RP:Tripping Face AKA Déclenchement
This is a Bard's Guild RP.
Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc
Summary: Hudson watches as his client tests his 'herbal refreshment' before his very eyes and begins to, "Trip Face" or something. He gets dosed himself and it's a big mess, really. He's made quite the powerful friend, though.
The Messaging Service
Wherever Hudson will be found "licking his wounds" this creature could find anyone, odd little thing really. I mean he's not entirely 'little', but you get the point. Brennia leaves herself out of lovers quarrels and makes it clear to those she gets involved with that they are not the only one, as to avoid drama in the future. Enough of where Brennia's loyalties lie, the large and pristine White Winter Owl swoops in whatever establishment through any window or not at all, be it the poor lad is outside sleeping somewhere. Yeah, so what it's early and Hudson is probably trying to sleep off a hangover this owl, Whoolio, is just trying to do his job. He would land on a surface nearest Hudson and drop the letter addressed to "The Sir", spinning his head around for good measure before letting out a soft "Hoo…" Waddling away the Owl searches for something on the surface as if expecting something before settling his unnerving orange stare on the recipient. Once Hudson stopped being a lazy dud and opened the letter, he would read in simple, yet elegant writing:
Merry Greet The Sir,
I am sure your time is valuable and I hope this letter finds you well. It was been a week since our encounter and I am curious on your progress with our special tea. I have found myself a little occupied at the moment with trying to schedule plays and performances the like, while opening up my home as a college; having to see over the repairs at every turn… Mindless brutes. I digress, shall you find yourself under Schezerade come on up and show me what you've found. These are the directions from The Dancing Destrier:
1e, 2s, 1w, 1s, 1u, 3n, 1e, 1s, 1e, 1s, 1e, 2n
Make yourself welcome as I am sure my chef, Zachael, will greet you if I am not there.
Blessed Be,
Miss Smyth.
P.S. If Whoolio has not bothered to leave you yet, just toss him a treat and he will fly back home.
Smyth College of Bardic Arts
Main Hall
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 room 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.
Hudson |You know who's really into Schezerade? Hudson's metal-winged horse, Cleopatra, who's now being pampered by one of the many people on Brennia's staff. Hudson's kicking himself for mistaking the woman for a stripper, evidently she's a big deal. This is some castle she's got here, Hudson, if he's honest, is a little into Schezerade. Should he have dressed up? He's let inside and greeted by Zachael, who seems unimpressed by Hudson's track suit. Or maybe that's just Hudson being a touch self-conscious. (Hudson hadn't really expected that she lived in a literal castle...) He's told to wait, so he kindly does, sinking into one of her sofas and flipping through a baseball magazine to kill the time, since phones/Candy Crush don't exist yet.
Brennia and Eloni emerge down the stairs. Two very lovely looking dark skinned Avians one tan with white pristine wings and Brennia's mixed tone with onyx shaded wings compliment the her other half. It is obvious they just got done with some strenuous activity as they walk hip to hip in holding each other while idly trying to smooth down their own hair, blushing and when they reach the bottom the titanium Avian armor clad warrior six foot eight woman leaned down to place a loving kiss on Brennia's forehead where her tattoos meet her black roots. A soft smile for Eloni came over Brennia's soft shapely lips as she raised to her tip toes to place a kiss on the woman's lips before they force themselves away from the other. Brennia smoothes the flowing simple sapphire statin cocktail dress she has on when Zachael approached Brennia speaking in their French sounding native tongue and those large blue eyes spot Hudson in a sofa, probably checking out the many bards living in the castle and practicing on their hand held instruments. Her glidesque saunter brings her closer to the Lycan and he would pick up his favorite scent again before that ever sultry tone commands attentions, "Sir, I'm happy to see Whoolio found you in good health." She motions for the man to stand and walk with her, "As of now my Whine Cellair is being transformed into the Dormitory for the Bards Guild members looking for a home... But it hasn't been completed yet, so let's go pick our poison while we commence our meeting."
