With Love (open)

Allendra sat in the Three Broomsticks that night, tossing up her options. She wanted to perform her new song, something that took her a long time to write. Her songbook was held religiously in her arms, her eyes scanning the pages and deciding what she should perform. She looked up as a person finished performing a song and a man was calling out for any more performers. Allendra stayed quiet and looked around. The man called out again and Allendra stood up, walking to the stage. She put together an +outfit that hid who she was. No one would recognise her by her voice since she didn't sing that often. The only person who heard her sing was Adeline and she wasn't here.

The man started to talk to her,"Looks like we got someone with a secret... And who are you love?" Allendra waved her wand behind her back to charm her voice, becoming deeper. My name is Evangeline." There was a chill that went through the room. "And what are you performing?" Allendra snapped, ”A song. With Love, an original song." The man backed off and Allendra seated herself at the grand piano. The room fell silent and she felt the block of deepness in her throat ease.

She set up her songbook and started playing the introduction and moved closer to the microphone. Allendra softly sung:

You called me out and taught me tough
With love, with love.
You fought my flaws, my teeth, my claws
With love, with love.
Cause every time i'm slipping away from myself,
You're the one that moves me like nobody else.

Allendra took a longer pause than usual and felt herself get lost in the song.

Cause when i'm down and i'm done,
And i'm coming unplugged
When i'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love

Oh no no

She hummed a few notes and closed her eyes, her hands moving across the keys in small swift motions. Her mind flicked between memories of her growing up, her loved ones. It went through a timeline of her times with Adeline and how she made her happy. Her eyes opened when she turned and saw a girl join in with soft guitar strumming.

Your tongue won't tie, you'll always find
The truth, yeah you do
But still you smile despite the lines
I drew for you

Cause every time i'm slipping away from myself,
You're the one that moves me like nobody else.

She pressed her foot gently on a pedal to carry out the last key she played before Allendra launched into the chorus. A tambourine person played a soft beat while she sung.

Cause when I'm down and i'm done,
And i'm coming unplugged
When i'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love

Love, Love, Love, Love


Her voice became stronger and repeated some of her lyrics to fit in with the instrumental part of the song. Her voice softened and just her piano playing was heard. Her voice became slightly higher in key as her eyes raised to look at her sheet of paper.  

Cause when i'm down and i'm done,
And i'm coming unplugged
When i'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love

There was a small pause before she launched back into the last verse of the song. She played it with all her might and the other musicians joined in. Her notes were held more and changed pitch.

Cause when i'm down and i'm done,
And i'm coming unplugged
When i'm ready to fall
You're the one always holding me up
With love

Allendra finished her song and sat there a moment, realizing that a spotlight was on her the entire time. There had also not been any movements in the audience. She really didn't care what people thought about that, she just wanted to perform and get her point of love across. Or what she thought it was. It wasn't to anyone particular but it was something that was bottled up all that time.

Becoming fully aware of her surroundings, she stood up and positioned herself center stage. Suddenly, the audience burst into applause and Allendra stood there, taking it all in. The man came back up and patted her on the shoulder, which she shrugged off. She left the stage with her head high and went to the bar where she sat down. Her voice was normal again and she didn't really care.  “One firewhisky."

Allendra nodded toward the bartender and enclosed her hands around the glass. It felt cool under her hands, which was still feeling the vibration from each piano key. She looked around her and noticed a few stares in her direction but Allendra took it as a compliment. Next to her was a male, near her age who seemed absorbed in his own thoughts. If anything, Allendra couldn't be the one to judge. She was about to lift her glass and become absorbed with herself but Allendra was interrupted.

The male beside her had bought her drink without question. She opened her mouth to speak but his words had already filled the atmosphere around them. Allendra closed her mouth and cocked an eyebrow at him. If Allendra didn't know any better, this male was flirting with her. Of course, she didn't mind because it meant that someone was willing and had an interest. One hand left the cold glass and removed the mask she was wearing. Once the male stopped talking, she shifted half of her body to him.

"Thank you." She replied.

Allendra let her eyes wonder over the male. He was quite handsome but there were some aspects of his face that she considered 'baby faced'. Still, she could work with it. Allendra moved her hair over one shoulder and tilted her head slightly at him. He asked if she wrote the song and she wasn't sure how to reply. In a way, it was frustrating that people didn't know that she wrote songs like that but they didn't really know who she was.

"I did write the song. Did you like it?" Allendra asked, her voice ebbed with curiosity.

He introduced himself, Sebastian, and the way he said it made a shiver run through her body. She had introduced herself on stage but surely it wouldn't hurt to introduce her proper self.

"I'm Allendra." She purred, holding out her hand. Her eyes flickered briefly to his lips before meeting his eyes. "A pleasure to meet you."

Allendra thought back to the first time she started to write songs. She was in the darkest stage of her life and almost drowned from the secrets within the Jarraden bloodline. There was other things to consider that she did, as part of her past, that she needed to move on from. Most songs she wrote were out of frustration and loneliness. However, Allendra would never admit that to any stranger. Instead, she kept a blank face with no emotion as she thought.

Taking the drink, she lifted it to her lips an inhaled the aroma of the beverage. It was a strong, addictive smell. Without a second thought, she drunk a mouthful and savoured the first feeling of the heat rushing down her throat and warming her core. While she savoured the moment, Sebastian continued talking. "Most people enjoy my music because it takes them somewhere else. Somewhere that is not here." Her words escaped her lips before she could filter them.

Normally, Allendra wouldn't admit feelings such as these to a stranger. Heck, normally Allendra would've made a move by now or snubbed the person with her rudeness. Despite the oddness of it all, there surely was no harm in it and she could always deny it. Or kill him.

Licking her lips, she nodded at the approval he had of her voice and piano playing. Honestly, it was nothing new to what she had already heard. "So I've been told." Allendra mused, pursing her lips together and looking over her shoulder.

One thing that took her by surprised was the action Sebastian took to kissing her hand. Frowning slightly, she didn't resist but took the opportunity to examine the male further. His attire was average, his hair was average... But he will do. He had charm of some sort. When he finished, Allendra smoothed the front of her dress and re-positioned herself on the bar stool.

Nodding in reply, Allendra took another mouthful of her drink before setting it down. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She smirked. Allendra had a feeling that this would turn into an interesting night.