RP:The Chanteuse Mocks a Bird

Summary: Irenic is mean to Raphaline, but she started it.

Cerulean Flowers

In this newly discovered section of the Frostmaw mines, mist and fog forms as it is much warmer than the area around it. The environment in here could be compared to that of a sauna, as your skin begins to collect particles of water upon it from the dense humidity. Fauna grows wild here, though it is of a single variety: cerulean flowers with three petals each. It is a mystery as to how these flowers got here, or how they thrive in such harsh conditions. But, nonetheless, they are here, and they are flourishing in this outcropping from the mines.

Raphaline wanted a little break, so while she found herself at least being responsible enough to stay close to the fort, she needed a quiet and warm place to be. Among the cerulean flowers she recalls how many years it has been and all the friends she has crossed paths with here. Smiling, she pulls her boots off and wool socks and allows her bare feet to breathe and take in the warm air. Her fur-lined coat is unbuttoned and tossed beside her boots, freeing up her bare arms for the first time in days. Along the inside of her wrists there are light scars from where it looks as if the skin had been rubbed raw at one point. With her body free of the heavy wares, she begins to dance (nothing too elaborate just a few spins here and there). She keeps spinning until she collapses among the flowers, her fiery curls mixing with the blue and sticking to her skin.

Irenic took his time making his way to this area of the mines after a long morning spent hard at work. He let his pick axe and sword clink harshly on the floor before sitting himself upon a boulder of a rock formation in the warm sauna-like area in order to relax his tense muscles for a moment. Sweat and dirt muddled in the creases between his muscles upon that tawny skin and his hair slicked back from the perspiration while his large wings fold close to his frame. His mismatched gaze focuses on a flower with a tensed jawline as if he is in deep brooding thought. Something about this man would seem different than before along with the bruised, probably broken, nose and knuckles to match; he carries himself taller than before - exuding confidence and pride while hiding a darker side. His gaze would trail off to the woman lying in the flowers and he couldn't make her out in the mist at first until his brown unseeing eye catches hints of magic on her and he can only remember seeing that type of aura on one person… Again it takes him a moment to remember, sorting through different memories, "Curious seeing you here Miss Raphlane." That low gruff tone echoes gently off the cave walls followed by a chuckle, rude, he can't even remember her name right.

Raphaline senses someone coming into the cave, so her muscles become taunt and ready but it is the voice and the tone in said voice that put her at ease. Granted the owner may be a bit rude and uncouth at times, she rather appreciates his sass, at least she knows he isn't pretending to be someone he is not. Placing a grin on her lips she sits up and tilts her gaze in the avians direction and calls back, "Curiouser to see you here, Dove." The grin smoothly transitions into a teasing smirk as she lofts one of her red brows. "I didn't take you for a cold weather type of guy. Too fiery spirited if I do say so." She plants her hands on the ground and gently pushes herself up into a standing position before walking over to better see him. "Still as gruff as the last time I saw you." She dusts the bits of grass and petals from her tunic but the fabric begins to cling to her legs as the moisture continues to soak into it.

Irenic carelessly allowed his mismatched gaze take the sight of her in while looking her up and down with that devilish grin. A scarred brow quirks at her mentioning his fiery spirit, "Hm? One of my exes must've been talking of me then? Thought these things were ringing." One of his hands sort of flicks one of his own long ears and he really only mentions this seeing as she doesn't know much of him from their first and only encounter. "Dove…" He grunts out with humor while opening up his flask full of rum, taking a sip and then continuing, "That's endearing… I, am not." he would offer a wink at the poor joke. Once she gained a closeness, depending, she may be granted her favorite smell coming from the Avain as he explains, "Yes, the cold is not pleasant. The liquor, this sauna seeming cave and the hot springs help… As I figured the caves here hold better treasures with a smaller crowd… Hot springs are next." His mismatched narrows playfully with a dark short chuckle, "Gruff, huh? You say that like it's a bad thing." A shrug and another generous swig of the rum before he would offer the silver flask to her, "Would you like some?"