Whine Cellair
Traversing your way around and around in the winding staircase might leave you a little apprehensive to step onto the glass floor at the bottom, as it looks void of solidity and gives you the feeling of flying over the clouds that drift through Hollow. This cellar is fully stocked with any wine you could imagine from Chardonnay to Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel; all bottles neatly tucked into diamond shaped nooks which are carved into these golden walls and a plethora of racks. It is a beauty to behold, but if you wandered down here on the false promise that there are mountains of gold below by reason of the illumination, then you are sadly mistaken. The room is only clad in a thin layer of gold. Find what you please and if it's harder drink you seek I would recommend the cabinet with the alchemical snake above it holding extra stilled scotch with light citrus, brine and smoky sweetness on the tongue. Maybe try the cabinet with the dragon depicted above it containing specially crafted whisky offering a rich burst of flavor, with a palate of soft honey and deliciously nutty toffee (strong stuff here, I do not recommend to those faint of heart.) Possible vampire? Try the bureau with the image of a bat offering many liquors with rare types of bloods mixed in them, I would recommend steering clear of the brandy in this one though. Pay no mind to the Osmium shackles attached to a desolate corner of the cellar, you don't want to try them out, do you? Venturing deeper through the maze of wine racks and beer casks until you come across deep purple drapes with a golden willow tree and air symbol sewn into the fabric, for it's an enchantress's corner to dabble in her apothecary. Here you will find a myriad of any and every ingredient known to all Hollowites, rarity no issue, but the glamorous sight of all the decadent potion bottles against the golden cellar may entice one to give any a try to just see what might happen…. I dare you.
Pair of Osmium Shackles is here.
Hudson manages to concentrate on his baseball magazine despite the bards milling about here. There's a hush that falls over the room, timed with the sound of foot fall on the stairs. Hudson, looking up, is surprised to find that Brennia isn't alone. She has a female companion. He curls the magazine into itself, sitting upright against the back of the sofa and watching with (polite) interest as the women kiss one another and part ways. Is that how it is? Maybe he should have guessed -- women with a lot of tattoos... He puts his magazine into the backpack he'd brought with him and stands to greet Brennia, as she has glided over in his direction. "Not sure about good health, but, indeed I got your message," he responds to her, donning a rueful smile but nonetheless canting his head respectfully. He threads the backpack over his shoulder and falls into step beside her. "It's five o'clock somewhere," he jokes, descending alongside the avian into the luxuriously appointed cellar. "Your place is amazing," he remarks, trying not to openly gawk - he'd grown up rich, but not like THIS - at his surroundings. She's got some expensive stuff here, a variety of things he's never sampled ... and a pair of shackles over in a corner, alright, let's not stare too long and invite awkward conversation. He opts to not suggest beer, because she's a Lady, and honestly while his tastes are pedestrian (think Coors Light), he can be a chameleon for a second. "Cab is good," he says, looking through the vintages she's got. "You pick one, I'm not fussy. This entire place is going to be a dorm?"
Brennia furrows a brow at his comment as they pass the kitchen and she asked something in that language to Zachael and he responds. Her expression returned concerned on him, "Not in good health?" She seemed to hum in an open for him to divulge if he wishes it to be and she folds her wings close to her curves to allow the man next to her comfortable room. Brennia made no remark or face from Hudson's outfit for she doesn't care and when they reached the cellar a few bards are already down there having a good time until they spot the avian causing a hush to come over them. "Somstrus day, lovelies. Please excuse us?" They offer a short bow and the male bard passes Hudson with a mumble of, "Beware The Raven." Brennia of course heard this but said nothing as she pulled a very dark and dry Cabernet from the wine rack before she opened what we'd refer to as an ice box freezer of sorts to pull out a large frosted crystal mead mug dawning a golden handle. "Further back here," she moves far away from the shackles to large beer/mead casks, many of them. Once Hudson catches up through the maze of racks and shelves she held out the frosted drinking mug to him, "have at it." She dangles the wine bottle before him, "But if your heart is set on Cabernet... Be my guest." She gets herself a goblet for her wine before clearing her throat, "Excuse me all you talented vessels and staff. If you would please keep from the bottom floor until further notice I would appreciate it. Your head mistress, Miss Smyth." The message sounded as if it were said through a PA system, but she merely used her bardic magic to throw her voice all over the grounds. She slowly slipped from her goblet, "Yes. The bards are traveling folk without a home, but I want to be there for those just learning of their talent and nurturing it to life, but I am sure you did not come here to gawk... What have you got for me thus far?" A tilt of her head causes long wavy black hair to cascade about her waist.
Hudson assumes the Raven is some house pet of Brennia's. He hates birds. "Going through some personal stuff," he says to Brennia. Put that way, it sort of sounds like his mum's dying or something. He tells everyone a different story. Since Brennia's a business connection he wants her to believe his trouble is personal only in nature. If he'd been speaking to a personal friend he might blame work. The truth is there's trouble everywhere, his worlds have collided. He follows Brennia further into the maze of booze to check out a very impressive mead collection. "Way to read a man's heart. Don't mind if I do," after some perusal he kneels to fill his goblet with the contents of a cask of what appears to be ye olde fancy microbrew. He smirks into the announcement she seemingly sends throughout the house. It indeed wouldn't do to have half the bardic population crashing into this business meeting. Straightening, he bumps his glass against hers, drinks. "I think I created something a little too... well you'll see," he says, thumbing away the foam left from his drink before sliding the backpack off of his shoulder. He digs into it to pick out a small eye dropper bottle, which he hands over to Brennia. "I am pretty sure it's very concentrated," he warns her. "Like five drops should be the max, that's one hell of an experience."
