RP:Not Goodbye
Summary: Brennia parts ways from Zahrani to begin a new chapter in her life, but even though she loses a lover, she gains a friend.
Smells of Food
Wafting through the air are scents of something rather delicious as you pause to enjoy its sweet essence. Unfamiliar scents, though quite pleasing, seem to be lofted from the north from what appears to be a tavern. The path you are upon seems to track in all directions from you, including a rather loud ruckus to your north east from the enormous building upon the horizon.
Brennia is seemingly alone as she mills about the city streets of the naga town. A blend of races visit the underwater city to marvel at such a unique society and culture, but the avian still sticks out like a sore thumb no matter how much the Queen dresses her up in shades of gold with white. Her hair has been smoothed out and pulled up into a high ponytail. The white cocktail dress accentuates her narrow waist and her skin appears to have a healthy glow along with her wings having their old shine back. It seems the extended vacation is doing wonders for the woman's health. Brennia is taking her time meandering about the streets and stopping at some kiosks to browse their wares before she must head back to the palace to continue preparations for her trip. Large teal hues scan the crowd and she can still pick out the undercover palace guard's dressed as civilians or shapeshifted into other races, but she knows they are there for protection as she has no real desire to leave… not anymore. The Queen needs her and Brennia knows deep down that she is helping.
Zahrani took the last couple weeks to study the garb and culture commonly frequenting the markets and city streets of Alithrya. Over the first few days, she certainly stuck out, much like you would expect a paladin to...or a tourist. She certainly drew the attention of the authorities the first few days; an armored jacked feline woman armed to the teeth and wearing her badge of office certainly turned some guard’s heads. A few days later, her armor and weapons are eschewed for a flowing dress and head covering, inspired by the serpentine denizens of the city, accented with a scale pattern and white-and-gold highlights. Her cyan eyes are still the most recognizable part of her, but one would have to look past her hood and her carefully braided locks. Upon recognizing a familiar pair of wings in the crowd, the panther woman casually makes her way over to Bre, standing next to the bard as she surveys the undercover authorities, before saying, “Almitra has been asking for you, you know.” Her black tail swishes idly behind her as she mentions the young cheetah lass’s name, one of the many children of the Isran collective who grew to love Brennia.
Brennia knows that familiar timbre and grins. She looks to Zahrani with fondness before pulling her in for a tight hug, her wings following suit. She regrets not seeking Zahrani out when she was in Cenril a couple weeks ago. She wants to ask if she has been receiving her letters, but that might open a whole jar of eels if the Isran Collective hasn't. After last night we wishes to avoid all types of confrontations. "Please give Almitra and all the collective my love when you return, Zahrani," then she takes the feline by the hand to split off from the crowd to a more secluded area. "I was briefly in Cenril. My friend, Khitti- she performed a ritual for me to finally break the imprint my ex had on me," her gaze seeks Zahrani's face for something unknown. "I feel like for the first time I can feel so much deeper than I had in years. I didn't realize what kind of hold the vampire had on my subconscious." She pauses and cups the woman's cheek with her hand while the other still holds onto the other, "it has made me realize a few truths… I," she swallows hard and starts again, "I want more. I want a marriage and I want that special commitment to only one," tears threaten along the waterline of her eyelids because she wouldn't dare ask Zahrani for this. She respects her and the Isran Collective's way of life far too much. Her hand slips away from Zahrani's face in order to wipe her own couple of tears before sniffling, "I've uh… I also found someone that I can see having all of that with." Brennia practically holds her breath in wait to see how Zahrani will take this.
Zahrani returns the tight embrace that Brennia gives, planting a kiss on the woman’s cheek before the avian leads her to a more secluded spot. “I will...” she says, but before she can respond further, she listens eagerly to what has happened to her lover since she’s been away. A few moments of silence pass, her cyan eyes not leaving the other woman’s face; the paladin processes the revelations that were just given to her. Her smile fades for a moment, and she breaks the silence, leaning into the bard’s hand on her cheek, “I...know...that it is not something for me to try and do...it is not in my nature, or in keeping with my other duties.” Still, the panther’s eyes glisten with held-back tears. To know that she would not likely find peace in Brennia’s arms again...hurt. The panther takes a deep breath, keeping her arms draped around the woman for as long as she would allow, before asking, “So...Grand-Mother never mentioned other letters, but I am curious to know more about this other that you speak of...who you would commit yourself to.” Zahrani could still prioritize Bre as a friend, and she’d do what she could to make sure her friends are okay.
