RP:I'll Never Be Her

From HollowWiki

Part of the Vakmatharas' Jar Arc


Summary: Raven gets inspiration from an unlikely source while Raevyn spends her first day of school with Hinder.

College Dormitory

Traversing your way around and around in the winding staircase which leads down from the dining hall above you find yourself in more carved out of marble opulence, but somehow the music playing above does not travel down here. The landing of this area is occupied by many desks, sofas and furniture where all the poets and playwrights may practice in peace. Your attention can easily be taken by any of the long corridors to the west, east, north or south and the amazement at all of the decorated doors for each of them are dressed up uniquely by the individual occupant. In each room is their own small washroom within a well lit room which holds a plush bed, seems it's the life to be a student of the college.



Raven had an off day today due to the strong recommendation by Miss Dewfoot-Barrows because that woman may be all warm and sweet, but she’s scrappy when it comes to her students and professors and their well being. Corvo was pushing her too hard, especially too hard to be something she isn’t. Corvo was instructed to take a day off as well and it is fine if he didn’t want to, but he would have go off campus beause Raven was probably close to riping her own hair out with boredom. Today she wouldn’t be found in some layered suit - lookin’ like some political lasagna, no! She’s in some oversized t shirt, her hair thrown up and a messy bun, large round and gold rimmed reading glasses resting on her nose, and some velvety leggings to keep her warm. She could easily be mistaken for a student if it weren't for those wings everyone knows so well (and the secret security posted about the common area). Her nose was buried in a book about nonsense, really, just anything to allow her to sort of defrag her mind a little.


Nasada :: Applied Potions. it seemed interesting enough. Something that may actually have some use to the girl in her studies. Everything else seemed pretty neat, but she had no natural affinity toward those arts, and it was doubtful that any training whatsoever would have improved that lack of skill. And so, after an evening to think it over, Raevyn was up bright and early to go enroll in the bardic College. Enrollment was much more simple than she had originally thought. Paperwork easily filed. The syllabus a breeze to memorize. She had her books and was already off to go meet her new professor, Pepper Wittley. Raevyn would take an immediate liking to the woman. The odd and hyper mannerisms unlike anything she had encountered before. Baelok on the other hand, wanted to crush her trachea under his boot; To him, she was an insufferable loon. "I'm gonna wait out here." he would say, before taking an immediate exit to peruse the vast halls of the building dedicated to the arts. Some ways down the hall, the undead death knight paused, his milky white gaze turning to view out the window and into what he presumed was the courtyard. In his mind he was looking from person to person and fantasizing about the best ways he could kill them one by one.


Raven stayed down in the dorms since it was quiet down there seeing as mostly all of the students are in their respective classes or studying. The silence was nice… A couple of secret service, dressed in black suits, walk past Baelok, “who is that? Detail?” The other man with him pulls up a folder, “he protects a student that enrolled this morning.” There wasn’t anything else mentioned about Baelok while they are continuing their stride, “she’s down in the dorms today.” The other gives a look, “why? She has her own private wing up-” the other cuts him off, “she hasn’t wanted to go up there since.” They nod and move on down to the dorms in order to rotate the shifts on watch. Pepper Wittley talks a mile a minute, so much so that most students have resorted to using those quills that record conversations on rolling parchment so they can mix their potions while taking down her lecture. The human was short and dashes about the room helping students where they need it and one student mixed wrong which caused a small fire to start. Quickly the human broke another potion over it and it extinguished quickly, but Pepper was smiling broadly, “close! Again, again!” She encouraged the students and made her way to Nasada, “hello! Name is Professor Wittley, some call me Pepp or Witt for short. Some even refer to me as PepWit! Any questions please please ask~ we are all here to help.” Hinder, a tall avian and athlete of Schezerade was next to Raevyn and smirked down at her, unbothered by her black clothes and unique essence, all the while Professor Wittley was moving on to the student who apparently made a rain cloud potion, “too much Aqua Vitæ, not enough Red Myrrhe!” Hinder gently places one of those fancy recording quills on Raevyn’s desk in front of her, “here, I usually have spare in case mine run out of ink. You’re going to need this.” He can always get another, “name is, Hinder. You are?” He was handsome, as avians go, but something about him didn’t come off as arrogant as most Schezerade residents.


