RP:To Lift and Protect You

Summary: Titans of Winter Tournament Semi-Finalist Demeter pays Alvina a visit at her office in Frostmaw Towers to request an armor piece for the upcoming fight against Shishi. They are able to build an interesting new item as well as a budding friendship.

Frostmaw Towers

This four story concrete office building stands just outside the marketplace against the snow painted backdrop of Frostmaw’s frigid landscape. A row of benches lines each side of the walkway leading to the multiple doors controlling the flow of traffic in and out of the building. In the lobby, you’ll be greeted by various front desk clerks behind magically reinforced glass asking for your name or what business you’re visiting. Upon approval, you’re issued an identification badge and ushered through the gates. Employees in other lines simply hold up their badges and pass through in neat, orderly lines. Behind the clerk’s desks, the space opens into a more active and friendly environment. The first level boasts a myriad of little eateries and food shops looped around benches and tables for patrons to stop and rest. The low buzz of conversation and activity is constant. On either side of the food court are two large, concrete staircases. A plastered list of each floor and each floor’s businesses listed beside them. A colorfully decorated sign reminds employees of the business’s on site child care services. The first floor houses the food court, day care and a variety of small souvenir shops. The second and third floors house independent contractors who rent offices for their wide range of specialty services. The fourth floor is reserved specifically for officials and royal appointed members on Frostmaw’s payroll, such as Frostmaw’s Royal Blacksmith, Engineer or Stewarts.

Frostmaw Towers, 4th floor

Demeter needed something to protect her wings without taking up a hand to hold a shield, she needed her hands for fighting. Wings could be used for protection, even weapons, aid in casting. Last two battles within the titans of war tournament her wings took damage. Mostly from her first time, which had caused more damage in the second round. At least most of the stitches were gone, leaving behind a bare spot on the spine of the wing where it was harmed. Her shoulder is still healing from Jinfeng’s blade. Armor was off getting cleaned and polished, ready for her epic fight against the running champion. Demeter’s nose crooked from being broken more than she could count, figuring no point in repairing it when she is a warrior. Scars cascade along her face, one along her eye which has caused blindness. As per-usual the avian wore black leather tunic, wolf fur pelt cloak to keep from freezing and ice developing upon feathers. Black leather leggings with daggers placed along the calf of each. Asking on her way to meet with a blacksmith, rumor had it that she could do exactly what she wanted. If needed, Demeter could practice her control over fire, assisting Alvina to get it done today. Clock was ticking, the battle drawing near. The avian was nonstop training out at the warrior guild, even got a personal healer. An avian healer, knowing full well she would need it after her battle with Shishi. Moving to where she hoped would be someone in this place that could tell her where to go. “I am looking for Mrs Alvina, where can I find her?” The cheerful women smiled, replying. “Fourth floor.” Pointing to the sign to see which office and which floor for further verification. Giving a nod, the tall avian moved. Reading the sign, memorizing the location before she set off. Moving to the fourth floor, and to where the office was located. Giving a knock before entering, “Here to see Mrs. Alvina.”

Alvina’s tucked behind her desk when the knock comes. “Come in!” She calls, “It’s unlocked!” Inside the small office is a modest desk, large window overlooking more snow white landscape, two chairs for visitors in front of the desk and a neat basket of glass water bottles. Her desk is covered in inky blueprints, various colored quills and empty coffee mugs. A few items of her design hang on the walls to showcase her abilities and help inspire any who might stumble into her office with their requests. In addition to the practical functionality of her weapons and inventions, it’s clear the Engineer takes pride in the aesthetics of the pieces. Some bardic habits never die. She stands to greet the avian that enters with a smile of recognition. Alvina’s hair is pulled up in a formal, tight bun. She is wearing a white sleeveless ribbed knit sweater, complimented by a smart knee length skirt, indicative of work attire. It is not her usual boring navy dress and cloak but the meetings today required something more professional of her. A lot of projects to coordinate the staff. “Welcome, welcome!” She says, ushering Demeter inside before reaching out a hand to shake her guests. “What an honor, I had the pleasure of watching your match with Dawn?” She struggled to recall Inks’ titled name for the match. “Absolutely stunning.” Fan girl gushing aside, she points to the bottles of water in case Demeter wished to partake. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Demeter moved inwards after she heard someone speak to, ‘come in.’ Her good eye darting around, making sure no threats within, once seeing this was an ordinary office her wings slouched showing she was not on guard. Pulling the draw string to the clock, draping it of her left shoulder. Eyeing the blueprint on the desk as she got closer, looking up to Alvina. Surely this wasn’t the blacksmith, she was beautiful and didn’t seem like the type that could swing a hammer. Demeter extends her hand, grasping Alvina’s forearm giving it a squeeze and a shake. “Dawn is a mighty combatant, she earned my respect, one day I will take her out for a drink to make sure no hard feelings.” Tilting her head in direction she points, “No thank you, I should drink more water. I prefer the hard stuff.” Pointing to her wings, “I need armor for them, Dawn messed me wing up. I keep reinjuring it, I need my hands free for fighting. I also would like them to be not just me shield but a weapon too. Just not armor that would make it difficult to fly. I want your mark upon it, so everyone will know who did me the honor of this. If it is possible.”

