Careful with the Tones:
Witnessing Constantine's repair spell first hand after reviewing explosive techniques used in magic. Left Corbin and Octavia sitting out to wait for the hall's wall to ensemble. Attention was turned toward what had been resting on his neck. Along with the little red fur ball sitting in his lap with wide grin of shape yellow teeth.
"Do they have names?" Octavia adored the sight of a European cobra.
"Cornelius is the snake," Corbin watched her gushed, "Freaky cat is Chewy."
She was allowed to stroke the snake's snout in a gentle manner as his tongue flickered. A lowly creeping about on Corbin's shoulders toward the new sight. While dividing her attention to also brush her fingers through velvety soft fur. Which got an instant tail shake from this feline clone of Alastor.
"They're so cute." She watched him.
"They like you," Corbin informed her, "Cornelius says you smell like sweet hay and freshly fallen leaves."
"You can understand them?" She grew accepted, "How? You have to show me the spell or charm. Please …"
"Cornelius is my familiar," He pointed out, "From the first to my generation, members of my family have always had animal companions. Always came in pairs or one depending on the person, example being my cousin being reunited with her unnamed leopard."
"You have a cousin?" Octavia asked, "Why isn't she here? May I meet her? What's she like? What is her death date and how is she related to you? "
"Yes and definition of she's an oddball for someone over 300 years old," He tried to describe Hephzibah, "She prefers to stay at home and help out around the house. Wears these moth themed sweaters almost everyday while busying herself."
"Now I have to meet her," Octavia liked what he said, "What does one do to meet a new face? Do I bring a gift? I mean I never casually met anyone besides you."
"I'm still thinking of a way to thank her highness for suggesting I attend lessons with his highness," Corbin reminded her, "Got any suggestions?"
"Azathoth's tears!" Octavia recalled her dad wanting to make up to her, "How do you feel about watching that?"
"I think my aunt was already making plans to do that with my uncle," Corbin stated, "We can ask her about it?"
That was a subject Octavia agreed with him on since the whole title of precariously heir always upset her. Lack of actual friends her own age that weren't related to her. Left her to want an actual or two that saw her as a person and not her title.
"So friends?" Octavia offered,
"I would like that." Corbin likes the idea.
Their laughter caught Constantine's attention from afar when he oversaw the final stage of the spell. Way they smiled over the newly established bond reminded him of his own. Most important ones came in the form of his friendship with Serenity. Bond of siblings Charlie and he shared along with the new one he was forming with Elanye. Hadn't been labeled quite yet despite their lovely debates and minor moments. Had him looking toward the entrance of the hall when the familiar sound of her heels were heard. Into the light she stepped with her usual basket on one arm and medium sized box in the other. Hoo Hoo flew from her shoulder to pairs off to the side.
"Oh my!" She noticed the still mending damage, "I am afraid to ask which one did that? Size of the impact and how much was taken out is an eye opener."
"That would be both of them actually," Constantine looked at the box she held, "Octavia was a chain reaction of small ones that left a sizable series of cracks. Corbin was the medium outward one that enlarged the crac, turned into a hole."
"I can imagine with the way Corbin leaves Zon's golems," Elanye recalled Zon's training sessions, "Last one had him using Wywave's black roses."
"I would like to watch this form of training in the near future," Constantine clearly stated, "Help me come up with a more teaching curriculum."
"I'll see what I can do since Wywave will welcomed it," Elanye recalled the way Wywave reacted to his black rose bushes, "He spent decades getting his prized roses to that state that please him, now their bruised and tangled in remains of a golem."
Hearing news about black roses in such a way bothered Constantine on an already existing topic. Fact that Zon was a former exorcist irked him in a distrusting way. Had him make a mental note while lost thought if not a reminder of two other presences. Drew attention to the nearly celestial decorated box that Elanye held. Octativa liked the shiny sheen on dark blue wrapping paper and matching bow.
"A gift fit for a princess," Elanye walked over to Octativa, "A nice-looking gown for your introduction into society."