Raphaline lofts a brow once more at this new tone of voice; finds it intriguing. "I have never met these so called exes, but I can only assume they must be saintly to have handled you for extensive periods of time." Her tone is playful, teasing and meant to ruffle his feathers just a bit. She takes the offered flask with no hesitation to her intentions and downs a sizeable swing of the liquor before handing it back to the avian. "The hot springs below is splendid, especially after spending quite a few days in this icy tundra. I was never one for snow and ice either, but it seems those I know continue to be involved with the politics here." She folds her slim arms across her chest as she gazes from the cave entrance back to the avian before remarking, "Never said it was bad. I know many a men who are gruff like you, but, I don't see it lasting very long around me." She punctuates her statement with a wink as she takes a step to the right and turns her attention to the slope that curves downward towards the warm waters. "Come along Dove. If it is the warm waters we both desire, than we shouldn't dawdle here much longer." She leaves her boots and coat among the flowers and begins to walk down towards warmer water.

Stepped Hot Springs

Dim shadows curl and crawl across the wet stone, and delicate cerulean flowers continue to flourish here in this warm underground pocket. Trails of moist steam coalesce into massive white plumes that drift and fade as they tumble through the open space, and the humid air tastes of minerals and heat. This wide cavern is home to a fascinating geological feature - a literal terrace of rocky pools whose waters spill endlessly over their rims and cascade into the next tier, with the highest being the smallest yet the largest source of heat. The lowest steppes are far cooler, transformed into an infinity pool of sorts as warm, murky water, thick and enriched with nutrients, stretches seamlessly out into a vast subterranean lake. The lakewater itself is far colder, touched by Frostmaw's bitter chill, but the hot springs are at a pleasant enough temperature to tempt one into taking a relaxing dip in the healing waters and revel in this secret haven of warmth buried under Hollow's most unforgiving region. Judging by the way the highest pool bubbles and gurgles so fervently, however, it might just be a little too hot for most to handle, better left for those with scales or a certain affinity for scalding heat. A narrow passageway twisting back upwards is the only exit from this secluded cavern.

Irenic scoffs, "You assume correct… Must corrupt the saintly ones." He spots the marks on the insides of her wrists when she takes the flask and when she hands it back as he stood, nearly towering her, "That’s a nasty rash." Yeah, like he has room to talk with what looks like a broken nose, nearly healed over black eye and one of his wings looks tense like it's sprained or something. Another short chuckle was offered before another swig of liquor, "This is just how my voice sounds… Years of practice." More like years of abuse. His mismatched eyes give an eye roll at the word Dove, "Yeah, sure. Squaw, Squaw." He also leaves his armor and weapons behind while placing leather boots next to it, but he stops and adjusts them… Just once again before he finally follows. Once by the waters he shamelessly drops trousers and thoughtlessly drops under garments to show his shame. There was a nasty scar where his manhood would be, he still gives no care, no mind like it's an every day thing as he slips his tall sweaty body into the waters. Letting out a relaxed sigh he clanks the flask on the lip of the shallow pool. "You don't like the cold… Why are you here?" His arms now rest on the lip of the pool as well, relaxing further.

Raphaline is not all that shocked by the brazen attitude of the avian, and she is not bothered by his sudden lack of clothing. She does wonder how and what ever could have happened, but does not think to press such a personal question out into the open. Instead she turns to his question. As she removes her own leather pants but leaves the tunic draped over her torso and down to just above her knees, she steps into the water. “I have friends who live here and this land and I have a personal history. I’ve been a part of a few of their wars as a healer.” She swirls her long legs through the water as her right hand trails its fingers over the inside of her left wrist. “Not quite a rash. More like a reminder of what happens when the wrong people have power.” She drops her left wrist and places both hands behind her, leaning back on them as she tips her head back, causing wet curls to spiral down her back. “I have a feeling you know what I mean, Dove.” That was as far as she would push the subject, but it left it open for him to respond.

Irenic didn’t care to look when she undressed, but not out of politeness, pfft. He hands her the flask once more, "Wrong people, right people. We are all villains." His knowing, but wise gaze would rest on her visage, "I've been a shining white knight to others, but hell incarnate to others." His grin widened to expose crooked, but white teeth, "It is all about what we choose." His left wing came out a little from behind him and half submerged in the water and a nasty wound could be spotted on it as if someone shot through the wing with an arrow. He starts picking the feathers from the area that are too mutilated to save and placing them in an unfortunate pile.