Nasada :: Baelok’s jaw shifts from right to left, a simple click or two as the joints pop. He didn’t like being spoken about, and so, he stared down the security detail as they made their rounds. When they passed, he seemed to be listening in, and being as bored as he was, decided to tail them down to the dorms for no other reason than idle curiosity. While in class, Raevyn was feeling a bit overwhelmed to say the least. This professor was a little hard to follow, but she managed to keep up as best she could. “Yes. Yes. Of course, thank you professor Wittley…” she would reply. There were plenty of questions to be had, although she felt it best to wait and try and get a grasp on what was going on with this course before anything. When Hinder made himself known, the girl looked up upon his handsome features with a bright and cheerful smile, those ebon locks swaying with the nod of her head. “Oh. Thank you.. “ she said, not quite understanding how the parchment worked. She would figure it out, though. She always did. “I would appreciate any help I could get, really. Professor Wittley’s a bit more energetic than I had originally thought.” The girl extended a hand out to the large avian with his introduction, “It is nice to meet you, Hinder. I am Raevyn.”


Raven was bothered by the two who changed the shifts as one came up to ask if she needed anything. She pushed the glasses further up the bridge of her nose with just her middle finger… “yeah?” They ask her their question, “nah…” Teal eyes go back to the book in her hand with a scoff and a mumble of, “what a crock of sh--.” She tossed the book aside and it seems to be some love story and opted for a book of adventure instead. This earned a slightly surprised took from a nearby student at the dean’s language, but she didn’t pay them any mind after the secret service gentlemen walked away to reveal Baelok had followed them. She straightened up a little in the reader’s nook, but her sarcastic and bored expression didn’t change, “oh, hey there.” Hinder smiles a bit, “nice to meet you too Raevyn. Yeah, she is hype, but you’ll get used to it and she’s definitely way nicer than Professor Noetal. He’s so monotone that I use these recorders for his class too, sometimes I just zone out and miss a whole era,” he chuckled softly. Bright blue eyes glance down at the offered hand before he takes off the gloves he had on in order to shake it and his hand was a bit calloused, but only from holding onto the blitzball, “what other classes do you have? Maybe we have some other ones together,” he said in a slightly hopeful tone while he took a squeeze bottle out from his knapsack and poured a solution in the palm of his hand. Was he sanitizing? After rubbing the ointment all over his hands it appears he has gloves on again… How marvelous! He offers her to try it, “you’ll need it while mixing, some of the solutions are dangerous.”


Nasada :: Baelok continued to eye those two secret services guards as they left, something devious plotting deep on that twisted head of his. It wasn’t until a briefly familiar voice bounced off his eardrum did he spot the dean, Raven, in her little nook. He stared for a moment, sizing the woman up, before his head listed forward and he took a couple steps in her direction. “Mornin’.” Taking note of her current attire, he found this side of the college’s headmistress quite different than the more presentable woman of the day before. He didn’t even really know her, but still chose to poke at her for no other reason than to entertain himself. “Can’t be arsed to get yourself together today, huh? Thought you stuffy types don’t take days off?” The corner of his mouth pulls, allowing him to mime a grin. Meanwhile, back in class, Raevyn was seeming to get on with a fellow student rather well. “Um… I didn’t really take anything else, exactly. I… was not sure what I would benefit from. Potions seemed to relate to my studies, so I, for now, am taking this. What sort of classes are you involved in?” The ointment was observed with a mild curiosity as she watched the avian apply it, a brief sniff of the stuff taken when it was offered. “What… exactly is it?”she asked, applying a little to her pallid hands.


