RP:Dust Your Crown Off
Part of the Vinabre Cosmetics Arc
Summary: Brennia and Alvina get real about their lives. An offer is made by Brennia for her to come stay at the college with the kids to get a break and Alvina has an interesting suggestion soon after.
Frostmaw Tavern
It’s difficult to imagine stepping foot inside this old and storied tavern without drawing immediate attention to its centerpiece: a massive fireplace dug directly into the earth, dominating the view from every angle. Its roaring flames have never been extinguished, fed constantly not only by large logs but by scraps of leftovers for its keeper, the fire wyrmling Aodhan. The tavern’s stone foundation, jagged along the walls but sturdy enough to withstand beatings from drunken brawlers, is lined with heartwood and animal skins to keep the fireplace’s welcome heat from escaping. Frost Giant lasses move skillfully among the crowds to serve ale and warm meals, occasionally stopping to regale a newcomer with the stories behind the many trophies hung upon the walls: sabercat fangs, mounted mammoth heads, aged weapons, dented shields, war banners, and a dragon skull hanging central from the ceiling, horns and jaws wrapped in blue chains. Patrons frequent the tavern from a wide host of races, here on trade or even residence. At night, there is dance and music and cheer -- and all sorts of physical contest. Stairs leading to the upper rooms can be spotted in the southwest corner, their steps covered in plush furs to suggest something softer and cozier can be found above. Drargon is the barkeep here, a gruff old war hero with plenty of tales. He’ll speak freely about his beloved battle axe or any of his scars, but for the one: whatever it was that blinded his left eye, he’s not telling.
Brennia decided to sign the traveling coach out for her Interpretation class today. It was sort of odd having to jump through the hoops of signing out the bard college's property, but she is happier to do it if it means she can focus on her health and well being. The flying horse drawn carriage seems normal on the outside, maybe a little opulent, but nothing out of sorts except for the number of well bred horses putting the carriage. It isn't long after the safe landing that properly bundled up college students start to file out one by one. What a marvel that so many fit in one carriage! Some of them curse under their breath at the chill in the air while others marvel at the snow as if they had never seen it before. Brennia is happy to bring her students along as she looks over them with pride. The slightly raspy timbre suggests, "let us retreat into the tavern and warm up by the fire before tackling the wilds." There is a genuine seeming smile on her face as her wings are curved around her slender frame like a cloak and she still lets out a slight shiver right before she follows the last student within. Today there is no real lesson other than getting her students out for some inspiration and all of them split off into groups with parchment and quill in hand in case their muse strikes. Excited little butterflies swirl around within her abdomen as she glances around in search of Alvina, but the sudden change in temperature from the chill outside to the warmth within the tavern causes her spectacles to fog up. "Merde," she sighs and slips them off the bridge of her nose until they warm up, but she can still make out what she is looking at… mostly. Maybe Alvina isn't here yet, so Brennia just settles by the fire to warm up.
Alvina isn’t there yet when the students are filing out of the bard’s college carriage. She’d almost made it out of work unscathed but at the last second a clerk stopped by for signatures and stayed to chat. She was politely gathering her things while he continued to talk, seemingly oblivious to her subtle cues that she needed to go! When she does arrive at the Frostmaw Tavern, her cheeks are pink and cold and she’s delighted to see the clusters of students inside. The bard’s college held very special memories for her, especially a summer festival that took place years ago. She still has that butterfly mask! If she stays busy enough, it’s easy for Alvina to pretend things are as they were many years ago. That her twins were just asleep with the nanny, that her husband was just working late. That she didn’t feel lonely in the time between working and falling asleep. That dull grey area of nothingness that never felt quite right. Today, though, she has the pleasure of meeting with her friend Bre after years apart and she’s been very much looking forward to it. The red head finds the avian quickly despite the crowd and places a gentle hand on her shoulder to say hello. “Did I miss the festivities?” Alvina asks her friend with a grin.
