RP:Fresh Starts
Summary: Headmistress Smyth welcomes a new student.
Smyth College of Bardic Arts
After finding your way through the Topiary Garden it would only be fitting to come upon a building which looks like a section taken right out of any castle in the same style as all of Schezerade, in all it's 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 main hall there with all of the astute students practicing their talents. 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 what the ceiling is for; it carries one's voice in the most pleasing fashion. This main hall is quite a vast oval-shaped room, but the 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.
Nearing further into the castle one's nostrils might pick up on the scent of mouth watering food being cooked wafting from the kitchen which is north of the main room and it also holds an elegant dining area containing a handful of small tables. In the corner of this kitchen there is a winding staircase which travels below where students are bustling to and fro. If you wish to stay, grab your favorite spirits from the well stocked kitchen and listen to the bardic magics, relax in one of the many luxurious sofas strewn about these to areas. Off to the east corner of the main hall, there is a locked staircase with an outreaching design in onyx stone overlay which is seemingly inking over into the pristine luxury you’ve found yourself in. It's as if the area above holds a darkness that's attempting to leak out into this little slice of heaven… Better just leave that door alone.
Aaken found himself looking over his shoulder frequently while traveling through Schezerade, this may have been due to the fact that he was unable to shapeshift and thereby hide his naga appearance. He wasn't like other naga in few senses. For one was anthromporhic like the top half being python like with arms and a head like a python. His dark Scales were as black as ebony, save for neon green tiger like stripes running down from the top of his head down to his tail. His red eyes were large in his face and extremely strong at capturing detail, while he didn't have visible ears he was very good at picking up sounds and worse voices. To be frank, Aaken was 12' tall and over 14' long, a total of 26' long, he wore a red and white striped scarf and carried with him for the first time a satchel which he had slung over his shoulder, noticeably his eyes would track those that looked at him funny, or with contempt, likely this because he was naga, but also because of his size, very large naga had developed reputations for eating people, and he felt more guilty of this because Reginae had explained to him naga no longer eat people, and when she further explained that his parent had cruelly told him that if the prey struggles its food and if it doesn't then it was a friend, and needed to be spat out, this was exceptionally cruel to him, because there had been many times well over a hundreds were he had met people and tasted them, and when they had struggled he assumed he had just been talking to his food again, but now he was still traumatized, mainly due to being very lonesome during his life, having only woken up from the freeze recently he was now eager to start over, he was going to get in with the bards if he could, after all surely there was a need for an artist with his talent. As he slithered towards the large college he knocked on the closed door, and waited.
Brennia | The door would be opened to the vast main hall, shaped like an oval and two stories. The second story has plenty of instruments strewn about and kempt there were rooms off to each side, one leading to the courtyard. The other to some classrooms and the farther north space being the large kitchen. No one was at the door as of yet and there are a few bards inside at the seating area looking up at the dome shaped ceiling which depicts the constellations with platinum and at night the glowing stones in them light up. One of the bards hushed the other as their attention was brought to the door, but the Naga would not be greeted with looks of fear, but with kind smiles and maybe a wave. They obey the most important rule of this college "No judgments just acceptance." It seemed classes were starting to let out of session and more students were waking about the second floor out of classrooms into the main hall. The most noticeable Bard being six foot two, dark skin covered in a tattoo, and large velvety onyx wings. She came down the stairs towards the Naga and looked up at him with a kind smile on her lips when her sultry alto timbre spoke up to him, "Merry meet. My name is Brennia, I am the Headmistress here. How may I assist you." She carried a small bundle of parchment against her silky white button up which is tucked into a form fitting pencil skirt while her heels make her a little more than just six foot two. Other students mill about of course noticing the Naga in awe and smiles.
Aaken was in awe of the place as he slithered in, but it was in his eyes noticeable when those who about the seating area who smiled and waved that struck him as this was his place to start his life over. He would gaze up at the constellations on the ceiling and also upon the beautiful avian woman who came down the stairs to greet him. Surprisingly Aaken's voice for his size was a Soprano that flowed into an alto, it has only the slightest squeak to it, but this was only when he got excited. He smiled revealing the dark blue flesh of his mouth, and his long blue tongue. He would first rest upon his coils shrinking his overall height by half still coming out a bit taller than the avain, and would slouch more to try to come out at the same size. "Merry met, I am Aaken, I would like to apply for the college, I am an artist, a painter. Searching to better my skills."
Brennia continued her kind smile up at the scaly friend and it spread a little wider when he mentioned he was interested in attending, doing so poked dimples in her caramel cheeks. "Exciting!" She notices students of all races and formalities which passed by them looked up with genuine curiosity. "Follow me if you will Aaken." A hand motions for him to come along and follow her saunter about the main hall while she talks up at him by her side, "This is the main hall where the bards and students of the college come to relax, put on concerts and performances the like." They pass by her concert grand piano in the center part of the first half of the room. "Over here is the seating area where some students study the sheet music," she nods to a few students there with a wave and this area contains plenty of opulent couches, love seats and armchairs - a fireplace even adoring the far east side of it. Brennia opens doors to the large courtyard now which houses a small garden that splits it into two sections, one for weaponizing of bards song and the other adorned with beautiful benches and outdoor tables and large eases with blank canvases, "This is where I imagine you would like to spend your time if you are definite about your application." She steps around him with ease and makes her way back into the main hall until they are in the kitchens and there is a handsome avain man there cooking food furiously with a bright smile on his face, "This is Zachael the chef. He doesn't speak a word of common, but if you let me know whatever it is you like to eat - within reason. Then we will see about setting that up for you." Separating the dining area housing lots of different shaped tables and chairs for all races and the large kitchen there is a banister which secures the top most opening of a winding staircase that goes down. "Come on." She clicks her heals down the steps which are nice and wide until they reach the bottom. It is much quieter because of the sound barrier and a plethora of dorm rooms are nestled in down there, "here is a basic common area. Desks over there for studying, some more chairs next to the fireplace and books upon books." She wasn't kidding, almost every wall was with a bookshelf against it, "I have four different corridors." She points off to each direction, "Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass… The rooms best befitting to make you comfortable are in the Bass section… Your thoughts, Asken?" She knows it's a lot to take in at first.