Raven watches the undead move with mild interest and his first question is answered with a, “nope.” Teal eyes, still set behind ugly round glasses, drop at his attempt at a grin… Was that a grin? Her expression remained the same, “usually they don't, but -I- have been berated with information ever since I wok-...” How exactly was she supposed to end that sentence without sounding like a nutcase so she just changed the subject, “did Raevyn decide to enroll?” At this her lips did slightly turn up in a hint of a smirk. She scooted down the oriel window so he could sit if he wanted, “I see you bypassed the scarf today… Good.” Hinder showed how the solution turned into what we would call a latex glove, “it’s just a protective glove.” He was showing her how to setup the recorder quill, “there are so many classes here. I don’t know where to begin. A lot of them are pretty laid back… You might like the different strokes class. It’s an introductory course on painting, I had a lot of fun my first semester.” He was smirking down at her again and when she starts mixing he helps her with her cauldron as well, gently pushing her elbow when she starts pouring an ingredient, “with this you want to try and pour the liquid on the inner lining of the cauldron so you get less bubbles or else you’ll fill the room with foam.” The girl at a nearby lab table gets Hinder’s attention with a ‘pssst!’ and he glances over with an awkward, “oh, heeey.” She asks him to go to the Yule Ball, “half a second too late, Moira. Raevyn here just asked me.” He lies, but doesn’t care and hopefully the stranger will do him a solid and play along. Moira smiles and nods once, a little ego wounded, but she’ll live!


Nasada :: The undead guardian’s sunken lids halved over his eyes as the dean shifted her discussion mid sentence; Suspicion and interest lost when he decided to forget about it and move on. “Ye. She’s up there now in a class. Potions or somethin’. The instructor's a little wiry for my liking, so I took a stroll to avoid chokin’ her to death.” Baelok moved closer, but did not sit. Instead he leaned up against the wall, his duster shifted as he hooked one metal-clad thumb on the inside of his belt. “Yep. Seein’ as there’s all sorts here. I ain’t worried about reactions like those insufferable stains in Larket. Besides, anyone’s got a problem, they can talk to my companion.” His free hand lifted and motioned to the weapon on his back. Baelok typically wasn’t one for small talk. Though, he was curious, “So. How the hell are you a dean, anyhow? No offense, but you seem a bit outta yer head. Don’t seem like you care all too much. Or is that whole avian upper-class pride still a thing around here? I still remember when you damned chicken-hybrids didn’t associate with none other than yourselves.” He was showing his age, here. Raevyn, in class, was relieved when Hinder began to assist her with the lesson, the avian’s demeanor making it pretty easy for her to relax. The solution that turned into a glove was something she admired, and in her mind, she would note to learn how to make such a concoction. “Different strokes? I… was never much of an artist. But it sounds like it might be fun. I may look into it, thank you.” She followed along with his instructions carefully, almost proud of herself for not messing things up right from the start. She was pretty clumsy from time to time, so she had been a little worried. When Hinder told the other girl about already having been asked by Raevyn, the young necromancer looked up in surprise. She hated to be put on the spot, really. Her cheeks flushed with color and she tried her best to play along by offering Moira an apology, “I’m sorry. He was… nice… and helpful. And I needed someone to go with…” In truth, she hadn’t really planned on going with anyone. She was very much inexperienced with the whole realm of dating, and was more than likely going to see if her friend Celaeno would accompany her so she didn’t feel so out of place. Hinder was given a bit of a smile and the shake of her head, a bit of a playful teasing expression to show her dislike for being used as a cover.


Raven’s gaze did avert to the gaping ceilings at his mention of wanting to choke Wittley out just as a hint of a chuckle mixed with a scoff escaped her, “so glad that I wasn’t the only one.” She slowly blinks once remembering her role here, “but she is good at what she does.” By now she gently placed a bookmark in her book and set it down on the window seat next to her. “I am kind of out of my head - in a way,” she was tilting her head up to talk to the man now. “I just am, whatever people are saying I am…” that doesn’t really make sense and her expression flattened again. Monotone accented voice continues, “just out of place, but not - at the same time. I do care about things that matter though I’ve just learned to not show it… People like to take things away if you look too happy on the outside.” It was actually really effing depressing to think about, but… in a way she has a point. If you look like you don’t enjoy anything then no one is compelled to ruin it for you, but that may make some wonder - who the eff peed in her cheerios!? Hinder eventually placed himself right next to her or nearly behind her while helping her, but not overly so that she wasn’t learning the ropes herself. He scoffs softly, “me either and I still cannot paint for the life of me, but it was just experience, just fun. Sometimes you take a course more for networking and the professor rather than actual learning. If you like potions you should come with me to my next class and see where we get all the ingredients… Sometimes it is how you take care of a plant to make some of these rather than just picking crap out of the ground.” A soft chuckle, “plus Professor Zuf, a half orc-dude, suuuper chill. It’s a nice cool down class after PepWit.” He was smirking down at Raevyn once more just as the professor came over, “letussee!” Hinder stepped over and gave his vial of the potion he already made and watched as Raevyn’s potion would be handed over in the same fashion. “Iwilltesttheseoutinthenight! Getbacktoyouonyourgrade, nextweek!” Hinder nods once before he started to pack up his tools into his knapsack, “yours looked good for your first one, Raevyn.” He glances as Moira left out before them, “and sorry about that. I don’t even think I’ll go to the Yule Ball… I am awful at dancing.”