Brennia doesn't care the reason, but she does offer, "Stuff... hm. Stuff can be quite stressful and if you ever need to take a few days off you are more than welcome to visit for a little vacation." Hudson would notice that no sound reaches down here and it can be assumed that's how all the rooms are. She chuckles shortly, "Yes, men are quite easy to read." She would offer a playful wink as she meets their glasses in a little toast. "Oh?" She asked intrigued when she is handed the eye dropper and examining it closely. She places her drink down on a nearby surface while unscrewing the bottle, "Will you be able to help if something goes wrong?" She hesitated only for a moment as the enchanted ink she has might not entirely go over well. She doesn't really have time to work out another way so she just throws her head back softly while holding one of those blue eyes open and the other drops like three servings into her eye. She quickly screwed the bottle back together ands set it down while blinking a few times, "It... tickles? My eye?" She leaned on a nearby sturdy shelf as the drug hit quite quickly and everything for her went dark. Slowly the ink on her seemed to slither off her supple caramel skin, it was odd to see her without ink, still very stunning but something seemed to be missing from such a beauty. She slowly sink to the glass floor while her wings slumped to either side of her and when she looked up to Hudson she giggled at him, what a rare sound from a well composed woman. Then she looked that The Raven taking form next to him which mimicked Brennia without the wings looking almost like a drow and scowling at Hudson. Brennia giggled harder before placing a hand over her mouth, "Oops, Countess is not allowed to laugh or have fun, Countess has the Island to run." She spoke the riddle from when she was growing up and she waved up at Raven, "Hi Raven." She said in a sing song voice and The Raven has yet to make a move.
Hudson has noticed that it's rather quiet down here, an unsettling realization when you consider the shackles just chilling over in a corner. "That's nice of you," he says regarding her offer that he stay. She plainly has lots of company here, what's one more. She's of course proceeding with full speed ahead into trying the product. "Well, I mean, n- ..." he sucks air between his teeth, watching her go on and just dropper the stuff right into her eye. There isn't exactly an antidote, the antidote is passage of time. What happens next happens very quickly. The drug must have taken effect, because her ink has melted off of her body, become something else entirely. A copy of her, just created of darkness. The Raven - he recalls that name - it's not a pet bird then. It's this other half. Even in a world where magic reigns supreme it almost can't be believed. He feels suddenly paranoid - did HE take his OWN drug? He didn't, right? Nothing else has changed! He offers Brennia, the nice version, his hand to help her back upright. "Tell me what you're seeing, please," he says to her, not sure whether he should acknowledge the Raven, because what if it's just him?
Brennia is helped up and carelessly uses poor Hudson for support, his favorite scent off her even stronger for it and she rests her head on his shoulder as if they've been the best of friends for eons of time. "I'm seeing The Raven, dummy." Another short giggle with a whisper, "Isn't she gorgeous with those green eyes like emeralds and the silver looking wings... Of course hair to match." Whatever she was seeing was not the Raven before him, "She used to be quite famous and powerful." A sad sigh came over her as she got really close this time to whisper, "But someone sent her away." The Ravens hands ball into fists at her sides as if angered by something, but Brennia continued while placing her head back on Hudson's shoulder, "She was the talk of Island Vere. She could snap your neck with three simple notes if she wanted. Every man wanted to be with her and every woman wanted to be her." A wide and brilliant smile showed off her perfect pearly whites and poked dimples in her cheeks, could convince fish to buy water if she wanted. Now she was looking at Hudson with a childlike twinkle in her eye, "Sayyy, have you ever flown before?" The Raven scoffs before her raspy whisper of a voice seemed to take over the whole room, "You'd drop the mutt!" She sends out a hand and shoves Brennia back down to the glass floor before rounding on Hudson, "How long is -this- supposed to last?!" A glare able to send chills down his soul looked through him.
