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[Lucas Nardovino]

5th Vhalar, Arc 718

Lucas stood in front of the shop, a clothes shop, the type of which he had never imagined to find himself in. Still there were some interesting events coming up in these new seasons and he supposed it wouldn't hurt to find something new to wear. He looked down at his worn and tired clothing, it was clear to see he hadn't been big on buying clothes. Not until they were literally falling of his body.

Not only was he unsure how you were supposed to go about buying a suit but also he felt completely out of place. He wasn't sure he had ever even stepped foot in the Glass Quarter and if he had it had likely been related to a crime. Still the time had come so he pushed the door open a small bell ringing over his head as he looked up in surprise. Shops in the dust quarter didn't even compare to this place. Lines of perfectly crafted clothes, no art, hung from rails and rested on mannequins. It was like he had walked into a land of fabric.

He paused and looked around awkwardly, he had no clue ho you were supposed to buy clothes or even if he could afford this stuff. Quite clearly he wasn't the richest and these clothes were without a doubt the finest he'd come across. On top of that he was concerned about being mistaken for a homeless thug as a couple of other customers turned their nose up at him and moved to put more distance between themselves and him.

"I am too sober for this." He grumbled as he inspected a rack of what appeared to be women's dresses. So unless he had gotten a wife or some how changed sex over night this was not going to help him. The ex-con continued to browse making sure not to touch anything, afraid he might damage it and be forced to pay. He looked around and his earlier observation was confirmed as people continued to give him a wide berth.

He thought maybe he should just leave, buy something cheap down where he belonged. "I can't believe I shaved for this." Lucas murmured under his breathe as he headed for the door.

[Faith Augustin]

If there was one thing that Faith hated, more than anything else in the world, it was the mis treatment of people by others. Inequality, the state of being judged because of how you look. It drove her mad. The young woman was a calm, placid, almost meek individual; until riled and then she was a fury. As the man entered her shop, she saw a person. A mortal. Someone with feelings and worth and not someone to be treated in the way that some of her customers seemed to be.

She was surrounded by fabric and had a number of pins in her mouth and hands, but Faith dropped them safely and then stood up. Just as the man was starting to leave, she called to him. "Excuse me sir!" Faith moved to next to him and, as she did she caught sight of his face. It was still only a few trials since her memories had started to return to her and she was still making sense of them but, as she saw him, a whole range of them fell on her and hit her, square in the chest.

"Lucas?" All of the memories of that time had been with her, she'd never lost it - he'd been a patient in the Order of the Adunih and they had spoken. He'd been friendly enough and just before he'd left he'd given her his name. Not one that she recognized then - what with the amnesia and all. "Lucas Nardovino," she said, what little colour she had in her face drained completely. "Please.. that is, you might not remember me. Faith. I.. we met in the Order of the Adunih?" She looked, she sounded unsure.

She felt it.

"I.. I got my memories back," she said, quietly. Looking at him she wondered how, in Famula's name, she was going to manage this. But she had to. She had to find out who he was and how they were related, if they were. They might not be, of course, but Nardovino was not a common name, not at all and Faith wondered how it could be that they weren't? Surely, they must be. Maybe he was a cousin, son of her aunt or uncle, she simply didn't know and so she knew she had to ask. But not here, not out in the open with people looking at them. "Could we," pausing, she didn't really know how to phrase it in such a way that she didn't risk him saying no. But she couldn't say it here, either.

"Would you consider coming into the back room with me?" Faith asked, earnestly. She didn't even think what it might sound like she was suggesting. "There's... I need to talk to you." Serious silver and ruby eyes looked at him and she hoped and prayed that he said yes.

[Lucas Nardovino]

Her word cut through the environment, that was thick with judgement, like butter. He recognised it and turned to face the woman who had helped him at the order a season or so ago. It was indeed Faith and she was definitely calling out to him as she approached and he smiled at her, his skin tight from a slight razor rash he'd gained that morning. "That's me." He confirmed as she said his name seemingly uncertain.

"I remember yes, I apologise if I caused any offence, I was probably a little drunk." Between the colour leaving her cheeks and the uncertainty in her voice he assumed he had done something wrong and just didn't remember. Although he was fairly certain he had been civil and kind enough, he normally was to those that helped him. "You seem uneasy, are you alright?"

