RP:The Drum and The Violin
Part of the I Write Songs Not Tragedies Arc
This is a Bard's Guild RP.
Summary: Brennia and Alvina get warned by Wisax to put those instruments away.
Smyth College of Bardic Arts
After finding your way through the Topiary Garden it would only be fitting to come upon a building which looks like a section taken right out of any castle in the same style as all of Schezerade, in all it's decadence; marble forming the entirety of the large building accented with gold and platinum in which you'll have to cross over a glass bridge in order to reach it. The front door is welcoming for all shapes and sizes that are the citizens of Hollow and spans a great distance in it's solid French Door of a design. Opening it up one might be perplexed at the ability for the fortress to hold such music coming from the main hall there with all of the astute students practicing their talents. Once immersed, the eyes might be stolen by the gaping cathedral ceilings above, spotted by gold and platinum in which encircle mini glowing stones to mimic the night sky, but beauty is not what the ceiling is for; it carries one's voice in the most pleasing fashion. This main hall is quite a vast oval-shaped room, but the walls are shelves, carved into small diamond shapes. Each slot contains a scroll to nearly any song someone might wish to hear or practice in it's magic. Among the marvelous white-wood, gold-accented, concert grand piano in the middle of this large room there are a plethora of nearly every musical instrument imaginable, one just has to look.
Nearing further into the castle one's nostrils might pick up on the scent of mouth watering food being cooked wafting from the kitchen which is north of the main room and it also holds an elegant dining area containing a handful of small tables. In the corner of this kitchen there is a winding staircase which travels below where students are bustling to and fro. If you wish to stay, grab your favorite spirits from the well stocked kitchen and listen to the bardic magics, relax in one of the many luxurious sofas strewn about these to areas. Off to the east corner of the main hall, there is a locked staircase with an outreaching design in onyx stone overlay which is seemingly inking over into the pristine luxury you’ve found yourself in. It's as if the area above holds a darkness that's attempting to leak out into this little slice of heaven… Better just leave that door alone.
Brennia was alone in the vast hall at first as there are lessons going on in the second floor above them. It is very hushed aside from the fact that Brennia was at her gorgeous concert grand piano and every note resonates under the dome-like cathedral ceiling. Eyes closed as usual she was pouring herself into the song and once anyone steps into the castle to hear the ballad it would be a magic that left the air feeling of static. The tale of this song being of confidence and bravery to be yourself, but other's may interpret them the way they see fit and the feeling swells in the heart with every note. She could be easily interrupted, but once anyone walks through a door to the Main Hall she can feel their soul in a way for her magic dabbles in it, caresses the soul and nestles itself into the nooks and cranny's of it. Her eyes stay closed for everyone's safety during her performances, big or small.
Wisax arrived at what seemed an opportune time. As he had not been given a specific time, just a day, he'd acted on experience from previous visits and given the collage plenty of time to prepare beforehand. He walked in looking the same as always, wrapped in the usual layers. Though this time he carried a staff with him and kept his wings folded behind his back rather than wearing them around himself as a cloak as was his habit. He slowly strode across the open space without making more noise than necessary but also without putting any particular effort into moving silently. As he closed in on the piano, he stopped by one of the arches and simply waited for the hostess to finish what she was doing.
Alvina padded in quietly behind Wisax, assuming he was a student here. On her back is strapped a large item, draped in white cloth to protect it from the elements if indeed any had presented themselves. She stops at the entrance while Brennia plays, watching Wisax pause by the archway. The bard wasn’t the only one moved to feel such elation. It was common, when Brennia was behind an instrument. The second time Alvina has been able to witness a performance. It’s strikingly similar to how they met the second time, in the Larket Concert Hall. She’ll wait, patiently giving Wisax a chance to speak up though he does not. It would be impolite, Alvina agrees. So she’ll let the song play out, falling and lifting with the notes progression until silence rings out in the acoustic space, still humming with energy. “Good morning, Lady Brennia!” The woman calls, waving her hand at the avian from the back. It wasn’t necessary but it was happening. It seems Wisax also had business with the headmistress, so Alvina was happy to find a seat and rest if need be. Some businesses are more private than others; her greeting was simply to let Ms. Smyth know she was here to deliver the instrument she’d promised.
