RP:Cold, Sharp Determination
Summary: After her speech, Thamalys tracks Raven back to DeVere College of Bardic Arts to ask some questions.
DeVere College of Bardic Arts
After finding your way through the Topiary Garden it would only be fitting to happen upon a building which looks like a section taken right out of any castle in the same style as all of Schezerade, in all its decadence; marble forming the entirety of the large building accented with gold and platinum in which you'll have to cross over a glass bridge in order to reach it. The front door is welcoming for all shapes and sizes that are the citizens of Hollow and spans a great distance in it's solid French Door of a design. Opening it up one might be perplexed at the ability for the fortress to hold such music coming from the two story main hall with all of the astute students practicing their talents within. Once immersed, the eyes might be stolen by the gaping cathedral ceilings above, spotted by gold and platinum in which encircle mini glowing stones to mimic the night sky, but beauty is not only what the ceiling is for; it carries one's voice in the most pleasing fashion. This area is quite a vast oval-shaped grand hall, but nearly every space on the marble walls are shelves, carved into small diamond shapes. Each slot contains a scroll to nearly any song someone might wish to hear or practice in it's magic. Among the marvelous white-wood, gold-accented, concert grand piano in the middle of this large room there are a plethora of nearly every musical instrument imaginable, one just has to look.
Off to the west of this area are exits to the wondrous courtyard beyond, north holds the kitchens, dining hall and secret passageway to the wine cellar. The second story, easily reached by one of the staircases hugging the curved walls leading to a balcony within the hall, one will find many doors leading into teaching rooms; some of them lecture halls and performing arts rooms. At the northern peak of the oval main hall at the second level any new students are directed to the offices where any and all are encouraged to apply.
Raven retired to the castle with the counselor and her campaign manager in tow. Protection of the secret service was just that, seen not heard and it was almost as if they weren't even there, but Corvo was furious, “why would you not at least consult with me, FIRST on this decision?!” He really looked like he was nearly at his wits end with this woman, “Brennia would have never done something so tactless, so stupid!” Raven, being an old soul of just over three hundred lets the angry man rant on and in her bored monotone response she says, “that’s just it… I am not Brennia.” She kept those large circular glasses on, looking and acting quite like a version of Daria (yeah that 90’s cartoon!) The avain corvo nearly growls, “I know that! You better hope this doesn’t hurt our numbers.” Teal eyes finally look at Corvo, expression unchanging, “or what?” This seemed to frustrate Corvo more as he takes a step in to Raven, “or! Or-” out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of the guards stepping toward them. “Whoa! What are you doing that for?!” His arms go up as if he’s been accused of something.
Thamalys stormed through the entrance as if he owned the place. For once, he did not took the time to zigzag through the massive space, pretending to not know where to go - while taking the opportunity instead to look closer into shapes and things he thought he once knew. A glass of strawberry wine had to be sacrificed in the process - “Who do you -“ went a colourful page when the deadly rim of the Blue’s wing managed to knock over a silver tray. No need to address anyone’s concern, as the time of the Avian’s within the flying city had to be monitored closely - alway and forever. The words of the Lycan still echoing in his mind - perhaps the latter was still following in the distance? No time for that either… - the Spellblade aimed straight for the the cluster of imposing figures presently assembled around she-who-pretended-to-be. “Raven!” he stated, clear as the breeze from the North, sharp as the ice the latter brought with her. “A word?” he continued, this time two feet away only from Corvo and Teal, albeit plainly not regarding any of the two with anything but plain disdain. A hint of gold surfaced within the solid blue of the eyes of the Avian, his gaze nailed upon the shapes of Raven. || Such a hurry… || poked the Black, righteously amused.
Raven looked towards Thamalys, not remembering who this person is, but he at least used her name. It dawns on her that this person must have known Brennia and something tells her it’s alright to talk with this person, maybe a little dark and tattooed skinned angel is on her shoulder, guiding her. Her expression remained unenthused, she wasn’t surprised for it was hard to surprise this woman anymore and above all, every bit of that black ink is gone… Odd. Raven goes to step toward or with Thamalys, but she’s grabbed by the elbow by Corvo, “we aren’t done.” She simply looked at him, straight in the eye and even though she doesn’t have that powerful bardic ability anymore she simply says pointedly, “I think we are… See you tomorrow.” Taking her elbow back she moved on with Thamalys, “bonjour, how may I help you?” The wings behind her remained still and calm with the sash placed over them, a very old avian custom which means her emotions will never be portrayed in those wings for she is far too disciplined for such foolishness.
Thamalys halted mid-stride, the momentum of his barley contained impatience resulting in tiniest of the skids upon the polished floor. A tall Avian right beyond Teal rolled his eyes - a good thing the Blue did not notice. “Myself, I do not care about. This city, however, is dear to me…” noted matter-of-factly the Blue, his face a mask of ivory for no one to be easily read. “So…” proceeded the Healer, turning on his heels and offering an elbow in turn to Raven, plainly for her to be accepted or not as an almost forgotten symptom of chivalry. “… Brennia is no more, and out of thin air here you are, furthering her vision, nurturing her dreams. Such an impressive speech…” he would have continued, casually hinting a step toward the very middle of the space - if, that is, she-who-pretended-to-be would have accepted said elbow and followed. “I have to say, quite a few heads were nodding within that crowd at The Fountain - is there anyone at all you did not manage to convince of your enlightened intentions?” So very little emotion oozed from those words - as so much was screaming within the head of the Blue. The Ageless Black, quite content with that, chuckled and grinned.
