Arlette put her hand back in her lap once she had pulled it away from the man. She took a second to analyze his grip and assumed the light grip was because she was a woman. She's had men nearly crush her hand before. At least this one was considerate to her less than steely bone structure, which she could have sworn that some men were made out of. But she gave a nod of acknowledgment that she heard Reishon's questions and gave a second before she leaned over and answered. "I am not a local. I'm only here on leave for the time being and I'm not exactly popular with those of my squad not confined to the infirmary." She was on good terms with a few of the men, but it seemed only the really mean ones were those that were up and about after so short of time after the march back. She gave a soft chuckle as she sat back up in her seat and relaxed a little more to put her hands up on the table. Apparently the whiskey had already loosened her tongue more than she thought. She'd said more in the past hour than she had all week. But it was hard not to speak to such charming men. She asked no questions in return and instead watched Nicholas and the bar tender for the moment before she went back to Reishon, and the thought crossed her mind to ask about her missing friend, but she shrugged off the question and replaced it with a smile and to be polite, she spoke again, "And what brings you here?" Her words were almost lost to the clamor of the bar room, but thankfully she kept a close enough proximity that one could hear, if not with a bit of difficulty.

"Two fold actually... Nicholas stated thoughtfully. One, a flask may have been of no need but a fancier flute or instrument assuming it isn't too fragile and carries a good note for the right price would be of great interest to me. considering the startling exotic quality of your goods, I wouldn't be surprised if you had some musical instruments made out things even I never' heard bout' back there...And Me' family be' merchants mind you. He then pauses for a few seconds... And I know you heard me a blablin'... then dropping to a low whisper and sheepish tone- "never been able to keep me' mouth shut round ladies like that I'm afraid. and then in his previous volume and tone continued- So how many songs would pay for a meal or two? I' don't right know even if you willin' I can do enough tonight to pay for all our meals, especially on what the lady orders- but my services as a bard, story teller, or entertainer are yours good sir should you wish to employ me as such tonight or another." The amiable man's charm would have by now swept most away, but Nicholas was not stupid and knew inn keepers were used to this sort of thing so his face was hopeful but not confidant.

That makes sense, I guess, Reishon thought, If your friends are all sick or injured, what choice is there but t' drink alo... SQUAD? The full realization of what she had said sunk in just as she made her own query. He found it difficult to believe that one who looked likely to have a bone broken by a carelessly strong hug could be on the battlefield, covered in muck, sweat, grime and blood. “Eh...” he began, stalling for time so he could re-compose himself and take most of the surprised look off his face. “Sort 'o the same. M' whole platoon got disbanded, and most 'o those what made it back here will manage t' pull through, and the other medics can handle the rest.” Even by the end of his statement, he had succeeded in neither goal, and was still socially off-balance and had barely managed to keep his jaw from dropping. “You're in th' army? No offense, miss, but it don't look like you'd be the best suited for th' job.” He looked her over again, this time taking note of the thick leather glove and wondered what an armyman (or armywoman, as the case my be) would use a glove like that for. A story surfaced in his mind about the pains of firing a bow without a bracer, and remembered tales of how uncomfortable they can be for long periods of time, when grains of dirt and sand have worked their way between the leather and the inside of your forearm. So naturally, she must have left her bracer back at the barracks, or infirmary, wherever she was staying, but kept the glove out of habit. Convinced he had figured it out, he asked, “You're an archer then, are you? I knew me a few archers. Good men, most 'o them.” He left it unsaid that one of them was a real bastard. Amusing as it might have been, he figured if he spoke no ill of anyone then they would ultimately speak no ill of him. 'Sides, he thought, I can call 'im a bastard, but he's got all of nag, fool, an' coward t' call me. It wasn't that being called these things particularly bothered Reishon; he had come to terms with most of it, and outright embraced the rest. It was more that he didn't want to lose face in front of his squad. Even as he thought this, the realization that he probably would never see his former squad nor the bastard archer in question again sunk in. “Hell!” he cursed, then immediately apologized. “Sorry. It's just that I like m' squad, and don't care too much for havin' them separated an' scattered.” He sighed. Old woes, old gripes. “I just found out this mornin'. It's that delayed reaction thing, y' know? Where y' hear or see somethin', get what it means, but it don't quite hit you 'till a while later.” Shaking himself, he tried to change the subject he himself had brought on by asking again, “So you're in an archer squad, then?”