Brennia has yet to open her wings, so when Alvina placed her hand on Brennia's wing covered shoulder, the fellow bard would feel the silky feathers under her touch. The avian looks up at her friend, a brilliant smile spreading across her face and poking dimples into her cheeks before she stands up for a hug. Finally, she opens her wings in order to do so and the wings follow the path of her arms in the hug. Of course when they embrace, Alvina will notice that the avian is still quite underfed like last time since the hug is more bony and less cushioned by a healthy layer of fat. "Not at all," she replies after pulling away, only sitting back down whenever Alvina takes a seat. "They've been itching for new inspiration, so I thought I could make a day of it," solid teal hues glance around to check where everyone is even though they are all adults, but she still worries. For now all of them are not within earshot of the old friends. "How was your day? Also, I am so happy you're back in Lithrydel. Are the kids liking this weather?" She assumes her kids are with her and that Hudson followed her here as well because she is hopeful the good lad found his way back to his wife. Last she saw him, he was seemingly staying at the Six Seasons hotel in Cenril and faking happy just like she was… still is. She glances over to the bar and motions for a hot beverage, preferably something without alcohol for herself and then she glances toward Alvina, "what will you have?"
Alvina loves the little bits of hummed music and fractured verses of poems she can hear among the other typical tavern noises. When was the last time she played? Alvina’s touch was rather gentle so as not to disturb Brennia’s wings. She takes a seat beside the avian after their embrace and Alvina ponders a delicate way to inquire about her friend’s weight, or lack there of. While she does, the red head orders a hot chocolate with a brittle grin and tries to answer the question honestly. The Landon’s were, or had become, experts at hiding their secrets. The ones they choose to truly hide anyway. “The kids aren’t back just yet. After being raised so close to the beach, I’m not sure how they’d take to Frostmaw weather. Being a Lycan helps so who knows, maybe they’ll love the snow.” She twirls her wedding rings idly, out of habit. Their drink orders arrive and Alvina stops the waitress to request a few more marshmallows. Normally she’d have ordered a more age appropriate drink like coffee or a fluffed up version thereof but she’d been craving the taste of something familiar. “Work was just fine. I’m rusty so everything I try to do feels like it takes too long.” A sigh of gentle frustration before that bandaid smile finds its way back to her face. “But tell me true dear, how are you? I don’t mean to be a nosy one but…you look troubled.” Maybe that knowledge just came from their friendship, they’d known each other for quite some time by now. Alvina thought, or maybe she was out of practice, that something unpleasant lurked unspoken by Brennia. There are only so many things that can lead to what seems like (to the healer among other glorified titles) malnutrition. No doubt Bre would have her own pressing questions for Alvina but Alvina’s come on strong with her inquiry.
Brennia is no mind reader, but any good bard can recognize a troubled soul so they may use song or verse to quell the ache even just for a moment. Her glance pauses for a fraction of a second while looking down to her caffeine free tea at Alvina twirling her wedding band which can commonly be a sign of marital troubles. Well practiced fake smiles are her forte lately and it seems Brennia is first to admit, "things have not been ideal, no." Her sharp hearing can confirm that none of the students are paying them any mind, but it isn't like her declining health has been a well kept secret because how do you explain a professor disappearing weeks at a time throughout the last couple of years. "Last we spoke in the bard's guild, I think we touched on the fact that I had recently been liberated from a slave work farm. I cannot recall if I mentioned the way the goblins kept their workers subdued with elixirs, potions and sleeping draughts, but it plays a part in my misery these days. I felt a new passion for life after, but it seemed the copious concoction of toxins burned a hole in my stomach. Luckily, Emilia being the badass she is, she fixed it… a couple of times until I ultimately needed a transplant. After my recovery, I felt I could take on the world and this avian fellow, Uriphiel, gave me an abundance of hope for Schezerade's future. I decided to run for senator again at great risk of drawing the Flewminati back to finish the job they started four years ago and I worked in attempts to find my bard magic once more - and I was still running the college as the dean. Somehow I still found time to spend with the Isran Collective and my love Zahrani, but it all caught up with me and I was strongly advised to lighten the workload…" She simply holds her tea more for warmth rather than a beverage. "So I lightened the workload… and then had to lighten it some more… and then some more. These days I am simply a Professor at the bard college and my classes are two days a week only," there is a deep breath to follow before her gaze finally finds its way back to her dear friend. "Would you like to get real with me now?" There is a slight curve of kindness in her lips after the question because she knows when her friend is covering. Heck, she could tell Hudson was being all fake happy that one time she saw him.