Nasada :: “People are bollocks anyway. Who needs ‘em? In my experience, the dead are the ones you can trust the most. They’ve got simple motivations- Survival. And I mean, dead-dead. Not those froo-froo vampires, either. As far as I’m concerned, those sacks of cold dead flesh are no better than you mortal meatbags. Just as conceited and full of themselves.” It was no mystery how he felt, it seems. “Don’t hide behind a facade. Be yourself. Don’t let no one take nothing away from you. And if they try, well you go and break their damn face with a mallet. Giv’em something to really cry about.” He was an angry bastard, wasn’t he? “So what’s your deal then? Why are you so easily moldable? You get hit in the head or something? Amnesia spell?” Straight to the point. Raevyn on the other hand was in a bit of a confused state. When professor Wittley came over and snatched up the potions, her unpaced words made the girl’s head spin. “Um… yes?” is all she could answer. She thanked Hinder for his help, before debating on his offer. “Hrm. Actually, that might be a good idea. If.. I am to study crafting potions, I suppose I should have knowledge on the things they are made from. I would be honored to join you. Also, I must ask… an… orc teacher? I thought…” she whispers, “I thought orcs were evil and stupid?” Clearly she was not up to date on these progressive times! To the matter of the Yule ball, the girl giggled. “I too am not much of a dancer.” she said. “I only seek to go because… times have been stressful, and I figure a break would be nice. I plan to arrive with my closest friend, Celaeno. She’s been the one to keep me tethered to reality as of late. Perhaps if you do go, we will see you there and we can all dance badly together!”


Raven half smirks again, “froo froo vampires?” She really holds back another chuckle while shaking her head because apparently her ex is one of those? “I can see it...” His next questions evened out her face once more as she looked forward at nothing in particular, “in a way I have amnesia. Something terrible happened and apparently my memories are not what other people have experienced with me, like I have been replaced with someone else… It seems none of those memories are going to come back, but I am a bard. I am an avian and a resident of Schezerade. This is my home and if I want to continue living here and offering free education then I need to stand up and fight for it.” She had pulled her feet up to rest on the window seat with her so her knees were pulled up to her chest, looking very relaxed, “breaking faces? Yeah… Can’t - that’s what those guys are for,” her head motions to one of the men dressed in a suit of black and he would notice a few of them are staring at him as if waiting for a tragedy to happen. Hinder smiled wider, “I’m glad you’re coming along. Professor Zuf lets some students just sit in and choose if they want to take his class.” They walk through the corridors together and it seems Hinder is quite popular with mentions of ‘good run in that game on friday!’ or ‘cannot wait to see you in the playoffs!’ Some cute cheerleader brought him a sign she made to put over his storage locker, “we made one for all the starters!” Hinder seemed to blush in embarrassment, “thanks! You shouldn’t have!” All the while he didn’t let Raevyn fall into the background though, he would introduce her to those person or that, but they didn’t have time to chat with everyone! There was a magical ringing in the halls and he curses while grabbing Raevyn’s hand, “we gotta hurry!” Pulling her into a classroom down the hall in a light jog while mentioning, “I know, he seems dumb, but I think it’s a farce.” The orc looked up at the breathless avian, “Windgate,” his deep voice bellowed in the classroom, “I had think you some star soaring back? Not good with running?” Hinder chuckles, “apologies Professor Zuf, I was just showing your new student around. This is Raevyn, she might take this class,” he put his arm around Raevyn’s shoulders as if they are old pals or something and the half-orc grunts with a nod, “take seat.” Hinder grins down at Raevyn once more and pulled out her seat for her at a row of desks and then took the seat next to her.