Raven is within Brennia’s body, “I cannot rightly remember, but I believe Brennia and I were one before it was just me.” The woman is visually Brennia, slightly different eyes, no ink on her skin, but it’s like Brennia’s twin. Raven was the ink that was decorating her skin, it was a hidden power within Brennia that made her the bard she was. Dulled eyes glance down at his arm and she gently and politely used her fingers to push it back to his own side, “no need to waste chivalry on me, sir.” She’s not like Brennia, she doesn’t engage in closeness if she doesn’t have to, but she’s not opposed to it either. “This city is also dear to me,” she follows nonetheless as she is not pretending to be Brennia anymore because it is not fair to her memory. Raven’s emotions seemed to match that of Thamalys’ - calm, and very little of it. “I am not out of thin air, I gave Brennia her gift many years ago if her records prove me right… I care for her, her vision and that must be why I gave my life to continue what she started.” Her words, matter-of-fact and definitely not as passionate or charming as Brennia was.
Thamalys kept walking, slowly, in one single movement bringing the not-accepted-elbow in line with his right side, hand meeting hand, long, bony fingers intertwining as autumn vines. No comment would have followed upon said refusal, and yet, despite his history, the edge of those silvery wings did twitch by a tiny bit. Irritation, that was not - just the realisation that she who was walking with him carried only a part of the Headmistress of old within. “I see… no regrets, then? No grievance, no hesitation. Just a well-defined plan, which Scherezade is supposed to follow… perhaps. And yet, the elder amongst us would hardly trust you, despise the obvious weight your words seem to carry. For a start, I do not.” he noted, freezing abruptly and canting that massive cranium toward her. “You said you gave your life for her - out of love, I shall suppose? I see none of the latter in you…” he continued, a shade of uncontaminated loath escaping his facade, “I hear no despair in your voice - only a cold, sharp determination… which this city needs”, concluded the Healer, nodding slightly. “Despite what you said before, we are still known as one of the most intelligent races - and I intend to keep it that way. Not that my words carry any weight in here… elsewhere, perhaps. Now, let us play a little bit of a silly game, shall we?” . By then, the Blue would have snatched some wine from the very same page he bumped into earlier on. Oddly enough, the Spellblade did - not - offer any to Raven - chivalry was eventually dead? “Now, assume you have been granted the possibility to assign to myself a task, any task in fact, that would aid your vision within the next few weeks. What would you pick?” A smirk, a smile, something awfully cruel along those lines curled the lineaments of the Winged Beast - calculating, assessing, probing.
Raven really has no idea who this is so his words do not bother her, “I had a dream… It turned out to be a jumbled memory of what happened, that night.” She watched, careless, while the stranger drank in front of her for she doesn’t drink. “If I am to believe the man the used to be with Brennia, I ended up drinking a vial that would erase Brennia’s memory from my mind. In my dream I did it because my heart shattered with grief… It was a nightmare I am happy I took the precaution because I wouldn’t make it through any day with such pain.” Her wings remained steady throughout, the silken sash unmoving, uncaring. “I am only to serve the guild, the college, this city… I do not know what I would pick for you, I do not remember who you are or know of your abilities.” She said rather flatly as she pushed the round glasses up the bridge of her nose and yes being an avian with perfect sight distance wise she didn’t actually need them, but she was reading so often lately that she forgoes taking them off. “How could you further Schezerade, sir…” leaving her question open to introduce himself.
Thamalys frowned, something halfway between pure relief and true sadness surfacing on his tattooed face. “You truly know nothing about me, then… that is good news - for us both.” || So this is it then… the recollection of my name as well as your deeds died with Brennia… || noted the Black. As a ancient dragon with a fairly substantial list of deadly enemies, that was probably good news for him as well. One step back, then, another one shortly after, the ripples within the blue fabric wrapped around the skinny shapes of the Spellblade swaying merrily against the perfectly white background of the hall. “I am no Sir, and my name would not matter to you - not yet. I like your words, but words I do no trust. I approve of your vision, but visions and dreams are for the weak , not for the Avians. I shall hope for action, then I will happily oblige. In fact, I would invite you in Frostmaw, see how you intend to foster those - connections - you hinted to at The Fountain… but perhaps such an invitation would not be necessary… maybe your presence has already been required at the Yule Ball?” inquired the Blue, a genuine shade of curiosity in his last words.
Raven doesn’t entirely trust this man either as her sarcastic velvety timbre simply replies, “action, like not letting Brennia be found crushed under a large wine rack... That’s how every avian wishes to go, right?” Raven has read through Brennia’s ledgers and personal accounts, “Schezerade is a friend in Cenril, Alithrya and Frostmaw. I said her work was vast and would not be undone.” She grimaces, “a Ball… I would only be there for the music.” She spots Corvo standing under the archway that leads out to the courtyards, “pleasure to meet you… I must be going.” She still looked bored, still uninterested, but one thing was certain was she was focused and driven. She would give him a moment for goodbyes if he wanted before moving on.
Thamalys nodded gravely. “Yes, Brennia did an awful lot - you inherited quite a hefty responsibility… very much looking forward to see what will come next.” And with that, the Blue would have hinted something similar to a bow, before taking some more steps back. “The pleasure is all mine - till soon…” he concluded, his eyes telling an entirely different story. Half a turn, a vortex of blue and silver, and the Winged Beast would have moved swiftly enough toward the doors, not looking back even once. On the doorstep, he would paused for a brief moment, leaning his weight upon a marble column nearby, panting, a greenish shade ruining the otherwise perfect blue of his eyes. Just one moment, though - and off he walked, his willowy shapes ambling oddly enough through the shiny alleys of the Flying City.