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Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 11, 2024 19:06:43 GMT -5
Marion was- abit surprised- at how Rena had gone, well, not exactly according to plan, but the elf thought nothing much of it, seeing that he really couldn't say the details of the plan were precise, perhaps he had just misunderstood the idea of "taking behind".
The telepathy was strange and new to him- he had never really been made aware of the narrative voice of thought in his head up till this point, and it's like the funny feeling when you pay attention to your own breathing. The elf tried to take his mind off... his mind, and figured the best way to do so is to by talking. He thus recounted what Rekkel had told the group to the figure- nearly word for word, as best as he could remember it, with him trying to mimic his tone too, and then piping back in with his own usual voice and the crow's where they had spoken up previously
"'- And so with my deepest apologies, I must return to selling my FRUITS! FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES'- and that was how he ended the conversation." While his memory did prove to be rather accurate, Marion had proven himself not the best talent in impersonating others- and the entire endeavor had been slightly awkward to watch on, to be generous about it, but it is perhaps a blessing that Marion himself did not seem to be embarrassed himself.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 11, 2024 22:32:47 GMT -5
The silver eyed crow tilts her head slightly, seeming somehow amused - ”...of course ye shouldnae trust me…” - “...of course ye shouldnae trust me…” - ”...you’re a raven, I’m a crow. trust isnae appropriate for either of us…” - ”...you’re a raven, I’m a crow. trust isnae appropriate for either of us…” it…it’s pretty clear that she’s not seeing, not hearing the same things as the rest of the group…and as she speaks, the wraith of ink and stardust speaks along with her, as though they’re rehearsing a shared memory…
Bell blinks, tilting his head as his amber eyes flick toward his wife, the specter of smoke and embers letting out a concerned trill as he steps around Beak to begin fussing over Rena, “...you doin’ alright, ka’to’bi1? Ye’re…eh…seemin’ a wee bit off your game, love…” he places the back of a hand against her forehead, frowning at what he find, “...nothin’...that's strange...”
The chicks pop out of the brush, all chirping in trilling worriedly as they abandon the plan wholesale to join their father in checking up on their mother…who remains unresponsive, those glazed silver eyes fixed on Beak…or perhaps the raven of ink and starlight stood just behind her
1 - Ravenstongue - me/my/mine love/dear/heart
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Post by Beak on Jun 12, 2024 4:48:20 GMT -5
"So, if I am understanding you correctly, and please allow me to get this straight...." The tone in her "voice" and the small headtilt as she "speaks" imply no small amount of quizzical curiosity. "... You were told that I am a sufficiently powerful sorceress as to be able to curse this man's daughter with a mere glance, and that this would be a dangerous mission as a direct result, and you saw me long before I saw you... and rather than strike while my back was turned, you approached me to talk?"
This is where, if she really were the evil witch that Rekkel claimed, she would give the "You fools, mwahaha" speech before conjuring up some ethereal vines to capture the entire group, or... something. Instead, the only thing she's done besides look spooky is present herself with that feigned "old and feeble" posture, again, likely because she isn't aware that you have already seen her without it. "I... am grateful. You have done me a tremendous kindness, one I will not soon forg-"
Before she can finish that thought, though, she turns toward the crow with no small amount of concern, both for her own safety and for that of the crow herself. "Ah, miss, are you... quite all right? I am not a raven, but you are not... truly speaking to me, are you? You..." Beak turns to look behind her, at where the crow is possibly looking. She sees nothing but the elf, but.... "... Forgive me, kind... ah... sir? Forgive me if I presume, but... I can hear you speaking to her before she repeats your words, but I cannot see...."
And as if there haven't been enough surprises in the past few moments, here comes the rest of the family! Beak instantly takes notice of the skeletal chicks in particular--others of her own kind? No, it can't be.... That is... a cautiously positive sign that this party might not see her as a monster simply for seeing what's underneath her disguise, but she files that thought away for now; there are more pressing immediate concerns.
Under other circumstances, she feels as though the correct play at this moment would have been to cautiously step backwards, facing the crow while making her way toward the elf. The elf seems... friendliest, out of everyone in this party, and the one least likely to attack. It feels safest next to him. However, in this case, that would involve walking directly through the source of this voice that seems to be guiding the crow... those two are the only remaining people she is worried about at this point, and she happens to be surrounded. Nevertheless, the distraction of having the whole family emerge to check on her is surely a sign that she should get out of harm's way, and so... she cautiously, tentatively tries to take a few steps sideways, taking the bet that the crow and the voice are interested in each other more than they are her, and she needs only get out of the way and stop standing directly between them. Hopefully.