*Garuda smiled and raised a finger to punctuate his words with exclamation. "I do believe we've got quite an interesting assortments of instruments back here. If you'll pardon me for a moment I'll assemble the collection." He wasted no time in bending down and scrounging around through his collection of saleable goods. He pulled a box off one of the shelves, and began assembling things from here and there in it. It had already been half full, but he piled another third of it's depth inside before standing back up and dispensing the assorted instruments inside out onto the counter for Nicholas' perusal. There was quite a collection of flutes, pipes, harmonicas, and other small, easily-carried wind instruments, done in everything from tin to silver to wood to strange composites of stiff leather, carved ornamental stone, and reed. Less numerous were various percussion instruments, mostly simple clappers, a few bells, and other unidentifiable things. The only strings in sight belonged to a small harp that'd been carefully laid in alongside the rest to protect the strings. It stood on the counter perhaps a foot and a half in height, all sweeping lines and sharp angles and silvery-brown wood. Predictably, there were a few items among the collection that were simply unidentifiable for function and purpose, and a few that could not be placed into any particular group without closer examination and experimentation. He surveyed the assortment and looked up at Nicholas. "I'll credit ye a copper fer ten minute's performance. Does that sound fair?" He added after a fraction of a pause "If ye can play a harp well I'll make ye a better deal, harp music is in short supply anywhere this far from the royal district."

Harps...(Ponders) A wind man myself 'm 'fraid. He replied as he picked up a stone flute and balancing it and blowing a few notes setting it down once more and picking up what looked like a cross of a pan pipe and a precushion instrument and perplexed put it down after being unable to find a place to even blow into to. before approaching the harp with a keen eye- It's a fine harp a thing of great beauty, though my hands are not the one it's spirit speaks too- it'd sadly only get destroyed in war. Odd thing really, war. Good for business, but bad for things for beauty. *shrugs* but that is how things are... my friend has a less combative position, perhaps he has a gift for harps,he isn't bad with a flute, but we all have different knacks. seconds after The soldier spoke this Reishon was hollered at from across the bar, the assortment of instruments laid out.

Arlette listened intently, nodding every few words to let him know she was still listening. She only gave a smile when he asked if she was in an archer squad. It was either a yes or a maybe, but he had guessed correctly what her combat skill was at least. She remembered briefly the notice that some squad or another was being disbanded and then reassigned else where and she worried a little bit that her squad would suffer the same fate. She stopped for a moment to just look Reishon. She liked the way he looked. She was, thankful, tactful and looked back towards Nicholas before it got a little awkward. Her thoughts wandered back to the possible disbanding of her squad. She wouldn't be sad to see certain individuals go, but she's been moved around so much it wasn't funny. "Do you know where you'll be going yet?" Her voice was almost strained, like she was either about to cry or scream, but incredibly soft.

Nick responded in an excited tone a single word: "INSTRUMENTS!" followed by a stream of conscious- "So many... Don't even right know what some of them are.. but good chance you can find one that fits you after all, two instruments are better than one... notably a suburb harp assuming you can play it... keep it safe and the price is fair *winks at Gaurda and laughs* The man in absurdly good spirits, even free of the wines effects. suddonly stoping mid sentence and thinking a bit before a look of realization struck him- sorry for ruining your groove with the lady. I get a little excited about things like this. If you want I'll look around until I find the best quality ones in our price range and you check back in when your feel inclined? running his hands through his hair sheepishly as he said this.