Hudson puts an arm around Brennia's waist to support her since she's just curling up on him uninvited like a cat. Well, all things considered, that's mildly endearing. And! She still smells great. A guilty pang follows, even though, technically, he's off the proverbial leash and there's nothing going on here anyway really besides a woman who's rambling out of her mind. Ugh, jagged thought. "Definitely gorgeous," he agrees about the Raven. He very calmly drinks from his beer goblet (so ridiculously fancy), and ponders what the next several hours are going to look like. The plan had been 'drop product off, arrange next meeting, peace out,' not 'babysit woman tripping face off.' Perhaps they shouldn't have started this trip of hers in her (kinda creepy) wine cellar but here they are. He's not sure if ditching the super rich lady client in this state is polite or good business. Probably neither. He's not sure he feels so great about the proposal between the two Brennias that they go flying, on drugs, and before he can answer and politely decline, the Raven has pushed Brennia to the ground again. "Hey," he says to her in the parental disapproval tone. "Like a couple hours. Be nice," he can't believe he's talking to it. The purported Raven. He puts his beer on a ledge and crouches beside Brennia - the nice one. "You good?" he asks her. He's not sure if he should acknowledge the Raven, to what extent she's real. "Should I do something, Bre -- Miss Smyth -- about the Raven?"
Brennia smoothes her hand through Hudson's hair, "Raven says mean things… You are no mutt." She cutely giggled again and he may realize she was more or less 'petting' the lycan. She lazily looks up at The Raven with an admiring smile, "She is where I get my powers and she lends me immense strength… But the sad thing is she cannot live without me… She's worried that she might fizzle out." She took her caress away from Hudson making some odd gesture and a raspberry noise with her mouth. She shrugs like some innocent child, "I am not sure… I think she's figured it out that if she exerts too much energy by herself she's done for." She was slowly standing up before narrowing those large blue eyes on The Raven, their noses nearly touching, "Idn't that right, bitch." Is Hudson really about to watch a girl fight?! Eh, maybe not, The Raven just stands there glaring back. Brennia rounded on Hudson now with a happy gasp, "The way her frame curves could bend you out of shape and your head spins from how well she plays the game. Oh, but you want her just the same just to scream her name. When she walks in a room or opens her pretty lips all that is said is sex, sex, sex." Each word dripped from her sultry tone as it seemed she was able to conjure up some catchy tune about lust and she sort of sways her hips in tandem with some imaginary beat. She pulls Hudson in for a tight hug while taking a deep breath, "You smell weird…"
Hudson | Brennia's behavior makes relative sense - and is indeed endearing - given the mental state she's in. Hudson feels pride for having created such a quality product. And Brennia! She'd been so snotty with him at The Office, now all she wants to do is pet his hair. How the mighty have fallen! Hudson doesn't blame her, really, though. Some men go bald, he did not, and in fact has great hair. (Great beard, too.) "Is that so? I've never seen anything like it myself," he comments, as Brennia stops stroking his hair and pushes herself to her feet. He rises after her, keeping an arm in spotting position in case she feels like flopping to the ground again. What an unexpected development it is that she should pivot into him, and, after seemingly quoting some saucy literature, press her body against his. He puts his arms around her, so she doesn't go limp and fall and hurt herself. OK, this is maybe as hard as baby sitting his daughters. HELP. He's being menaced by an attractive woman on drugs. It's complicated by the fact that she definitely wouldn't be all over him while sober, and that she's also a potential business partner. (Maybe he should have imbibed, though, he's thinking.) "UHhhhhhhh, yeah, that's probably just my deodorant," he agrees. He rubs her on the back, as if she were emotional and needed soothing. "Maybe you should lie down," he suggests, literally deciding to hold her hand because it's making him nervous, moving around like its got Plans. "I keep worrying you'll fall if you stand. Let's uh, I'll lie down with you? Let go -- Miss Smyth -- if you lie down, I promise we can cuddle that way too. I'm very warm. Yes, right here's a good spot to lie down. You're an emotional tripper, aren't you," he observes.
Brennia shrugs the man off before lifting her wine glass and taking a sip, "Now, now. I'm just getting started and inspired. They say write what you know! I know… Women," All the while she was sort of swaying and twirling about, luckily her cellar was build with her in mind and her wings and hair fan out around her beautifully. She almost looks like she could put most men in a trance, "I mean. I know men, too…" She winks at Hudson over her shoulder, "But they are just so easy. So predictable." She lazily saunters away in showing off her best asset, "I could write of flight. It's so freeing. Or how the seas back home were so clear you can see the bottom." Her sing song voice was enchanting before her dancing and twirling feet brought her before the man once more, "I see clear right now… I mean pain and love stories a plenty, but there are no good songs performed about just lust itself… Everyone's got a painful love story… Everyone." Those large oceanic blue eyes seem to stare right through him as if waiting for him to share. A long awkward pause would be left if he didn't answer or share with her and eventually she would look down at his mug, "C'mon drink up!" She gently taps the bottom of his mug to raise it to his lips while she does the same with her wine glass.