Alvina did remember bits and pieces of conversation about the slave farm and perhaps a naga bodyguard she had at the time? She shivers at the thought. Brennia trust falls without much provocation and it makes Alvina’s heart feel equally light that she trusts her so and dreadfully heavy that her friend has endured so much for her causes. Emerald eyes stay fixed on the avian as she speaks, her thumb stroking the side of her mug in a self soothing fashion. “Emilia saved my twins.” She nods in acknowledgment of the gensai‘s badass-ary. It would likely go without saying but “Brennia that’s so much to take on. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to step back from everything, I know how much you care about Schezerade. I’m sorry.” She waits a beat before continuing “but I’m insanely proud of you for putting yourself and health first. That’s never easy for people like us. And you’ll have my support in whatever you decide to do in the future. And if you want to run for senate again, I’m sure Hudson would be happy to help you succeed.” At that juncture, Brennia asks Alvina to peel away layers of herself in return. She’s told Lanara and Meri but telling people didn’t seem to make her feel any better about the circumstances. Alvina looks away, startled by such raw attention and directness. “We’re.. separated.” The subtext should fill in the gaps where she can’t. “A lot happened that I can’t talk about but what I can say is…He came back to Cenril to wrap up some unfinished business. We maintained silence for safety but the longer he stayed away, the more we grew apart in a way I don’t think we could ever repair.” It wasn’t meant to last forever, his leaving. But his plans had changed…and now hers had too. “We’re still legally married and he sends money for the kids to take care of them but…It’s just been me for a while now.” There’s a bittersweet taste in her mouth. In lue of all the bad, secret and not so secret, things between them. They’d loved each other once. She’s become grateful, since talking to Meri, that Hudson hadn’t just vanished in the night. Alvina can’t stop herself from trying to curl her lips into a smile. “I think we wanted each other to be different, or maybe I just wanted us to be different.” People that they weren’t. She wanted him to leave his job behind but the business wasn’t one people just leave. They would both be happier this way. “His every move is watched in Cenril so a proper divorce would cause a mess for both of us right now.. so maybe let’s just keep this to ourselves. I’ve only mentioned it to less than a handful of people.” People she trusted. They may feel differently in the future but the arrangement worked for now. The bitterness and loneliness were often at odds with each other under her skin. Alvina’d just learned to stay busy. She’d learned to do that when they were still together. There can’t be cracks in a window you don’t look through. “But enough about that.” She clears her throat. Brennia’s situation felt like so much more loss. “Tell me you’re at least trying to eat well. It’s easy to neglect eating during difficult times.”
Brennia has grown quite fond of Emilia and smiles a bit wider at the welcome addition. A thoughtful nod is given to Alvina when she mentions her care for Schezerade. Her gaze drops from Alvina when she realizes how abrupt her question must have seemed, "I am sorry, Alvina. I know 'fake happy' when I see it… I've been trying to perfect that mask for years." That had an edge to it which she really didn't expect and Brennia would guess that she can thank Raven for this touch of darkness still lingering within. She finally takes a slow sip of her tea now it has cooled off a little and listens intently to her friend with no judgment and endless patience. Brennia had actually met Hudson before she had the pleasure of meeting Alvina, but had this bardic bond to the Silver ever since and has always rooted for the pair whenever there seemed to be something between the couple. The avian falls quiet and she aches internally for her friend, but on the outside she simply looks thoughtful. After setting her drink down, she leans forward to place a chord knit sweater covered elbow on her black velvet legging clad knee towards Alvina a little. A long pause rests between them as the pleasant sound of musical instruments dwindle in and out, "I'm searching for a quote in an attempt to put your feelings into words, but I know I will not find it. We can learn every language and read every word ever written, but we will never find what is in your heart… How could we? He has it," there is a sadness knitting her brow together. "I hope one day you two will find the strength to keep fighting," she reaches a tattooed hand out and gently places it on her friend's elbow in sincerity. With that she relaxes back and continues sipping her tea in order to respond to Alvina's question, "I eat as much as my body will allow, but I haven't been able to put the weight back on." After another comfortable pause in conversation she offers, "I know Frostmaw is familiar to you and comfortable, but if you and the kids are looking for a change of scenery, there is always room at the college. There is an interesting bazaar that I think the teens will love to shop in and plenty of things to do around town to keep all of them occupied. Just send word if you get the inspiration and I will take care of everything."
