Solstice looked over towards the source of the new music and soon it was clear the sounds had his total attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VNm3rGXPXs

Changing settings on her electronic deck, she hums slightly as she selects beats and samples. Theres a slight scent drifting trough the air, of summer nights and salty oceans.
Then she smiles, picks up a set of small pipes and starts on her next meandering piece. The joint quiets as a number of patrons stop chatting and nod along.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:17, Sun 16 May 2021.

Solstice watched the performance for several more moments before turning back to the group.

"....does anyone else smell the sea?"

Breathing deeply of the briny air, George relaxes into the musics vibe,
"I want to poke around in rock pools, and chase the tides."

Solstice paused and took a deep breath. "Yes, I smell it too... Interesting choice of perfume... Unless that's a mer..." He trailed off, taking a good long look at the musician in question.

Solstices closer look reveals a swirl of magic around her. Subtle and ethereal, it seems there's two effects going on.
She radiate a mist like glamour...sea foam and flight. Her electronic seem to have their own. Its emitting a stronger, more focused aura, that blends with hers..both amplifying and subduing certain aspects of her own glamour. Not a mermaid..not quite.

Watching the patrons more closely, the men seem more entranced than the women , in general...more vacant and dreamy eyed. ..Solstice can feel some pull, but the effect doesn't seem to cling, unlike what appears to be happening to most of the other males in the room.

Solstice's mouth pressed into a thin line at this before relaxing. This woman seemed not to have any harmful intent with this magic, only to show off and entertain. Then he looked back at George in front of him, seeing the half dazed look on the other man and snapping his fingers quickly near his ear. "Keep your wits! That's a siren- Don't get sucked in or you might do something crazy. Well... More than your usual..." He trailed off, giving the woman a slight side eye. The music was nice but this could be a simple prelude to worse intentions.

The fae man raised his wings a bit higher, letting the light catch them slightly, as if to say 'I too hold power. Tread carefully.' Not I direct threat but more of a sign of recognition and warning. He had no interest in a fight but if he had to act a bit more bold to keep peace, then he would.

George shock his head at the snapping fingers.
"Huh?What? Siren?"
He looked around the room, blinking.
"Yeah...shes got a great sound...reminds me of running free..."
And he drifts off to the music again.

Eli notices Solstices wing language and winks. With a flourish she finishes the tune, and puts the pipes down. She turns knobs on her machine, carefully adjusting something, then looks over at him.
Raising a fine figured hand, she waves, sharp nails glinting in the spot light.
The next instrumental is a little more pulled back.

The sea recedes a little, and misty flower gardens at night move through the room.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Wed 19 May 2021.

Solstice maintained his best attempt at bored eye contact as she did this, but his wings trembled slightly before he looked away to save the rest of his dignity. He looks back at George and just resigns himself to keeping an eye on the man for the rest of the performance. He could admit the music was nice. But that didn't mean he trusted it.

The music continues to fill the room, its scents shifting through various chill dreamscapes. The various punters mostly seem to be enjoying the sensations, even if they cant 'smell' the magic. Conversations are low pleasant murmurs. Couples smile and laugh gently, and lone diners groove along with quiet smiles on their lips. A few more cocktails are ordered by patrons here and there, and the waitress drops one next to Eli as well..

As people walk past at times, there is often a pause, as they drop a note into Elis tip jar. Each donation brings an embellishment of notes from her, but still she doesn't speak, or sing.

George seems satisfied to sit quietly and hum along, occasionally doodling in his notebook. Unfocused, but also less wolfish, it doesn't seem to be doing any harm.

Solstice sighed a little and let himself relax, just a bit. Be carried away by the waves of the music just a little, like a boat tied to the doc. Still experiencing the ocean, but firmly rooted to the land.

Music, and scents, for those who could experience them, ebbed and flowed through the room until, with a languid  last piece that spoke of ebbing tides and drifting ribbons of watery plants, Eli finished her set.

She carefully packer her equipment, nodding at Jessamine when she placed a jug of water and glass next to her. Drinking 3 glasses rapidly, she sat, and puled out a note book and pen. Pink tongue between sharp teeth in thought, she quickly wrote something down. Checking it, she filled her galls again and walked over to the groups table.

Stopping a polite distance away, she nodded at them all face serene yet impassive, Then, looking directly at Solstice, she gestured to am empty chair, clearly inquiring as to if she could sit.

Somewhat inured to the siren's song by her gender, Lysette is guarded and a little bit suspicious as the woman joins them.

Solstice was surprised the siren considered him the group's authority given he was sat next to an actual cop... kinda. But gave a curt nod regardless.

Eli placed her glass and pulled the chair back to settle herself. Silk fabric, flowing over slender  leg lightly brushed Lysettes thigh as she sat. Flicking the ends of her dress to curl around her feet mermaid style, she smiled brightly at all in thanks, teeth so white, they practically sparkled.

George just stared at her, silent and moon eyed. The captivating singer was at their table. Wonderful. Even without any tail at the moment, he still seemed to exude joyful wagging.

