(part 1 of small drabbles about Taerim and Bael because I can)
There are few and far between, who hardly see the other side of the world. The other side of the veil beyond their views and how they live, with very little knowledge of the lives of devils. Or so many a folk called the tieflings both good and bad, they all looked akin to the demons so desperately weaved into tales of horror and plight.
If they looked further, they would see many shapes, sizes, colors and cultures, just as vibrant and beautiful as their own.
Within the webs of these stories, these lives, these kin of kin...two were to weave their own stories together little to their knowledge. A gathering of music makers, of magic wielders and barter alike. It was a gathering happening on the brink of Reddened Leaves, crisp air leaving all the more for dancers and call for the warmth of fire.
A gathering of tieflings, to share their stories, catch up with their families and meet with other travelers who'd come from far and near, it was a very good time indeed. One that always brought an amazing show for those who wished to watch, and those who dreamed to tell. Taerim was one who held many stories from her travels, and well...she adored putting the spark back in the most tired and curious of eyes with her dancing. Her singing as well hung on the air like that of her kin, a rather large subset of tieflings who were very much wandering vagabonds, strong as well as lithe types.
You could almost consider them like an amazonian race, it was both majestic and hilarious to some, especially those of shorter stature. There was no judgment here however.
Shorter of stature and darker of skin, a light strumming on a lute, he'd watched her for some time in these gatherings. It was hard not to see Taerim amongst all others, she always seemed to adorn herself with what riches her and her own gathered in their travels and excavations, or even in the trades they made in part with resources or hired help. She was stunning as she grew, a woman of strong personality but humble of heart.
He was terribly in love.
Bael was probably the opposite of what one would consider the much taller tiefling. He was short yet well built, a darker shade of cool blue, tied back hair clad in a minstrel's clothing, with duo-tone eyes of gold and turquoise. He was one of few with such a trait, and a silken smooth voice that would calm even the most savage of beasts – he could be insulting them and they wouldn't feel as angry as they could be. He was a wonder, that minstrel.
He had stories upon stories, songs upon songs both uplifting as well as saddening to the heart. But for her...he wanted to play something...warm.
As he watched her dance to the beats of the musicians music, the firepit flickering with it's wild reds and oranges, he made his way over with his lute. Once he found an instance to step in, and gave a few particular strums of his instrument to catch the eyes of those around them, especially Taerim. Ears perked, she turned with a jingle of her jewelry, eyes watching the smaller tiefling with curiosity. The musicians also looked on, though chuckled and played along a bit.
That is until he was the one leading it, moving about Taerim. He elicited a smile from her, tapping her hooves about the ground in response. This went on for some time and left the crowd to even cheer the two of them on in their impromptu little dance. Music, song, and steps that intertwined the two in merriment. It was...magical.
Something about this left the two of them to feel a connection unlike one they ever felt before. The way they moved about, the way they made music together so cohesively, it was as if the pieces all fell together so perfectly. Rosy eyes meeting those duo-tone, warm vocal tones harmonizing in song, this would be only one of many meetings for the two, that would bring forth a grand and long-lasting relationship.