Alvina nods with understanding. “Shouldn’t we all.” She was particularly bad about coffee in place of water. Dehydrated but functional. “It was one hell of a fight.” The smell of blood and fire felt fresh to her lycan nose. At Demeter’s mention of her wings, Alvina leans to the side to see the damage of the fight she’d witnessed. It did appear to be struggling with it’s healing. She scrunches her nose thoughtfully. “I’m well versed with Avian wings and attachments.” Her mind whirls around possible metals strong enough to act as weapons and armor without weighing her down a substantial amount. “I have some left over pieces of a wing project I did a couple years ago.” When she’d build wings from scratch for an Avian whose wings were completely removed. “What kind of damage do you want the weaponized portion to do? I can easily tuck a sharpened layer in the middle, so it won’t cause issues when your wings aren’t outstretched.” No accidental injuries. Her powers also revolved around fire…if Alvina remembers correctly, so she’ll need to make sure it can sustain high temperatures. At her remark about adding her mark, Alvina gives her a grateful smile. “I’d be honored to help and leave my mark. Your use of it will be honorable, to know my work is functioning properly.” It would be an interesting project, but she could complete it today if Demeter had a bit of time to invest. Alvina pulls a blank piece of blueprint paper from a drawer in her desk and flattens it over the others. “May I?” She asks, pointing to see Demeter’s wings more closely and take measurements for the design.

Demeter ’s pale pink lips formed a slight grin for a brief moment, “Yes, yes it was. I normally would have finished them by knocking them unconscious but she earned my respect. I wanted to make sure she would get a healer, so after I helped her up I left.” Brow narrows only slightly when Alvina looks upon the wings, lifting them up and slowly outwards so she can get a better look. “I was thinking maybe some blades that dangle in the shape of feathers, so when I spin or flick my wings just right the blades will graze skin causing slicing even better if ripping pieces of skin but not enough to get stuck?” She was brainstorming and trusting this female of the trade to know exactly what to do. “Not injuring myself would be ideal, I just can’t have so much weight that I can’t fly back or take off if and when needed. I went to some blacksmith in another city, they said it wasn’t doable but if anyone could it be you. Also, won’t melt from using fire.” Giving a nod as she points to her wings, “Go ahead, if need to touch you may.”

Alvina nods, the wheels in her mind turning with Demeter’s suggestions and her own preliminary calculations. Blades that dangle like feathers. She liked it. It was smart and efficient. “If we make the sides of the feathers sharp, they shouldn’t knick you while you wear them. They’ll only be dangerous when you spin them.” She hums thoughtfully, hovering her hands around the parts of her wings she can reach without touching them. Alvina can’t imagine how weird it must feel to have someone touch your wings. Of course, she’d have to before the day was out. “I’m flattered they recommended me.” She grins, scribbling rough notes on the paper along with a crude sketch of the finer details they needed to capture. “We can make a locking mechanism so they’ll stay in place during a fight, without melting, but can be easily removed.” Alvina loved little puzzles like this. After a brief silence spent hovering over the blueprint, the engineer nods, seemingly satisfied. “Okay, I think I’ve got a rough idea of what we need to start. My workshop is across the hall if you’ll come with me?” Since Demeter is closer to the door, she’ll gesture for the avian to leave first. Once they slip out of the office, she’ll lead them to the locked door on the other side. Behind the door is a much larger space than the office. It’s littered with various tools and grease stained clothes. Organized chaos. Alvina moves to a cabinet to sort through sheets of material left over from Irenic’s surgery. She pulls them out, the stack looking heavy but she carries it without difficulty despite her size. “Would you try to heat this to see if it withstands it?” It -should- but should wasn’t always the case. They couldn’t start until they had something that could take the blazing heat the avian wields. She unlocks another cabinet before coming back to watch how the metal handles the test.