Brennia felt the souls enter, but didn't dare open her eyes till the song was over. "Merry Meet, Alvina!" Then those large blue eyes spot Wisax and her usual sultry tone fails her around him, "And to you, Mister Vi." She went to say something else, but it seemed the session for morning lessons are over and students start milling out of the second floor from the classrooms. One young female student, Evanescenz, leaned over the banister to excitedly wave at Vi, "Mister Vi! You're back! Hello Mister Vi!" There was an airy flirtation to the student's voice that Brennia pointedly ignores while there was a sudden hustle for all of the students to come down to the vast main hall. Brennia, dressed more like a professor these days for she was wearing a form fitting pencil skirt and a silky blouse tucked into the high waist of it which only exaggerates her curves. She walks over to a certain male student who also looks somewhat important and she whispers something to him, "It's here." The man's eyes lit up as he cranes his head to look around. "Circle about the piano everyone," Brennia said without shouting and her bardic magic threw he voice all over the room so everyone takes their place around the outer parts of the oval shaped hall in order to give plenty of space at the piano, there must be at least twenty students some bard's guild members as well. "Alvina has brought Hinder something," the gentleman next to her eagerly awaits, but she pulls herself away to Wisax, looking up at him she asks, "Would you be able to capture this moment?"
Wisax responded to the greetings with a simple nod. Otherwise remaining silent. Of course, from Alvina's side of things, the gesture was impossible to see. The tall avian was wrapped in a cloak that curled around his chest and widened into a large hood over his head. Beneath he wore a sort of harness, complete with matching bandolier and belt extensions, that seemed to be made out of innumerable pockets and containers. The man seemed to carry a workshops worth of tools and devices on his person. When the younger student calls out, he turns on the spot to look upwards and raised his staff a inch of the ground as a way of returning the wave. Otherwise he seemed content to observe until Brennia drew herself close. He turns his eyes down on her and then over to the piano where the students are assembling. ”I can. What perspective did you want?”
Alvina rushes over clumsily when Brennia calls to her. The air of her passing ruffles Wisax’s cloak, and she gives him an apologetic wave with a muted ‘sorry’. The male student meets her in front of the piano and Alvina pauses for fanfare. “Are you sure you want this?” She asks, smiling while she unties the leather binds around her waist. From the delight in his eyes and the anxious way he’s staring, it’s not a real question anymore. “Hinder, I present to you…” A wink is offered to Brennia, surely it must be adorable from the outside in to see her student racked with tense excitement. “your dream instrument.” At that moment, the cloth covering on the device drops away and the brass finish catches all light in the room, polished perfectly. It has all the details Brennia had mentioned, matching the sketch with the slightest adjustment made for tonal clarity and functionality. It’s a dream made flesh. Or more accurately, made of brass. Alvina beams, tucking her arms behind her back, letting the instrument exist with Hinder who stares at it like a young man in love.
Brennia gently places a hand to Wisax's elbow when she moved to stand next to him and point where to stand. A look up to him with a nervous sort of smile and a, "Thank you." Brennia had made her way back over to Alvina just in time, nearly holding her breath with astonishment at the instrument and a gasp, "It's beautiful Alvina!" The student took his time appreciating the work with a mistiness to his eyes, aw heck it all, he gives Alvina a warm tight hug for her work whispering to her, "It's perfect." Hinder turns to Evanescenz and asks her if she would mind playing him in and she tries to saunter to her place at the piano this time to do so (milking it in front of Mister Vi, of course). Before any notes are played there are soft hums coming from a lot of the students, eyes closed and a handful seem to reach out and grasp at an invisible tether. Awkward looking - yes, but they are connecting on a deeper level in order to play together and some of them with instruments; a mandolin, shakers and tambourine. One of the students holds out a goblet drum to Brennia, it's a pearlescent black with a white intricate pattern adorning it which earns an odd look from Brennia, "Where did this come from?" The student shrugs and backs away so they may all test out the saxophone together. The song swells the space and sends out a happy feeling in the listener, but when it's Brennia's time to enter with the drum she didn't add her magic even though the drum itself was emphasizing the song on it's own somehow… Something odd about it, but only noticeable to her and maybe Alvina while it doesn't disrupt the song a magic energy was emitting softly from it. The joyous and beautiful song ends and Hinder is in happy tears while all of the college was in awe of his natural talent with it.
