts one hand to wiggle his fingers in the man's direction, before his attention gravitates back to the drumming and dancing. After all, someone you know is putting on a show, she deserves your attention!

The dance is well into its peak. Fast, rapid. There is a sheen glistening on Xiu's skin, the performance causing its share of strain. Full body dancing is, after all, its own workout. The drums rise along with that peak - that certain non-vocal back and forth between the dancer and the people playing the instruments. But finally, and with a shout leaving her throat, Xiu's dance ends - head tilting back, all four arms raised, body stiff and arched. The drums end just a moment later as they take the cue..

..and her posture slumps, a smile spreads her lips and she brushes a hand over her head as...well. There are cheers. There are definitely cheers. She is not a *professional* dancer, but she certaily has practied this style of dancing. Combined with her physical shape as it is right now? She gets her applaus.

Her exhaustion now apparent on her, she stumbs a few steps to the side, that horsetail-like thing whipping once as she leans down. Theeere is that familiar backpack, and she draws a bottle from it. Water, probably, from the looks of it, before she stands there, taking a big gulp or five.

Naturally she has not noticed Sark or Tyler *yet*.

Tyler took in the scene with a mix of emotions, equal parts intrigue and restraint. Sark's finger-wiggle and warm grin made him quirk a faint smile in return, the smallest acknowledgment, but he quickly returned his gaze to Xiu, trying to keep his focus. Sark's casual ease in the crowd reminded Tyler of how much he admired-envied, even-the way Sark could simply be, present and uninhibited. It added a small, comforting layer to his otherwise conflicted reaction to what he was seeing.

Xiu's dance, however, had him completely spellbound. He couldn't deny the sheer beauty and intensity of her movements-the strength, the primal power, the way she surrendered to the rhythm with abandon he rarely saw in anyone, let alone Xiu. He wasn't sure if he should feel humbled or unsettled by it; he only knew he felt something /electric/, something he was not accustomed to feeling outside the pages of a book. She was fierce, otherworldly, yet entirely herself, and it took everything he had not to shrink back into himself and observe this from the safe, academic distance he preferred.

And then she was slumping, catching her breath, her usual self beginning to return in the form of a casual gulp from her water bottle. Tyler, almost bashfully, looked away, a little embarrassed by how affected he was. He glanced again at Sark, a silent check-in as if to ground himself, noting that the other man's attention was also fixed on Xiu, and he couldn't help a slight inward chuckle. For a moment, it was as if they were co-conspirators in witnessing something entirely unique, a shared appreciation for the captivating scene Xiu had just created.

Sark bounces back from the press of the crowd a little when Xiu's dance winds up, at least to give him room to applaud appreciatively and find a wall or other support to lean against, where he can keep an eye on that head of dreadlocked hair. Clearly the young man is thinking the crowd is going to slowly disappate and return to their shopping and meandering around, and he seems patient to wait for that to happen before he tries approaching witchypoo or Tyler. His hands return to being clasped behind his back, fingers wiggling together while that pleased smile lingers on his face.

And it does. Some of the musicians laugh and congratulate each other, and Xiu herself, of course, gets a couple people venturing over to her - if anything to see the strange girl up close, and pat her shoulder. But, sooner than later she is left alone. People around here know better to overly bother somebody who does a shapeshifted dance *for fun*.

Because it indeed was for fun. Nothing else is happening. No mystic portal opens, no strange god rears its head, nor has Xiu's dance shook the ground. No. It was just a dance, apparently. Perhaps a letdown and a relief at the same time.

As the crowd begins to disperse - especially as some merchants begin to *loudly* proclaim their wares to draw people back - she finally spots not one, but two familiar faces, and grins. Shouldering her backpack, she takes another gulp of water, while a third arm waves and she begins walking towards them both. Roughly. Kind of towards a spot that is right between them, to draw them together.

As the crowd thinned, Tyler took in the scene, still a little dazed by the whole display. He watched with a hint of amusement as people gave Xiu some final pats and congratulatory smiles, treating her with a mixture of admiration and respect. In a way, it felt oddly fitting that nothing spectacularly magical had happened afterward-no portals, no thunderous revelations. It was simply?Xiu, expressing herself. But somehow, that made it even more powerful.

When he saw her approaching, his gaze softened, and he exchanged a look with Sark, a silent understanding between them. Tyler couldn't help but smile faintly as he noticed her third arm waving. Of course, he thought, and it made him realize how much he'd come to expect and even welcome the surprises she brought with her.

As she came nearer, he straightened, giving a respectful nod, something between a greeting and acknowledgment of her performance. "You know," he said, his voice low and genuine, "you certainly know how to capture a crowd. I almost thought you were going to open some sort of gateway there." He chuckled softly, then hesitated, as if gauging her reaction before adding, "Thank you-for ..ya know...NOT doing that."

