Private Finished Suds and stories

Of course Adryan would suggest that. Hah'en should've seen it coming. Well, her suggestion to share stories for all had been a strange one in the first place, yet again born from an impulse. But if Hah'en was completely honest she didn't dislike the idea of sharing a little story. She could disguise it, weave the words to form something that was a shadow of the truth. Hah'en had done it before, it was how she had told stories in her old world. Sharing stories was a very big part of dragon culture there, dragons were very very rare and it was customary that whenever two dragons met they should exchange stories and keep their culture and history alive. There must've been at least one dragon in this crowd tonight, Hah'en had noticed that they were everywhere on this island. So perhaps...

"Very well."
Hah'en agreed, and took another sip from her drink.
"But you must do it first. If your story receives a greater applause than the story of the person currently talking then I will share a story as well."

Hah'en took Adryan's hand and thus their deal was sealed. Hah'en recognized that look on the man's face, he had something in mind, but that was no surprise. Adryan better have a plan and a good story to tell, or he would lose very quickly.

"We shall see."
Was all Hah'en answered to Adryan, and then she heard the current speaker bring his story to a close. The applause he received was impressive, and Hah'en clapped just to make their bet a little bit more challenging for Adryan. Right after Hah'en stopped clapping she flashed a small challenging and maybe even slightly mischievous smile and gestured to the stage.
"The stage is yours, petty thief."

Something immediately didn't sit right with Hah'en, when she heard Adryan speak after he had briefly closed his eyes. It was something about his voice and tone, it sounded the same but the way he spoke was...not familiar. Hah'en frowned slightly, but before she could speak or ask anything Adryan was off to the stage which he had declared his. And rightfully so, as Hah'en soon saw. The story was captivating, and Hah'en even found herself listening in with interest. Something about Adryan's voice still didn't feel right, but Hah'en was able to put that aside as she let the words flow through her mind and paint a picture. It was an interesting picture, one that Hah'en gladly applauded once Adryan finished.

Adryan returned, and when he called Hah'en "sweet stuff" she tensed and a frown took over her brow. She loathed being called names like that. But again before Hah'en could scold Adryan he lifted his hands and spoke his next words normally. Hah'en looked vaguely confused, and then realization passed through her face.
"You let Nux tell the story."
Hah'en stated, and raised a brow.
"I am tempted to count that as cheating. They were not your own words, after all."

Hah'en didn't look impressed at Adryan's explanation. She had imagined that the whole point of telling stories was for them to get to know something more about each other. But now Hah'en had learned more about Nux, who might have been a part of Adryan, but was not Adryan himself. Nux had his own personality and had probably had a life before possessing Adryan, after all.
Hah'en said none of this, but the look in her eyes was now both unimpressed and...disappointed.

So Adryan wanted to hear a story? Then Hah'en was ready to provide. Though hers would be less of a story and more of a poetic tale. Yet again Hah'en said none of this, though, she just stood up and walked briskly to the mic. Few of the regulars cheered for her and Hah'en sent them a small smile. With confidence Hah'en took the mic in her hand, took a breath, and began to sing. Or it might have been more accurate to call it chanting, Hah'en spoke words set in verses, and some of the sentences rhymed. Hah'en let her accent rise out more prominently, as she relayed more emotion through her voice than Adryan would've ever heard. Hah'en's voice was deep and scratchy, and her eyes were closed.

"In deepest cave of deepest dark
Lay flower
Upon her bed of pain.
No claw reached, no evil swayed
Yet she was doomed
Until her dying day."
It was a tale about a flower, or a maiden, who was whisked away from her dark and isolated life by a hawk, or a bandit. It sounded like a children's story, with people replaced by plants or animals, but it was clear to all that heard it that it was a tragic tale with death, betrayal, doomed love and, ultimately, ruin. Once she finished Hah'en opened her eyes, face as blank as always, only to be greeted by a quiet pub. But after few seconds the people erupted into applause. Hah'en gave a small bow, and then slipped back into the table. She didn't say anything, merely lifted a brow at Adryan while the applause was still echoing around them.