Hudson waits for Brennia to fall but she doesn't. Right now, at least. She does seem to be rather gay (pun intended) at the moment, he's a little jealous. If only his mood were that good, right now or in general. He reaches for his beer goblet and drinks as she twirls around. He may be well behaved enough to behave like a gentleman but he's not above not stealing glances at her figure. She's rambling endearingly - beautiful voice, it makes sense that she's a bard - and he finds it a little surprising when she seems to hone in on him, as if sensing what he's hiding. "I do indeed have a painful love story, you are correct," he agrees, since that seems to be what she wants from him. Unclear if it satisfies her, because she's urging him to drink, and he does, to appease her. "Think of happy things," he advises her, lest she get caught up in this painful love story business and somehow get ensnared in a bad trip. "Here, let me share something happy about myself," he says, trying to hold her attention. "I have two daughters, they're twins. Harper and Luna. They're not talking yet but they're my favorite people in the whole world right now. It was the happiest day of my life when I got to meet them for the first time." He drinks. "Now you?"
Brennia smirks as the empties his drink and steals it to fetch him some more, "How is your drink treating you, Sir?" A quirk of her brow suggests she maaaay have dosed him when she went to go get her glass before all the twirling and such. The Raven sighs with a shaking of her head, "Oh shush you," Brennia nearly hisses at it and it does the only thing it can think of and shrinks itself into something shaped like a coin, amazing how all that ink can get so compact, but weighty. She lifts the dark coin and stuffs 'The Raven' between her cleavage. Oh dear, the two of them unsupervised in the wine cellar, this may not be the best idea, but could also be quite hilarious. I mean, Brennia was pretty bad ass taking the supplement as Visine. She's done some stuff in her day and her handy work with his drink is evident when she hands him back his glass, this time untampered with. "Let us see if it inspires you." Her brilliant smile returns with those adorable dimples as she waits.
Hudson's happy story, although told for the purpose of making Brennia happy, is making him sad, now, because he only sees his girls during supervised visits. He wonders what Alvina's doing right now, probably with That Guy (Lionel), screw that dude. 'Working.' Hadn't it been convenient timing that his career as recreational drug manufacturer has become Too Much. After all of his groveling for forgiveness after Valrae. After all that, it turns out Alvina is just as capable of the same mistake. Maybe she had only seemed like she missed him because he's the guy she's used to and it's just hard to move on from that. Wow, like that Hudson is ripping the seal off of his bitterness, and his mood has gone sour. He will indeed allow Brennia to get him a drink. There's a relatively well behaved woman who's tripping her face off, enjoying life. Brennia's got the right idea pretending to dose his drink, he decides, Screw It. He chuckles weakly as Brennia tucks her avatar between her cleavage, no longer the weirdest thing that's happened this evening. Things are about to get weirder still, he decides. He takes his drink, doses it himself, and without ceremony goes about drinking deeply from the well of the goblet. "Alright," he says, having committed to his decision now, in that moment right before things change. He puts his goblet on a nearby shelf. He can feel something stirring his mood, lifting it. He smiles, feeling elated for no reason. "Ohhh, I do feel better. Thank the gods for alchemy."
Brennia had noticed his brooding, but said not a word about it as she let out a "Pfft!" and an eye roll, "Gods. Don’t do ya any good." She places herself on a table top nearby and sort of dangled her feet of the edge with a subtle swing. "Just don't look down." There she was looking down, but she was used to heights and clouds passing by below, but for most it was jarring at first. "Those are some adorable names. Lets see… The happiest day of my life… Well there was the time the Count and I- no." She sighed and started to twirl her hair around a finger, "Or that one time when… No." She playfully pouted, "Aw boo-hoo. I've had a horrible privileged life." She giggled once more, "Ah the happiest day yet. Discovering my bard powers. Although, those are not entirely mine." She beams that brilliant smile at him again, "Let's try you again." Her free hand lifts the wine goblet to those plump lips all the while those large blue eyes take him in as if studying something. It would be hard to differentiate if she were sixing him up for prey or play, but who really knows with Brennia… She DOES have that darker side and all; Hudson should count his lucky starts that The Raven was too afraid to make any grand movements this day. It may be evident that it's a little chilly in the wine cellar and she wonders if she should have taken him up on the offer of more hugs.
