RP:Shaping Up

From HollowWiki

Summary: Raven starts to feel her body chemistry change to mix with Brennia’s once more during a dinner she got pulled into with her friend and his dear parents. All goes well.. mostly.

Draft Hotel

This skyrise business on the clouds is home to politician Vermillion Draft and the first two floors are occupied by shops, kiosks, and local businesses; what we would consider a mall. The third floor offers a very posh, reservation only, five star restaurant where Mr Draft enjoys most of his meals. Above the restaurant is two floors of hotel rooms where a lot of his employees reside and close friends come to visit, but rumor has it those rooms have a high turnover rate for some odd reason or another. The top floor is a large penthouse that only the elite of the elite would be able to grace Vermillion's private home. Our focus for now is the ‘under-new-management’ five star restaurant, all of the furniture fancy and the atmosphere decadent where no detail went overlooked. To have obtained a reservation here would earn total brownie points! Each guest treated as royals and every gentleman offered a club blaser and cigar for the smoking area.



Niall had been notified by mail that his reservation for four, in an outrageously fancy restaurant at the Draft Hotel, needed to be confirmed. Judging by the fancy gold foiled paper and the location, Raven was behind it. He couldn't help but grin about, because she thought about him and because she chose the number four instead of three. Obviously a dig about him needing a date and not an offering to be one. She hadn't exactly left him enough time to argue with her about this either, so he'd have to burn her ears about it later. He sent a letter to the college anyway, in his chicken scratch, on the off chance he could convince her to go. 'You shouldn't have. I'm gonna have to bring Queenie and ruin your good reputation if you don't fill the fourth seat.' He'd told his Ma and Pa, they resisted only a little. His mother much less than his father, who hadn't often stepped outside of Kelay's boundaries and preferred the world he knew. His mother, Susanna, was more romantic. She wore her pearls, her best dress. A high collared, soft green dress with little gold embroidered roses that she'd sewn herself. Her hair was long and copper, streaked with silver and white near her temples, and her face was lined with age. More than a few of those lines were owed to rearing six good men into the world. Malachi was an older version of Niall. All legs and arms, barrel chested and hands calloused to hell. His hair was shorter, the gold faded to grey long ago, and his eyes were a softer blue. Years of hard, back breaking work had worn him around the edges, stooped his back just a little. But his face was handsomely lined and his eyes were filled with the same humor Niall himself always seemed to carry. Susanna had talked him into a nice collared flannel shirt that complimented her dress, he insisted on his nicest and loudest belt buckle, and a bolo tie stamped with the Coin family crest. Niall had been bullied by his mother to pull his hair back, actually use a comb. He'd shaped his beard of his own volition though, so he was showing effort. He wore dark greys and his good pair of boots, for went the tie. He'd sprung for a carriage, flowers for his Ma. They arrived and Susanna was fussing, making noises about how fancy everything was. Malachi put his arm around his wife and kissed her forehead the way he knew she loved and let her gush. Fifty years of marriage and she was still the cutest thing he'd ever seen. Niall feels particularly grateful to Raven, watching his parents enjoy themselves. They are seated, Malichi holding Susanna's chair and hanging her coat, and as a whole a little overwhelmed at the amount of luxury they've entered. Niall tucks the box he'd brought with him under his chair. They are given bread, a fancy herb oil to dip it into as the waiter suggests wine. His father opts for whiskey, grunts when they don't have anything distilled on Kelayian soil. This actually seems to distress the waiter, who informs Malachi that they could send someone out right away. Susanna is gives her husband The Look and with no other choice he picks something from the menu. By the time the whiskey arrives, water for his Ma, they've started to discuss Raven and Niall feels the need to loosen his tie under the shrew gaze of his Ma. "Yes ma'am, Ma. She's single bu-"