Sark grins brightly when Xiu sees him, giving the crowd a little longer to scatter before he straightens up and starts walking for her and Tyler. Hands still clasped behind his back as he approaches, he gives Tyler a moment to respond before wiggling his eyebrows at her and murmurs, "SOMEONE felt like getting into her groove for the day, hmm? You looked very nice, and your friends did a good job with the accompaniment. This something you might be doing on the regular, or just a...mmm..command performance?" He pauses, "If so, I better start making it out here much more regularly and bring Stella when I can."

Tyler would notice quickly that not only are those physical changes...well, baffling, but also that the way the girl moves makes those extra limbs (and that tail) just...seem natural. There is no awkwardness in the motions. No coordination issues. No mechanical delays of somebody who needs to remember 'oh yes, I can move this too'. No. Fluid, as if she was born like this.

She brushes the water bottle over her forehead. The bottle isn't cold, but still, the touch of the glass is refreshing on her heated up skin. "Hey hey..." she greets Sark and then smiles at tiler. "And greetings, Tyler. Do not give me ideas." She lets out a soft laugh and waves one of those hands again. "No no, just felt like *moving*, you know. I think folks appreciated it."

Well, it's just like her to *ignore* that she was also doing it naked.

Her eyes find sark, and she lightly rolls her shoulders. "I guess, occasionally, when I visit this place." she murmurs. "It is a goot spot to feel...normal." As strange as that might be, it *is* the only place where she can be as she is, yet be in a gathering of strangers.

Tyler felt himself studying Xiu with a bit of awe and confusion-her extra limbs, that striking tail, all moving in perfect harmony. It was a reminder of just how far his own knowledge was from truly understanding her world. Even so, there was something remarkably natural about the way she moved, as though she'd always been this way, as though any other form would have seemed like a restriction. He glanced at Sark, sharing a brief moment of appreciation for her confidence and presence. As she responded to him with that playful laugh, he shook his head, smiling. "Trust me, I won't be the one to give you /any/ ideas," he replied, warmth slipping into his tone. He knew that part of what made the Market feel so alive were moments like this, where people, even those with truly unusual gifts, could simply /be/.

When she mentioned feeling "normal" here, he found himself nodding in silent agreement. "It's rare," he said, quieter, but he looked up, meeting her gaze. "This place?lets us all feel a little more like ourselves, doesn't it?" He chuckled, lifting a hand to gesture around them, encompassing both the Market's strange yet familiar feel and the shared sense of being somewhere they could all, in their own ways, belong. Turning to Sark, he added, "And who knows, maybe you're onto something. This Market seems to bring out the best performances." Shifting his feet a bit, a darker thought jumps into his mind and he can't help but to look over his shoulder towards the entrance before adding, "...I feel a great deal of pity towards anyone who would try and take it from us."

Xiu smirks at the sudent, two arms crossing, while the two others just idly keep a hand on that backpack strap and hold the water bottle. That horsetail thing flicks. "Oh, Sark her just looooves to pop sweet made of compliments into my mouth." she remarks and hipbumps Sark there. Well! Those two definitely know each other, especially given how casually she has greeted Sark there.

Xiu then turns around just a bit, glancing about. "I am kind of glad that this is not just a market of silence and gloom. Food, performances. That, too, makes it feel...normal." she murmurs, before she lets out a snort and her eyes find Tyler again. "Oh, do not Jinx it." she murmurs. "I agree that if some random mobsters walked in here and tried anything, I would pity them, but.."

She kind of trails off there for a moment. "Best not to jinx it." That did not sound confident. Nor worried. But wary, for some reason.

Tyler caught the exchange between Xiu and Sark with a soft grin-watching them, it was clear they shared an ease and familiarity that was grounding in a place as mysterious as the Midnight Market. He appreciated the levity, though he could sense an undercurrent to Xiu's words as she spoke of the Market's mix of normalcy and hidden risk.

Meeting her eyes, he nodded thoughtfully. "No jinxing here, I promise," he said, raising a hand as though in a silent vow. "You're right, though; there's a comfort in knowing that everyone here knows the rules. Silence and gloom may draw people in, but life-food, music, even a dance-keeps them coming back." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "Even if some are more willing to? improvise their own interpretations of 'normalcy.'"

Tyler looked around, absorbing the place with renewed appreciation. "But it's probably that exact unpredictability that keeps us alert, isn't it? Almost like this place itself is a kind of test? or a reminder that 'normal' isn't really as solid as we'd like to think." His gaze shifted between Xiu and Sark, his tone warming.