Brennia cannot help her bottom lip quiver when she sees the woman's eyes glistening, "I know and I would never place you in such a difficult position." It would basically be asking Zahrani to choose Brennia over the collective and her paladin duties. The panther is far more important to the good of the world to be tied down like that. Brennia can practically feel the guards keeping an eye and ear on them so she cannot say much, "I guess I have been quite busy with Thedez and his sister, Nadia. I have been meaning to write, but I couldn't put all this in a letter - it felt far too impersonal and you deserve more than that, Zahrani." She slips into another embrace, not as tight as the first one, but the softness allows for a tender moment, "I will always care for you and have you in my heart. I have hopes we can shift this relationship into a beautiful friendship," her slightly raspy alto timbre says in all sincerity, but as soon as the other is brought up, she can feel her cheeks warm. So, she respectfully untangles from Zahrani to wipe her own cheeks from the tears which only makes her eyes glisten while she cannot help the beaming smile that pokes dimples in her cheeks, "of all things, he calls me an angel." It is odd, don't angels have pure white wings? "I call him Sapphire because of the blue robes he wears, but most would know him as Mesdoram. He's a drow," she tries not to absolutely glow about it. "It is hard to describe, but I feel that we just… belong." A soft and short raspy giggle comes from her, "ahh, I am sure I sound loony or something."
Zahrani picks up the sounds and scents of guards watching and listening to them, the feline searching the avian’s face for any signs of distress or nerves. Something is off, but the panther does not do anything that could compromise Brennia’s safety here. At the mention of how Mesdoram has spoken of her, the paladin smiles, “You ~are~ an angel. I do not know this drow, but it is a big world. I would like to meet him soon, if possible.” The feline’s tail swishes idly, before she adds, “Tell me more about what has kept you here. How are Thedez and his sister? Gamsiz has occasionally asked about him.” While she continues the conversation, Raahin remains in the crowd, occasionally sneaking a glance under her own hooded garb. Even in Alithrya, felines use the buddy system. The paladin’s apprentice blends in with a local group of children close to her age, while keeping an eye out for her mentor.
Brennia seems right at home somehow even if this home doesn't exactly want her here. It seems there are really only three naga that are pleased with Brennia's prolonged stay and one of those three naga is the Queen herself. She still blushes at the complement and subtly shakes her head. Only Brennia knows the possible fate of Mesdoram at the end of his play and she nods once, "I hope you can meet him soon as well." Then their conversation is being pulled towards some half truths she must feed Zahrani. She hates it, but she must be allowed to stay here in order to help the Queen. "Well, Thedez and I have been working through some trauma we experienced back on that goblin farm. As you know, it was Queen Reginae who saved us. Thedez does often speak fondly of his time with Gamsiz before he was summoned back home, he misses him. We have been trying to find any living victims of that time with hopes to help them if they need it," this isn't entirely a lie because Brennia has been wishing to do this for a while, but life has been getting in the way. Realizing she has lingered too long and must return so she can continue to get ready for her trip, she gives one last hug to Zahrani, "I must prepare for a little trip. Thedez, Nadia and Mesdoram are waiting on me now." When she pulls back, she briefly rests her forehead on Zahrani's, "thank you for visiting me down here. I'll be seeing you," she means it, and waves a goodbye over her shoulder while walking back towards the palace.
Zahrani makes an affectionate chuffing noise as Brennia presses her forehead to her own. The feline leans in, whispers, “The Cradle keeps its secrets from prying eyes.” It was a simple message: if Brennia ever wanted to speak her whole story where it is safe, she could do so within the Cloud & Paw in Schezerade, or the Enclave in Cenril. The panther plants a goodbye kiss on the avian’s cheek, “I hope to see you soon.” While she watches Brennia leave for the palace, Raahin dips out of sight, climbing a nearby scaffold onto a rooftop and watching the bard make her way towards the massive building. Her amber gaze turns from the avian and notices the movement of naga guardsmen, weaving their way through alleyways and streets in parallel to the winged woman. She turns back to Rani, signaling for her to work her own feline stealth. Without a word, the paladin blends into the crowd, turning a corner, swapping out her headscarf and emerging once more; the simple tricks that ward off unwanted eyes and ears. Raahin would send word via courier to the Collective, and the two felines would remain embedded in Alithrya, learning all they could from the people, the merchants, the politicians. Something isn’t right, and Rani aims to find out what.