Alvina watches Brennia with wide eyes. The avian does look thoughtful, though the Engineer senses something lurking behind those eyes that she can’t quite touch on. When Brennia’s words come, they give Alvina pause. Her heart aches, her words are too much of a surprise and knock her off balance. He has her heart? Find the strength to keep fighting? A flicker of self doubt tries to spark. Could they? “No, I think…” The red head pauses to compose herself and snuff out the impossibility. “I think we’ve fought for a very long time and we’re both quite tired.” It was hard but it was best. They were now free to be who they wanted to be instead of who they thought they should be for each other. Though she can’t cast all the blame on her husband, she knows how recklessly she’d have tried to fit the pieces back together. “It would only make us resent each other. Our marriage wasn’t perfect and the separation is hard but there are things too broken to mend. I can’t regret all of our time together.” Thoughtfully, she’ll be able to look back at Brennia with a pained smile. “I’ll be happy to just keep the good memories without shattering what’s left behind.” It would be like beating their heads against the wall. Bitterness and loneliness were one thing. Resent could cultivate easily there if left unattended, and though she’d like to be the young, hopeless romantic that found a way to wash it clean with a blind eye…it wasn’t healthy. That wasn’t love. It was comfortable ignorance that would spin out of control. And while Alvina had yet to consider something new, she knew it would come in time. Maybe she could be as lucky as Meri and find someone who loved her as she was, and she could love them that way too. As lucky as Lanara. “May we be so lucky.” Alvina says, tamping down the twitching pain that ‘maybe’ often lent. The serious topic of Brennia’s health turns the conversation. “Is it…the draughts you had to drink? Is there anything to be done to help?” They were healers in addition to their own titles, so Alvina knew Brennia’d considered many possibilities already no doubt. The mention of the college isn’t a bad idea. “I’ve been toying with the idea of house hunting but that might be a good place to wait in the interim. And gods bless anything to get those two out of the house.” Let them buy the whole bazaar if they needed to. “Thank you. Truly. I feel quite lucky to have such a marvelous friend as you.”
Brennia crosses one leg over the other and fluffs out her large sweater so it doesn't cling so much to her slight frame. "That is… unfortunate. I always admired what you and Hudson had, but I do not pretend to know the way things are behind closed doors and I definitely never believed a word those awful papers said. A bunch of thoughtless gossip for small minds," there is an eye roll there to punctuate her point. It is true, she always rooted for those two love birds. A nod in agreement at Alvina's mention to keep the good memories, "that is all we can do. I look back on all of my exes fondly and never regret the lessons every one of them taught me." There is confusion on her face because she doesn't quite follow Alvina's thinking and she quotes back, "be so lucky?" A head tilt as her brow furrows together, "lady," she starts in an almost scolding, but caring tone, "fierce women like us don't need a relationship to define us." There is a genuine grin of confidence spreading across her lush lips, "I know nights can be lonely, but I have grown to enjoy the peace in it. I don't know when the worth of a woman got all tangled up in if she is married or in a serious relationship, but that is a load of bull feces. I have deep love for Zahrani and my extended family in the Isran Collective, but she does not make me whole. I am -already- whole and it is a large task to expect someone else to do that for you. Trust me, I love the hell out of me and the right one will come along and have to love me more than that to make me feel special," it seems just because Brennia misses her curves doesn't mean that she lost any confidence in the values she holds true to herself. "I wish there was, but simplifying my workload has seemed to help because I don't have nearly as many flare ups lately," she slowly sips her tea and smiles again at the idea of house hunting, "that -is- exciting. Additionally, there is always full service of breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a cleaning service, so you can just focus on finding yourself again and spending time with the kids instead of what to make for all of you to eat and constantly cleaning up. "Please, don't even mention it," she is definitely blushing with the compliment, "stay as long as you need. My castle turned college is your castle turned college."