Reishon srugged. "If any harm was done, it's too late to do something 'bout it now, eh?" In truth, he was a bit disapointed that he had left, but then again, with the introduction of new instruments, it was looking like it might not be so bad after all. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "So you're fixing t' give me another something t' work on, eh? If I didn't no better, I'd say that y' were trying t' turn me into a bard or somethin'. Not that I'd have any complaints. Once I get out o' here, I could use the best o' both worlds. Travel and live like a bard, but rather than relien' on m' song for food, I could just heal farmers or somethin' for m' pay. I'd be richer than most vargrants, and freer than most doctors! So sure, while I'm spendin' away m' savings, may as well pick up as many skills as I can! An' as for keepin' it safe, you can rest assured that I'll be doing m' best to keep my own self safe, and if it's with me, I'd hope that it stays safe, too!" Turning to Garuda, he asked, "By the way, that harp don't happen to come with some sort o' instruction manuel, does it? Or do y' happen t' have some other sort o' book what can teach me 'bout playin' harps?" He smiled hopefully. Nicholas' distinct lack of harps made Reishon sincerely doubt that he was an acomplished player himself, and he wasn't about to pay some rich Noble's Tutor to teach him for a week, and the odds of any in his new squad knowing the harp were even slimmer than that of a fishmonger giving money to the poor. But if he could get his hands on some sort of music theory book, then he would have a chance at making some serious headway in whatever instrument he chose to persue, and do it on his own time to boot. Therefore, if Garuda had a book similar to what Resihon had just described, a purchace would nearly certainly be made. Otherwise, the odds were looking slim that anything more than the meals and wine were going to be bought by him this night.

*Garuda looked at Reishon and shrugged helplessly. "Dunno son, I don't read. Here, I've got some papers an' such. Let me grab em and ye can have a look and see if ye find anythin'." He wandered off, bobbing down here and there and looking for his pile of unsorted literature. He returned shortly, after having located a cache in a cubbyhole behind a shelf of booze, and having knocked a bottle carelessly to the floor. He muttered rude, foul things with little vehemence as he deposited a loose stack of books and folios on the counter amid the array of musical devices, then turned back to wipe up the mess.

"yeah... sorry about that. Though you picked up on the flute fast enough, it was more your instincts to it than my teaching ya know- so worth a try no?" and stating just that that While his friend was dealing with the pile of paper's Nicholas gingerly picked up the harp and stated to play it in a decently melodic tune before the harp made a high pitch off note and Nicholas put it down just as carefully with an ashamed look on his face. Instead he went back to the wind instruments and finding a gold and silver pan pipe and spending a few seconds peeping down each pipe before finding a hairline crack halfway down one pipe and shrugged while putting it down losing hope about finding anything. His fingers brushing over things before one of the unknown instruments fell off to reveal a gleaming silver flute with inlayed swallows running up it's foot long or so form his hesitance upon finding the flute he immediately hid lest his barging position be weakened, and raising the flute to his lips after wiping the mouth piece. The resulting song that emerged did indeed sound very much as like swallows flying about on the first day of spring would sound put to notes. Nicholas already counting out his dwindling funds regretfully in his mind and put the fine instrument back not even willing to ask how much it would cost unless he found nothing else.. and even then...

Hestitantly and carefully, Reishon pluked a few strings of the harp in order, forming a small chromatic but nothing which could be said to remotely resemble a melody. He then glanced at the pile of papers on the counter, and asked Garuda, "Hey, if y' don't mind none, could I maybe bring these o're to m' table an' look through 'em there? I just don't particularly feel like leavin' one o' my friends sitting there all by her lonesome, and the more help I have goin' through this stuff, the sooner I can make me a purchace." He noticed Nicholas lingering on a silver flute, but not seeming interested, and so concluded that he was probably weighing the flute's quality versus its price. Glancing first back at Arlette, then to Garuda again, he asked, "So, whadya think? Maybe I can sort out these manuels and have me a go at th' harp back at m' table?"

