As he continued his people watching Donovan finished out the song he was playing and turned his attention onto his lute for the moment. Adjusting the strings for his next number while he listened to the music of this melting pot of strangers from everywhere and no where in particular. No sooner did he tune up the pitch of his lute for the next song which he intended to play in a higher key that he felt his stomach rumble in protest to his neglect, though coincidently this pain spring up just as he began to hear the quiet sobbing of a woman suffering alone in silence. How long had it been since he'd had anything but wild mushrooms to eat? Days? Weeks? The trip south had been an unforgiving one indeed, bereft of succor or warmth and while he made it in stride he needn't suffer the pangs of hunger tonight. His music, as it often did, had earned him a bit of credit with the innkeeper and it was time to cash some of it in for some real meat and potatoes.<br/><br/>Donovan stood from his seat upon the stage and took a bow, giving a most flamboyant show of appreciation for his audience. "Thank you, thank you ladies and gentlemen. You really are a lovely crowd. I will be taking a brief intermission now and when I return in twenty I'll be taking requests. So do be sure to have some interesting ones for me my lovelies." With that, he placed his lute down upon his chair as a place holder for his return and made his way over to the bar.<br/><br/>He took a seat, sure to make it one at least five or so stools away from the femme fatale throwing the deadly traps that were her flirtatious glances to and fro. A part of him pitied any fool who would take that bait but a larger part, a more cynical part of him had to chuckle at how often a man's libido could get them into trouble. He'd learned year's ago, and this deadly seductress would likely teach many more men that beautiful women are never to be trusted, especially if they seem interested in you.<br/><br/>Donovan looked to the barker with a grin and tapped the counter with his knuckles to get his attention. "Hey there barkeep. Innkeeper promised me a hot meal for my services and I gotta say, hungers making it mighty daunting to keep strumming away up there. We wouldn't want my rumbling stomach to drown out my music would we? heheh." The bard wore a charming and friendly mask over his true face. An expertly crafted mask, the only face most people would see when speaking to him. Warm smile, chipper tone of voice and a generally pleasant demeanor. Only the coldness held deep within his eyes could give away that it was all just real world theatre, and not many cared to look a man in his eyes and really see him. People were often... impersonal like that. Though his smile did falter a bit at the subtle sounds of sobbing coming from the woman sitting all by herself. While he was loathe to admit it, even to himself, the sound of such sorrow twisted like a knife in the bard's gut even worse then the hunger. But he deluded himself for now and chalked all his current discomfort up to his empty belly.