Hudson sees the world in colors that he didn't know about before now. Colors that exist for this very interaction between himself and Brennia. She has the most flawless skin, he sits next to her and steals glances at her. He can see the individual strands of her hair, literally growing right now! And her voice is rather soothing, he can almost feel the room sigh with pleasure from hearing it. (He should have done this earlier.) He chuckles as she fails to recount a happy event, for some reason her comment about having a privileged life really gets him, and he barks a laugh. "Me too," he reveals, letting her finally land on the discovery of her bard skills. "That sounds like a happy day," he concludes, reaching for his beer and clinking his goblet against hers. They drink. "Is this totally lame," he's saying, gesticulating to the room, "but when the Cenril Cubbies finally won the World Series last year I think is my number two." He'd have identified something about Alvina, but that's too painful, and also the Cenril Cubbies' win is genuinely pretty up there, no lie... Brennia's not responding to his anecdote. "Miiiiiss Smyyyth?" He looks at her. Miss Smyth is looking at him in a Certain Way. Hudson had banged his way around Cenril a bit back in the day, and he knows that look. Give it time to develop, like a Polaroid picture. He'd not thrown caution to the wind moments ago without seeing, and accepting, the risk that this situation might present itself. Hudson has been a dude for nearly thirty years and therefore is very experienced at keeping his eyes where they should be, but just saying, he's noticed a change in her demeanor. "You good over there?" he asks her. "Not cold? I'd offer you my jacket but you have a whole wing situation going on. It's kind of a lot... I mean they're very beautiful but how do you wear coats..." He reaches out to touch one of her wings, it's probably rude but, he is on drugs and it seems like a reasonable course of action.
Brennia leaves a half smirk on her lips as she cared not when he places himself next to her. She pats him on the shoulder kindly while offering, "It's not lame. Could you imagine a sport like that played in the air, though?" A quirk of her brow and she explained a sport which sounded a bit more like football, but with greater risks. "My nannies or servants would take me to see my favorite team, The Cardinals" she sighed as she placed her head on his shoulder again like they are the bestest of friends while linking her elbow through his, "But it was kind of boring because I had to be seated away from anyone else and I couldn't go anywhere without causing a fuss... Luckily I was able to make friends out of my servants, I can be very persuasive." Brennia doesn't need much help in the way of seduction and she learned it wasn't hard to do, but she just didn't feel like it today. "No Sir," she remarks about being too cold as the wing next to him curved around him to prove they were quite cozy, velvety and warm. At such close proximity he could easily see the reflections of blues and greens in their dark allure. She wouldn't blame him for touching her wing, but it didn't really earn any reaction for her days spent training had made them sort of immune to pleasure. (For a guy who hates birds was really starting to like this one). She curved the other wing about herself like draping half a cloak about her. "So, what did you do?" She asks on a chipper non-judgmental tone as of she was genuinely curious and she only grasps at the fact it would be his fault, but she was seeing if he would at least own up to his mishaps; not that she knew anything about those - yet.
Hudson | "Bird teams are good teams," says Hudson, otherwise not remarking on how she was or is apparently a very high roller. He finds that her wing feels... feathery. She's also not objecting to him touching it. It's amazing: she has wings. How can she just have wings? (How can he turn into an oversized wolf, though.) No but seriously, how can she just have wings? Why are they so amazing? He can see each individual feather in all its magnificence. (What an excellent product he's created, he thinks.) He'd gone from being mildly interested in mutually ignoring the fact that they're both not one another's types in a more sober environment to being totally invested in the great mystery of her wings. How can she just have wings! Rude. Her question brings him out of his wing admiration. "What do you mean, what did I do?" he asks, confused, looking at her now, pressed up against his shoulder. Had she sensed that he's carrying some serious emotional baggage, of the sort that, if quantified, you can't just shove in the overhead compartment on a plane? How had she sensed that? Drugs, man. He concludes definitively that it had been the drugs. They're on a spiritual plane now, him and her and her perfect wings. (How can she just have wings!) "I..." he turns his face up to think over his answer, "...did some things I shouldn't have and then lied about it, and got busted, and then... it was like trying to glue broken glass back together, it wasn't really the same. And now I guess she wants a fresh pane of glass, I don't know about this metaphor, but why shouldn't anyone." He exhales with force, runs his hand along the feathery length of the closest wing. "I'm not gonna think about it right now," he says, frowning, the high from the product now taking them to a sad place. "It's embarrassing to feel like you've failed..."
Brennia doesn't judge, she's laid with many lovers. She's cheated. She's lied. She's done some heavy drugs. She's miscarried. She's been a slave. She's owned people - the list goes on and we can say she's done more harm than good through her life which is much more than what she appears. "Here's the thing. You must dust it off and learn from it, otherwise you've wasted a valuable lesson dear Sir." She lifts her head now to meet his gaze with a friendly and accepting smile - dimple there. "No one is perfect but not for the lack of trying. We just have to accept it and know it's our scars that make us who we are." Speaking of scars, now that he was close, too close really, and her ink isn't obscuring her caramel skin he can see ghosts of a plethora of scars upon her supple skin. There's two different sets of vampire bites, one on her neck and one just where her dress ends on her cleavage, what looks like a werewolf mark on one of her traps with claw marks to match on her arms. An even bigger bite possibly from a dragon enveloping her shoulder and either this woman is an expert combatant or a marvelous lover... maybe both. She's really like the best therapist sometimes, "You jus have to let go a little and if you were meant to have her she will come back." The confidence in her smile would be contagious. "It's a funny thing these monogamous relationships... I only keep open ones with one special person which I share more than just my body with. That was her up there. We go out and do whatever we please, but we are the rocks for one another." Her cheeks turned pinkish, "No jealousy, no drama that way." She would shrug softly, "Just my take on romance."