Nasada :: Baelok nods in a stern fashion, that eternal grin widened. “Yeah. Froo froo. You know the types. Always dressin’ in silk and lookin’ more proper than even you upper class Avian types- sippin’ their blood wines outta chalices with their pinky extended. Drama queens to the nth degree.” He then pauses as he thinks to correct himself. “Wait. There’s a couple alright ones that have lived. Actual scary bastards. But they’re definitely the outliers. Damn bloodsuckers.” Racism confirmed. With her shifting, the undead guardian took the time to looked over the woman in simple observation- From head to toe and back, memorizing her features as best he could. “Ah, that’s always a damned shame. Although, I guess you can start over which is something to be desred. A fresh take on life. Trust me, I’ve been there. Change is a good thing. Keeps life from turning stale and rotting into nothingness.” When she made note of the guards that would do the face breaking, Baelok turned to see the various eyes locked upon him. He would then push off the wall with his shoulder, both hands extended out with the palms facing outward, “Problem, ladies?” As Raevyn and Hinder walked through the halls, she smiled along and watched as mister popularity was called out to by various types of students. “Game? What game?” she asked. With the introductions to the other students, the girl felt a bit overwhelmed, the embarrassment and shyness she had been working to rid herself of was starting to return. Still, she would be polite and pleasant, trying her best to make a proper impression. Raevyn eeps when Hinder pulls her along to the next class, running as fast as her little legs would allow to keep up with the seasoned athlete. As they entered the classroom, the girl took time to study Professor Zuf, a bit taken aback by his appearance. She had never seen an orc up close before. The arm slung around her shoulder had the girl sort of freeze, before offering a polite smile and half bow to the professor. She would sit as soon as he told them to, thanking hinder in the process. “Charming fellow.” she commented in regards to the professor.


Raven cracked that half smirk, again! “Sounds about right…” was all she offered to his preconceived notions on vampires, “I’ve noticed a few rehearsing for the plays, very compelling.” She caught him staring and quirked a brow at him, “you alright?” A roll of one shoulder at his idea of starting fresh, “in a way I am. My ability to use music with magic has dwindled significantly. Where I was living before is on the other side of the planet and I’ve never had this much responsibility or money,” a slight scowl to plump lips. “I’ve never been in such lavish surroundings before… Hence the lack of ink.” Her arms raise to show no tattoos marking her dewy caramel skin, “where I am from, the larger and more intricated ink work is on your skin the higherup in society you are… I had to scrape and fight for everything I had back then.” The way she spoke sounded so bored, so old and wise even when she didn’t say much. His challenge was met with unease and one guard almost walked over, but stopped at the lazy wave of Raven’s hand and her surprising insult of, “nah, gently take your tampon out, Muriel, and just relax.” She looked back up to Baelok, “I’m sure if Bae here meant to harm me he would have by now.” Hinder had a plant sent down before him, “here you can observe mine with me,” he rabbed the leg of Raevyn’s chair and slid her chair close to his own. His notebook was pulled out and opened to reveal a wild method of note taking - so unorganized! Hinder grins again, “yeah, he likes busting people’s balls, but he’s never serious about it.” Whenever Raevyn was closer to the avian she would pick up on her favorite scent coming from him. He poked what looked like a black root of a plant and it wriggled like a tentacle, “fascinating.” He shares his notes with her and starts explaining how the plant has grown over the span of a month and interesting little facts about it, “one day this gross pus was coming from it! Needless to say I was not very hungry for lunch after,” he glances out the window, “which should be after this lesson, you going to join us in the dining hall?” Another hopeful tone in his question, he seemed rather interested and drawn to Raevyn, but they seemed polar opposites.


