RP:A Collapse
Summary: Brennia runs into her dear friend, Alvina, and they share a heartfelt moment.
OOC NOTE: Lyrics are Lacuna Coil - 1.19
Street Fair
The shrill cry of vendors hawking their talents is almost overpowered by the various displays of musical prowess presented in small makeshift stages littering the open street here. Sweet smells accompany the clamour, most coming from a few tables laden with pies and other tasty treats. Said to have sprung up from a few beggars who took to song to earn a copper or two, the Cenril street fair is now famed throughout the lands for it's friendly, open air acknowledgements of the varied arts and crafts practiced by the local inhabitants. A small woman sits poignantly in a corner, which is definitely her permanent place of business. A rather seedy card game seems to be in progress, and the dealer urges you to jump in and PickACard. Westward lies the theatre, eventual dream for most of the humble performers.
"Seems to be the day
(I cannot handle this)
Listen to the music in my mind
For a while"
Brennia was making her way down the street with her pushcart so she may sell her wares disguised as a smart mouthed merchant named Charlise. Although she's feeling a little beat up after the ritual, but she's gotta disappear back into the abyss. The fair skin dappled in light freckles compliments the burgundy dreads decorated in clasps, and a small shell or two with a cut on her cheek. Her choice of clothing was leggings boots and a leather jacket in earthy tones with her wings magicked away. Once she sets up on the street fair of cenril, a mischievous grin spreads across her face as she falls into character before altering her voice with her Bardic ability in a slight ‘Jamaican’ sounding accent, “come an git it. I cahn smell yer breath from ‘ere,” a simple seeming man quirked a brow at her. “Yes you, either yer lass issa mutt or you ahre. There's some sprays ‘ere ta freshen dat right up for ya,” she was wearing perfume herself to cover up that avian scent and the man came to her and bought some. “Onlee lookin’ out fer ya!” a wink given. “Ya not shiiiney dere feline, this’ll fixya rite up!” A female feline pays for fur shine serum and goes on her way, “Ya know what da ladies like today? Cologne wit pheromones! PHEROMONES, get ‘em fresh here! Straight from da donkey’s arse,” another wink and this got a chuckle from the small crowd gathering. Upon vials, tonics and salves- it seems there's some handmade crystal jewelry as well and she points to one, “ladies, dis one ‘elps ya get pregnant and dis one ‘elps with them pesky hormones ya get wit it.” The women overtake the both, crystals are on the rise with all the witchy stuff going on and the merchants raspy yet soothing voice raises, “laaaydies ladies. Cahlm downn. One atta tyme. Farst questione.”
"Seems to be my hour
My shell has disappeared
Swallow whirls of dust into my mouth"
Alvina was...basically a mobile home at this point. Her cloak refused to sit at her sides, her arms laced over her stomach as if she was a drunken dwarf with too much belly and beard combined. Her hair is tousled in a messy bun, askew and drooping down her right side. She didn’t appear to notice. The street fair was always lovely - except, apparently, when pregnant. All the foods smelled too strong, all the noise was overwhelming, all the bustle just meant she got shoulder checked by groups of teenagers who have no respect for their elders! The bard’s set to call after them but huffs instead. She’s too tired. It’s not worth it. Instead, she peers over the ebbing wave of women assaulting the pushcart and the interesting merchant making jokes and sassy small talk with customers. Her grin was enchanting. “I can’t wait to see the look on my boyfriend’s face when I turn up pregnant!” One young woman says to another before they chuckle, as if co-conspirators. “You better get the crystal for pregnancy hormones, just in case!” Her friend teased as they bumped shoulders and got swallowed by the crowd like foam on the waves. Alvina approaches the woman with a curious smile. “Okay, you’ve caught my interest. Tell me how it works.” She gestures to what she thinks is the right crystal and gives Charlise a gullible grin.
"But it's wonderful I know
Hiding all my fear
My nightmare is becoming real
Take a look at me
I'm a loser"
Brennia had a charming smile and it makes up for that smart mouth of hers, but when it turned to the expecting woman it overflowed on her narrow seeming features. One of her very good friends, Alvina, and it seemed like it was only yesterday they were camping out at the cliff when road tripping to Rynvale. “ahre ya buyin’ far one?” Teal gaze wanders to her swollen belly, the desire to pull her into a gentle hug and squeal excitedly for her and Hudson is internally arm wrestled down, “or ya buyin’ far tree?” She held up three fingers and gave the woman a wink, “ahy tink dere may be somethin’ ere far ya.” After grabbing a stone from her cart she seems to move mystically toward Alvina, “come ‘ere mama bear.” Brennia reached out to gently take Alvina’s hand in her own velvety one to place the necklace in her hand, it was a moonstone wrapped in gold wire and hanging on a beautiful bright ribbon, “dis one ‘ere has da power ta help wit a eeazy pregnancy.” It was then Brennia leaned in a little to speak under her breath, “on da ‘ouse… From a ol’ friend ‘oo has a message far ya if ya meet dem cliffside ‘ere enn Cenrale.” A look in her eyes as if to say ‘don't say anything just yet,’ and hoping she believes her. The merchant smooths the collar to her leather jacket and right on the fold of it was the small ⚜️ pin that resistance members wear from Schezerade in support of Brennia. The merchant was called back to the booth and gentlemen crowd it to buy items for to woo women or for them, “yer beaahrd is lookin’ like a dahm brillow pad. Special oils an lotions far dat.”