Hudson wonders if the people upstairs are curious about what's taking place in Brennia's wine cellar. He definitely would be. Whatever. He's never gonna see those people again, LOL. Concerned moment, over. Brennia is saying all the right soothing things, as people do when they're under the influence together and having a heart to heart. At first, he is 80% focused on petting her wing. Still amazed by its existence. But then he starts to look at her as she talks, reveling in the little divots that mark her and distinguish her skin from anyone else's. (Really an excellent product.) She is still talking to him. He's distracted from wallowing in his own despair by the perfection of her imperfect skin. "I'll probably keep banging my head against the same old wall, but truth be told you may be on to something," he says, like she's uttered the most perfect truth in the whole world, only they, Hudson and Brennia, out of their gods damn skulls, understand relationships and monogamy and sadness and happiness and The Whole World. He considers her wing again, and a silence settles in between them, makes itself comfortable. There's no need to talk when you're on a spiritual plane together. They sit like this for a spell. Then they move to lie on their backs on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, their heads together. They can see the shadows moving on the ceiling, and hear the voices from upstairs. Who knows how long they lie there, listening and seeing and feeling. Hudson has the feeling that the world is an alright, even beautiful place, and that everything terrible happens for a reason. His heart swells with gratefulness for Brennia, fellow traveler, he feels like she knows all of his secrets (she really doesn't, though?) and accepts him (lol, drugs). After a stretch of silence, he starts trying to reverse-engineer famous rap verses to be about them, lying in her basement. It's pathetic, and also funnier than it actually is, they laugh for far longer than is reasonable. He is still laughing when he turns his body toward hers and bridges the distance between them to kiss her. Maybe later he'll be sad, when he thinks again about how broken everything is, but for now he laughs against her mouth and pushes her hair away from their faces, so that he doesn't end up eating it.
Brennia would gladly giggle and laugh with Hudson on the floor of her wine cellar and bitch about life, rap about whatever to add her 'Rijana' melodies to it flawlessly. It's a curious thing, she's never met anyone who had a privileged background like hers, although, her story is a bit dark. She would not delve into that right now as she wanted to continue chatting and laughing with this guy who has earned friend status which, hopefully, transitions to their more sober selves. Even though their heart to heart is drug induced and her advice quite sage she would say the same things, otherwise. Honestly, she's kissed men sooner than this and when he moves in for a kiss she would totally rock his world, but something was different this time and she just felt odd about it. Like it would be kissing her brother so she just softly giggles and turns her head so he kisses her cheek, she also didn't want to give him some pity kiss. She would gently rub her finger tips through his beard as some sort of consolation for his failed attempt at a kiss. Brennia easily took the awkwardness from the situation with a bit more light joking before inevitably passing out together on the floor.
Hudson | And so Hudson gets curved like Flake got curved by Rijanna. He takes it reasonably well, about as well as Drake took it. A man's gotta try, but sometimes you don't succeed, and that's life. He laughs and eventually poses his head back on the floor to continue what they'd been doing before. The conversation flows in dribs and drabs after that, until it stops entirely, and there's only the sound of her breathing beside him, asleep. He's not long after that.
__________Several Hours Later__________
Walk of Shame
Whine Cellair
Traversing your way around and around in the winding staircase might leave you a little apprehensive to step onto the glass floor at the bottom, as it looks void of solidity and gives you the feeling of flying over the clouds that drift through Hollow. This cellar is fully stocked with any wine you could imagine from Chardonnay to Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel; all bottles neatly tucked into diamond shaped nooks which are carved into these golden walls and a plethora of racks. It is a beauty to behold, but if you wandered down here on the false promise that there are mountains of gold below by reason of the illumination, then you are sadly mistaken. The room is only clad in a thin layer of gold. Find what you please and if it's harder drink you seek I would recommend the cabinet with the alchemical snake above it holding extra stilled scotch with light citrus, brine and smokey sweetness on the tongue. Maybe try the cabinet with the dragon depicted above it containing specially crafted whisky offering a rich burst of flavor, with a palate of soft honey and deliciously nutty toffee (strong stuff here, I do not recommend to those faint of heart.) Possible vampire? Try the bureau with the image of a bat offering many liquors with rare types of bloods mixed in them, I would recommend steering clear of the brandy in this one though. Pay no mind to the Osmium shackles attached to a desolate corner of the cellar, you don't want to try them out, do you? Venturing deeper through the maze of wine racks and beer casks until you come across deep purple drapes with a golden willow tree and air symbol sewn into the fabric, for it's an enchantress's corner to dabble in her apothecary. Here you will find a myriad of any and every ingredient known to all Hollowites, rarity no issue, but the glamorous sight of all the decadent potion bottles against the golden cellar may entice one to give any a try to just see what might happen…. I dare you.
