The Clan Ravenlock Center for Community Partnership.
"Inside what looked to be a main lobby....Workers were still busied in the hustle of the back and forth, as finishing touches to the interior seemed to be in full effect, and then some.
" "So we're ready to announce it, finally?" " "That we are, Sir. And with the assistance of the CoS, The Watch and the other generous benefactors, this has really turned into something." " "That it has" We've come a long way from the "JRC" haven't we?" " "You should know the answer to that, Sir. Alright, I'm headed to the "Dojo' to oversee the final touches to the ring and locker rooms. I'll be back later with a manifest for the "Caf" and stores." " "Miss Westbury, thank you." " "You know better than that, Councilman." " ?"??" " "I know it hasn't been announced yet, but it was still fun to poke you with that proverbial stick. Of course if I really wanted to tease you, we could just put up a little shelf or hat rack to display all the hats you tend to wear around the city, no?" " "Oh now that's real funny. Alright, I'll see you later, Christine." " "That you will, Brian. Be safe." " Watching the older woman take her leave, Brian moved from where he had been standing in the center of all that activity, making his way towards the main doors of the lobby. Some workers nodded as the man passed, while others remained fixed to their tasks at hand and took little, or no notice and that—- was right as rain with the eldest Ravenlock, as he faintly smiled.
Through those main doors he went, quickly moving aside for some workers that were bringing in some various pieces of furniture and fixtures. " Moving down the main steps that led into the main lobby, Brian found himself in the courtyard proper, as he worked his way around the grand fountain that was the centerpiece of said courtyard. Well it would be, once it was completed. For now, it was a distinct work in progress as stone masons were busied with the works of their craft, to insure the piece would be ready in time for the opening.
For the most part, the complex that was once known as the Sanctary of Zi'Tah, and before that the Ravenlock Inn & Beer Garden, had come a long way indeed since the closing of the original Jewell Ravenlock Centre for Community Partnership, and an even longer way since the opening of the original Ravenlock Dojo, which had been opened by the 'Founding Three', so long ago.
Brian had to chuckle a bit at that nickname...
It was how some of the staff had begin to refer to he, Jewell and Alex as the work on the newly built dojo progressed. A dojo that had been an exact replica of the original dojo that had been built back when. The very same dojo that had been placed on the grounds of the old 'JRC', and then had been passed to another to little avail, since it saw no further use.
That was something that would be rectified, indeed.
Because the old would blend with the new, in terms of sheer tenacity, will and heart. The past would assist the present and future in any way they would, and more so— lead by example.
All of those sacrifices, recent and old would not be forgotten so easily and those persons of the present would be afforded the chance to learn from the mistakes, and triumphs of the past and more so, be given the chance to find their own path in this world.
A chance that someone back when had offered Brian, Alex and Jewell.
Speaking of which, that chain of thought caused Brian to look at that clip board he carried in hand. More specifically, it caused him to take notice of a quickly scratched word on the list of things to do.
"Commissions..."
And instantly, he was taken back.
Turning a moment...Brian nodded to a rather impressive painting across the lobby. In fact it was one of the paintings he had commissioned from Julianne Smith, and it was by far one of his favorites. It was a painting of Empress herself, Jewell Ravenlock. A warm smile took hold upon, the eldest Ravenlock as he replied to Elle once more."
"I do this, because"she"would have me do no less...And we do this, because at one time...Well someone, did the same for us. Gave us direction, and drive. The want to be more than we were, and to help those, as we were helped. Alexander believed that too, in his own way...As did Katharine, Link and Meghan...Midara, too. So yeah, it's because we can. And because someone did the same for us.?"
Suddenly, it because quiet...Elle, sat there looking at the painting of Jewell. Finally she spoke."
"I had no idea, it was like that. I just figured it was a tax shelter, like other businesses and what not...Who is that lady in the painting, there's no name with it. I see people nodding to it, and some kid left a flower next to it one afternoon. I wanted to ask, but since I am newer than some others, I didn't want to sound silly for not knowing.?"
"That, is Jewell Ravenlock. My sister, and the?""
