RP:Yule Regret That

From HollowWiki

They All Do In the End

Summary: Raven gets a Yule gift from Queenie.

DeVere College of Bardic Arts

After finding your way through the Topiary Garden it would only be fitting to happen upon a building which looks like a section taken right out of any castle in the same style as all of Schezerade, in all its 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 two story main hall with all of the astute students practicing their talents within. 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 only what the ceiling is for; it carries one's voice in the most pleasing fashion. This area is quite a vast oval-shaped grand hall, but nearly every space on the marble 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.

Off to the west of this area are exits to the wondrous courtyard beyond, north holds the kitchens, dining hall and secret passageway to the wine cellar. The second story, easily reached by one of the staircases hugging the curved walls leading to a balcony within the hall, one will find many doors leading into teaching rooms; some of them lecture halls and performing arts rooms. At the northern peak of the oval main hall at the second level any new students are directed to the offices where any and all are encouraged to apply.



Raven relaxes in the silence that luls over the main hall this Yule night as all the students and staff went home for the holiday. She was tired from the previous night’s festivities when she took a group of students to Kelay to visit Professor Lanara while she was recovering. Poking the fire with a hot mug of coco in her free hand and her large round gold glasses sitting low on the bridge of her nose. Hair thrown up in a haphazard bun again and her large knit sweater hanging loosely around her fleece legging clad hips. She looks to a small group of gifts under the tree addressed to her, but she just didn’t really want to open them because she’s always felt uneasy about gift receiving… People always expect something in return or never let you forget what they had done for you. Some secret service span the castle, but keep their distance at request of Raven because she just wants to be alone on this holiday. Her family is long gone and she just likes this day to remember their good time and traditions while she was alone. The decorations for the castle were wonderful and spared no attention to detail, but she wondered how long it would take to strip them down while she occupied a large luxurious sofa near the fire. As usual the door to the college isn’t locked for any visitors - it seems to have not crossed her mind to lock it today.


Niall wanders into the college tracking just a little bit of mud in on his old boots. His long wool coat was dyed a grey as deep as the stormy hue of his eyes, it seemed to be one of the only things the man owned he hadn't yet worn to death. His knit scarf was long and varying shades of blue, a thoughtful gift from his ma. She'd heard Jacob giving him a row about spending all his time in Schezerade instead of down home, ahem working, that she'd decided it was probably cold and he would need to keep himself warm. He is her baby, after all. Queenie trots beside him, her ears perked and her gate unusually energetic in her excitement to see Raven. He has a canvas bag tossed over his shoulder. He crosses the room easily, all legs and easy stride, and clears his throat as he drops into a seat near the avian woman. "Queenie says Happy Yule," Niall's smile is quick and charming, wrinkling around his eyes just a little. "I guess I should also say happy Yule, but I'll wait until you decide how mad you're still gonna be at me for what happened at the ball." He leans up, resting one arm on his knee while the other reaches into the bag he'd tossed by his feet. Queenie has broken away from Niall to flop her wrinkly body in front of Raven and beg for attention with adoring blue eyes.


Raven’s teal and dull gaze was lost in the flickering flames of the fire just beyond the coffee table before her, but she barely stirs when the man enters. Sure those long pointy ears heard him coming and the sound of four padded feet trotting after his steps clues her in that it was a friend and his pup. A usual half interested smirk for Niall, but once Queenie came over it seems those walls came tumbling down again. Her perfect teeth show between plump lips and dimples poke into her caramel cheeks, “Queenie is a sweetheart, that is why. Happy Yule Queenie.” Her velvety alto timbre was a cadence and a pleasure to hear. Teal eyes glance at Niall out the side of her eye, “no need to worry if I am mad at you.” She said cooly before attention was back on Queenie, “and how dare I? I’ve no treats for yer majesty.” She fakes a frown, this was probably the most her face muscles moved in three weeks. Pulling her hand away from the pup so she can set her mug down and stand up to make her way to the back of the sofa where a large tree is decorated. From within the branches she searches for something and pulls free a large juicy bone, that bright smile returning once more as she takes her place back on the couch, pats the empty space between herself and Niall for Queenie to hop up on it to receive her Yule gift, “all the good girls get the best gifts.” Once Queenie sets in on her big treat Raven lifts the winterberry laurel from the coffee table which she was crowned with at the ball and gently sets it on Queenie, “for the real Queen of Love and Beauty.”