Raven had a trying day. Draft is still missing and she felt it was rather unfair how the debate went for her opponent was obviously ill prepared for the debate. Man-bun and fancy pants wearing Corvo follows Raven into the establishment while huffing at her, “you know, it is rude to just walk away while someone is trying to talk with you, Senator Cadenza. Why are we here?” Raven’s face says it all, but nothing at all - possibly only Niall can pick up on her slight changes in expression when she's irritated, “*someone*? Where?” She glances around the man, “oh, you mean yourself?” She gives him a once over with her eyes before slipping the teal scarf from around her neck once formerly inside and drapes it over her arm until a hostess comes up, “Senator Cadenza! We were not expecting you. Would you like a table? Can I check your.. Uh… Scarf?” Raven allows them to check her scarf, but not without meeting the woman’s eyes with purpose, like, ‘you better not lose this’ type look. Corvo won’t drop it, “miss Cadenza, what are we doing, can you please clue me in?” Raven’s eyes blink, slowly, just once while she takes a deep breath before addressing the hostess once more, “yes, please get this man a seat far away at the bar and a strong drink.” Drinks make headaches go away right? Corvo looks put out, but won't say no to a drink! Heeled steps finally make their way over to Niall, hostess in tow, “will you be the fourth madame?” Raven glances under the table, “I did not intend to be, no, just stopping by to make sure these fine people are being taken care of.” Once the hostess breaks away teal eyes travel from Niall to his mother and his father, a half smirk remaining as her hands slip into the pockets to her chic women’s suit. “I was hoping to catch a sight of the regal Queenie,” she teases lightly in her relaxed timbre, “but ultimately I wanted to make sure my friend’s parents are being treated famously on their special day.” A hand raises to the middle of her glasses to push them up the bridge of her nose before extending a hand to Niall’s mother, “bonjour, I am Schezerade Senatorial candidate Raven Cadenza - beautifully crafted dress you have there, who made it?” Her heavy lidded gaze land’s on Niall’s father to offer him a handshake as well, “bonjour to you as well.” Once she’s made nice she shoves her hands back into her pockets before looking to Niall… Who looks pretty good all cleaned up, but attention back on the couple, “I’ll not intrude. I just stopped in to make sure it all went according to plan, have a good one.” That subtle Veretian accent sounding calm and a little less cold, but she has respect for races elders and it was odd, but she seemed somehow older in the way she carries herself around them - like it’s okay to feel over three hundred years old when you actually are. She goes to take a step back with a sort of half bow to them - that silk scarf draped over the gap of her wings somehow unmoving in the gesture before going to turn and walk away in order to leave them to their night. She’s totally believing in her mind that she only came this way to see if Niall brought Queenie, of which she totally has treats for in those nifty pockets…


Niall hasn't actually brought his big dog. Despite his teasing, he hadn't really wanted to do anything to mark Raven's reputation. He knows the second she enters the room, how could he not, and his eyes find her as she checks her scarf. The corners of his mouth twitch at the subtle change on her face, the bloom of irritation that crossed her features so softly that you could blink and miss it. Niall doesn't typically miss much of this particular woman though. He's tuned out his Pa's work talk to key into the grief she's giving Corvo and he can't help a laugh. Susanna notices, a half a second sooner than Malachi, that her son's attention has been pulled away. She follows his gaze, sees Raven nearing, and a slow smile curves her face and picks out the lines near her mouth and eyes. They all stand when she nears. Niall stuffs his hands in his pockets and grins like a fox in the hen coop when he sees her look for Queenie, more when Susanna moves to pull Raven into a hug. That was his Ma. She's gushing already, "It's so nice to meet you!" She says, pulling away to take hold of her hands and give them an affectionate squeeze. "I've heard *so much* about you. You're the dear who got them to let us in here aren't you?" Susanna removes one hand to tap her husband's shoulder. "This is *Raven*, dear," Malachi, the older version of Niall, smiles charmingly at her and pulls her into a one armed dad hug. "C'mon Suz, let the poor girl go be for you chase her off," Niall waits until his parents stop crowding her to give her another smile and pull out the open chair. "She's not gonna take no for an answer," He says, tipping his head towards his mother. She nods as her husband moves her own seat. "It's true. Plus, he's brought something for you." She gives Niall a pointed look. He looks mock chagrined.


Brennia | As it turns out the avian didn’t even have a chance to turn around as the party welcomed her so warmly, it was nice. She remained cool and calm while making no assumptions even if it made her stomach flutter a half a second at the thought of Niall talking about her, but pushed that thought right out of her head because he’s got better things to be worried about. So, just like the first time they met, “ah. Yes, I do hope you fine people won’t take the papers too seriously.” She could feel it then, the chemistry of her body beginning to change. Slowly becoming the best of both Brennia and Raven. Visibly no one would be the wiser though as she cooly responds, “soon I hope any and all will be welcome in here, but it was the least I could do for my friend when he mentioned he wanted to do something special for his parents.” There was a peaceful confidence about her velvety timbre as the avian returned the hugs while shifting her wings respectfully out of their arms paths, but maybe they pick up on their favorite scent or the way those dark wings play off the light. Teal eyes travel slightly up to Niall who she somehow ended up standing next to naturally and his movements to pull out a chair for her, “hm?” She was lost only for a second, did he notice? Crap. It took a moment for those pointed ears to pick up on what was being offered and the talk of having something for her? “Oh,” she sits out of respect for his parents, “I really shouldn’t, this should be just a night about you two. With what’s going on around here, I would just distract from that and ruin your evening.” A glance up at Niall, “a what? I’m still trying to return his kind gift of the pen.” She thought this made them even, but moves on because parents love to talk about their kids she tries to change the subject to that, “did he mention that he has ambition to seek out the Merchants guild so he could expand on his business plan?” Casually sipping on her ice water, “and Susanna, raising *six* boys?” That subtle smirk returns as her Veretian accent had trouble saying the name, “you must be made of the strongest steel.” Her heavy lidded gaze finds Malachi’s, but hesitates just a moment as her mind fell into a dangerous thought process of ‘is that what Niall will look like when he ages?’ A sadness works in the darkest corner of her mind as she remembers he’s just a human… he will get older and he will die. So, keeping him at a friendly distance has been smart of her. Only a couple seconds have passed as she hops right back on the conversation, “and Mister Malachi, what a legacy you have left them to fill.” Even before Raven was an old soul before she actually became one as she always found her place getting along with elders quicker than those of her own age. Once they had a moment to finish off some more conversation the waitress comes to take their orders and this might be where she loses brownie points as a vegetarian dining with a family of farmers and trappers. She waits to order last as the waitress asks her, “madame, the vegetarian usual? And more water?” The avian nods once before gesturing for the woman to lower so the bard could whisper in secret that she would like to pick up the bill and the happy couple should get a little special desert as well.