Wisax gave Alvina a simply. ”Pay no mind.” in an undertone and gave Brennia a simple nod. Immediately getting to work he stepped over to the appointed location and dropped to his knees. There he planted down the bronzed disc he was carrying under one arm and unfolded it with quick, well-practiced movements. Before long the disc formed a complex wire-structure circular pedestal of sorts from which sprouted four long, thin, arms that curved around to meet above and around the peak of the pedestal where Wisax placed a perfectly measured crystal ball he produced from a bag on his belt. After a moment of adjusting a few pieces and rotating the orb slightly, as if correcting it's facing, he rose to his feet again and gave Brennia and the others the 'go ahead' sign. For his own count, he simply stepped back and out of the way.
Alvina is still beaming, swaying to the song when the drum appears in Brennia’s hands. There is something about it that drowns out the rest of the music, beautiful as it was. Like it was whispering things, secret things that only they might know. An impulsive idea followed it’s appearance. The bard, in the middle of the group with no warning, steps off the stage and back down the archway. There’s something she needs to do and it has to be right this minute, no exceptions. It isn’t even her time, there wasn’t a need to add to the accompaniment but something moved her. Compelled her to search any and all classrooms she could find to locate an instrument to play. The idea of playing her flute came and went with no excitement. It didn’t work for this, no, no it had to be something else…something more. Several classrooms later, at the very end of the hall when there is nowhere else to go, the bard stops and turns back around. She makes her way out the front and out into the topiary garden in a mindless panic of someone looking for something lost. She reappears, a few minutes later with her hands covered in dirt…a sleek black violin case in her shaking fingers. She hasn’t opened the case but can feel the magic pulsing within it. A smile is painted on her lips but her hands tremble, watching from the back of the room while the song concludes itself. The case refuses to be sat down, so Alvina claps her praise for their harmony against her shoulder, trying to wipe the dirt off without arousing suspicions.
Brennia went to go hand the drum back to the student from whence it came, but she looked dumbfounded up at Brennia, "Here you can have it back." She said kindly with a smile, but it quickly became confusion when the student responded, "I am sorry Headmistress Smyth, that isn't mine… I don't even play drums." Well then, she smiles and nods to her before making her way over to Wisax. She waits for Evanescenz to finish her bowing before the crystal memory recorder device and goes to speak to him, but is cut off by the young bard student, "Did you see me Mister Vi? Wasn't I good?" She blatantly starts to flirt with the tinker mage making Brennia feel even smaller. She clears her throat softly before quickly saying a, "thank you, Mister Vi," bowing her head and leaving them to it. When Alvina came back she quirked a brow as she didn't even notice her disappear in the first place, "What've you got there?" She asks while walking her way over to the fellow bard.
Wisax had been standing by the recorder during the performance. Not that it needed any continuous input from him, but simply in case. It seemed like a natural station. Once the group started dispersing and he could infer by their actions the memory they wanted made was done, he dropped back to his knees to process the newly-carved crystal ball. When the two bards comes over, his attention remains on the device. ”Of course I saw.” a dismissive answer. But then, it was a foolish question. He was right there by the recorder. ”Quite.” but then, they were all good. That was the point, wasn't it? He gave Brennia a quick glance. ”You're welcome. But then, you are paying me.”