"That's Jewell Ravenlock!??"
"Yup.?"
"Cool.?"
"Yup, she sure is..?"
"She passed though, right??"
"Yes, she did...But she'll always be around.?"
It was the last time Brian Ravenlock had been inside the 'JRC', and it was the time he had seen Elle, before she had been so violently taken from them on the orders of the man known as 'Raven'. The man who before that was called Jacyn Ravenlock.
Shaking his head softly, Brian pushed the sadness aside. "I promised you, Elle."
Glancing to the word once more, Brian softly spoke to himself. "Jules."
Juliane Smith, a young lady who was the artist that captured Jewell Ravenlock like no other that Brian had ever seen. A young lady who like her family was held close to the Ravenlock Clan, and more so"Brian.
He could think of no other person for this task, this....commission.
Granted it had been years since Brian had seen any of the Smith family, quite literally. Well save Jules, whom he had seen in the Red Dragon Inn a few weeks past when he helped her after a slip and fall inside said Inn, while she had been carrying another commissioned work. He took it as a sign...
He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had to ask her and see if she could do one more painting for him.
It felt right.
While other commissions had been completed for the rest of the Clan that had been involved with the resurrection of the center, this particular commission needed to be Jule's, and Jule's alone.
Some papers on the clip board were lifted, revealing a rather old photograph underneath. Somewhat faded, and what not—- it had definitely seen some better days. But Brian felt, despite all of that, it would do the trick.
The photo, you ask"
Why it was Brian, Jewell and Alex....Taken shorty after one of their rather infamous brawls in the Inn, so very long ago. Around the same time, the Ravenlock dojo had opened its doors for the first time.
Looking worse for wear indeed, did the 'Ravelock Three' and yet Brian knew that Juliane Smith would be able to work with that, and create something spectacular.
So much so, that the piece would sit above the doors to the current dojo, welcoming all who would enter.
Tapping his Link Pearl, Brian spoke softly, "Miss Westbury, I'm headed into town to see about the final painting."
Next stop, the studio of one Juliane Smith.
"Inside what looked to be a main lobby....Workers were still busied in the hustle of the back and forth, as finishing touches to the interior seemed to be in full effect, and then some.
" "So we're ready to announce it, finally?" " "That we are, Sir. And with the assistance of the CoS, The Watch and the other generous benefactors, this has really turned into something." " "That it has" We've come a long way from the "JRC" haven't we?" " "You should know the answer to that, Sir. Alright, I'm headed to the "Dojo' to oversee the final touches to the ring and locker rooms. I'll be back later with a manifest for the "Caf" and stores." " "Miss Westbury, thank you." " "You know better than that, Councilman." " ?"??" " "I know it hasn't been announced yet, but it was still fun to poke you with that proverbial stick. Of course if I really wanted to tease you, we could just put up a little shelf or hat rack to display all the hats you tend to wear around the city, no?" " "Oh now that's real funny. Alright, I'll see you later, Christine." " "That you will, Brian. Be safe." " Watching the older woman take her leave, Brian moved from where he had been standing in the center of all that activity, making his way towards the main doors of the lobby. Some workers nodded as the man passed, while others remained fixed to their tasks at hand and took little, or no notice and that—- was right as rain with the eldest Ravenlock, as he faintly smiled.
Through those main doors he went, quickly moving aside for some workers that were bringing in some various pieces of furniture and fixtures. " Moving down the main steps that led into the main lobby, Brian found himself in the courtyard proper, as he worked his way around the grand fountain that was the centerpiece of said courtyard. Well it would be, once it was completed. For now, it was a distinct work in progress as stone masons were busied with the works of their craft, to insure the piece would be ready in time for the opening.
For the most part, the complex that was once known as the Sanctary of Zi'Tah, and before that the Ravenlock Inn & Beer Garden, had come a long way indeed since the closing of the original Jewell Ravenlock Centre for Community Partnership, and an even longer way since the opening of the original Ravenlock Dojo, which had been opened by the 'Founding Three', so long ago.
Brian had to chuckle a bit at that nickname...