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Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 12, 2024 7:42:10 GMT -5
Marion was about to say something, and then- Rena spoke. Now even he can sort of get that something strange is going on.
"Rena... ?"
He was hesitant, and looked towards to Bell and the rest of the family gathering to Rena with worry, wondering if the the other was doing alright- and then waved over to the hooded figure, hugging his own staff and jogging over to where she had started to inch towards to as well. He also wouldn't really want to be in the general direction to where Rena was staring down.
"Oh, this is quite unforeseen... Rena is protective of her family, but I think she was seeing something... else. Could you really hear it? I can't see anything..."
The sun elf seemed to have very little sense of danger, or even any to speak to at all- as he came up and talked to you as if you have known each other like friends despite the complete opposite being true. As he moved, the moth-like Dragoonfly also followed him, the quite giant insectile keeping its dark glittering eyes on Marion with a tilted head and a wave of it's feathery antennae that almost resemble bunny ears.
"- I mean, you haven't really done anything? You only sort of looked at his general direction, not... well, spitting in his face or something. It's kind of a wild guess he had been making- at least that's what I was thinking, though I do want to help his daughter as well... she doesn't sound to be doing so good, maybe convincing him that you didn't do any curse would help him see reality for what it is, and then we'd work from there."
Sighing, Marion looked on towards the crows.
"It is always better to look at truth rather than lies that would make you feel better, I think. And it is always better to talk to people than just assuming things- that I have learnt."
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 12, 2024 14:59:58 GMT -5
Bell glances sharply at Beak, “what? What do you mean? there’s no one there, and I’m not hearing any sort of -” the specter cuts off, amber eyes glazing slightly and fixing on the same point as Rena’s silver, their children letting out worried, anxious chirps and trills as they gently tug on their parent’s feathers…
the raven flinches, cobalt eyes momentarily focusing on Beak before snapping back to their loves,”oh, I know your name already. What did you expect?” - ”oh, I know your name already. What did you expect?” - ”for the hunter to not know the name of the one she was sent to kill?” - “for the hunter to not know the name of the one she was sent to kill?” - ”but as I said, I’ll let you give me your side of things before I decide what to do with you…Quothe Nevermore…” - “but as I said, I’ll let you give me your side of things before I decide what to do with you…Quothe Nevermore-” Rena and Bell’s words are cut off with a sound akin to shattering trees and fracturing stone, and suddenly a figure, a feathered wraith of ink and starlight is there, shining eyes of cobalt blinking and squinting in the light of the sun, as though they hadn’t been under such bright light in years.
And then about five seconds later a pair of smaller figures slam into them, accompanied by twin flurries of overjoyed chirps and trills as Bell and Rena hug the stuffing out of the newcomer…who seems to have been stunlocked by mere physical contact, remaining still and stiff for a solid five second before just…breaking down in tears, star-filled ink rolling down their feathered cheeks before dissipating as they hug their partners back, massive wings unfurling to wrap around both Rena and Bell as they sob. there are no words. how could there be? tears are, for now, more than enough to communicate the joy and sorrow and love shared between the three corvids…
It takes the fledglings all of two seconds to parse what’s going on, and then they’re joining their parents in hugging the stuffing out of the lone raven. They may have never had the chance to know their Bab’sk like they know their Mom and Dad, but theirs is a tradition of taking second chances for everything they’re worth, and that’s exactly what they’re going to do here…
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Post by Beak on Jun 12, 2024 15:18:27 GMT -5
Beak finds herself at something of a loss, as well. This is... ah... well... yes. This... certainly happened. Was the part about needing to explain her side of things before the hunters sent to kill her decide what to do with her still a thing, or is that washed away by the opening floodgates of this reunion, or... wait, were they even talking to her?
The old woman (this description is technically still true--she's positively ancient--even if what she means by that is a little misleading) glances toward the elf, happy to have his company. It seems the immediate danger... might have passed; they left her with some rather threatening words, there, but the mood now is nothing short of joyous.
If she were more cynical, this would be where she takes advantage of the best distraction she's ever going to get to flee. They did say they were still going to kill her, did they not? But... well. They already had the chance to ambush her, and they trusted her--before they'd even met her, mind--enough to approach her, to talk, to meet their supposed enemy face to face. That was not an honor she would expect many people to give her, and she meant what she said about not soon forgetting that. It's only fair that she returns that trust. If they passed on the chance to stab her in the back, then it's only fair that she passes on the chance to escape in the confusion. We're friends here, and as friends we can all work this out... yes...?