Niall marvels at the way Raven melts for Queenie. It was like watching someone breathe life into one of those fancy marble art statues he's never actually seen with his own two eyes. He can imagine though. "Aw," He starts to protest, because she's giving him a Look. "Well, you could be a little mad," He teases. "But I think you're just gonna keep spoiling my girl here and ignoring me because you wanna torture me," He is nervous, even if his face and manner doesn't show it. His hand slips into his bag and brushes the glossy foil-like paper his ma helped him wrap this gift in and he can't help but feel a little silly for it. Usually, his gift giving was spontaneous and hardly never wrapped in any pretty paper that suggested serious effort. He watches the avian produce a giant gift for Queenie and he can't help the laugh that escapes him. "You're going to spoil her," He protests weakly, still marveling at the two of them. "And she'll ruin your couch here if you let her," He is obviously not used to Queenie being treated so well. There is a breath of quiet after Raven crowns the old grey dog, save for the thump of her happy tail and the little pants of her breath. "I uh," Niall pulls the gift from his bag finally. The paper had wrinkled a little, because he'd shoved it in a bag without much forethought, and the silver ribbon was askew. "Queenie. She got you something too." He holds the gift out, around Queenie and all her glory, and tries not to look nervous. Inside would be a scarf the color of her eyes, a enchanted pen that could replicate colors the tip touches, and a sketchbook.


Raven’s wings were being sat on by herself and Queenie thank someone’s gods, but at the mention of the pup ruining the couch, “it’s just an object. I wouldn’t want her to get cold on the marble floor,” it was different when they were near the fire, previously, on a rug. That was comfortable while reading and letting her head rest on the dog as they both laid on the rug together before the fire. She opened up a little that day to Niall and she doesn’t really understand why or just doesn’t want to overthink it. There was just something wholesome about the gentleman and that’s rare in this land these days, but thinking back on it she felt just a fool sort of dumping her baggage out there like that. Eyes set on the gift Niall was holding and slowly her gaze travels up his arm and rest within his grey eyes as this now made her nervous, but due to the fact her wings her pinned down no one has to know. So, she mentions, “it seems Queenie is excellent at wrapping presents.” She let the dog’s head rest in her lap while she gently received her wrapped gift from Niall, maybe a brush of their fingertips, “how thoughtful of Queenie.” Eventually she peels her gaze from him to the gift and opens it up and for a long moment she is quiet as she looks at the gift. It was odd how he just understood she wasn’t really into material things like jewelry, but practical and thoughtful gifts like things she can use, “this is really nice…” Now she felt like an utter fool because she got Queenie something and this obviously wasn’t from the pup, but she eventually looked back to Niall, “thank you, happy Yule, Niall.” She set the items neatly back in the box and set them aside, “look… About that day, I know I can be cold and closed off. I am sorry that when you asked why I’m so different around Queenie and I said it was a long story that I don’t want to bore you with…. That was unfair.” Now she was nervous, but she did well to distract herself by gently scratching behind Queenie’s ears, “animals… They just don’t expect anything from you and their intentions with how they view you is always clear, but dogs... They are loyal and that’s something I never found from people I’ve encountered in my own past.” It was tough peeling back those layers one by one and it made her stomach lurch. “And if you’d like to hear the story… I can do that.”


Niall obviously knows better than to really argue with Raven and he just smiles. It was endearing. "Yes ma'am," He drawls, holding up his hands in mock surrender. He's given plenty of thought to the night she opened up to him, even if it was only a little, because he could tell how hard it had been for her. Also maybe because he can't the get the way the firelight danced over her skin. Or the way little dimples appeared on the rare occasion of a smile and the subtle shift in her voice when she was saying something they both know was particularly clever. "My ma, actually," He quips back, laughing. "See, Queenie girl doesn't have thumbs," His giant hand reaches out to scratch between her ears. "And me, well, I've got all thumbs. But Queenie..." And totally not Niall, "Was pretty sure we needed to call for backup from someone who knew what they were doing," He is feeling particularly proud of himself in this moment, as she opens his gift. Sure, a woman like her in a place like this probably didn't need or want any gift and working class man like Niall could give but well... He'd spent a good two weeks wages on the pen and he thought what he didn't have in Coin he'd be making up in intention. Their hands brush again, as he pulls away from Queenie to let Raven pet her. He clears his throat and stands to take off his coat and drape it over the back of the couch. "Rae, you don't have to say anything you're not ready to say," He says, his tone earnest but relaxed. "I'm just happy to bask in the second hand light you cast off Queenie here and hopefully get a smile out of you every once in a while," He sits himself back down and levels his eyes on her, unusually serious. "That bein' said. If you ever did want to talk, because you want me to know or because just anyone listing would do you good, I've been told I'm a pretty good listener."


