RP:A Home Coming
Summary: The Isran Collective welcome home their mighty paladin, Zahrani.
Cloud & Paw
Once a booming establishment for visiting avians, this bed and breakfast doubled as a winery. There is a beautiful open field of rows of growing grape vines in the glorious sun and there is even a spacious wine cellar, but all of the equipment and old wine casks have been moved elsewhere to accommodate the Isran Collective's elderly and young. The structure has been carefully remodeled to be made safe and tailored to fit the Collective's needs, thanks to Nildran Construction Company.
Brennia is helping with the hanging of a banner which looks adorably handmade by the younger members of the collective. All of which have been thriving here in the market side of Schezerade and the culture is spreading throughout the haughty cloud city like a breath of fresh air. A lot of the decorations have been handmade from the centerpieces along the long table to the lanterns hanging along strings outside above the tables. It is a warm spring night and every one of the stars can be seen in the sky since they are level with the clouds. The bed and breakfast looks like it has been a booming business thanks to Roahin and buiser. Even some of the patrons have come out of their rooms tonight to partake in the festivities of welcoming this 'Zahrani' home. Brennia is excited and nervous at the same time as it shows in the shifting and subtle twitching of her wings. Tonight she wears the cutest dress that Alvina picked out for her, it is a silky plum number that is cinched at the waist to give the illusion of more shape in her waist, but the hem seems a little short on her long legs. Brennia isn't excited that everyone can see the scars along her outer thighs that had been left by the whips of goblins, but hopefully her hair, makeup and tattoos give enough distraction that they will go unnoticed. Her hair is left natural today in its glorious long and fluffy waviness because the moisture in the clouds makes her hair impossible to style with heat because it will simply fluff out like it is anyway.
Zahrani had been asked by Roahin to put on something nice for a special occasion, and to wear her 'smooth-face,' as the old cat-woman calls it. Bruiser leads the paladin through the portal and towards the Cloud & Paw, the panther woman blindfolded. Her hair is worked into tight braids, which are kept out of her hair with the opalescent hairclip that Brennia had gotten for her. Rani dresses for the warmth and the humidity, her well-trained physique wearing a flattering yellow dress that leaves her back exposed. The fabric has subtle geometric patterns running along it (or perhaps that's the effect of her Divine Aura?). She wears shoes that are comfortable running in, styled in a color that complements her dress. After leading her to her avian beloved, Bruiser takes off the blindfold, and Zahrani's cyan gaze widens. Her mouth opens slightly, looking the bard up and down before raising her hands to her face in shock. It takes a moment, but then her gaze is drawn to the sign over the Cloud & Paw, and a wide grin forms on her face, "Awww, you guys didn't have to..." She sniffs, wrapping her arms around Brennia and leaning in for a kiss.
Brennia picks up on a hush coming over those gathered and gracefully glides down from where she was securing the sign before giving it one last look to make sure it isn't crooked. A smile spreads over her lush lips which are glossed with a pinkish hue that compliments her bronze skin and then she looks over to Bruiser just as he is leading Zahrani towards her. A dress!? She didn't have to, but Brennia does admire the physique of her lover in such a striking color. Zahrani will pick up her favorite scent coming from Brennia and when the blindfold is lifted, she will see the avian smiling so hard that it is poking dimples in her cheeks. Then her face feels hot as Zahrani really takes in the attire she is in and she gives her love a coy little look. Brennia wraps her arms around Zahrani in a tight hug, the kind you feel down to your bones as her slightly raspy timbre whispers, "by someone's gods I have missed you, love." She would wrap her wings around her as well, but the rest of the collective moves in for a group hug before moving along to get the food ready. "I had Gamsiz prepare your favorite," she laces her fingers with Zahrani's and leads her over to the drinks. "Which will you have?" Bre pours herself a light pineapple tepache and whatever Zahrani is having. Hamza seemingly grew overnight in the time Zahrani has been gone as he hit a growth spurt and skips on up to Zahrani, "tell us of your epic journey, Rani… Please?!" The rest of the younger ones crowd in behind him with hopeful looks on their faces. Brennia giggles, "save it for after dinner, you must be starving for some good food." The kids groan, but also agree with growling stomachs!
Zahrani never gets tired of seeing Brennia, and her heart is overflowing with the love given from the collective. She looks around, seeing familiar faces aged at least a year since she saw them last. The children were all so tall now. She puts a hand affectionately on Hamza's head, laughing as she responds, "You'll hear all about it after dinner, cub..." As if on cue, Rani's tiger apprentice Raahin runs through the portal, wearing a sundress. Now almost 14 years old, the tigress scoops up Hamza into a hug, "Miss me, little brother?" Hamza squeaks with delight; he had not seen his big sister since she had decided to travel with the paladin. Rani is led to the drink section, helping herself to tepache as well; it just felt right with the warm evening weather. Surveying the food, she gets a couple kabobs and some nice-looking dolmas, pickled grape leaves stuffed with rice and veggies. "This is wonderful, love," she says to Brennia. They make their way to a table, the panther taking a moment to bask in the presence of her people, and her love. To the avian, she adds with a warm grin, "You smell good...and you look great."