Aaken was very much mesmerized by the tour. His eyes taking in everything he could, from the concert halls, to the multitude of different students to even the kitchens. "Um yeah we can finish the tour before I'll say what I like to eat." As they passed into the dormitories and she brought up where he could stay he asked. "Would you mind showing an example from each section please?" His thoughts would also return to the painting area with canvases, and to the concert hall, where he had spotted a strange instrument, (saxphone). Fiddling with his scarf he eagerly awaited for the continuation of the tour.
Brennia nodded once and started with the western corridor and opening a currently empty room revealing (and washroom) it is small, but would accommodate those of the smaller races ranging from pixies to dwarfs: the soprano section. She moves to the northern corridor and opens the vacant door which looks amicable for half elves, humans, vampires and really any type of non anthro humanoid race complete with washroom: the alto section. The tenor section as all of the same things, but has items to assist more of the anthro races like lycans, orcs, orges, avians, draconians. The bass section are for those larger races and there aren't as many rooms because they are so vast in size to cater to the largest races of Hollowites and she stepped into Aaken to hush her tone for only him to hear, "I do understand that your kind can shapeshift… But I want my students to be themselves." She was unsure if it was a delicate subject for him or not.
Aaken | "No this will do fine," he said in the bass room, "I can't shapeshift, never been able to. I know its odd but i can't this is what I am, to be myself is all I am, you asked earlier what the chef can make, live food I'd love, since I can't taste or smell aside from sweet things."
Brennia smiled wider again up at the naga, "So, you application to the Bard's guild as an artist as been accepted. I only ask you follow our most prominent rule for now: No judgements just acceptance… Feel free to decorate your room as you wish and the space outside your door for this is your home as much as ours. I will let the chef know of your request." She looks around the large room, "Would you like for us to move an easel down here for you?"
Aaken | "No, I will be fine, I'd prefer working with people around, no sense being alone and doing art." Aaken said coiling up on the bed where he seemed to humorously sink deep into. "Also," he paused this was the hard part, "are there any bards here who are still single?"
Brennia didn't look surprised at the question, "Companionship comes in many forms around here. I am sure there are many lovely bards who you will be able to win affections for." She glances out the window in his new room and sees the slowly darkening skies, "You should attend our supper, it will be in an hour. And in the mean time I will leave you with this." She slips out a small packet of parchment which has courses available to take with short descriptions and the professors name. "You don't have to take any of these if you don't wish, but it will make you better accessible to your peers." She sets the packet on the top of his dresser before exiting out the archway to his room and purposefully leaving the door open behind her. Now he is free to roam the castle he sees fit.
Aaken For an hour he did explore the place, but when dinner came he sat down at a table that could take his size. "Mind if I sit here," he asked two dragons at the table and one giant. One nodded and he did sit down. But it was a very jersher salamander female that caught his eye. He eyed her and then looked away, "no sense scaring her" he said to himself, and waited for the dinner to begin.
Brennia came into view of the dining area and a hush came over the crowd of bards when all of them drew their attention to her one by one. Her attire the same and her smile to them ever present, "I am sure our newest student has caught your attention. Everyone merry meet, Aaken to the College of Bardic Arts and lets welcome him the way we do." Cheers, notes, bows, applause was given all for Aaken and yes, even the jersher who was tittering a flirtatious wave to him. Once the welcome died down, "Just a reminder that the favored wing is odd limits to those without a key. If you happen to see a musical note shaped key in someone's possession please let a headmaster or professor know please, enjoy." Many of the staff banded together to serve each table their favorite meals and even some of the odder request. Some of the students next to him might mention how this is their favorite day of the month as this type of feast only happens at that time where the whole school comes together.
Aaken was stunned by the clapping and applause namely he didn't get that when he had served in alyithrya. Now it felt good. He liked it, but he blushed when the jersher female cast a flirtatious wave. He enjoyed the conversation for a little bit, but when his meal arrived well he found himself not hungry. "Do you, know much about Brennia?" He asked, the purple dragon, and then to the red he asked. "What of that jersher," he only asked because most jersher wouldn't unless she liked the idea of a naga belly as sexy he was skeptical, if she did well that was a new one, but he knew the likely hood was unlikely. Or impossible.
Brennia stayed for a bit and catted up a few students before leaving out the room for she had other business to attend to. The question of Brennia was answered excitedly, "She doesn't talk much of herself to us students, but you just wait till Wednesdays. That's when her tinker mage friend, Mister Vi, comes to vising and does some recording thing with his crystal balls. She gets all flustered around that one." the dragon chuckles. The other responds, "Hm, not sure. She takes a lot of poetry classes though."
Aaken | Maybe it was just luck that his meal took longer but as he returned to his quarters that same jersher out her foot in the door. "Hey, um my room is being cleaned would you mind if i stay here?" Aaken was absent for words but he soon closed the door. To his room leaving what happened thereafter a mystery.