(Untitled)

[ostro_goth]

Singing a rough song from the future to the harp is surely a challenge; but not one that Teja would not be up to.

He has learned a new song, and is singing it by the lake-shore, while bringing forth notes from his harp that no harp was ever made for

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[licensed_pro]

"And can I ask what brought on the song change?"

[ostro_goth]

"I felt like something loud and fierce," Teja says. He looks up, but keeps playing.

The next song begins with a rousing march that does not, as yet, sound exactly metal.

[licensed_pro]

Charles listens, and tucks his hands in his pockets; he's obviously not working, or even contemplating it in jeans and a loose shirt, at ease with...well, most of the world.

His world, at least.

"Can't say I'm a fan of music dealing with that much battle. But if it pleases you..."

[ostro_goth]

"It pleases me," Teja says, "indeed. But I know that battle does not please you; I could play something else?"

[licensed_pro]

"You don't have to play for me. I'm just walking," he says, shaking his head. "But thank you anyway."

[ostro_goth]

"I would not drive you away with the roar of battle, turned into music," Teja says.

[licensed_pro]

"I don't think it'd drive me away," he sighs, though his mouth turns up into an expression that only qualifies as a smile because it's not a frown.

"It's just not my favorite, that's all."

[ostro_goth]

Teja is just playing the march on his harp now, quietly. "I would not attack you with music," he says. "But I would ask a question, if I may?"

[licensed_pro]

"Depends on what it is," he says, looking over. "Go ahead."

[ostro_goth]

"Did anyone pay you to bed me?" Teja asks, straight away.

He's not going to preface the question with what Demeter said and what he thought and so on. He can explain later.

[licensed_pro]

"I can't answer that. It would lose me my job," he says, near emotionlessly but for the tinge of tired regret to his voice. It's very easy to see that while he's the same sleepy-eyed and classically handsome man from a physical standpoint, he's not as concerned with how he comes across.

[ostro_goth]

"None of your world need know, and you are working independently, in any case," Teja says, with the smallest smile.

That was a 'yes', though.

[licensed_pro]

"It doesn't matter what world I'm in, the rules of my job don't change. If anyone from there came here and found out I'd lose my license."

[ostro_goth]

"I will not press you," Teja says, smiling.

He has his answer, anyway. If the answer had been 'no', Charles could have said so.

[licensed_pro]

Even if the answer had been no, Charles likely would have given the same answer; rules are rules and he's not very keen on losing his job.

"I appreciate that."

[ostro_goth]

"I was wondering why," Teja says, "but it does not matter that much. I do not wish to offend you: - but if any man had meant to hurt me that way, he would have failed. It was a pleasing night that we had, but the meaning had gone out of it when you had returned without all memory of me, already. And when the goddess gave me the door to my people's world."