"So what brings ya here tonight?" he looks to the two of them curiously.

There is talk about feeling normal and Sark just smiles a little more, dragging his attention forcibly away from a little bangle one of the merchants is offering. Clearing his throat, he offers to Tyler and Xiu, "A little braver than I am where such things are concerned. I will maintain my facade of 'fascinated tourist' around here and refrain from showing anything off. Im QUITE happy to ogle you and yours, however. You DO seem to fit in very well into the aesthetic around here, and the vibe. You should leave a hat out for tips for your fellow artists." He winks at that and relaxes a little, now within arms' reach of both other individuals, "I hope this means both of you are having lovely evenings, so far?"

It's then that Xiu's smile fades a bit - her expression becoming more serious for some reason. "I am always alert, Tyler." she simply says, though she does, again, not specify *why*. But perhaps it was a little glimpse behind the normal air the girl tries to exhibit. Well, non-physically. The smile returns, and she peers over at Sark, playfully poking him with the bottle. In the belly.

"*you* are here because of the food, and don't deny it." she remarks, smirking, before she nods and thumbs over her shoulder. Without letting go of the backpack or the bottle. Four arms are so handy! Pun not intended. "Well, as you saw, I am *quite* good." she remarks and uses the thumbing hand a moment later to brush through some braids.

"I simply was nearby and figured spending the night at the market would be a good diea." she answers Tyler's question a moment later. "It *is* more comfortable in its ways than the parks or normal streets at night."

Tyler listened intently, catching the shift in Xiu's expression as her playful demeanor briefly gave way to something guarded, alert. Sark's cheerful words added a bit of levity, but Tyler felt a thread of concern start to wind its way through his thoughts as Xiu spoke. Not one to pry but wanting to offer genuine interest, he tilted his head, catching her gaze. "You know, I'd never thought of it that way," he said softly, nodding toward the stalls and lights.

"Wait," He paused, letting the casual observation settle before his tone shifted, gentler but with genuine curiosity. "Xiu, are you really? well, staying on the streets? Or do you have a place you can call your own?" He gave a small, reassuring smile. "Not that I mean to pry-it's just? well, you should have a safe place to call home." The Golden Retriever of a guy that Tyler is doesn't seem to want to accept some of the realities of life on the street.

Sark grins, showing his teeth, when Xiu taunts him about the food. In an amused tone, he retorts defensively, "And the shiny stuff! I have to see all the pretties in case there's some I've GOT to have, right? But the food is always a good reason. Fresh baked calories. Mmmmm." But then Tyler is saying she should havee a sfe place to rest and Sark murmurs, "I have a feeling Miss Xiu is fairly safe in her own skin just about anywhere she decides to park that pretty ass of hers, and woe betide the idiot that thinks he might get the jump on her."

"Yes yes, your shiiiniieeees.." Xiu sings melodically in reply to Sark, eyeing the man again. "Your treats and your shinies. I will not blame you." She winks at him, before she catches Tyler's gaze - and his question. The reaction?

A grin, a soft laugh, and she brushes a hand through her braids again. "Yes and no." she tells him and chuckles. "I have no house, no address, no account, no property to my name, no id, no job, no schedule, no taxes." She softly inhales. "Nor income. So technically, I am 'homeless', jobless, and all in all technically a damn hobo." She gestures with a hand towards Taylor. "In reality, I have a place of my own, I do not need money, and I do not lack food. But in a way it makes my disguise as a homeless peron out there...well...more a white lie than a lie."

She tilts her head forward. "And yes. When staying in the city for days, I also pretty much need to dumpster dive a bit."

Tyler's expression softened as Xiu spoke, the mix of practicality and defiance in her tone making it clear that her path was intentional, not something she fell into. Her independence, combined with the way she lived on the fringes of the city's usual rhythm, spoke to a unique resilience, one he couldn't help but respect "Um...ok but...like if you need something..." he's just shy of offering to help the woman but hesitates so as not to be seen as rude or stepping too deep into her world.

"But," he continued, his voice quiet but with genuine concern, "I'm working on a project downtown that will have plenty of empty space. So..." he falls silent without taking that last step. Maybe it's a habit from teaching, but I can't help but offer.

Sark just grins at the taunting about the shinies, and winks at her, "Everyone has a vice. You just know what one of mine is, gorgeous." He pauses before he adds, "Oh, also, it sounds like Cait would be amenable to meeting you and I out on the island and talking about what we mentioned last time, too. So I'll try to work a time out, deal?"

He listens to Tyler talk about a project of his and arches one brow lightly, waiting until he trails off before murmuring, "If you find yourself in need of help getting things off of the ground, let me know? Projects like that, that improve the city, I am always interested in."