*Garuda eyed the stack sidelong, and pursed his lips reluctantly. After a moment he shook his head "I'm afraid that idea ain't sittin' real well with me. Sorry, my friend. Books are mighty pricey these days, and I'd be pretty sore if some ne'er-do-well swiped somethin' off the pile while you were distracted makin' eyes at yer lady friend over there." He nodded towards Arlette, and flashed Reishon a good-natured smirk. He reached across the counter and pushed over the stack of paper, spreading it out across the counter. He ran his finger across the row of book spines and folder backs before him, then pulled out a vellum-bound piece, the spine of which was inked with a harp, a flue, and a musical note, and the legend 'Principia Musica ex Academy Orrcon' in a dated, flowing script. "Here. Maybe this'll be what yer lookin for, eh? Keep an eye on it, I know who to charge if it don't come back to me." The barkeeper set about gathering the spill of papers back into a stack, then began putting things away, making a note of putting the harp and the silver flute that Nicholas had been eyeballing on the shelf behind the bar, where they would be safe but still available for consideration.

Reishon became flustered immediately after Garuda's second sentence, and still hadn't even attempted to compose himself by the time he was done speaking. He had encountered friendly teasing before, of course, but very little of this variety and even less with a significant degree of truth in it. Attempting to save some face, he did his best to gather himself and waited for a snappy comeback. And waited. And waited. But despite his attempts to form articulate syllables, most of what came out were the first few vowels or constants of various words. As it became painfully evident that no such retorts were forthcoming, he picked up the book, muttered a few unintelligible words of appreciation, and set off for the table. As he went back to the table, he wondered for a moment why he had been so bashful about that particular comment. As has been said, he was no stranger to playful verbal prodding, which only made this more strange. Ultimately he decided that his lack of previous exposure made him off guard and the fact that he certainly wouldn't mind having her for extended company (though he wouldn't attempt anything he couldn't finish; he didn't fancy himself the type for a one-week stand.) made it too close to truth for comfort. Then again, if a friendship (or more) did develop, there were always letter to keep in touch, and the possibility of a chance meeting prior to some significant battle. He scowled at that thought. Based on his limited experience, there was nothing like having a reunion take place just before an even which you would have nothing to do with had you a say about it to suck all the joy out of it. That wouldn't be a good way to meet up with someone. Perhaps he, or she, would be assigned to a nice, cushy, garrison duty in Tellus or another significant population center safely behind the border. That'd be nice, Reishon thought, the smile resuming its place once more on his features, A nice, safe way to live out the remainder o' m' years, ne'er having t' worry 'bout getting killed or food or board or none o' that. Just keepin' us all in good health while the other platoons go out an' win the war. He reached the table shortly after forming that thought, and as such was back in a good mood. “Well, it looks like m' well intentioned but slightly... eh, eccentric friend has decided that harps are the instruments for me.” With a grin, he held up the book for Arlette to see. “Now we'll see if I can't make heads or tail o' what it says.” And idea sprang into his head. “Hey, if y' don't mind none, would y' mind helpin' me out with any parts I'm havin' trouble with? I mean, you don't have to or nothin', I was just wonderin' if y' would.” Feeling slightly silly now, and wondering why his ideas didn't seem to be working out lately, he changed the subject. “Anyways, like I said, I don't know where I'll be goin' yet. How 'bout you? Your self-important Lieutenant got his orders on their fancy officer's stationary yet?” Reishon chuckled. His squad had a joke that all mid-level officers were cut from the exact same mold of substantial arrogance, relative competence commanding the battlefield, and legendary ability at sucking up to captains, commanders, and nobles. But, seeing as how he had no clue if she was from Nobility (he didn't see any signs that she was, but then again, her distinct way of speaking indicated some sort of respectable upbringing) he declined to share that joke with her on the off chance that it might offend her. So, rather than explaining the joke, he clarified by saying, “By that I mean, do you know where, or for that matter, when you'll be headin' off?”

Nicholas blinking as everything was spirited away cursed silently as he saw the flute set aside but shrugged it off mentally as he breathed a few times a spoke in a cautious tone: Might inquire to the price of the flute? then adding wistfully- perhaps if i spent the time i do on muisic with sword play i'd be able to freelance, though art is blood free, so Atleast I prefer that... which followed by a light laugh.