She mentioned her memories returning and Lucas eyes lit up. "That is great, I'm happy for you." Lucas smiled again, looking around him and feeling uncomfortable as the attention of the rich was drawn on them. She began to ask a question and stopped, the ex-cons curiosity peeking as he waited for her to finish her sentence. Clearly there was something important she wanted to say or maybe she was just trying to find a nice way to ask him to leave. He didn't want to scare her customers away.

Alas she finished the sentence and he blinked, eyebrow raising slightly at the odd request. Lucas was sure she said she had a husband when they met, not that she had remembered him at the time. Then again to make such assumptions was rude and inappropriate it was just as much his responsibility to respect the contract of marriage as hers. "Of course I will." He was still curious though.

Lucas followed Faith to the back room, biting his nail awkwardly as he waited for her to close the door. She seemed to be in need of privacy for whatever it was she wanted to talk to him about. "So, what is bothering you Faith?"

[Faith Augustin]

Well, if this wasn't her at her most awkward, then Faith didn't know what was, frankly. Lucas was at once kind and thoughtful and also somewhat confused as he listened to her warbling words. She waved away his apology, though, and meant it, "You were fine, there is nothing for you to apologise for. You were, in fact, very kind considering you were the patient and I the medic. Allegedly." Allegedly was right at the time, she couldn't be trusted to put a sling on a snake without her memories. He asked if she was alright and she looked at him in some surprise. "Yes, I'm fine. Really. I just... well, it's a bit of a long story." And would he like to buy a dress with that understatement, Faith thought with a slight smile.

But thankfully, he agreed to step into the back room with her and so, the pair of them went and he waited until the door had closed before asking her what was on her mind, what was bothering her and Faith turned to look at him and her hands were wringing together. "I couldn't remember, when I saw you. But your name. Nardovino? It's my birth name." She couldn't be still, she paced a little as she spoke, her nerves and anxious energy like a physical thing in the room.

"I was born in Andaris. On the first of Saun twenty arcs ago," she said, softly. "My father's name was Gregory and my mother Tian. I was one of twins and they kept the other. They sold me into slavery," There was no anger in the young woman over that, there was no accusation - only calmness, forgiveness even. "I didn't know my name or my parents until I was blessed by Vri. He gave me the memories of all my life."

Gesturing around the room, like it explained everything, she smiled. "I'm free now, and had amnesia when I met you. But when I was born, as she handed me to the slaver, my mother told me that my name was Vesna Nardovino." Faith stopped her pacing and turned, finally, to look at him. "I think we are related."

[Lucas Nardovino]

Lucas' eyes widened slightly as she stated she had once shared the same name as he did; Nardovino. It was certainly not a common name, in fact it was a rare one as far as he knew. If Lucas was a rich man he would have had reason to doubt such a claim but he had nothing to give or to lose and and so he was inclined to believe such a claim. It was not only that but he thought back to her eyes and the strange feeling of familiarity from their first encounter, what she said seemed to make sense.

He listened as she continued to tell him more. Faith claimed she was born 20 arcs earlier and although the ex-con had not thought about it for such a long time his mother had been pregnant and it was around the time that a man he was sure was his father had been briefly with them. Of course this could be a coincidence but it didn't feel like one especially as the name was spoken. "Tian?" He murmured as he looked to her, shaking his head in slight disbelief.

She continued and Lucas listened in shocked silence, he had blocked out the fact he even had siblings. As he moved into the criminal world he had been sure he would never find or meet them and as he was 5 when his mother had been pregnant it was not something he had considered.

Lucas took a deep breath, eyes closed as he processed the information. "I'm sorry I never tried to find you." A tear escaped his eye followed by another. It was a strange feeling crying due to an overwhelming feeling of happiness. After so much time suffering from misguidance and pent up rage, true happiness had escaped him for so long. "And we aren't just related."

His silvery eyes shimmered with the liquid layer coating it. "You're my sister, you're actually her." He leaned against the wall and swallowed heavily, in truth he didn't know what to think. "I can't believe it, I thought I would never get to meet you!" He reached out a hand towards her. "I'm sorry." He couldn't think of anything else to say in that moment.