Brennia’s admiration for her marriage does what Lanara’s reassurance had done. Their marriage had looked perfect, admirable. “Those papers will say whatever suits them honestly.” Alvina had no love for the Cenril press. “It was a constant nightmare battling them… and their rumors and accusations.” Some of which were true, especially about the Mayor being controlled by darker forces. Like, most of Cenril knew, by Hudson. Candice Snow was murdered, that was true. No doubt, other things were true, but she’d learned a long time ago that the best way to persevere was to keep the parts of people that made you happy and ignore the parts that didn’t. No matter how bad or good things were, they won’t last forever. The avian pulls Alvina from this carriage wreck of a tangent by calling her ‘lady’. Emerald eyes blink at her in confused surprise. “Yes hello?” Brennia’s explanation about the completeness of a being, a woman, was not defined by their romantic attachments. She sounds, in this moment, so much like her old teacher. Brennia is her own person but she’s calling for confidence and strength across a spectrum of injustice and Alvina feels an old thing twitch in her chest. “I guess it’s never been hard for them to make me feel special.” Alvina’s red hair coils around her wrist when she pushes it away from her face. Who’d started this trend? Linken, she guesses. He’d asked her to marry him, left to work for money to fund their wedding and never came back. It embedded this feeling, deep under all her kindness and warmth, that she would never be good enough to deserve love. So she would settle for time and attention and the hope that someday, someone would see her and think differently. That she was worthy of more. Tears well up in Alvina’s eyes, though she doesn’t feel them until they’re well on their way down her cheeks. “I’ve always envied…” she hides her mouth with her hand “I’ve always envied the powerful women we know. Everyone always seems so together…” Everyone thought she had it together…or they knew and she was trapped in make believe. “I’m so sorry.” She apologizes, wiping at her face. Bards and their words. Head tipped in shadow, Alvina wipes her eyes again before facing her friend. “Thank you.” Brennia. Meri. Lana. Taly. Khitti. Alvina was surrounded by fierce women who held their own and made their own way. “I’m such a sap.” She laughs through a hiccup and tries her cooled down hot chocolate instead. As if sensing her friend’s emotional turmoil, Brennia switches the topic back to the avian and the college and it gives Alvina a moment to focus outside herself. “You’re bribing me with a cleaning service!” The red head accuses with a loud laugh. A weight’s shifted on her chest and she draws in a deep breath from the icy windows, warm fire and sounds of creation. Their whole lives left to unroll in front of them with each step. “Meet me in the bazaar tomorrow.” Alvina said, at long last, looking decisive. “And have lunch with me.”
Brennia lets out a soft chuckle through the tears spilling over her own eyelids because she cannot help it when one of her friends cries but as she wipes across her lower eyelid it is revealed there has been something covering the bags there. It is actually quite impressive how well rested she looked just one second ago save for the slight redness to the sclera of her solid teal hues and suddenly she looks haggard. It seems she had an eye cream or some cover up on her eyes to make her appear well rested. The avian is still plagued with night terrors of working on the goblin farm and still doesn't get enough rest, but almost by magic, she found a wonderful fix for it. "Not at all, Alvina. We all have falls, but it is important that you give yourself the time to be with your feelings before picking yourself up, dusting off your crown and carrying on. You're a mother and stronger than you think," Brennia concludes with admiration in her tone as she hasn't even realized she wiped away the make up which made her look so well rested moments ago. A soft raspy giggle is followed by the mentions of bribery, "of course!" She starts to smile a little brighter and genuine as the act pokes those dimples in her cheeks this time. "We can get you some spicy outfits to draw in new attention or tempt your ex," there is a cheeky little twinkle in her eye as she whispers the suggestion. She isn't entirely serious, but some good retail therapy is in order.
