Arsul "I hear you did well."

Dionysus He's at the gates, out of habit, with some other band folk reveling.

Dionysus "I hear you did astonishingly well."

Arsul "Yes. I don't really understand the judging. We were the better song but our opponents did well. They were judged very harshly. A shame."

Arsul "It was a --good preformance."

Dionysus "My opponent did well, too. I didn't quite follow it exactly, but I was so nervous waiting..."

• Arsul smiles. "Understandable. We play in great company."

Dionysus He nods, "I'm up against the pachydermion next round. I think I can take him, though."

Arsul "I've heard good things about his-- what are they? Recordings? But I think not being able to play will harm him when it comes to the themes."

Dionysus Domy nods, "Here's hoping."

• Arsul grins.

Dionysus The winners are celebrating, mostly, save a few who are practicing. The losers are mostly practicing.

• Arsul celebrates till he's called to the meeting

---

Dionysus There's less celebrants, more studious ones now. But there's still a party.

Dionysus Domy says, "Heard you turned their bones to jelly."

• Arsul grins "Well the morags always turned mine to jelly. And you? Tell me how it went."

Dionysus "He did better than I expected, but I still won that one. A little bird song and violin topped his pleasant little record and scratching sound. Though... he has some mean rhythm."

• Arsul grins. "As does his sister. It must run in their family."

Dionysus "Makes sense. Vimala's full of intricate rhythms. Colzayre's gonna be tough."

• Arsul nods. "He is very talented. But so are you."

Dionysus "That I am. Got any... information on him that might be useful?"

Arsul "And I'll admit, I've heard some very intimidating things about our next rival."

Dionysus He snorts, "Sure, but how's it at audience participation? I think you've got that one nailed."

• Arsul frowns. "Not in the music department." He would explain what he knows of Conell's background with Avery and the mage

Arsul "Let's hope so. I've never really understood the theory behind showmanship."

Dionysus He listens, "Ruthless but with heart. Could be anything."

Arsul "Sounds like it takes away from the music."

Arsul "Yes." he agrees

Dionysus "Showmanship is part of making the connection with the audience. Not all of them are as into music."

Arsul "Yes that's true. The closest I come to connecting is playing the emotions, the feeling of the songs. Trying to connect that way."

Dionysus He shrugs, "You do that anyway. They say the Unseelie was afraid of you."

• Arsul frowns. "I don't know how anyone couldn't be afraid of a morag. It's like fear incarnate rather than destruction. It was for me anyway, for a very long time."

Arsul "I-- I don't know why he wouldn't play though. That's a shame."

Dionysus Domy shrugs, "Morags just make me ill."

• Arsul laughs "I used to feel ill when I woke."

Arsul "Would you like to practice with Hunny before the rounds tomorrow?"

Dionysus He's happy to.

Arsul "Good."

• Arsul joins the party
• Arsul would ask Lucilla what she thought of the performance after drinking a bit

Dionysus Lucilla grunts, "It was my kind of music."

• Arsul barks a short laugh, half grunt.

Arsul "It was powerful."

Dionysus Lucilla says, "It was alive."

Arsul "Improv always makes me feel alive. More alive than any other type of music."

Dionysus Lucilla says, "It was thrilling."

• Arsul nods. "And terrifying. But then, terror and thrills are often entertwined."
• Arsul smiles slightly

Dionysus She nods.

Arsul "Another drink?"

Dionysus She takes one

Arsul "To thrills and feeling alive." he says before drinking

Arsul and then he'd pull out his cello and start playing

Dionysus She returns the toast, and drinks and dances

• Arsul plays out his joy at being able to play, to feel alive, mixed with excitement and energy from the contest. It's very danceable.

Dionysus Lucilla isn't a good dancer, but she has fun.

Arsul it doesn't matter, he's glad to hear her dancing at all

Arsul and that pride and relief and happiness joins the melody he's been weaving, if anything lifting the 'alive' theme even higher