[Faith Augustin]

She spoke and he closed his eyes. Faith almost stopped speaking then, concerned that she had upset or offended him. He seemed emotional, she thought and so she waited, pausing before she upset him or annoyed him further. But then, a single tear escaped and trickled down his cheek and Faith shook her head immediately. "Oh, no, please don't be upset or apologise. I was in Athart, You couldn't find me there." He wouldn't know to look and besides, the past was what it was. She took his hand and squeezed it gently as another tear followed the first. She was about to say something, something to try and calm him or soothe him, to let him know that it was alright, that she was alright.

But he spoke some more.

And Faith froze where she was.

She was his what now? Looking at him, her silver eyes held complete incomprehension as she took in his words. "Your..." how could that be? How could any of this be? She had grown up a slave in the schools of Athart, sure that she would never be more than that. An object - property to be bought and sold and nothing more. Yet, here she was, a free woman. Wife and mother she had a life and she loved, and was loved, completely. Yet here, in front of her, was her brother.

"I think I knew," she whispered. Faith Augustin did not show emotion. She put it in her hands and discarded it, she pushed it down and hid it away. She most certainly did not show it. Yet, as she took a step towards him, her lower lip trembled. "In the Order. You were so familiar." As his hand reached for her, so too did hers reach for his and she grasped on to him, digits entwined in digits. "Safe. I felt like you were safe. Lucas. My brother, Lucas." A smile lit up her face and suddenly, Faith moved to hug him.

"My brother! Oh, there's so much time to catch up on." Short, but determined. That was a clear description of Faith and in that moment Lucas had a very determined hug from a very short person. "Oh, tell me. Tell me about yourself. You... oh, We have a sister, Rey'na. You have a brother in law, my husband. He's so kind and clever and we have two beautiful children together. Twins, Noah and Madison. You are their uncle. Oh, my apologies." Forcing herself to stop what she saw as babbling, Faith nodded her head. "Tell me, please? All about you."


OOCSincere apologies for making you wait so long.

[Lucas Nardovino]

He welcomed her embrace and held her for a moment, unsure what he was supposed to do or say. This wasn't exactly his area of expertise. "I think I knew too, there was something about you." Lucas realised how lucky he was that she was meeting him now, he would have been ashamed if she had ever seen him in the past. He had been a monster, an animal that would have destroyed any chance of him being the brother he could be now.

Lucas kept hold of her hand as Faith began to speak telling him he had another sister, his family growing more than he ever would have imagined in a matter of bits. Faith told him of her husband and two children and he smiled broadly. "I'm an uncle?" His pursed his lips and shook his head, amazed by what he was experiencing. Never in his wildest dreams had he pictured this. "I can't believe this, honestly, all my prayers have been answered." His silver eyes were glossy as he wiped the tears from his cheeks and rubbed his chin, the stubble prickling his palm.

"What to tell you about me?" He wasn't sure how to describe himself, a few arcs ago he was a merciless criminal and now he was a poor man's hero. "Well, I haven't had an easy life myself." The ex-con traced a scar on his arm, one of many that littered his mortal flesh. "I suppose I wasn't a slave like you but I was a criminal, a gang member too young and foolish to see the truth of the life I was living." He sighed, a weighty sigh carrying with it the truth of the pain he carried.

Shaking his head Lucas tried to find a way to show he was no longer that man. "But I served my time, five arcs in Rharne prison, during which I saw the light and the path of good." The ex-con chuckled, knowing how much he had changed it was hard to picture himself as the criminal he had been. "I never considered myself a free man and while I am unbranded I bear my own scars that mark my enslavement."

"Now, I'm not sure what I am, a drunken dreamer perhaps." Lucas brushed his hair of his forehead and looked at Faith. "I hope I'm not a disappointment, I wish I could have told you I was some great and heroic knight but really I'm a well meaning screw up." It was hard to describe himself, it was hard to tell his won sister that he had been part of something horrid and cruel but the truth was important he was a changed man. He had no secrets any more.

"But my past is the past and yours sounds far more exciting and joyful." Lucas smiled and continued to speak. "You were freed and found love, you have a family, I am sure your story is happier than mine?"