Brennia watches Hamza run off to his sister and puts her free hand to her heart while softly saying, "so precious." It makes her ache for her late younger brother Des'Monde, but she doesn't let herself think about him for too long. Brennia takes small sips of her drink and a couple bites out of her stuffed veggie grape leaf before chewing it thoughtfully because she still needs to be cautious of her condition. "It was all of our idea, really," she adds while giving thankful looks to the others around them. "My contribution will be later in the spa, I booked you for a massage. Surely our fearless adventurer needs some relaxation after her long journey," there is a lingering look into her lover's eyes that suggests more without being overt about it. Bre is blushing all over again a the compliments even though it isn't visible due to the natural looking makeup she is wearing, but then she sneaks a supple kiss to Zahrani's cheek. "Anything for you my love," she adds softly before sipping her drink carefully. Members of the bard's college meander about playing soft jovial music in tandem with members of the collective and the blend of sounds is uniquely inspiring. "I had to lighten my workload this year and am no longer in the running for a senate seat of Schezerade or dean of the college. All I do now is teach my class a couple times a week and I think it has done wonders for my health," she informs Zahrani.
Zahrani | It's now Rani's turn to blush, except she's not wearing makeup. It has definitely been awhile since she had relaxed. She leans into the kiss on her cheek, grinning from ear to ear. She listens to the music played between the Collective and the Bard's college, but she gives the avian woman her full attention when she talks to her about improving her health. A noticeable look of relief travels across her face, "I'm glad you're taking it easier on yourself, love." A pause, then she adds, "This is also a story for the children, but when I wasn't in Cenril, I went to visit my birth-mother's homeland. It was a last wish of hers that I visit there every so often, to stay connected with her family and friends." Jangal was a land unlike any other, a place of massive rainforests, monsoons, cities in the trees and the mountains, and magical energy that saturates everything, including the air. The feline reaches out to enclose her hand around Bre's, planting a kiss on it before saying, "It's good to be back."
Brennia has heard the tales of Jangal many times as Zahrani relaxes her just before sleep takes them. Something about the safety of Zahrani has been the only thing that helps her sleep at night and some of those story times, she has shared about the Island she is from. The tropical weather, bluest skies and crystal clear waters on white sandy beaches. "Jangal sounds so lovely, do you think I could visit there with you when my health is back in order," there is a hopeful look in her solid teal eyes as she looks into Zahrani's for the answer. "It is so good to have you back," then she remembers Zahrani's last weekend spent here in Schezerade and what she admitted to her. "I haven't seen Uriphiel since we spoke. Seems he is off crusading to find the last of the Flewminati and I never had a chance to see if his feelings aligned with my own," she informs her love, but doesn't seem upset about it in the least. Not with the wonderful night ahead of them, but there is one last thing she must inform her lover about. "Niall, an ex-interest of mine, has come back into the lands. Someone I had loved and thought loved me in return. His father and brother died from the infection in Cenril and now his mother is close to death. I have been saying my farewells to his mother over this last month because him and his family mean a great deal to me, but I have my boundaries with Niall," she blinks away threatening tears with a smile on her lips. "I don't mean to dampen the festivities my love, I just wanted to keep you informed," she gives Zahrani's hand a little weak squeeze. Her heart and health couldn't take more rejection and abandonment on Niall's part.
Zahrani listens with concern on her face as Bre speaks about Uriphiel and Niall. She could see how difficult and frustrating it had been for the avian. "It's alright, Brennia. The people you care for weigh on your heart. But the night is young, and for us." With a soft smile, she says, "Tomorrow is another day to focus on the serious. Just know that I am here for you now..." A pause, and a few moments of dining later, she adds with a smile, "When you are at full strength again, you can absolutely visit Jangal..." A small group of feline and avian children make their way to Zahrani, led by Hamza and Raahin. The young lad pipes up, "We just finished dinner. Can you tell us about your adventures, Rani?" The feline paladin takes a swig of tepache, before responding, "What if I told you there was a giant praying mantis in my adventure?" The children gasp, taking a seat and listening intently at Rani's tale. She tells of a city in the rainforest, its foundations also a grove of massive intertwined trees, dwarfing anything that could ever be found in Lithrydel. She regales them of a day where they were pursued by a centipede on the forest floor, only to watch it be turned into a meal by the previously-mentioned praying mantis. She tells of herds of deer that jump across the enormous tree branches, moving with the speed of cheetahs to evade predators. She speaks of rainy days and a capital city made of granite nestled into the mountains. Jangal is beautiful and terrifying.
Brennia cannot help but let out a raspy little giggle at the kids, "you lot are incorrigible. Did you even taste the delicious food as you inhaled it?" The ribbing is all in good fun and a few of the kids smile while shrugging sheepishly. Brennia must admit that she is equally enthralled by the tales of Zahrani's home as her gaze gets lost in the way her lover forms words with her lips and how her expression lights up during certain parts of the stories. "Sounds beautiful and terrifying," there is a coy little grin on her lips as she concludes, "it all makes sense." Meaning her lover is beautiful and terrifying just like that lands she hails from, but she lets Zahrani make the connection so she doesn't gross out the kids because they still think they all got 'cooties'! Brennia finds each tale exhilarating just as much as the others in Zahrani's audience. The skies become darker as the stories wind down and some of the kids look quite sleepy eyed. The avian sounds a little worn herself as her voice has become a little more raspy from all the talking and laughing, but she cannot remember a night so joyous in the last year! Eventually most of the collective bids Zahrani goodnight when Brennia gets up from their cozy and cuddly spots under the pillow seated canopy before holding a hand down to her love to help her up. She drapes her tattooed arms around Rani's shoulders as one of her hands caresses her fingers along the length of one of her braids and her forehead rests on the slightly shorter woman's, "shall we move on to my surprise, my love?"
Zahrani says goodnight to the Collective, watching as they sleepily make their way to the residential domiciles above the bed & breakfast. She takes Bre's hand, rising to her feet and wrapping an arm around the avian's waist. The panther sighs, letting her senses become flooded with the avian's scent, before saying softly, "That sounds...perfect."