Niall | “The papers?” Susanna crinkles her nose in confusion, looks to Niall. He smiles guilty at his Ma. “She’s in the papers here, Ma, I told you she’s making big changes in her corner of the world.” There was a touch of pride and impress in his tone. Susanna nods, mentally listing all the questions she will have for her son on the ride back home, and gives her a broad smile. “That’s excellent, dear,” she pats Malachi’s arm as he takes his seat. “I’ve always said Kelay could use more women in power. Frostmaw, now they have the right idea,” Malachi snorts, but makes no other comments. Niall had stopped paying attention to the conversation. Something in Raven shifts and his brows wrinkle in concern. She seems unphased, so he just quietly helps push up her chair and decides to ask her later. Before he sits, he reaches under his chair and pulls out the box he’d placed there before and offers it to Raven. “Ma helped me get the right ones, I think,” he starts, looking a little out of his element. It was uncomfortable for a man who was used to being confident. Raven starts to protest, says she’ll ruin the evening, and Malachi grunts. “Nonsense!” Susanna nods and adds, “You’re adding to it dear, we’re so excited to be meeting you! Now open that box and stay a while!” The conversation moves on, while Raven presumably opens the box that holds a replacement pair of the shoes Queenie had ruined New Years that probably wasn’t the right style or color but close for a man who wore the same pair of boots for three years, and Niall watches her anxiously. He’s amazed at how easily she falls into conversation with his parents. Malachi seems a little unimpressed with the Merchant’s Guild revelation, while Susanna pats Niall’s arm proudly and glares at her husband. “He’s just got his nose bent because only Lorcan and Damien want to take over the farrier business,” she smiles and gives Raven a womanly, long suffering look. And then she’s grinning, because she’s being complimented. “Oh, thank you! My boys are my pride,” she says, taking a drink of her own water as her other hand flutters to her stomach. “I’m ready for a girl though,” Malachi and Niall share a dark look. At sixty five, Sussan shouldn’t be pregnant. The tense moment is broken by Raven, and she charms Malachi into a beaming smile. He asks, after they’ve ordered, about Raven’s choice with a happily conversational tone. “You’re a vegetarian? Our second, Luke and his wife, they’ve gone vegetarian.” The meal arrives, there is a moment of small comfortable quiet while the meal begins. Susanna makes a noise of pleasure and thanks Raven again, asks her about her home and a little about herself. The men drink whiskey and Niall squirms a little, because his ma is sharing stories of his childhood that are embarrassing. When dessert comes around the conversation has taken a turn. “So, are you single dear?” Susanna asks, eyes twinkling with mischief.


Brennia | The avain seemed to sort of forget her own station, their difference in race seemingly melt away as they fell into a wonderful back and forth bounce of conversation. Brennia always had this talent of making everyone feel equal or important and listened to; tonight that trait was showing through in Raven’s own way. The shoes were met with a short, but impressed start to a chuckle, “these are lovely, but you didn’t have to.” Her eyes find Niall next to her at her table with a look that said she was undeserving of such kindness, but she couldn’t find other words to say to him in front of his parents so she settles for a genuine, “thank you,” before slipping her gaze away from his own and stowing the shoes away as the conversation carried on, “yes. I have never been a being that could stomach hurting another or any living thing. As I grew up on the Island of Vere I had opted to not be trained in combat and also took on a meat free diet,” she did not seem to mind if they ate it though as she was not the type to judge harshly on other people and the way they live their life - to each their own! The bard thinks nothing about how Susanna’s age could be detrimental to her life in pregnancy, but like any avian from Island Vere they celebrate children Niall would glimpse a rare side to his new friend, “really?” For once her expression isn’t as subtle and that warm smile spreads across her plump lips, it reaches to twinkle in her teal eyes and pokes adorable dimples in her cheeks, “that’s wonderful to hear, congratulations Susanna. Do you have a name picked out?” The father and son’s glance ignored - let Ma have her moment! "I've worked with bards in my lifetime and there is a way to know for sure if you are with child and at a certain time we can even determine the gender. All done through sound-waves, if you would like to try it out." After the baby-talk finally dies down, the avian is asked that question to which she nearly chokes on her water as it caught her off guard, “I am, Susanna.” Her more relaxed expression returned and the tone she took on proved she was not a woman that needed a relationship or a life outside of work, “with running for senator, bringing forth change here in Schezerade, with the college my students demands are ever growing, with the bards guild there are many events we are performing throughout Lithrydel. I am an ambitious woman and at this point of my life it leaves little room for much else.” She did not seem sad in the least or in protest to being single or taken for it doesn’t cross her mind much these days, but this was the reason she gives them even though Niall understands a deeper reason as to why she’s guarded. What she said wasn’t exactly a lie - just one of the reason taken from a long list of reasons why she doesn’t fit into a life like that and after desert wraps up the bill never comes for their meal because has been taken care of the avian asks, “is it really that late?” She glances outside to the dark skies she didn’t realize so much time had passed and she offers, “I insist you three take the flying coach home - these streets are far too dangerous at night these days. I’ve got the scars to prove it,” she tries to sort of joke lightly in her sarcastic way, but leads them on out of the restaurant to the magical carriage drawn by six flying horses to which Niall is familiar with. If he wanted to hang back and let his parents take the carriage alone that wouldn’t meet much protest from Rae.