It was how some of the staff had begin to refer to he, Jewell and Alex as the work on the newly built dojo progressed. A dojo that had been an exact replica of the original dojo that had been built back when. The very same dojo that had been placed on the grounds of the old 'JRC', and then had been passed to another to little avail, since it saw no further use.
That was something that would be rectified, indeed.
Because the old would blend with the new, in terms of sheer tenacity, will and heart. The past would assist the present and future in any way they would, and more so— lead by example.
All of those sacrifices, recent and old would not be forgotten so easily and those persons of the present would be afforded the chance to learn from the mistakes, and triumphs of the past and more so, be given the chance to find their own path in this world.
A chance that someone back when had offered Brian, Alex and Jewell.
Speaking of which, that chain of thought caused Brian to look at that clip board he carried in hand. More specifically, it caused him to take notice of a quickly scratched word on the list of things to do.
"Commissions..."
And instantly, he was taken back.
Turning a moment...Brian nodded to a rather impressive painting across the lobby. In fact it was one of the paintings he had commissioned from Julianne Smith, and it was by far one of his favorites. It was a painting of Empress herself, Jewell Ravenlock. A warm smile took hold upon, the eldest Ravenlock as he replied to Elle once more."
"I do this, because"she"would have me do no less...And we do this, because at one time...Well someone, did the same for us. Gave us direction, and drive. The want to be more than we were, and to help those, as we were helped. Alexander believed that too, in his own way...As did Katharine, Link and Meghan...Midara, too. So yeah, it's because we can. And because someone did the same for us.?"
Suddenly, it because quiet...Elle, sat there looking at the painting of Jewell. Finally she spoke."
"I had no idea, it was like that. I just figured it was a tax shelter, like other businesses and what not...Who is that lady in the painting, there's no name with it. I see people nodding to it, and some kid left a flower next to it one afternoon. I wanted to ask, but since I am newer than some others, I didn't want to sound silly for not knowing.?"
"That, is Jewell Ravenlock. My sister, and the?""
"That's Jewell Ravenlock!??"
"Yup.?"
"Cool.?"
"Yup, she sure is..?"
"She passed though, right??"
"Yes, she did...But she'll always be around.?"
It was the last time Brian Ravenlock had been inside the 'JRC', and it was the time he had seen Elle, before she had been so violently taken from them on the orders of the man known as 'Raven'. The man who before that was called Jacyn Ravenlock.
Shaking his head softly, Brian pushed the sadness aside. "I promised you, Elle."
Glancing to the word once more, Brian softly spoke to himself. "Jules."
Juliane Smith, a young lady who was the artist that captured Jewell Ravenlock like no other that Brian had ever seen. A young lady who like her family was held close to the Ravenlock Clan, and more so"Brian.
He could think of no other person for this task, this....commission.
Granted it had been years since Brian had seen any of the Smith family, quite literally. Well save Jules, whom he had seen in the Red Dragon Inn a few weeks past when he helped her after a slip and fall inside said Inn, while she had been carrying another commissioned work. He took it as a sign...
He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had to ask her and see if she could do one more painting for him.
It felt right.
While other commissions had been completed for the rest of the Clan that had been involved with the resurrection of the center, this particular commission needed to be Jule's, and Jule's alone.
Some papers on the clip board were lifted, revealing a rather old photograph underneath. Somewhat faded, and what not—- it had definitely seen some better days. But Brian felt, despite all of that, it would do the trick.
The photo, you ask"
Why it was Brian, Jewell and Alex....Taken shorty after one of their rather infamous brawls in the Inn, so very long ago. Around the same time, the Ravenlock dojo had opened its doors for the first time.
Looking worse for wear indeed, did the 'Ravelock Three' and yet Brian knew that Juliane Smith would be able to work with that, and create something spectacular.
So much so, that the piece would sit above the doors to the current dojo, welcoming all who would enter.
Tapping his Link Pearl, Brian spoke softly, "Miss Westbury, I'm headed into town to see about the final painting."
Next stop, the studio of one Juliane Smith.