Demeter ’s lip did not move, but her eyes showed the joy that Alvina was following the idea she had in her mind. Even more when Alvina called it smart, if Demeter loses a weapon she would have her wings until she could collect it. Not doubting her opponent for one second. “You’re the best in this area. I want to show everyone else that you are, I support women that make their way in these lands without needing a man to help them achieve such. One could say I like empowering other women.” The idea of a locking mechanism sounded fun, even better for them to stay in place. “I’ll come with you, if I need extra heat I can supply it.” Demeter gives a wink. Moving out first, and then following Alvina. Looking around at the collection of items, eyes moving back to Alvina. Listening to her request, raising her left hand up as flames spark and dance along her fingertips. Closing her hand into a fist, the flames become one, growing in length. Outstretching her arm, as the flames move like a snake. Slithering through the air to wrap around the piece of metal she wanted her to test. Eyes became pupiless as the flame grew in heat until it was a blue-white.

Alvina stays as close as she dared to the fire. She pulled a pair of protective eyewear from the unlocked cabinet before stepping forward. Demeter’s control of her fire was impressive and from the structure of the metal it looked to be holding well. It was times like these Alvina missed having a metal arm to touch scolding hot or dangerous things. In leu of that, she waves to signal a break in the test and approaches once the flame was extinguished to examine the metal more efficiently. “Women really do need that kind of support. There’s too much competition between women specifically to accomplish similar goals.” She grins in acknowledgement of Demeter’s words about empowering other women. “So it’s a pleasure to work together like this.” The idea that one woman had to tear another down to appear ‘better’ was difficult to stomach. It was a twisted culture that could stand revamping and Demeter seemed to stand firmly in the same camp. With a pair of heavy pliers in fire proof gloves, Alvina attempts to bend presumably still in the avian’s hand. It holds well, showing weak points only in the hottest spot. But that could be useful for the feathered portions. She imagined the possibility of some of the feathers being made to melt, potentially scolding opponents during spin attacks…but to be safe, they’ll add a double layer for the clasps that connect the armor to Demeter. Better to err on the side of caution. “How does the weight of that feel?” It wasn’t weightless but it also wasn’t platemail. She would still be able to fly with minimal adjustments. “I might add a couple lighter pieces to the feathers. The blades would stay intact, but a little purposeful heat could melt bits to use in a more range based capacity. I don’t have to but if you’d like.” Tournaments were tricky and though Alvina wasn’t a fighter, she’d seen her fair share of battles and saves that relied on a healthy mix of skill and chance.

Demeter caught out the corner of her eye the wave ceased, pulling it back and the flame leaving with a single roll of smoke, leaving out into any crack that pulled it through. “Did the metal seem to hold up to standard?” She knew nothing of metal work and the like, as far as she could see with an untrained eye it did well. “Very much a pleasure to work with you, and any others when I can get the chance. I prefer to work with women than men, I have a hard time trusting them. Easy to do when men around you belittle and literally want your head. It is why I left my former homeland, I was gaining strength and threatened my uncle’s stance. My skills were getting close to matching his. Plus, the curse. A cursed avian is called a lamashtian, at least the type of curse my blood line has, if my uncle has it, he hides it away well.” Curious eyes watched the pair of pliers and gloves, when asked how the item felt she lifted it up and down. “Decently weight.” Pausing, “You could make it where I could melt some of the feathers and toss melted metal on the one I am fighting?” If she could, she could use that if they get too close. “I am fighting Shishi now, so anything that helps him stay back will help.”

Alvina confirms the question with a nod. “Just has to be a different density.” The bard listens intently as Demeter shares her story. “That’s what started this career path. I was tricked and kidnapped by a man, sold into slavery to another man…Being powerless, relying on people meant to use you for their own gain.” She shakes her head, soft red curls bouncing, “Never again.” A cursed avian is called a lamashtian. Alvina'd also been cursed once. Her new curse of lycanthropy was self inflicted. What a small world they lived in. She didn’t have any family feuds, her mother dead and her father living elsewhere. “A curse?” She asks, opening the door for Demeter to say more if she so wished. “At the Champion’s name, she nodded gravely. “He’s a very difficult opponent. Working with shadows. Hopefully the metal from the armor can reflect enough light to dispel his shadow work. Though, to be truthful, I don’t remember much about how he fights.” She doesn’t know if normal light or even flame could break whatever darkness Shishi controlled. While she listens, Alvina starts to separate the sheets she’d pulled from the cabinet before. She flattens it, marking a path for rivets. The piles were divided based on density, so the mix could be purposeful. “Your fire should help the process along.” She’d use a high temperature rivet for the path, so her heat would help fuss the metals together without making it too stiff.”