Raphaline quirks a brow to his wisdom but chooses not to respond. Instead, she turns her attention and emerald gaze to the wound on his wing. She gestures with her right hand towards the wound before asking, "Would you like that healed properly?" A healer for much of her time in these lands, it has become second nature for her to inquire after the well-being of all, even when their gruff like an old man. "I promise I won't hurt it." The bard pushes off the side of the tub and slips into the water causing her tunics to float to the surface and gather around her hips.

Irenic watches her movements from around his massive, yet alluring velvety wing, "You seem to have worked all day Raph-person." His memory of her name seems to have lessened. "Did we not come here to relax after work!?" He playfully, and gently, shoves her back a bit before offering the rum once more. "Relax… Just need to clear some of these feathers out the way and it should heal in a day or two." He continued his sift movements before sucking air through his teeth and grunting out an expletive - unapologetically, even! Rude. "Say, since your up… Wanna have some fun?" His tone was suggestive before he added, "Pull out any gnarly looking feathers off the outside." The outside of the wing would be facing her and she might even see how an arrow struck truly through the wing, but luckily hitting not vital tendons or nerves.

Raphaline gives him this look, the kind of look that says ‘you are so full of nonsense.’ But, she obliges and helps to pluck a few feathers out from around the wound. “I’m not sure what you define as fun,” she starts to say as she tosses another feather atop the pile, “but this is not it. And since I am over here, you might as well let me spin a tiny bit of magic to make sure it heals -properly-.” She takes the flask of rum into her hand once more and downs a bit more of liquor, finding it warming her stomach in much the same manner that the hot springs has warmed her skin. "And don't be a stubborn butt about my offer. I won't tell anyone that you accepted help and tarnish your bad boy reputation." Her tone turns from healer concern to the teasing sass she normally speaks with when it comes to grumpy men.

Irenic fakes a loud grunt before asking, "What are you -doing- over there!?" before a chuckle would follow for he was just trying to give her a small harmless scare. "Well miss lady," for real, Irenic… It’s getting worse. "What is it that defines fun for you and please do not be a dull dud that would say," He clears his throat to try and mimic her dainty tone, "Healing others and bringing joy out of my work." An obnoxious guffaw would follow, it might be now she would sense a change of heart or mind set in the avain, his posture more ridged like a military man and his confidence exuding pride and a touch of smugness. He sighs softly, "Go for it if it gets you all giddy; I be paying you later." He chuckles darkly once more, "You said butt, can't knuckle up and just outright call me an ass?" Behind his wing he blows a raspberry, "My reputation… I do not have one…" Something about the change in character of this deviant might prove he wouldn't even care about the status of his 'reputation'.

Raphaline isn’t scared very easily, so she just tosses this look over her shoulder at him as she moves close enough to his wing that she can gently lay her right hand upon it. “You assume because I like to heal that I am a saintly woman. Have you never met another bard, Dove? We are as hedonistic as they come.” With her hand in place, the bard eases up on the restraints she has on her magic and begins to hum a note under her breath. It is a simple healing spell, one that will encourage the blood vessels to repair and the skin to begin to patch itself up at a much faster rate than normal. She withdraws her hand and turns her body so her emerald eyes can fall upon the avian once more. “And you my dear are trying to ruffle my feathers. Pun intended. If that is your intention, you will have to try something a bit more clever than that.” Her infamous grin begins to form on her lips as she turns to head back over to the edge of the pool where she had been sitting before.

Irenic shrugs, "I've met like one other. And she actually played a song for me." Another playful eye roll was given, "I don't see you doing that." Remarkably the healing rate of avians are quite fast, indeed and by the looks of it the wound she used her magics on would have probably sewn themselves up by the next day. When she throws a challenge at him a grin spreads on his battered old face as he pushed the dusky brown locks of his out of bi-colored view, "Ruffle feathers?! You have me in stiches!" That tone darkens to something more suggestive while both of his wings were now around her before she can make her way back to her edge of the pool - wrapping her in some sort of heavenly smelling bubble of velvety feathers. Long legs stand to stalk closer to her and if she back pedaled away from him he would just match every step until she was against a wall. One of his hands sweetly caresses a lock of her hair behind one of her own ears as his body frame came in nearly complete contact with her's, "It isn't about clever…." He bent his head to look down into those emerald eyes while his own mismatched one trailed over every feature of her face, in turn, nearly touching base with his own lips on her's, "It is, however, about tact." He hovered and lingered there, surely ready for a slap.