Raven watched him for a moment, all the little things and the gentlemanly way he presents himself. The way his forearm muscles form when he does things like scratch Queenie or fiddle with his jacket, “I bet he uses these lines on all the ladies, Queenie.” As if to respond the doggie huffs and goes back to enjoying her new toy which freed up Raven’s lap, “there you go with that name again.” She was unsure if she liked it or not, but she knew she would probably only rather him say it and she stands up to grab her coco, “let's get you something warm to drink. I’ll bitch about life and you can tell me how the ale business is treating you,” didn’t she make him a business proposition? While she makes him hot cocoa or maybe some tea, or coffee she would mull over what she would have to get him now and she hits at her thinking by mentioning, “I.. Wasn’t expecting a gift, so… I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t have one for you.” They would have to pass through the archway that separated the kitchens from the main hall while she gets him his beverage, but her mind goes back to the scarf and how she might get to use it in her next trip to Frostmaw, “I… Uh… Never seen snow before until the Yule Ball, as childish as that may sound. I’ve been trying to think up excuses to allow me to go back there.” She admits sort of sheepishly.


Niall snorts. He doesn't have lines, or ladies... Well, maybe when he was a little bit younger and more frequent in the taverns. He is smiling at her again, all sheepish charm and humor. "Rae?" He asks, as if he really doesn't know because he can tell she's still working out how it sounds in her ears. He likes it though. "What's wrong with Rae? Hasn't anyone ever given you a nickname before?" He stands with her. "You really don't have to trouble yourself," He protests, though he follows. His stomach and taste buds never really matured all that much, so he'd not log any real complaints with a mug of coco. Queenie's feet clip, clip, clip on the floor as she follows them, her gift proudly in tow and her crown still on her head. Niall starts in on telling her how he thinks he's found a piece of land he could build a brewery on when they pass under the archway. He stops, gently touching her forearm to stop her as well. "Wait," Stepping closer, Niall's hand would move to touch just below Raven's chin and tilt her face up to him. He's close, just a breath away from her with question and humor in his thunderstorm eyes. He waits a beat, for her to move or say no, before moving to press his lips to hers for a quick kiss.


Raven is humored by his surprise that people even get that close and she lets out a sort of scoff/chuckle, “nah, people don’t get too close to the thorns.” Meaning she’s prickly and people don’t stick around, but he’s touching her again? What is this? “Hm?” She’s turned to him and is looking slightly up into those thunderstorm clouds that are his eyes by his own hand’s demand, but this is too familiar. This old dance again and she wonders if that’s why he got the gift, but she didn’t move as she was debating on what to do there wasn’t enough time. She used to be good at this and quick until eventually everyone stopped trying, but it all falls apart on her this one time. That resolve, those walls, her cold determination lost on this chilled Yule night and just for a moment maybe she can be like Brennia and give into those wild desires. It’s too late now, his lips are on her own and she accepted them, a soft flutter in those large onyx wings while plump lips pursed then parted just enough to allow his bottom lip to rest between the softness of hers. Peppermint and chocolate on her lips mixing with his while ancient muscle memory takes over and her silky hand reached up to gently rest against the side of his head, her pointer finger landing just behind his ear. As if she’s been shocked to life her wings freeze, her muscles tense against him, making her rigid and she quickly breaks the kiss to glance up at the mistletoe…. Her eyes narrow and she seems a little out of breath by the surprise of his actions while hesitation showed in her effort to take a step back, during which she said through clenched teeth, “because it is Yule time and I do not want to fight with you in front of Queenie… I will let that slide just this once.” She would attempt to turn and continue into the kitchen while her fingertips softly touch the warmth on her lips… What heck? Moving right along into the kitchens the two of them talk about life, about Niall’s business prospects, about how perfect his pup is over hot cocoa while the Queenie of Love and Beauty sit between them at their feet and happily chew at her gift.

Niall hadn't gotten the gift with any intention of planting his lips on Raven, actually, because he'd never actually thought that was something he was going to do. He'd surprised even himself. But when they'd passed under that arc way and his eyes landed on the mistletoe... Sven, how could he not? She'd gotten his big ugly dog a gift. She'd even put a bow on it. Niall was simple man, but he wasn't a dumb one. So he'd made his move, was surprised she let him. She tasted like Yule and warmth. He thought she'd be shocked or angry, maybe stiff or afraid. Instead she was a little yielding, melting against him like snow on skin and twice as much of a jolt to his system. Her hand goes up, his reflexively follow to find her hair and lace through those dark curls. It was heat and light and suddenly... Not. He felt her change, come back to herself a second before she tensed. His hands dropped from her hair to clench at his side. Raven narrows her eyes and him and Niall manages a hapless smile. "Aw, Rae," His voice is easy, filled with humor he doesn't actually feel. "I don't make the rules," One calloused hand slips into his pocket, the other points to the mistletoe hanging above them as he shrugs. "Sure, yeah. I'll be on my best behavior," The man agrees, following after her with his stomach in knots and the smell of her wreathing around him. The taste of chocolate and peppermint on his lips. They talked until the hour was ungodly. They talked about beer, art, Queenie. He tried to coax her into helping him understand the intricacies of her home and it's politics while he interrupted with mildly racist questions and wildly offensive jokes on Corvo's behalf.. They didn't talk about mistletoe or his stolen kiss.