Demeter ’s body tensed at the thought of someone kidnapping such a kind person, “Exactly, never again. Plus I have gotten so strong that I scare the weak away, I don’t have time for romance. I am busy working on myself. I don’t even know the first thing about flirting, never been on a date. My love is my blades and gaining strength not just that but control too. When my emotions or temper gets the best of me, I have a hard time controlling my fire. Magik told me to find what helps hold it together, turns out it is my friends. My friends are what keep my feet steady, ever since the chaos flames do not seek to destroy everything around. Before, in wars that was what we wanted. Our flames scream out and burn everything to ash. Here, I need to not do that. It took time to adjust to everything here. I still am. One would call my kind of avian a barbian, or savage. We were the warriors, the strongest army. If you had gone against you, you knew death was coming with us.” Back to Shishi, “I have only seen him fight once, but I had to leave. All I know is he is a vampire, vampires are weak to fire. You say he plays with shadows, if we can get the armor to reflect light with aid of my flames then I will be lucky. If he uses shadows similar to dawn then I know to listen closely, and focus on how the wind moves even bounces off of anything close by. I was trained blindfolded at times, so we harnessed this ability.” Moving in behind Alvina, offering her forearm to her so he may move her arm the way she needed the heat. Like before the flames appeared, sparking with blue-white ready to heat up even more when she needed the hottest flame she could push out.

Alvina’s face softens as Demeter explains her path. She’s busy working on herself, scaring the weak (no doubt men are safely in this category) and finding love in self control and prowess. It was really admirable. She speaks of friends being the tether to sanity and the bard can’t help but agree. Her friends had always held her down when she felt chaotic and lost. Even the most powerful woman needed allies to survive the world. It filled Alvina’s heart with determination. Demeter’s views resonated with her. Being a Lycan, she also had to control her destructive impulses and urges. People had suffered from her lack of self control. It was another thing she’d added to her own ‘never again’ list. Meri’s forgiveness about having turned her into a werewolf helped Alvina stay herself. Forgiveness had it’s own power. She takes a step back, arching the path Demeter would need to take her flame along. A brief flash, just enough so the bard can pick up the metal and bend it to a shape fitting her wings. It was a rough draft that would be fine tuned. “I’ll be sure to polish it brightly to help.” Alvina also had a bad habit of absorbing the emotions of people near her. Not intentionally but her attentiveness often amplified what she felt. With Demeter’s words at her back, Alvina felt indestructible at her side. Maybe they could be friends, to support each other as women. Melt bent to the top of Demeter’s wings, Alvina pulls the plates to the table to start the process of attaching clamps. “It might take me the rest of the day to fit and piece the feathers together with different thicknesses but if you tell me where I can send it, I’ll get it to you as soon as possible. I want it to be perfect for you.” A good intermix of melting feathers that don’t impede the blades. Her children would be okay, with Marge there with them. They were used to her working late these days anyway. It proved a healing and distracting practice.

Demeter obeyed and moved her flame in the direction needed, and however long she needed it there. “Thank you, Mrs. Alvina. This means so much, if I didn’t have my wings I wouldn’t know what to do. When I fly, it is like nothing. The air smells better, feels smoother. Utterly feeling of true freedom.” With a gentle sigh as the beautiful art of making something so personal, she felt more ready to fight Shishi. “Warrior’s guild headquarters, I have been training there every day to try to get my muscles ready and practice dropping my shoulder when taking a hit to not damage the muscles and tendons still healing.” Giving Alvina the best smile she could, without looking scary. “This means a lot, if you ever need anything do never hesitate to send it to me. Even just for hunting, or need a quick flight, even just someone to drink with.”

Alvina is envious of that ability. To fly. Irenic had talked much of it as well. How he’d missed it. It was what inspired them to try and remake his wings after so long without them. She folds and cuts one of the feathers and examines it carefully before looking back at Demeter. She wasn’t afraid. She felt the avian meant her no harm. If she’d wanted to, she could have crushed or threatened her well before now. Appearances mean oh so little. “Don’t tempt me, I’ll take you up on all three.” She waits a beat, looking between the work already started and the woman she was working for. Alvina was working for both of their sakes and she’d do her very best to make them both proud. “I’ll send it straight away and if you need any feathers replaced after melting or any adjustments after it’s arrived, I’ll come by any time.” She reaches her arm out again, to shake in a promising fair well of future adventures. “I will be cheering for your victory.”

Demeter reaches with her hand not ignited to pluck a feather from her wing, placing it in Alvina hair as a sign of respect and a hopefully promise of friendship. “Tempting you, tempting you even more. After this tournament is over I will be back to hunting and traveling from tavern to tavern. Trying to memorize every location of each city to help when I am up high so I will know which way to go and if there is a shorter way that can be taken.” Taking the hand and shaking it, “I hope to see you before, if not I will look forward to seeing your face in the audience.” If Alvina was done with her help she would head out, looking for a beast to fight.

Alvina lets the feather rest in her hair with a wide smile. “I will definitely be there before the fight to make sure the clasps work as intended and that the fit is right!” She’d never leave such a thing to chance. Especially not for her friends.