He was caught, in a whirlwind of events that threw him first one way, and then yanked him hard in the other, splaying his nerves and splintering them like palm leaves in a heavy wind. His eyes flickered, never settling too long on any one object or person, and his mouth worked slowly, as though it was trying to form words but didn't know how. After a moment he sighed, caving and nodding slowly. There was nothing else left to him but to follow, head down and silently praying to himself that he could escape at a later date.

Shouldering his violin case he started after the duo, but a light metallic clink behind him drew him up short. He paused, his face twisted in confusion and he turned to stare at the ground behind him. The medallion glittered brightly in the sun, resting easily between the crack of two paving stones and he suddenly felt a strange resonance deep within his chest. Before he could stop himself he bent and picked it up, unaware that the nausea that had plagued him so up until that point, was suddenly gone. Straightening he lifted the strange medallion up before his face, twisting it left and right, staring at in wonder. The sunlight refracted off the gilded edges, casting strange colors into the air and across his face and chest. It was absolutely breath taking.

"Careful with that," a gruff voice said behind him. "Or someone'll take it upon themselves to rid yourself of such a beauty."

He jumped, startled by the voice, and twisted quickly to see who had spoken but found himself staring into the bustling crowd still streaming past him. He glanced left and then quickly right, still seeking a face for the voice but abandoned the search quickly. It was pointless, the voice could have belonged to anyone. Absently pocketing the medallion he hiked up his violin case again and made his way toward the pub the pair had entered. His step was sure and his back straight, the nausea a distant memory that was rapidly fading into obscurity.

He didn't notice that his hand was still in his pocket, clutching the medallion tightly in his hand, as he pushed his way through the swinging double doors of the pub.