"Have I ever told you how cool your aunt is?" Octaiva squealed toward Corbin.
"You haven't seen half what she can do." Corbin knew his aunt.
Octavia was careful in handling the box when two of them got lost in another conversation. Talking about what Octativa was going to find inside whenever she opened the box. Attention was turned to wrapping paper and ribbon as a hint.
"Do I dare ask what you gave her or wait for her to appear in it?" Constantine asked, "Being as your and brother have a unique way of doing things."
"Weavelyn and any other tailor shop the royals use to produce their finery have become busy," She pointed out every couturier's hands were full, "Thought I help out."
"What may you be wearing? Since we never discussed our attire." He reminds her.
"Don't worry, I have the proper gown to leave the right impression," She didn't want to spoil anything, "I have no plans to draw attention to myself."
"That you already do since I couldn't find a single picture of your face." He took a familiar closeness to her.
He ended up pushing her hood off her face with his tail surrounding her waist. One hand coming to rest on the small of her back to keep her in place. She turned toward him with her single gloved hand reaching up to coddle the side of his face. Barely gloved fingers traced the curve of a single cheek as their eyes connected. She tilted her head just enough to draw their lips close. Light pressure and slowly moist surfaces of their lips came together. What Corbin and Octativa call their first kiss as Maverick ends up joining them.
8*8
Corbin never thought he ended up meeting Octavia when they were reunited with Stolas' palace. Way she looked in Elayne's gift when she saw him in more elegant version of his waistcoat attire. Laceless dress shoes, wrist length gloves, and shoulder capelet held in place by a silvery cord. Matching the small accessories with an amber gemstone and pearl inlay found throughout. Had her breathless when the two met in her father's garden.
"Way different than in royal residence?" He asked her.
"You're telling me," She shook her hands out of nervousness, "I felt more comfortable when it was just us learning than here."
"Where you could openly mess up in front of his highness instead of being judged," Corbin understood her point, "Yea I get that."
He ended up offering eatable bark he carried around in lepal pin as a means to chew for a calming effect. She accepted and told it was an old Bloodmarch trick he recently learned from Wywave. Pointing out chewing effect will help her destress and relieve some anxiety she carried around. Had her laughing as she swore bark tasted like sugarless gum after first few bites. Corbin apologized for lack of taste since he was still trying to find a brand gum he liked. Left Octavia excited over what she could show him after this night was over.
"You two vanishing artists done?" A voice belonging to Elanye in a taffetta, off-the-shoulder gown, Corset fastening hook-and-eye and lace up back, made up the bodice, Pleated and flowy skirt with a Silk underline. Single Thigh-high slit on left side with gold leaf embroidery found throughout the off white material. Hair styled to the lay on one of her shoulders with pearl theme jewelry. Her signature earrings and settle make up that blended in with her natural beauty. French tips that made up her nails as a closed hand fan was grasped securely one of her hand. She kept her distanced in these simple opened pumps that matched the dress. "Someone beside me is going to noticed the star of this ball and her special guest are missing."
"Kinda forgot your family are empaths," Octativa whispered to Corbin, "Since your aunt found us so easily. "
"What color are my aunt's eyes and how she's holding her fan?" Corbin asked.
"Cobalt and she's holding it closed while tapping her bracelet," Octavia describe Elanye to Corbin, "I think I see my dad and our teacher near balcony 's doorway."
"Means she's impatient and their angry for us wondering off." Corbin covered his mouth and lowered his voice.
Both recalled in their own ways Constantine could read the lips and hear them chatting. Elanye found them in a crowded ball room full of nobility, no easy feat for normal sinner. Way Stolas stared at Corbin like he was ready to use his petrification gaze on Corbin was a tad worrying
"Face the music?" Both asked the other.
This was where they two split apart with Octavia heading right toward her dad and wanting to speak with him. Corbin heading right to Elanye not knowing where to start with her eyes on him.
"Am I grounded?" He loudly whispered.
"That is up to your uncles to decided since they are legally your parents," She reminds him, "I am more like the fun aunt."