Raphaline doesn’t like this being cornered behind wings, but she doesn’t flinch when he draws closer to her form. Instead, her emerald eyes square themselves upon him with a look of defiance as she says, “Darling, this is not very tactful then. I mean,” she pauses long enough to shrug, “if you wanted a kiss from me all you had to do was ask.” She reaches up with her right hand and promptly takes a hold of his right cheek and gives it a small tug. “I hope you don’t think this is the best way to woo a lady. Otherwise I am going to have to sit you down and set you straight on the proper edict with which to get under their skin.” Her hand releases his cheek and comes down to rest in the crook of her hip as she lofts a brow at the avian. “Silly Dove, so gruff and sassy.”

Irenic's wings quickly fold back tightly to the sides of his frame causing slight ripples in the water and his footsteps take him back to his seat - seeing as she didn’t take the bait. "Ah, yes. The tiresome dance of courting and gentlemanly wooing." One of his long tattooed arms find his pants to procure two items from it, a small case and matches. He slips out a handmade cigarette from the case and lights it, takes a generous drag before exhaling the curling dense fog and not caring of the direction of the questionably smelling smoke. "Many years I've walked that tightrope and won plenty affections doing it," He sounds like he should be bragging about laying plenty of pipe in his wake, but it's his tone about it that makes him just sound bored, "Eventually it's all the same, it's all pointless. So, yes I already know how to woo." The military posture, the well kempt clothes are ghostly hints of the man he used to pretend to be back in his homeland. "So, then comes the time you have to cover it up and move on." His hand points to a muddled tattoo pattern on his left pectoral and those apt to inspecting patters or seeing the difference in tattoo inks might see how a crest was covered up by the massive tattoo that now spans his torso.

Raphaline really cannot help the ripple of silver-belled laughter that escapes her lips just as he finishes his lecture about the nature of wooing. She leans her back against the wall of the pool as she tries to cover her mouth with both of her hands. At some point she takes in a deep breath and is able to smother the laughing long enough to brush her away the tears that have sprung up in the corners of her eyes. “Dove, you and this,” she says as she gestures at all of him, “such a cynically lone wolf. Goodness, do you really believe all those notions about the nature of the relationships you have with people?” She shakes her head, causing red curls to ripple before she finds her way up once more onto the side of the pool and seats herself precariously close to the edge, her legs drawing through the water. “It does make me wonder who rustled your feathers so much that you think this way.” Another brief shake of her head as she adds, “Whoever hurt you to the point you believe this is the true villain.”

Irenic quirks a brow and continues to smirk through her mocking him, "Had I known you were talking about something with more meaning, like relationships, you would get a very different answer… I was simply speaking of wining, dining and dancing. I used to be very chivalrous, but the point I was making is it's all just a show. A very boring show by now." He takes another long drag from his cigarette before pinching off the cherry to save the rest and tucks the half cigarette between his pointed ear. He left the air between them be still as he was in a small moment of thought, his voice shifts to something sounding more bookly and lacking sass as he recites something he heard his father say to his mother all those years ago, "Both have the strength and both the length thereof,  Both of us, of the love which makes us one." It just a part of a love poem they shared. "And no one hurt me, Chanteuse, I am just not going to waste the sentiment I do have on just anyone."  

Raphaline just shakes her head, she finds no point in trying to argue with the avian about semantics and such. Instead, she turns her attention back to the water and swirling her legs to and fro. “Full of all kinds of knowledge, aren’t you?” Chuckling, she leans back on her hands as she withdraws her legs and shivers just a bit as the air touches her moist skin. “I think that is enough soaking, otherwise I will turn into a prune.” She gives it a moment of drying off before moving to pluck her pants from the floor and once more replacing them on her body again.