There is much to explain and account for. Her side of this story. Whether she had anything to do with the curse. What business she even had with Rekkel in the first place, if not. How she knew that other being--Nevermore?--was there, before anyone else seemed to. Hells, she never even told any of them her name yet, though apparently this newcomer raven knows it anyway..? She hasn't gathered theirs, yet, either. In short, she owes her new friends(?) a lot of answers, for a lot of questions, and she would pose a few of her own in return as well. But... there will be time for all of that. She'll still be here, ready to answer any questions any of them may have about anything. For now, she's not so brazen as to interrupt this. Wait until the tears have dried, at the very least.
She turns to the elf and... smiles? Well, sort of. The same magic that allows her to broadcast her words telepathically allows a sort of low-level emotional broadcast, as well. Physically, naught is visible but a rigid, unmoving skull, that sort of default skeletal grin the closest thing she has to a facial expression. But if one can hear her words in one's mind, then one can also sense the intent behind what would have been a smile, or a scowl, or any other simple mood cue she can broadcast passively.
So, a "smile" it is, then, as she shifts her attention between the friendly elf and the emotionally overwhelmed corvid family.
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Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 12, 2024 17:46:53 GMT -5
It was loud, and Marion's ears flattened against the horrendous cacophony of sound- but then someone??? just materialized??? from thin air??? It was rather confusing, especially to Marion who never noticed anything, but it looked like quite a reunion. Marion wondered who the much larger bird is to the family- and watched in fascination how it seemed to have literal starlight encompassed in it.
"Ah, it's alright then... wait, no, we're- I mean, I'm not going to kill you! Nor let anyone kill you, for that matter, not if anything could be helped- and I'm sure we can talk things out. You'd be alright, and they'd be alright too."
Marion smiled at the skull, and got the idea that she seemed to be smiling back at him. It was incredibly strange how he got that feeling, but the smile is accepting and kind- and Marion reached up to pat her gloved hands, probably in a gesture to reassure the other as much as he's reassuring himself.
"Quothe... is that his name?" The young elf continued to muse his thoughts aloud, looking on to the family.
Shape, size, appearance- it was apparent how none of these mattered much to Marion's eyes, or at least, his judgement of other people, but only found it fascinating like a child would to things he had never seen before, not that he would be asking the questions nowadays.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 12, 2024 18:44:36 GMT -5
Rena and Bell shudder, holding their lost third and quietly weeping as the memories hit…Rena and Nev’s first meeting - “you’re a raven, I’m a crow,” - Rena bringing Nev into the Blackfeather Clan compound under her own protection - “raven or not, anyone who goes t’ touch ‘em without their say-so ‘ll be in the pot for next week’s stew. I’ll make sure of it,” - introducing Bell and Nev to eachother - “qu-Quothe Ne-Nevermore…pl-pleased t-to meet y-you,” - the first night the three of them spent properly together, nestled in front of the hearth and basking in eachother’s warmth, one crow nuzzled in on either side of the raven - “...I love you both so much, y’know that?”
…the trio calms slowly, trilling softly and gently nuzzling and nibbling at eachother’s feathers, letting out soft, affectionate chirps before - “...’m sorry, love…” Rena lets out a mournful trill, “...we…we asked ‘er t’ help us move on with losin’ ye…’n she made us forget…”
Nev trills softly, gently nipping at their wife’s beak, “...don’t apologize, ka’to’bi…you did nothin’ wrong…’s the Hag that twisted the deal…’sides, I’m back now, aren’t I?” the raven smiles softly, gently squeezing their wife and husband and their children in their arms and wings and letting out a happy coo.
The children nestle close, trilling and chirping happily as they nestle into their Bab’sk’s embrace.
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Post by Beak on Jun 12, 2024 19:48:57 GMT -5
The corvid family clearly is distracted with a touching moment--Beak only met these folks and wouldn't know who any of them are in relation to each other just yet, but she's very quickly learning from context, and even from all the way over here this is beautiful. Now that she's had some more time to think about what happened, she's increasingly more comfortable with the thought that they were not, in fact, talking to her, and that no violence shall be forthcoming at this time. Satisfied to let them bask in each other's embraces, she turns her attention back to the elf.
Before she can say (or "say") anything, though, that... oh, scales alive, how long has it been since anyone has touched her? Not counting incoming blows in a fight, of course. Her skull remains unmoving as always, but the emotional telepathic signals amplify so much that all within range can almost hear the static-like crackling of the magic as the emotions reach overloaded levels. Today, this elf has learned a very valuable lesson about whether it is, in fact, possible for a skull mask(?) to blush. Privately, she immediately starts to field conflicting thoughts about "that might feel even better without the gloves" versus caution about revealing her secret... assuming the others haven't already figured it out by now anyway, of course.