She reached up with her bare fingers through hair on the back of his neck to show him her unspoken words. Allowing her emotional state and her thoughts flow through her into him through established bond. Where blurred images of Constantine and her in one of their in depth conversations. Detail alone the two were talking about when a concerned Stolas approached them. Asking for where his daughter and his special guest had disappeared since they left ballroom. How the search for them started and ended sin e Elanye knew where they went.
"You not mad?" He faced her.
She shrugged while pulling her hand from him, "Lets head back inside and try salvage this night, Deal?"
She ended up allowing him to led the way back into the crowded ball room where another set eyes quietly watched. He was about to speak to Constantine, Ready to open his mouth to apologize for ruining his time with his aunt.
"Come up with a communication spell or improve on an existing one," Constantine inform Corbin, "Present it next lesson since we're covering location based and communication magic."
"Am I allowed outside help or do I work alone?" Corbin thought to ask.
"Help is allowed," Constantine offered his hand to Elanye as music started up, "Take careful notes and make a list of your resources."
Which she took with their fingers weaving together with when the music started up for the next round of dancing. Gave left Corbin opened to be approached by Stolas with Octavia beside. Way his twiddled his fingers showed he was more nervous himself over formly angry.
"My daughter explained you didn't convince her to leave, but just a friendly shoulder." Stolas sighed, "Go on your day."
"This evening is just gets weirder," Corbin mumbled, "I just got hit with homework and possible grounding from my uncles."
"What is homework?" Octavia asked liking the sound of it, "I would love to help."
8*8
Day Octavia visited the hotel she found Corbin babysitting Mirabelle in the parlor with ripped out pages of a gossip magazine. Cornelius laid on a corner of the coffee table just watching the two. A gramophone was playing a Disney vinyl record with a faded label. Song currently playing was a Once Upon a Dream mixed with Mirabelle's giggling. Ripped out pages were being individually folded into different birds by Corbin.
"Birdie." Mirabelle lifted a duck into the air.
"Got any owls?" Octavia asked.
"Pygmy or Barn?" Corbin asked.
Corbin's eyes lit up when he brought Mirabelle's duck to life as it took off from her small fingertips. No actual sound came from flapping winged duck that flew around their heads as Octavia sat. Climbing higher and higher with attention shifting when Octavia asked about the origami. Corbin answered her how he was practicing an enchantment he perfected last night. Having to do with message being carried in folded form by the sender after spell was placed.
"What message did Mirabelle put on the duck?" Octavia pointed out.
"Mirabelle?" Corbin asked looking up, "What were you conveying when you folded your duckie?"
"Don't remember," She shrugged, "Duckie is duckie."
Two ended up asking a form of 20 questions to Mirabelle as the duck traveled through upper floors. Swaying here and slipping through cracks into doors until reaching glided doors, adorned with snakes and apples. Slipping underneath into a darken room where polka music played. Pictures of the past filled with Constantine and Charlie as children littered the wall. A rubber duck or two were found tucked away behind a piece of furniture or a light fixture. Paper one ended up getting snatched up out of the air by a has a black tail with spikes that end in a triangular tip with a red heart at the center.
"Nice craftsmanship." Owner of the tail pulled crumpled duck toward him.
His bare fingers unfolded the corners to find it was a whole page spread full of colored photos of his son beside an unnamed woman. Way they were dressed told him they were attending a formal event. Only words he could make out were beauty- n- beast with black rose icon. Anything else that made up words were smeared by little fingered belonged to his unnamed grandchild. Not knowing whom of his own children gave him one was a tad exciting. Away from his work bench he walked dismissing his latest creation with paper in hand. Recalling time he was outside when he left his palace to aid his daughter to defeat Adam, and rebuild the hotel.
"Maybe …." He figured it was time.
He recalled his daughter's newest hirer telling him once when she was bringing him evening meal. One must let go of one's pride and admit their faults in order to start a healing process. Rebuilding his shattered bond with his daughter was going to be a tough first step. One he knew he needed to take when he could sense the budding energies from the paper.