Niall smiles at Raven, the spike of worry that had been in his stomach easing finally. He watches his parents fall into her spell just as quickly as he had and feels a like a man on tilt. What was happening to him? Why did he keep looking away from his food at her, just to study the curl of her lips or the way her hair fell? She was doing a good job dealing with his father too. Malachi grunts and forks his steak into his mouth. "My stomach doesn't have such a heart," He jokes lightheartedly. Susanna grins, "Thank you! I was thinking Mable or Rachel?" She makes a startled noise then, at the idea of being able to find the gender of her child. Malachi and Niall look uncomfortable but are giving the baby talk their best game faces. "I couldn't afford anything like that," She says then, pushing at her hair and giving Raven a sad little smile. Malachi reaches over to pat her hand. "We'll make it work," He says suddenly. "Set it up." Niall frowns, sips his whiskey and looks pensive until his mothers prying question makes him choke too. He gives her a look she ignores. "There is always time for a little fun," Susanna says, though she was obviously impressed, after Raven gives her answer. "You'll just have to find a man who isn't intimidated by a successful woman. Maybe Niall knows someone, people tend to attract others who are like them," Her smile is sly. Niall feels like smashing his face into the dinner table. He gives Rae an apologetic look. Dessert passes a little easier, mostly. His mother manages to say, "Well, Niall needs to find himself a good girl. I don't know how he'll manage to do this when he simple wont give one the time of day. At least not one around home," Niall wishes his whiskey were somehow stronger. The bill never comes and he does decide to send his family home ahead of him. When they're finally off, Susanna giving Raven a long hug and Malachi giving her another dad hug and a kiss to the side of her forehead, Niall turns to Raven. The space between them disappears with an easy stride of his long legs. He smells like whiskey and aftershave. Maybe a little like the vegetarian ravioli he'd had for dinner. He pulls one hand from his pocket and uses it to touch the bottom of her chin lightly, have her look up so that his eyes can find hers. "Scars?" He asks. "Someone hurt you?" His own are dark, very much like a sky boiling with a powerful storm.


Raven, as Brennia is called only by him now, easily waves away any notion there will need to pay anything for such a service “Rachel is a beautiful name, I have always admired it.” This avian understands parents and their desires to know their children will be taken care of, have someone to lean on, so she entertains Susanne’s suggestion without realizing she was trying to point out it was her own son Sussanne saw her with. A side eye glance to him, “make a list,” but that subtle half smirk he’s come to know would prove to him she was only jesting and once his mother clued in that he’s not entertaining anyone she found it odd for him. “Maybe he’s not in the right place for that just yet,” she was trying ease Susanne’s concern while possibly not helping matters. The avian returns the hug gently and is slightly surprised by Malachi’s kiss to her own forehead even if she didn’t show it, but it reminded her of her own father and made her feel around three hundred years younger. She was looking around to get the attention of one of her secret security to take the box containing shoes when that thought suddenly flew far from her mind when she’s drawn into Niall, guided to look up at him. Heavy lidded eyes look up into his eyes and didn’t understand why this look he was giving her was actually making her feel nervous because he’s just a human - right? This is something he shouldn’t worry about, where are all those secret security guards right now? A glance away down to the box between them and how thankful she was that it was there, “yeah, but Brennia - who is also me?” She actually sounded a little confused by it, a little lost, a little vulnerable for just a moment, “I don’t understand entirely what is happening to my, or our, body chemistry.” Her hand gently felt over the box occupying the small space between them before it pulled at the scarf he gave her and the collar to the blouse only to reveal her collarbone. What he would see is where there is a light jagged line about two inches long contrasting over the dark rich tone of her skin, “they call themselves the Flewminati and they do not want me to be senator.” She doesn’t see anyone around and it suddenly seemed too silent as she went to try and ease his worry with the dull mention of, “that’s why I always have the secret service around.” Another glance away, with effort this time, to try and find one of those guys, but they are nowhere? And why does she owe Niall an explanation… Like a shot out of hell heeled footsteps close in close to the pair, “candidate Smyth. We need to go - now. Sir, please step away from Brennia.” One took the box of shoes while the other was taking her away by the elbow and the eye roll to their actions as she didn’t even notice that they misspoke her name even if her discovery of Brennia still within her was new - they didn’t know! Just as she caught on, there were more men in suits shouting, “stop those impostors!” It was too late for them and their proximity to the impostor thugs and a glance down she saw the winged eye tattoo on the back of the hand grasping her rather tightly. The impostor nearest Niall goes to sucker punch him so they can get away with the candidate while Raven raises her free hand up to chop the hold on her and pull away before she runs toward Niall, but would she be too late?!