"You are... most kind, young one." Her "voice" falters slightly, taking those extra few moments to regain her composure. "It... seems the danger has passed for now, but I am most grateful for your offer of protection, regardless. Would that I always received such warm treatment from folks who were hired to kill me, ehehe~"
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Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 12, 2024 20:18:11 GMT -5
The telepathy from the other had always been odd, but Marion found himself slowly getting used to the sensation- and he shook his head. “Even if it really was a curse. I don’t think killing anyone would prove a solution- a grudge can be held even after death, and maybe proving to become even worse for that.”
Seeing that Beak did not mind the contact, Marion opted to hold her hand now, giving her a little tug as he headed towards the crows- and apparently, a raven. That much Marion could tell from both the size and the beak shape. Trotting over with Idun cradled in an arm and holding Beak’s hand in the other, Marion opted to shake his apple tree staff in the motion of a little wave.
“Hello- I don’t know how long you have been with us, but it’s nice meeting you for the first time! My name is Marion Aurea, from King’s Valley.” Considering for abit, the sun elf continued. “You’re feeling alright now… I mean, I don’t know what really happened back there, but it sounded awfully loud, and you appeared- if there’s anything we could help with, I’m more than happy to!”
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 12, 2024 20:47:49 GMT -5
Nev trills softly, those cobalt eyes taking in Marion and Beak for a long moment before they whistle a series of notes - and that is the children responding by wriggling free and slamming into the elf and the lizard-woman, the tiny little crow - actually, with this little reveal it’s kind of confusing. Are they full crow? Half crow? Two thirds crow? Is there a spectrum of crow to raven that these little ones fall upon? Regardless, the tiny little corvid children giggle and chirp, hugging Marion and Beak and pulling themselves up and refusing to let go until both their targets have been pulled to the ground and buried under their little bodies.
And then they’re joined by the ‘adults’ of the family, Bell and Rena chirping happily as they nestle into the mess their children have created, while Nev nestles in against one side, pulls Wind into a hug, and drapes one inky, star-dusted wing over the rest of the group.
“...I am feelin’ better…” the inky wraith murmurs in response to Marion’s words, “...but that’s not a high bar…’cause I’m real again…I can touch and feel and breathe again, even if I don’t need to…” they squeeze their youngest daughter a little in their arms, chuckling at the squeak the little skeleton makes, “...as for help? More o’ this, I think…more touching, more feeling, more confirmation that this is real...that I’m real…”
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Post by Beak on Jun 12, 2024 21:51:24 GMT -5
Introductions! Yes! Good idea! Struggling not to become drunk from the mere hand-holding, Beak nods toward the el--Marion. She needs to get in the habit of remembering people's names again... it's been ages since she got close enough to anyone for doing so to be worthwhile. Close enough to anyone for their names to matter. She... missed this feeling. It's a good feeling to have to relearn. "An honor and a pleasure. My name... ah. Well. I have one, but it... hasn't felt important enough to wear for... some time, now. You may call me 'Beak,' if it please y--ou... oh! Oh.."
And with that, Beak finds herself dragged down to the ground and coated by enthusiastic younglings. Smothered with affection, she might say, had she still the need to breathe. "Ah, hello, little ones! My, you... you all are kind...." Her emotional telepathic broadcasting is going haywire, now, leaving it hard for her to even find words. It's... if you take how a purring cat sounds when pet, that is how her wordless broadcast thoughts feel. At this rate, Nevermore won't be the only person here who struggles to feel like any of this is real after having gone so many years without, like someone trapped underground seeing the sun for the first time since... they can remember, really.
Oh, yes. Speaking of which....
"You are real," Beak affirmed. If you can hear her words, then you currently are taking advice from a bizarre "old woman" who speaks in telepathic thought. Who's to say anything about your situation could be more unreal than that? Especially if that telepathy had anything to do with how Beak was able to hear Nev's voice before the others were, even if she still couldn't see him. "I... believe I understand what happened to you. From context. From what I overheard. And... you are here now. I can't imagine how long you must have suffered, but you've found your family once more, and they you. You shan't be alone a... again."
Oh, ouch. She might accidentally have been thinking about someone else when she was empathizing with Nev's plight, and then made herself sad with that conclusion. She supposes that her own situation won't be resolved nearly as neatly, will it? Well... there will be time to worry about that later, she supposes. There is always time... never anything but time.