Pair of Osmium Shackles is here.
Brennia slowly started to open her eyes as the glass floor below them was quite dark as if was early in the morning and the dim light from the candle sconces started to bring everything to view. 'Okay, I'm in my wine cellar... It's early morning and I'm laying on the floor next to... Oh.' She felt surprisingly okay and optimistic still, but she still wasn't on the spiritual plane. She was happy there was no negative effect or horrible come down after their night. Her abdominal area aches and for a moment she forgot why, but he entire night came back to her in spectacular vividness. She hasn't laughed that hard in some time and her head does ache a little, but that is easily caused by the wine. She gently (and expertly) rolled the tall man off her wing he was laying on and slowly came to a stand to pocket the Déclenchement with a smirk 'what a great product' she would seat herself back on that table while fiddling with a large deep red ruby in her hands as she waited for the Lycan to wake.
Hudson wakes not long after Brennia, he's a new dad so not exactly a heavy sleeper anymore. What a surprise to wake in a strange place, with a strange woman, still in his clothes, and rather hungry. A hell of a surprise. After emitting a startled grunt, he pushes himself like a jacknife to a seated position, looking over at where Brennia should be, and then indeed following the length of her legs to look up at her, since she's standing. "Hey," he says, amusement infecting the greeting. His hair is mussed on one side, sleeping does tend to produce that effect. "What ah...." He's rubbing his face, his hand passing over his eyes to clear them of sleep. "Crap," he exhales. "Did we fall asleep? Do you know what time it is?"
Brennia looks down at the glass floor after his questions, "It seems that way. I would say we have a small moment before the sun starts to rise." She eases her barefoot self off he table and it will be evident the ink adorns her skin once more. "Zachael should be working on breakfast and I am sure he cocoa, or coffee and espresso is already made." She points above them abouts where the kitchen is. "He actually makes quite the hearty breakfasts." She smiles kindly to him, "Quite a talent you have there with ingredients. I feel perfectly fine and remember everything." She wouldn't bring up he attempted kiss because why kick a man when he's down. "Will this do?" She holds out the ruby to him, "For the rest of the payment I promised." Starting to walk towards the winding stairs she would also ask, "Do you think you can make one more batch for me? As a back up."
Hudson pushes himself to a stand, pulling at his clothes to remove all imprints and creases of sleep. He musses his hair, to little effect. He finds his beer from last night and reaches for it, and then remembers that it has drugs in it still so, nvm. "Great," he says about breakfast, his voice a little creaky with sleep still. Actually, he remembers that he'd tried to kiss her, but part of existing as a man is trying to kiss women and getting rejected sometimes when you're under the influence. It's fine really, she's not the love of his life nor is he the love of her life, everyone is good to move past this amusing intoxicated anecdote. She is hot, though, he would've done it, but now that he's sober, he's glad things didn't play out that way. He's thinking about Alvina, and worrying that she might have sent a note to the Office about the girls. Harper has been sick recently with croup, he feels like lightning could have struck twice (not really lightning, it's highly contagious and Luna and Harper do share toys). He's motivated to get back to the club and check his messages. "Thanks," he exhales to Brennia, eyeballing the ruby she's tendering to him. He takes it, feels the weight in his hands. "Thanks again," he says, putting it into his backpack, which he pulls over his shoulder. "If you don't mind, I might take breakfast to go," he's saying, following her upstairs. "I'm just worried - my kid has been sick and if it's really the morning - um, I'm not being awkward, she really is sick, croup, it's a uh, respiratory thing. Anyway," his eyes bug, "I had a really fun time. Of course I'll make another batch. I want to talk, when I'm not worried about my daughter, about hooking up a real trade situation with those mushrooms. When you're free, after all this," he gestures at the goings-ons upstairs, there are a few strange looks as they emerge from the wine cellar, looking...slept-in, "let me know and we can hammer something out."
They say their cordial goodbyes and he is off on his merry way. Also, phrasing Hudson!