"Hiding all my crimes and then
Forgetting all my ideas
Take a look at me
I'm a loser"
Alvina {1 of 2} Alvina watches, the captivated audience to whatever the peddler has to say. She doesn’t have time to answer the woman, she’s displaying the stone and Alvina is in love. Moonstones. As if someone had plucked galaxies and constellations into a gem. In her hand, she rolled the stone in the afternoon light. If she stared through it, the sky might look twilight, golden. Brennia’s disguised form leans closure and Alvina tenses. She doesn’t pull away, there’s some inkling of privacy to her words so the bard doesn’t ask...much as she wants to. Being Hudson’s wife, she’s not fool enough to wander where strangers would try to lead her but she -does- see the pendant on her lapel. Her emerald gaze steadies, thinking fondly of her friend. Rose gold digits carefully grasp the necklace and pale lips offer the stranger a smile. Be this friend or foe, Alvina will not be unprepared. The gravid woman arrived at the location after a short amount of time had passed. She looked much the same, but with company. A trusted bodyguard Hudson often bid her to use when travelled. While the idea of having a snarky shadow never appeals to her, this mysterious situation does. A stranger offers her a necklace, bids her come to the cliffs, wears a pin supporting the avian cause. Brennia. It made little sense in her mind. Why would anyone in Cenril be boosting Schezerade colors so openly when the weakening barrier overhead? And so she approached the cliffside in Cenril, a man clad in dark garb folded his hands in front of his stomach and sighed, with annoyance. “Miss,” He said, “Ay dun think the likes of you should be out here. Nuttin’ good on the cliffside, unless you aim to dump bodies.” The bard rolls her eyes. It’s a joke she doesn’t appreciate. These bodyguards, members of Hudson’s organization. They must think she’s a joke. “Mind your tongue,” she barked, surprisingly forceful for her matronly glow. But he does and that’s enough to fill her with satisfaction.
Brennia had stored her wares away and wrapped herself in the cloak she got from the Rogues guild that distorts her features and as soon as she set eyes on Alvina she picked up her pace, but hesitated once she saw she wasn't alone and she was worried if she could trust that stranger. Throwing caution to the wind she pulled the hood back to reveal her short dark hair waving lazily just above her shoulders, those teal eyes brimming with tears and caramel skin illuminated by the stars this night. Once close she breathes her friend’s name as if she were her long lost soulmate, “Alvina.” She closes the distance between them, being mindful of her belly, and wraps her arms lovingly around the bard's shoulders. “I've missed you so much. How are you? How is Luna and Harper?” The hug was lasting a little long, but she had not felt anything like this since she had died and it was a little overwhelming as tears slip down her cheeks, one with a cut and it stings. She breaks the hug and sniffles before swiping away her tears, “I'm sorry, Alvina… I've just had do much loss in such a short time, excuse me.” For once she smiled brilliantly, like she used to and it nearly hurt her face the way it cracked over her face, “I see you are expecting, I'm so happy. Do you have names picked out? When are you due?” Alvina would notice there are some differences since they last talked, no tattoos, short hair, teal eyes and she seemed slimmed down. Although the avian was smiling, happy for her good friend, there was a distant sadness in those heavy lidded eyes and she held onto both Alvina’s hands if she would let her, rose gold arm and all.
Alvina didn’t see Brennia before she rushed to meet her. It was her body guard that tried to intervene and stop the avian from approaching. “What’s your business?” He growled, triggering Alvina to turn and call him off. He shifted, keeping a careful eye from a close proximity. “Brennia…” Her name is a sob, caught on her tongue as she meets her arm for arm, despite her stomach. “I didn’t know what to think,” She rushes to say. “I heard all these rumors and some people even said you’d died.” Not a surprising rumor, considering.”I’m okay, I’m okay.” She reassures the woman, smiling. “The girls are fine, safe. Hudson too...No no. Don’t apologize.” She tries to take Brennia’s face in her hands, cupping both cheeks with flesh and metal palms respectively. “Hey, hey. It’s okay. It is. We don’t have a name, it’s a boy, any time now. Tell me, Brennia...what’s happened?” Her eyes reflected Brennia’s sadness.
Brennia’s hands curved around Alvina’s wrists, one flesh one not and Brennia leaned her cheek towards the cool metal a little as she accepted her friend entirely as she was. “That’s great…” She swallowed hard and tucked her own lower lip between perfect pearly whites when those sad teal eyes look far off into those emerald ones. Was there a guy standing there still? It doesn't matter, all she sees is her friend and she lets the emotions she hasn't allowed herself feel come out in the safety of her best friend, “I-I don't remember everything, but I had died lately… I was gone for a month? Maybe two? It felt like ages, Alvina, I was at peace with my mother and my brother. I felt so unburdened, comfortable, warm and happy, but some force brought me back, I wasn't done and next thing I knew I was before the Jar and plotting to destroy it. I didn't have the time to explain all that to you when we cured Lithrydel, but I suffered many injuries destroying the Jar. I came back to election night and I lost… So, I sent for everyone to evacuate if they could and been in hiding ever since, but I recently went back to rescue the wounded who were unable to escape after the election and… My city, my home, my whole life as it's come to be is defiled.” A strong expression on her face as the tears slip down her cheeks, “I failed the students, the guild, the city and myself… and up until just now feel numb to it all.” Eventually she may get back to her old self and she usually feels nothing, but Alvina is special - they shared so much on that road trip.
"But it's wonderful I know
I’m a loser"
Alvina’s maternal instincts kick in. Brennia had died...how…? “Nononono Brennia…” Her voice is sing song, her eyes gentle. “You don’t have to explain a thing to me. I promise.” She pulls Brennia into a long hug, rubbing her back and then drawing away to press her lips against Brennia’s forehead. “It’ll be okay, please just rest and we’ll talk more about it soon? You are *always* safe and welcome in our home Brennia. Hudson’s got enough muscle to fight off two cities I think.” She smiles, hoping the joke is encouraging. Hoping to easy Brennia’s tattered heart. Alvina squeezes her hands. “We love you. Okay?”