Alvina flinches when Brennia approaches to ask her about the case. She opened her mouth as if to answer but no words follow. “I don’t know…” She said, her voice pinched and panicked while still trying to hold her smile so no one else would know. The technology behind making the memory was fascinating, she wants to ask Mr. Vi about it but she can’t. Something is holding her in place. Alvina eyes Brennia’s drum, the same pearly black as the case in her hands. “I think it’s an instrument…” She walks away a few steps, letting groups of students pass her, keeping a careful emerald gaze on Brennia to make sure she’s following. “Will you stay beside me, make sure I’m not crazy…” Dirt had been pushed deep under the woman’s fingernails; it’s visible as she unlatches the case to reveal a perfectly black violin. It’s glossy, even it’s darkness. There are two pearl lines of etching breaking the dark pattern and matching opalescent tuning pegs beneath the scroll. She’s afraid to touch it, but also has to. Her dirt hands pluck the instrument from it’s case and she holds it out for Brennia to look over. To make sure she’s seeing it too. The woman even cranes her neck at Wisax, to see if he’s reacting to it as well.
Brennia moved with Alvina, but also couldn’t help glancing back to see if Wisax was free yet, but no. Evanescenz was twirling one of her locks of hair around her own finger and sort of -really- putting herself out there, "Oh, you flatter me Mister Vi." The young bard student was being a bit obnoxious with a giggle, "You should come to the Schezerade Tavern soon. A group of us are heading there now." Brennia felt her stomach sink and nearly rolled her eyes at the display, but her attention was stolen to the instrument Alvina was showing her with a sort of trance, "Oh…" She didn’t even realize she's been holding onto the drum this entire time and she wanted to put it down, but didn't want to at the same time. She held it up, though and compared how the instruments are decorated the same. When she strummed the string Brennia got goose bumps and instinctively struck the heart of the drum which sends out the same energy and power.
Wisax had excellent hearing. And was only listening to the young bard with half his attention. Not out of disrespect but simple habit. Suddenly, having heard the exchange between Alvina and Brennia, he craned his head upwards and rose to his feet. ”I likely won't have the time.” he told Evanescenz and handed her the memory. ”Here. You and your peers best review it, see if you're satisfied.” he looked back over to Alvina and Brennia. ”If you'll excuse me, those two seem to be having some trouble.” He said, thoughtfully, and began making his way over.
Alvina | Alvina’s eyes widened, a clear sign she felt the same power reverberating in her chest that Brennia had. Their mixed confusion only added to the tension about the instruments now in their possession. It felt…too powerful. A level beyond what Alvina knew. She wasn’t so much a bard as an Engineer and this felt like performing in front of a large audience; impossible. The dirt is noted, had it been there minutes before? She’s searching Brennia’s face, looking for mirrored unease and finding it. The man now approaching might be the best judge of their situation. He saw the instruments right? Did he feel their power? It was unlike, not that Alvina knew his prowess or skills but his calm expression told her he might not be feeling what they felt. “Brennia..” Alvina whispered into the space that contained the three, a star council. “Where did you get that drum?”
Brennia felt warmer when Vi came nearer. She was too distracted to get his answer to the bard he left who was now (a bit miffed) showing the small crowd of bards on the other side of their performance playing back for them from the crystal. Her wings fold closer and do their usual slight movements to preen for Vi, it was something she hadn't been able to help around him. Brennia searches Alvina's face right back, "I am not sure. I've not seen this in my castle before and one of the students handed this to me before the performance, but when I went to hand it back she looked at me like I had five heads." A light clearing of her throat as she felt she needed a drink of water just now as those large blue eyes look up at the near seven foot avian. "Your thoughts?" She glances back at Alvina, "Where are my manners… Alvina this is Wisax Wewiframe,' she butchered his name in her befuddlement around him, "or Vi. V-Vi this is Alvina." She was tucking the drum back to her curvy form as if it were precious, "Where did you find yours?" There was something about the patterns that she's seen before that she couldn’t place at the moment.