Nasada :: “Yeah. I’m swell. Sorry for starin’, I just have a habit of checkin’ out who I’m speaking with. Working the ol’ memory out. Being stuffed in the dirt for so long tends to make the head not work so well if ya know what I mean.” It was unlikely that she did, given that he was essentially, a walking corpse. A rather large and buff corpse- But still a corpse regardless. With the wave of her hand and the guard standing down, Baelok turned his attention back to the dark skinned woman and semi-glared. There was that name again. ‘Bae’. “Maybe. Maybe I’m just waiting. Maybe I’m watchin’, checkin’ ya out. And then, once your guard is down…KAPOW.” That last word was shouted, causing a couple of the nearby guard to jump into defensive stances. The undead man made no effort to look their way. He was obviously toying with them. The conversation took a step back now as she spoke of her past. Unlike many of the outsider students that traverse the halls of this institute, Baelok did still have some memory of the Avian culture. He fought along many of their kind during the earliest wars against the thing known as Arrecation. “Well ain’t that lucky for you then. Raised from nothin’, worked your ass off for nothin’, and now you have everything. Sounds like a fairy tale ending to me.” In class, Raevyn had been paying close attention to everything that Hinder was showcasing regarding the plants. She couldn’t help but note the scent of what seemed to be fresh rain mixed with her mother’s warmth, and she would carefully look around the room. It was odd, perhaps something was triggering a strong memory? She now longed for home. “Pus? From a plant? How peculiar.” she noted. The question regarding lunch was met with hesitation, thought, and finally a smile. “I.. think I will, yes. I am growing famished, and I do not think my guardian will mind. I am sure he’s off being delightful in the building somewhere.”


Raven quirks a brow at his mention of checking her out, “not much to be looking at.” She then nodded lazily a couple of times as she stared off ahead once more, seems she doesn’t like making eye contact with anyone if it wasn’t necessary, “I do actually know what you mean. You’re sort of out of your time, memories and events jumble together and you feel old even when you aren’t.” She didn’t jump or look over at the guards either, dull eyes looking right back up at him, “then so be it, but you better tear me limb from limb because I’ll apparently just come back as something else or someone else.” Her sarcasm made it difficult to tell if she were joking or not, but his next words caused her took up at him longer and for once her expression changed to something other than nothing. It was… a thoughtful expression as if a little light bulb came on in her mind, “but these aren't my accomplishments and that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The woman who did all of this and made all of this possible shouldn’t be forgotten and,” she scoffs with the start of what sounded like she was about to chuckle, “I will never be like her.” She stands now and nearly looks even with the man seeing as she's six foot two naturally, “you’re probably going to hate hearing this, so I am going to really savor the cringe, but your words have really helped me, Bae.” Her half smirk returned. Hinder felt the class fly by with his new friend and when she mentioned a guardian he looked interested, “really? Are you, like, some kind of dignitary or something? A princess in disguise, maybe?” He grinned brightly at her and the bell rang to much of his surprise. He barely gave her enough time to gather her books before he was hurrying with her in hand to the dining hall, “we gotta hurry if we want the good table! Okay, I lied, I’m just staaarving!” The table the chose became easily surrounded by a mix of different beings and social backgrounded individuals while Hinder brags about the new friend he made and included Raevyn in many topics of discussion.


Nasada :: Baelok finds himself pushing off the wall one final time as he locks onto the avian’s eyes with his own. It wasn’t some romantic, ‘look into my eyes and we’ll get it on’ type thing, either. It was more of a, ‘what’s deep inside?’ sort of thing. The woman was a mystery, and he seemed somewhat intrigued by her. He took in all that she said, but never really responded in any way that was meaningful. Instead, he shrugged and began to walk past the avian, bumping her shoulder with his- Quite intentionally. “Shame. I typically don’t care for helping people.” What he spoke was truth, but in her case, it was tainted with his own off-brand humor. “I need to go find the brat. Good luck with finding your way, Dean. I’m sure we’ll meet again.” On his way out, the undead death knight moved past the waiting guards without so much of a look in their direction. In class, Raevyn couldn’t help but to chuckle at Hinder’s suggestion, her head shaken as she replied. “No, not exactly. Just a small town girl. Living in a lovely world. He was… kind enough to help me around. Take me under his wing.” She lied as best she could, masking everything behind a pleasant smile. As the bell sounded, she got up to gather her things, but once more found herself yanked by her hand to run out of the room. She didn’t mind, really. It was a nice bit of fun to take her mind off of the troubling events that had taken place lately. His reveal as to starving seemed to resonate well within the girl, as she was a bit of an eater herself. Food was everything! And so, for the better part of the lunch break, they would chat and get to know each other and his friends, until Baelok came down to fetch her. She had a few prior engagements, including training, and so she would eventually say her goodbyes to all that she had met. Hinder was especially given a brighter smile and wave, before she would assure him that she would be in class tomorrow, soon taking her exit with the large undead man.