Running one hand over her hair absently, as if to smooth its already perfect fall, she tore a page out and pushed it over to the fae man.

"Well met. I hope.
Forgive my intrusion good people.
I am called Saeneli-Eli for ease.
May I ask who you are please?
You watched my performance, and gave stern warning.
I would ask why, except I believe you have identified my heritage.
Now, I do not wish to start anything, but, If I chose to speak, most all the males in the room will defend me from brute attackers.
So...I shall not engage my defenses without parley first.
What business it is of yours, if I choose to use my talents and skills to feed myself?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:15, Wed 26 May 2021.

"Believe me, Querida," Lysette speaks softly to the entrancing singer. "We are the last people on Earth to interfere with a paranormal presence. Among us, we represent most of the fears and terrors of the human race.

"But we have set aside our differences to take up a common cause. The police in our city have come across a crime that seems to involve more than human elements. And we are agreed to investigate and lend our own special talents if needed.

"Would you be interested in joining us?"

Slender fingers took the note book back, as their owner gave Lysette a small, close lipped smile.
Taking up her pen, she fiddled with it a bit, thinking. Then, taking her time, she wrote something out, and passed the note to the vampiress.

"Well, I can assure you I am merely a musician, only using my abilities and equipment to enhance the audience experience. I am not sure what help I could be.

That said, I quite like the idea of seeing where you beautiful beings go. It could be quite inspirational for my music, if nothing else.

What sort of work would you envision me undertaking with your posse?"

Watching Lysette read the note with a arched eyebrow and enigmatic smile, she idly scratched the besotted wolfmans head.

Solstice folded his arms over his chest, looking equal parts embarrassed as desolate. "Perhaps I was ill advised to judge you so swiftly and harshly... For I'm new to this town and am still getting used to seeing magic used to causally... I thought you were bringing harm on these people... And for this judgement, I most humbly apologize..." He said, head bowed.

Eli looked at him, assessing him carefully. Then wrote something and passed it over.

"I do apologize for the threats my Lord. Some from your kingdoms can get very particular.
I still take sustenance from men, but via trade. Music for coin. Coin for butchers meats.
Not as satisfying as rending flesh of willing bones, but, this is less offensive to many."

Solstice saw the word "Lord" on the paper and looked at it for a long while with an expression of growing unease. He seemed to become even more pale and quickly looked away, saying nothing.

The siren shifts and smiles as she senses his unease.
Taking her pen up, she writes again and puts the note on the table as she stands.

"Well, thank you for this nice exchange.
I'll just get shaggy lad here to carry my equipment to the car. If he doesnt mind.
He'll be sent him back when I'm done."

Her hand brushes Lysettes as she leaves the note. There is nothing in her face to indicate she noticed, but a finger nail trails ever so lightly across the vampires skin.

Bending over George she whispers softly. "You want to help me with my equipment don't you?" She scruffs his hair, as the wolfman nods eagerly.
"Sure!" Jumping up he heads over to her things, then looks at her for guidance.

......

Outside as he loads her van, she leans against the side, smoking something cloved and sparking.
"So...you have healing powers when you're a wolf mmm?" The whisper drifts through the late afternoon air.
"Oh..yeah. Pretty good." He beams proudly, eager to please this wondrous woman. "Not too bad even when not."
"mmmmmmmm." Her delicate tongue flicks over her very white, very sharp teeth.
"Why?"
"Oh..no reason..want to come over and listen to some music, maybe get a ..mm..pizza?" She smiles hopefully, all wistful and innocence.
"Sure...uh, I should let..."
"No, I told them in the note I wrote you might come along with me..to help unload and stuff. They didnt seem to mind.." She voice swum into his brain.
"Well then.."
Grinning happily George held her hand to assist he in climbing into the van, then trotted around to the passenger side and hopped in.
With a small choke of smoke, the van rolled out of the parking lot and into the growing dusk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Tue 08 June 2021.

Solstice was on alert as the two left. Something wasn't right. He thought maybe he was just paranoid and tried to relax. But when George didn't come right back he stood to go check, telling Lysette where he was going and swiftly walking out just in time to see the car peal out of there. He gasped and took off in flight after it.

With a flurry of wings, Solstice took off into the air, to follow.
The van was able to pull ahead,in the winding inner city streets, driver unaware of her tail. Able to follow the van, without being seen, Solstices natural caution prevented any rash move on the Siren, in the metal box, capable of crushing a person in a side swipe.

The van drove a while, heading out of the inner city, and into suburbia. Its pursuer needed to drop back as the streets became less crowded, but the encroaching night helped hide his movements...

Eventually, it pulled up outside a nice folk victorian house, painted a quaint seafoam green. Sliding out of the drivers seat, the siren opened the side door as George climbed out and joined her, goofy grin on his face.
Giving him a quick kiss on the now very hairy cheek, she directs him to carry her things to the house, and skips up the path to open the door.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:46, Wed 09 June 2021.