Wisax had, on his way over, grasped something on his belt and muttered an incantation or two. Protective wards just in case. ”You had probably best put those down.” he weighed in when Brennia explained where she'd gotten the drum. ”Clearly magical instruments appearing without explanation aren't usually harmless playthings.” he went on to alert them. It wasn't until he'd expressed that concern that he gave Alvina a half-bow half nod. ”Hello.”
Alvina blinked at Vi’s observation. He was right, they should put them down but… “I-I can’t.” She said, simply. “It’s important that I don’t though I don’t know why...” She side eyes the floor, looking away from the avian male as he greeted her. Hello. “H-hello.” She echoes, tremulous and searching Brennia as she clutched the drum likewise. “I-in the garden.” She didn’t need to say that she’d been compelled to dig it up from the ground. Her navy clothes were coated in a fine brown dust. Even her white boots appeared a cappuccino in the lighting. “Wisax Wiwiframe, hello.” The introduction is repeated, the bard’s mind is spinning too quickly to keep up. “I’m Alvina, Engineer for Frostmaw, Part of the Bard’s Guild, Associate of Brennia.” The additional titles felt necessary, to fill the space with words she recognized. Comfortable. “Maybe I should go…” She sighs, hovering nearby like a skiddish bird. Which was more dangerous? To leave or to stay in this foreign space? She trusted Brennia, the bit they knew of each other. “Is there somewhere in town I might stay? I…must just be tired from traveling.” It’s easier to lie to yourself than accept that fact something is afoot.
Brennia found herself looking at the drum again longingly. She can feel it's powers and she likes it, knows she shouldn't, but does anyway. "You're probably right." She can sense someone behind them, but she's too distracted to warn Evanescenz to -not- I repeat -do not- touch an avians wings without their permission because they usually don’t like it. Vi would feel a small soft hand caress down the silky feathers of his blonde wings with an expression of 'awe' in their beauty. Maybe he cant think Brennia did it, but he would easily see her hands were on the goblet drum. Brennia nodded to Alvina, "Of course. You must stay here." She instead and didn’t waste a second in handing over a key, "Zachael will have dinner in a few hours… Join us." Her large deep blue eyes locked to Avlina's emerald ones as if they were hypnotized by each other. All of these things she was saying to Alvina were more of a matter-of-fact thing than an offer or question. "Be seeing you." She said to Alvina and she looks up at Vi, "I um.. Need to relax… I'll be at The Hot Springs next door," She clears her throat again, "Not that you should come- I mean come if you want to." She was loosing a grip here and she was so done with being a bumbling idiot, "I'll be at that place." She goes to set the drum down, but decides against it and takes it to the spring with her.
Wisax seemed genuinely disturbed that they both acknowledged the danger and then proceeded to completely ignore it. This lead him to giving them both a piercing sort of glare. ”And that's exactly why it's -actually- important you put them away.” he affirmed. But found himself ignored. .. And distracted, as someone had decided to simply reach out and stroke one of his wings. He half-turned on the spot, looking sideways behind him to spot the would-be offender. ”Perhaps you'd best not play with other people's limbs like that? I suspect you wouldn't appreciate it if someone took it upon themselves to stroke your hair without asking.” he shot a glance to Brennia as she half-invited him to the hot springs and tottered off. Just like that. ... Disturbing.
Alvina takes the key after placing the Violin back in it’s black case. She nods to Brennia in agreement that they would indeed see each other soon. She stands by, awkwardly while Vi scolds Evanescenz for touching him, a frown on her face. It was rude to stare…she normally is more polite but he seemed intelligent. The bard wondered what secrets he kept, nothing more. The woman tries to force a smile, caught behind crimson curls at kiss her cheek. It fails. Her nerves are too strung out. “Pleasure meeting you, sorry to rush off and…you know. I’m sure it’s fine.” This comment aimed at their instruments. Everyone wants to believe they are the exception to the rules. Impervious to danger or stupidity. “Very cool work, with the orb. Maybe we can talk sometime about it…” The room wobbled, at least to Alvina it did, causing her to push her hand out to stabilize on the archway. “Very long trip…” She whispered to herself, heading off in a random direction, in search of a room.