Niall wouldn't be making a list. Or, maybe if he did he'd just write his name and hand it to her. Maybe that was too subtle. This close to her now, he could smell chocolate and peppermint. He could get lost in her endless teal eyes. This close was dangerous and he couldn't pull away. His brows knit together, a line of worry forming between them, and he's scowling at the thought of someone trying to hurt her. His hand moves from her chin, traces the scar. He hates the box between them, while Rae is grateful to it. "I was going to ask," He says, "About how you were. I saw something happen back there," The way she looks, lost and a little vulnerable, kills him. What was it that she'd said earlier to his Ma - strong as steel? That was Rae. See her feel less than that was troubling. "Can I walk you home? We can talk about it and I can keep a lookout fo-" But he's being interrupted. The man trying to pull Raven away is met with an annoyed look. The alarm bells haven't sounded in the back of his head yet. He pulls his hand away from her as the other man starts to steer her away. Something about the way he grabs her is what starts the warning siren in his mind, a heartbeat before everything goes south. Just before the man uses the wrong name. "Hey!" He calls, only to sucker punched right in jaw. His head pitches but he doesn't go down. Niall, human he may be, was seasoned in a brawl. And he had his own secrets. The man who punched him danced back, shook his hand and said a four letter word that ended when a fist the size of a dinner plate collided with his mouth. The thing about boys from Kelay, particularly ones who grew up with five brothers and had a penchant for bar brawls in a wild youth, was that they tended to throw exclusively hay-makers. Meaning, when they hit they put all their weight behind it. Niall's fist would slam into the impostor's face with enough force to send him careening back, to make him lose several teeth. By this time, the man would have tried to get another grip on Raven, stooping low enough to try to yank her back to him by her wings. With adrenaline pumping through him, and fury now, Niall can feel the change ripple through him. Unlike the times before, he has no control of it. It slams through him, painful enough to make him groan as the change rearranges his body. It's a little gruesome to watch, worse to hear. His bones crack, reshape. His clothes rip. It only takes seconds. Where a man once stood would be an oversized grizzly bear with blue eyes and a temper. His huge claws swipe at the man nearest to him, long claws rake through flesh. The bear roars and charges toward the second, the one who tried to grab Rae. He runs, but the bear is faster, filled by animal rage, and his claws catch hold of a wing. It's delicate make is ruined under the force of the blow and the devilishly sharp claw. Niall, as a man, would have stopped here and he tries. The bear however, is pinning the screaming man to the ground, moving to place his jowls around his head...


Brennia Raven Smyth crumples easy under the strong grip around the edge of that wing and the silk scarf floats to the cold ground along with her on her knees and now a horrible sound was filling the air. Eyes widen at the sight before her, “Niall?” Is he some sort of werewolf or werebear? Is that a thing? The hand is released from her wing and the bear is charging so she ducks down just in time when he leapt for the man behind her, but fear strikes her heart - no, not from the beast Niall has become. She catches sight of the secret service guards aiming handheld crossbows at the bear, some of the tips silver as well (idiots). She scrambles to her feet as best she could with weak knees from the adrenaline rush, “stop!” Her arms outstretched and the large wings follow suit to block the view, she was protecting the bear - or Niall, from any assault via projectiles. What was surprising to Brennia is how her voice carried and how everything did seem to heed her words - was her power coming back a little? Of all the things she was feeling right now - adrenaline, confusion, uncertainty, fear and anger all on top of a little bit of pain… her focus couldn’t move from how it felt when he traced her scar. She had many and not just on the outside, but what about him? He seemed so pure and genuine and now look what she had made him do… She felt entirely responsible to make him do this and she felt it more so when she noticed the man laid out from his punch just moments before. Now her friend is something more, something different and she doesn’t know what this means as they’ve become back to back in this fight, but she couldn’t live with herself if harm came to him or if she made him do something he would regret in such a form. Only seconds have gone by, but to her it felt like an eternity as she remembers why things have always had to be so distant and guarded as her next command is for her guard, “stand down.” Her timbre was back to its usual calm before an effortless flick of her wings lifted her into the air and she back-flipped to place herself back down before Niall, face to face, and she didn’t look afraid. If he maims her then so be it, but she places a gentle hand on the crown of the bear’s head just as his large jaws yawned to size for the attacker’s head. “Niall,” she hopes to call him back to her, “not this way,” and impart some peace back into his heart and mind while she kneels before him to try to gently guide the sides of the beast’s head to lift up from violence and get a glimpse inside those eyes. “Niall,” she tries once more to command him back while her wings fold neatly behind her, but the yanked one slightly askew for now, as it still smarts a bit.