Alvina studies Brennia’s face in the low light of the tavern. Even the strongest women had their own battles to fight. Battles they might not advertise all the time. She tries not to stare at the bags under Brennia’s eyes, not that they make her look any less fierce or beautiful. “Someone I once knew used to say…’The gods made sure their angels can’t see their wings, or else they would become too vain’. That’s often the case isn’t it? We can’t always see our own strengths because they’re tucked away. Pressed into the tiny crease between our shoulder blades. All the power we possess.” The imagined ‘crown’ to be dusting off. Brennia’s mention of buying a new ‘spicy’ outfit pulls a laugh out of her. “This mom body doesn’t fit into slinky clothes the way it used to.” She didn’t want to discourage her friend’s enthusiasm and encouragement but, then again, there are very few situations that a new dress couldn’t improve. The prospect of confidence, even without attention, romantic or otherwise, was too enticing to pass up. “Surely there’s a ball or event bound to come up that we can both buy extravagant dresses for. Even though you’re taken, there’s no reason not to show off a little hmm? I bet one of Kree’s dresses would look STUNNING on you.”
Brennia smirks in a coy way as her wings subtly shift behind her, “you cannot spell avian without vain.” She does understand that avians are stereotyped as being super into their looks and she has a common sense about it. The professor only uses the concealer she created and often dresses in loose fitting clothes so people don’t ask questions or fret about her well-being. It is just too much to go into, but most of all she got sick of the pitiful looks she would get and how she was suddenly treated like she was some fragile old fart. Brennia lets out a 'pft' and waves her hand, "all types of body shapes are beautiful, but the confidence you wear is the most attractive." With a shrug she informs Alvina, "I am taken, that is true, but Zahrani doesn't own me and I do not own her. Zahrani's culture opts for a more community aspect of things and monogamy is not natural for them, so while we do have love for eachother and act like usual couples, we are not exclusive." It is a matter-of-fact explanation before she sips her tea and awaits any other questions that may arise because she is used to that as well - many judgments on their view of relationships.
Alvina laughs. "Can't spell avian without vain?" She repeats respectfully. Alvina'd gotten tired of the judgemental looks that came her way most days too. Jealous women or oogling men (or women) but it was the pity most of all that she hated. When a new tabloid would be published with gossip about her husband, like with Candice Snow, making it look like he was having an affair. Then she got the pity looks of - 'Oh how sad' like she was some kind of kicked dog. Poor powerless Alvina trapped in her gilded cage, putting up with her rich husband's affairs. She wasn't powerless. She was a wolf but there was also power in money, if nothing else. Which she had in spades. "No judgement at all from me." The bard nods her head in approval. "Love and physical attraction are complicated. You can love different people in different ways without one tarnishing or lessening the other. As long as everyone knows what's what and no one is getting hurt...who is to say how people should be together." Alvina pokes a marshmallow down into the hot chocolate with her pinky nail, trying to not give Brennia any intense looks of concern over her missing eye makeup. She would have to find a way, subtle and without a trace of pity, to help her friend. Even if it wasn't today. She picks up her mug to toast, holding it out to Brennia. "To not being pitied and to wearing sexy dresses!"
Brennia toasts to that! Holding her mug up, which happens to be made of copper to keep her drink warm, she catches her own reflection and the tips of her tapered ears turn a shade of pink in embarrassment. How she must look like a hypocrite covering up her tired eyes! It’s not that she’s trying to hide, but she just hates all the questions that follow. “Cheers!” She offers with a short raspy chuckle to follow and after a sip, Brennia holds the mug eye level while fishing for something under her wings. There is a small satchel secured under the cover of her wings and it is enchanted to be larger on the inside, but it is quite easy for her to find what she is looking for. She finally pulls free a small tube that has a cream a shade lighter than her bronze complexion. “I’ve been experimenting with finding ways to cover up the bags under my eyes so people don’t ask nagging questions. I think I finally came up with a good system between makeup and serums,” she explains to the fellow bard as she simply dabs a teeny bit under her eyes before blending it out with her ring finger. Again, it is as if magic had been worked on her and the bags are covered up, making her look youthfully well rested! “You should have seen my eyes experimenting with the formula and I would have a negative reaction,” there is another raspy giggle that follows. Brennia would never assume Alvina could have a use for cosmetics, but if she ever made a request or suggestion Brennia would love to help.