[Faith Augustin]

He spoke about his past and Faith listened. Five arcs in prison, a gang member. Not exactly a shining recommendation, but if there was one thing Faith was good at, it was at not judging people based on what their situation was, or where their past had led them. It would be horrifically hypocritical of her to do that and she believed, very strongly, that each person should be judged based on their behavior. He had made mistakes it seemed, but that was part and parcel of being human. Having made the mistake, he had accepted the consequence and that meant that he had been given the opportunity to put it right. An opportunity which he had taken and used to it's fullest. Which meant, simply put, that Faith was proud of him.

When he said that he wished he could tell her he was a knight or some such, Faith shook her head. "I have a brother. That is an astonishment to me," it certainly was and she had no expectations on him; she didn't ever impose such nonsense on others and she wouldn't be starting such with her own brother. "But yes, you are an uncle. Noah and Madison. Twins, nearly an arc old." Faith was soft spoken, gentle in her way of being and doing and yet, when she spoke the names of her children, she nearly burst with pride. "Quite the most perfect children on Idalos," she said with a beaming smile. She had no shame when it came to them ~ they were more clever, more beautiful, more... everything than anyone else ever.

He asked her to share her story and Faith considered. There were parts of her life which were far from happy but they were long behind her and so, she told them in a sentence and then moved on. "I was a slave in Athart until I was seventeen, then taken to Andaris, where my training was completed." And that was all that he needed to hear of that time. "Then, I was bought by a noble lord, from house Venora. He was very kind to me and, when I told him that I would like to learn, he arranged for me to have a tutor." That tutor, she continued, was now her husband. She had fallen in love with him, "I think, if I'm honest, the very moment I met him." Then, one trial in Vhalar, two arcs ago, her owner had asked her if she wanted to be free.

She spoke with a calm and almost placid demeanor yet, when she said the next words, her silver eyes shone with emotion. "I ran to him. Padraig. He gave me a place to live, a home. He helped me and loves me without question." Shrugging slightly, she gestured around the place. "I attended the University, we got married, had children. Now, we live here and I put my needlecraft skills to use, with this place. It funds a faction I run, Isonomia?" She wasn't sure whether he'd have heard of the faction or not, but they were certainly quite well known and so he might well have.

If he hadn't heard of them, Faith would explain who they were, what they did. However, whether he did or didn't, she would say, quite genuinely, "If you are looking for good work to do, we have that in droves and a need of strong hands." Looking at her brother with shining silver eyes, Faith asked what was on her mind. "You'll come and meet the children and Padraig, won't you?" Her expression showed just how important to her this was, and the grin which lit her face was suddenly a beaming smile once again. "Your brother in law. Your nephew and niece. Family. Would you come to dinner?"

[Yrmellyn Cole]

Thread Rewards

Faith

Overview

A lovely thread about family reunion. I really enjoy threads where characters interact and their personalities show. One thing I really like with Faith is that even with all her blessings and the development she has gone through she is still so very much the young woman age twenty and you never make her do pompous declarations. She feels insecure. When the truth is revealed she becomes overwhelmed by feelings and burst out in jubilation, eager to include Lucas in her family. On another note, I'm also amused by how she thinks Lucas the emotional one while she sees herself as a levelheaded person who reasons in a logical manner and certainly isn't in affect. It's consistent with her age. She doesn't really see herself and how extremely emotionally she behaves in this thread, while Lucas is actually way less expressive. A bit of projection there, maybe. That's maybe just my own impression, but I like to reflect over what I read.

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Lucas

Overview

I think it's the first time I review a thread with Lucas? You write him in an incredibly believable manner. He feels out of place among the luxury and beautiful clothing, but he still stays. Self-control. He could have jumped to lewd conclusions when Faith asked to speak with him in private, but he doesn't allow himself to be that kind of man. Self-control again. He gets tears of happiness in his eyes, but he doesn't express a lot of feelings in words. It's also fairly easy to imagine that in his past he would have done all those things he doesn't do today. Bailed from the shop feeling like an underdog, taken it for granted that women who as for a chat only want one thing from him, yelled loudly about emotional reactions. And now he doesn't. He is very convincing as a truly changed man who has risen above what he once was. Even in a highly emotional situation he exerts self-control and discipline.

If you would later want knowledges for thread drop me a PM and I'll fix it.

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