Niall is fighting through a cloud of rage and the overwhelming nature of the beast... He doesn't see the men with arrows pointed at him, he doesn't hear the sounds around him. His vision is red, blurred, tunneled on to the man who had threatened Raven. The violence in him screams to be released, throbs in his muscles and pounds in his blood until it's all that drives him. It's maddening and quick and somewhere inside the storm of it all a human man screams. Just as teeth scrape the temples of the man, a voice strikes through him. The sound of her shines like a ray of light through a storm. It reaches the man inside. Suddenly, the bear is looking up, guided by gentle hands and soft words. The eyes that look back at her are his. They're filled with confusion, sorrow, fear. The coppery scent of blood mixes with chocolate and peppermint. The bear shudders as she says his name. More slowly than before, he changes. Bone, skin, muscle rearrange and reshape. They find the more familiar figure of a man with tarnish gold hair and tanned skin. It's a little awkward, he's still pining a bleeding man to the ground. The crumpled and bloody wing underneath his hand makes his stomach churn. Naked, covered in blood and feathers, he rolls off. Fights a wave of sickness. When the moment passes, he turns to Raven to appraise her person. A bloody hand rakes through his hair angrily. "Your wing?" His voice sounded raw. He stands, his body long and lean and very naked. He's got plenty of his own scars, a particularly nasty one on his lower abdomen, and the tattoo of a horse shoe on one of his ribs. He seems nonplussed with his own nudity but is careful not to crowd Raven just now. *Was she afraid of him?* He's looking over her, trying to read her facial expression, ignoring the men who were no doubt swarming her by now. He makes a noise of frustration and walks toward his ruined clothes. He picks through them, groans when he finds them all shredded... Even his nice boots. He ties his tattered shirt around his waist in a makeshift loincloth. It looks ridiculous. He laughs humorously and snatches up Raven's scarf. His insides were twisted. *Was she afraid of him?* He looks up from the scarf, tries to find Rae's eyes.


Brennia watches as the man scurries off after standing once Niall came back down to earth. Very professional, the security guards only look ahead and do not gawk while a few are sent off to chase the assailant down to take him to the authorities. She wants to run from him in this moment, but not for the reasons he thinks, because she’s hates that she did this to him… in a way. She starts to wonder if his madness will ever stop and she ends up resting her gaze within his, making sure to not venture much lower as he tries to fashion himself some decency out of his torn heap of clothes. “My wing will heal. Avians heal a bit faster than humans,” she answers in he usual way, there was no fear even though her knees still feel weak. She could leave him here like she wishes to do, maybe bury herself in work so she has a real excuse to not see him for some time. Would he be safer that way? She can’t do that tough, he needs clothes, he needs sleep and should definitely not be walking back to Kelay alone. He’s handing her that scarf, it won’t stay on her wings at this rate, but she meets him halfway and gently takes it back, “thank you, Niall.” She glances to a guard with a quarter length black trench coat on and motions for him to come nearer, but he’s more hesitant. She doesn’t care. “May I borrow your jacket?” He was pretty much the same size at Niall and the guard obliges, but hands her the coat to which she doesn’t take it. Forcing the idiot to not be such a senseless tool she fixes the man with a look of exhaustion, “do I look like *I* really need to be covered up?” She motions to Niall and the guard hands him the coat before disappearing into the background as they do. Once Niall puts the jacket on, which would fit decent aside from the slit in the back for wings, she can focus once more on the task at hand, “you were offering to walk me back home?” Teal eyes look back up to his as if nothing just happened, so, no - she probably isn’t afraid of him. “Does that offer still stand?” She felt concerned for him, but dare not show it in front of the city guard and her Secret service protection or any potential Flewminati nearby. Once they get back to the castle she can ask him more questions or take care of any wounds he may have, does he even get wounds? Is he still human? Was that some sort of sorcery? If anything she was just even more interested in Niall than before, but not afraid of him… She’s more afraid for him.