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Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 12, 2024 22:15:31 GMT -5
Giving a surprised joyous yelp,Marion laughed as he was tackled onto the ground- wrapping his own arms around as many of those little forms as he could into a hug as well, gazing up at the starry wing that wrapped around them all with the wonder of looking at the night sky.
“Mnh! We can all see you- and feel you now!” The sunlight is warm and the grass is slightly scraping but mostly soft- thank goodness this isn’t the more swampy parts of the marshes- there was the smell of soil and crushed plants and it may not be the most sanitary or appealing smell to everyone, but these small imperfections are just as much a part of being alive a the good stuff. Marion briefly agonised about the horrible grass stains everyone would be getting on their clothes, but then convinced himself to let it be a worry for later.
So instead he laughed some more, and hugged and kissed them all. On their foreheads and on their cheeks, and Marion was soft and warm as always, the scent of citrus and mint and the flowers in his fluffy golden hair. - And it is a beautiful day, to be here under the sun today.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 12, 2024 22:49:54 GMT -5
Nev trills happily, gently squeezing Wind in their arms and softly nuzzling every fledgling they can get at, gently nibbling at feathers and rubbing their beak against bone as they bask in the warmth of family for the first time in years, chirping and trilling and whistling happily and gently nibbling at their partners’ feathers as Bell and Rena nestle close.
Loci tilts his head slightly from his spot atop Beak’s chest, those emerald eyelights focusing and sharpening as he examines the lizard-woman’s light…and, well…it’s cold. Colder than he’s ever seen someone have aside from Wind, his father, and now his Bab’sk and this new friend…this can only mean one thing. The little skeleton clears his imaginary throat, then pounces on Beak once again with a battlecry of, “skelefriend!!”
His siblings are quick to rally to the cause, Wind giggling as she wriggles free of her Bab’sk’s grasp to join the pouncing, her golden eyed twin letting out a victorious cry as he goes for the newly anointed Skelefriend’s hands, while the ruby eyed eldest simply sits on Beak’s legs as her siblings swarm Beak without mercy, intent on smothering the newly discovered skeleton with as much affection as they can manage.
This sort of thing is actually standard procedure for the Blackfeather family; whenever one of their undead members is feeling particularly down, the living take it upon themselves to cheer them up by way of snuggles. The reason is simple; the undead - or at least the Blackfeather undead - have cold souls, inner lights that provide cognition and animation, but no warmth to speak of…
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Post by Beak on Jun 13, 2024 0:23:53 GMT -5
"Oho! Well, aren't you perceptive, little one?" Earlier in this conversation, Beak would have been terrified to have her secret revealed. The others were told that they were here to fight a dangerous and powerful witch, after all; revealing herself as undead when they were already looking for any sort of confirmation that she is as dangerous as the merchant says would have been... unwise.
Now, though? The warmth of the moment is affecting her in a way she hasn't felt since... well, since the last time she had skin, really. Yes... she should be honest with her newfound friends. No secrets.
She reaches up as best she can--she is a bit, well, pinned by the affectionate swarm, after all-- and pulls down her hood.
It's not that doing so reveals anything particularly striking that wasn't visible before. It's what it doesn't reveal that is, itself the reveal: There is no hidden face behind her "mask." That skull... that is her face. And connecting to that skull, that face, is a neck that itself is nothing more than vertebrae. It might have been a little ambiguous with the hood up, when her face was darkened enough that the eyes were just black circles. It... could have been a mask, maybe, if no one could see behind it to prove otherwise.
The fact that, in the light, one can now look into either of her eye sockets and plainly see the inside back of the skull through them should put that notion to rest.
So... yes. Behold. The skeleton.
There is one new feature that seeing her without her hood reveals, though: A set of partially decayed yet mostly preserved fins or frills. They're still just colorful enough even now to imply that they must have been utterly resplendent in life, even if they've now lost most of that color and turned to more of a dried and leathery texture as part of the process of being preserved throughout all these centuries.
"... Abek," she says solemnly. Even unmasked, she still prefers to speak telepathically; that was not just to help with the illusion that her skull was a mask. It's been so long since she spoke that she's likely forgotten how, at this point. "My name was Abek. I was... a soldier. I fought and I died for a cause that... doesn't matter anymore. Perhaps it never did. Perhaps it was all in vain from the beginning. I... am telling you who I was only because you deserve to know my secrets, because I don't wish to feel as if I'm hiding anything from you after a moment like this. But... that name belongs to a life that is no longer mine. None of that remains. I have nothing left, not even a name worth remembering. I am... nobody. I'm just Beak."
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