Alvina hadn’t been a fan of make-up before she’d slipped into the role of socialite alongside her husband. Then there were public appearances and galas and fancy hotels. Everyone who was anyone had a famous makeup brand they bragged about constantly. It was a competitive lifestyle; trying to look youthful and perfect amid all the other youthful and perfect looking people. She’d been neglecting the routine in her solitude but all her old make up had stayed back with her children for now. “You know, I wouldn’t mind some tips or suggestions.” Being a werewolf made the aging process a little different but along with sexy dresses, make up had the effect of confidence and allure. The extra step, attention to detail. Even if the men never noticed, the other women sure did. Alvina watches Brennia smear the cream in place and vanish almost instantly. “I could have really used that when the twins were younger and I wasn’t getting much sleep.” Before they’d hired a nanny and changed professions officially. “Would you consider making one for my skin tone? Of course, I’ll pay you for it, even if you try to refuse payment.” She winked at Brennia and sets down her mug. “May I?” She extends her hand to hold the makeup container and look it over thoughtfully. Maybe she could do her friend a favor and design a cute little case for this.
Brennia raises a brow at Alvina, "suggestions? You're flawless," she answers truthfully. "Well, the only advice that has ever helped me when it comes to makeup is to simply enhance your best features because if you try to alter your face entirely it will look far too much like a mask." She looks down at the tone of which her concealer is and then to her friend's fair skin, "well, in a way you could use this." She gathers some on the tip of her finger before handing over the product to Alvina as she requested and then she lightly starts to dab the darker color along her cheek in an angular motion. Other than the soft tapping from silky fingers, Alvina will notice the product feels weightless and smooth while also smelling really nice. "It took me a while to make this because I didn't trust that other cosmetics out there weren't testing their product on animals, or worse, made from animal parts." She shudders at the thought and finishes blending out the contour on Alvina before holding up the shiny mug so she may see. "I know it looks all distorted in the mug, but I only used a little here and there," she points out where she used the contour while continuing, "in an uplifting motion." There is a certain sultry glow to Alvina's features now that Brennia enhances the beauty that was already there.
Alvina gives Brennia a look that translates to ‘you know what I mean woman’ while she absorbs the avian’s cosmetic advice. She lets her dab and blend, closing her eyes. “What can’t you do?” She says once she’s released to move. She tilts her face into the warped shine of the mug but can see the difference almost immediately. “It's so light.” Alvina thinks out loud, touching her pinky finger to the contour. She lifts her emerald eyes from the mug. “How long did it take you to make this?” It sounded like Brennia did all the testing on herself. The bard liked the sound of it though. Enhance the beauty that’s already there. It made her feel like she was already beautiful without it instead of like she was hiding herself to appear more beautiful. Cosmetics was such a fickle and purposely deceptive business. “I bet a lot of women would pay good money for that kind of quality and guarantee. Animal cruelty free products are all the rage right now.” She hums thoughtfully but swallows the thought. Brennia was trying to keep a light load while she recovered. “Probably perfect for the hippie artist types at the college.” Alvina lofts her eyebrows before dismissing the suggestion. “But,” She takes a quick drink of her hot chocolate. “I’ve got a shopping date tomorrow that I can’t be late for.” The tavern’s started to fill with chatter from students, potentially done with their assignments or just plain slacking off. There are still those hushing the others while they composed their no-doubt classic symphonies. “I’ll meet you in front of the college tomorrow?” She digs into a bag and pulls out enough gold to cover both their drinks and pushes it on the bar before leaning in carefully to hug Brennia goodbye. “I’m really excited.” And though Alvina’s smile is forced, a mask over the heavier topics of the visit, there is comfort and joy woven in, hidden as a backlight behind her own tired emerald eyes.