Niall is no mind reader. He's clueless to the inner monologue of Raven's mind. Clueless that she's blaming herself for something that was beyond her control. When she reached for her scarf, his hand takes hers and bunches the material between them. He holds onto her for a second, as she looks into his eyes and he returns the gaze. He hopes his looks like apology. "You're welcome," He says, voice still rough, and drops her hand. He didn't want to drop her hand though. He wanted to pull her close to him and put his lips on hers. He wanted to run his hands through all that dark hair and whisper something, anything that would take that look off her face. The one that he reads as fear. Instead he moves to find his wallet in the mess of tattered clothes. His stomach was howling at him. He'd only held his transformation for a few minutes, but it left him drained and in need of refueling. It would be a long walk home without his boots. He'd let himself think of what it all meant, transforming so easily but losing all control, when he wasn't next to naked and Raven wasn't still in the streets. He misses the first part of the jacket conversation, clues in when the guy hands it to him. "Oh, thanks," He says, shrugging it on and dropping his wallet into a pocket. When he looks up again, Raven is asking him to walk her home and something in him shifts. She's looking at him, same Rae, and he's thinking about kissing her again. Instead he smiles in his easy way, his make-shift loin cloth and a trench coat covering the blood that was drying on him... Maybe it looked a little crazy. "Of course," He drawls, walking nearer to her. The walk was tense. Niall was on edge even in the sight of the castle grounds. When he isn't watching shadows he's watching Raven. "The first change I ever made was at thirteen. Men of many forms. The Coin family gift." He fills the tense quiet with some small explanation in whispers. "It was supposed to have died out. I'm the first in a while. I don't know much about it beyond that." When they're finally alone, really alone and away from the service men, he can't help himself. He pulls her in, his hands framing her face delicately, and after a the breath of a second he moves to kiss her. If she didn't move away, he'd kiss her deeply. Hungrily. With shaking hands and his blood pounding in his ears for the need of it. And he would pull away frowning. "I'm sorry," The world is chocolate and peppermint and teal eyes."I'm sorry, I shouldn't and I know it but damn it Rae, I thought for a second..."


Brennia fell into step easily with Niall seeing as they are nearly the same height and all, but what may have surprised him was she placed her hand on the crook of his arm as if he was actually only escorting her home like the gentlemen he is and nothing more. By default that wounded in rested upon Niall’s back during the walk and it sort of leaned in him, he’d find them warm and velvety. Any time he would try to speak in the open she would lightly change the subject to some useless information about the Fountain of Wishes or the Causeway of Statues for she was worried they were being watched or followed. Once they were on the bridge to the college they would disappear to anyone that meant the occupants of the castle harm as it is the enchantment protecting the grounds and they are finally safe when he clued her into what just happened. “Interesting,” she offered genuinely and once inside the castle she lead them to the kitchens before the security breaks off knowing there is no threat due to the wave of Brennia’s hand for them to disperse. Here she is again, knowing she needs to pull away from him, but she just cannot once he has her looking up into his eyes and his expression making her stomach lurch. Her hands gently rest on his forearms and she cursing herself out for this, but once more she allows herself to get lost in him and melt against him while this time her lips probably also taste a hint of that vegetarian ravioli and the cheesecake everyone had for dessert. This time she lets him break the kiss to apologize and she stops his sentence at the end, “it wasn’t the first attack and it will not be the last.” She guided his hands to drop from her face and hesitated stepping away from him again as she felt like they were two magnets constantly pulling together, but she managed it. “If something happened to you or I made you harm someone just because you happen to be around when this happens then I just couldn’t live with myself. What happened to you today was because of me, because I thought for a moment I could have a friend and work, but I can’t because they always end up getting hurt.” She’s torn her gaze away from him because shes saying these words out of necessity and not desire, but right now she cannot have desires and for a hiccup of a second her good wing downturns in a crestfallen way. “Let’s get you something to eat - you are trembling. Then we will get you new clothes. I will find you a room and in the morning you can take the flying coach back home, but please don’t tell Malachi and Susanna about this, I fear they would be cross with me.” She continues to force her steps to walk away from him and make her way to the larder to find leftovers from the dinner hour while for once her voice changed tone, she sounded tired and slightly sad, “and I cannot tell you what to do, but I am going to suggest we distance ourselves for some time - it will be safer for you that way and we could go back to normal once these attacks are less frequent.” It took such strength to say and the only thing that made it all easier was she didn’t dare even glance his way, but would he see through it all? She could barely convince *herself* that this was something she truly wanted. ‘No, this is something he needs so we can keep him safe,’ that's right.


Niall was surprised but grateful for Raven's touch. It helped settle some of the nerves that felt raw and overexposed. Having her closer meant having her just a little bit more safe, in his mind. He was careful, so careful to not disturb her wing as it rest on him. Even when he moved away he did so as if it were made of very fine glass he might break with a careless move. Then he pulls her even closer, kisses her until something in him settles and feels her return it, lean into it.. Drive him crazy for wanting her as she moved away. He's frowning now because she's pulling back. Not just in distance. She's retreating into herself, away from him, he can see it on her face and his jaw tightens. "Maybe not," he says, his voice low, thin with anger that is rare. "But it will be the last that they get away with hurting you," he vows, eyes dark and boiling. He's grateful to her for stopping him, endlessly thankful for her risking herself to pull him away from doing something he might regret, but honestly? If he would have killed that man tonight he would have found a way to live with it. It would be easier to remember who the man was, that he posed a threat to Raven. He wasn't apologizing for the attack either. "They could have taken you, Raven," he says her full name. "They could have taken you off, done I don't know-" this line of thought was making him too angry. She cuts him off anyway. His jaw clenched tighter. "I'm not going anywhere, goddamnit, would you just-" He shrugs out of the jacket, tosses it carelessly and strides to the sink. With quick, angry movements he finds a rag and runs water. He smears most of the blood off of him and slams the rag into the sink. There are broken feathers and little spots of light pink everywhere now. He walks back to her, in only a tattered loincloth shirt and still a little dirty, and holds his arms out. Despite being a little damp his skin was marked with only the lines of faded scars and his tattoo. "I'm not hurt," his jaw was a little red, maybe it would have bruised in the morning if he didn't have his own unique healing abilities. His knuckles had broken on the other guys face but they had already knit themselves back together on the walk home. "I'm human and I'm not. I don't need to be protected, you do." He drops his hands, "and I'm not sorry for hurting those men. Maybe I would have been sorry for killing one, but I would have lived with it. I would have lived with it because he was going to hurt you. He did hurt you," he pushes a damp hand through his hair in frustration. "None of this is your fault. You have no control of people attacking you. You have no control over how I react to it," he wants to go to her again. He wants to hold her, touch her, something but she's walking away. He follows, "You didn't do anything wrong. But you're crazy if you think I'm going to just walk away when people are trying to hurt you." This flash of temper rolls through him. Did she really want him to leave her alone? It didn't feel like it. Maybe he just couldn't see it because he didn't want to. He walks faster, beyond her so he can stop her. Stand in her way and look into her eyes. "I'm not leaving unless that's something you want." He's looking into her eyes. He's looking to see if she means what she says. "I'm not asking for anything here, Rae, but I don't wanna leave."


Brennia’s jaw clenched while taking out leftovers of roast beef because now he barely has anything on and it's clouding her judgement so she focuses only on the food before her. A conflict happening inside herself because she knows she should push him away or give in? “So what if they did take me, that is not something you need to be worried about,” she lights a match to the cookpot over the fire and it blazes brilliantly when she hums a fire note out of habit. It slightly surprises her and she steps back, but automatically pulls Niall away along with her. Damnit, she's close to him again and now she's looking back up at him and without filtering her thoughts she goes to ask, “why does it bother you so if I fall into har-” That is not an appropriate question and she doesn’t want to hear the answer or is afraid to know. “You should be more concerned with your brewery and your mother and how she is expecting and Queenie,” she eased herself down on a nearby stool and motioned for him to have a seat as well if he wanted. “It isn’t what I want,” she again seemed a little surprised she spoke so openly without warning, “... but ultimately what I want is your safety and Malachi and Susanne’s safety as it seems anyone close to me becomes a target. It’s a lot to handle and I should not be a burden,” she felt her good wing shifting again and she uses her hand to force it to stop, “and, Niall,” she said his name so softly and her accent plays with such a short syllable still. “I do not know what is happening to me. I am not myself and I feel Brennia more and more every day, but I have a feeling she will never be herself after this. We are becoming something… different, but I think it is safe to say that you may freely call me Raven,” she said a bit quieter, “or Rae.” She felt guilty for liking it and selfish for allowing him to be so protective of her well being and like she doesn’t deserve such kindness from him. "Not something I should worry about..." He repeats under his breath, curses afterword. "Rae," She pulls him away from the fire and he sighs. "Raven." His hands find her shoulders, he's trying to center her, make her look at him. "I'm concerned with *you*." He states firmly. "I'm concerned with you and all those other things too. I've a right to care who I care for and I care for you." She pulls away from him, to sit on one of the stools. He pushes his hand through his hair again. He listens, quietly. Sven be damned he listens even as he wants to take her by the shoulders again. Give her the smallest of shakes. This woman. She could be so stubborn. When she finishes, he walks near. He would move to put his hand under her chin and tilt her head up to him. "Rae, Raven, Brennia. Whoever you are, who ever you're becoming. You're no burden. You're no threat. You have done nothing wrong." He drops his hand again. "My Ma and Pa, as old as I am, would bend me over their knee and tan my hide before they'd sooner hear of me even thinking of walking away from you because of this - and I'm not. They aren't the kind, I'm not the kind." He shakes his head. "I'm not walking away. I'm not moving until you make me."


All Brennia could do is look up at Niall and his determination about her, “you are correct, Niall. You do have every right to care for who you wish.” ‘But why me,’ she would ask if she weren’t so exhausted from the day’s events. “After you eat go out here to the right, take the stairs up and you’ll find a large black door. This leads to the restricted section of the castle where the professors and guild members stay. The rooms are big; complete with enchanted private washrooms, a fireplace and a balcony.” When she slips her teal scarf off and stands the scarf had messed up her hair which revealed a nice section of it had been cut somehow in the scuffle. Her long hair fell free and the loosened locks fell to the floor between them. The shorter ones falling to frame her face just below her chin, but she didn’t seem to care as she set the scarf down, grabbed the butcher knife after twisting the rest of hair at the base of her neck and simply chopping the rest off in one motion starting at the flat of her neck outward(not the other way around - ouch!). Swift and careless - it’s just hair. She throws it in the trash and picks her scarf back up, “I’ll head up and start your bath for you while you eat. Take your time, stay as long as you like,” it seems it won’t be as easy to push this one away and that makes her feel happy, but guilty at the same time.