[Scholar's Nook] Sewing the Distance [Faith]

[Arwel Kyric]

34th of Ymiden, Arc 717

Arwel was very much a busybody whenever he was anywhere with books. Journal out, he'd scribble notes surrounded by books on all sides, reading and examining, sketching drawings of items of interest and more.
Today was no different, of course, but in this case, he was so wrapped up in his writing that he was also singing. Very softly, but that didn't hide how nice his voice sounded. If anyone else nearby him could hear him singing, they were making no effort to let him know in case he stopped. It was a very pleasant undertone to the cafe, at least to those who could hear it.

"If I could reach the top of the world
Be all I am it'd be so beautiful
If only...
I could be brave and I could be strong
I would know where I belong
If only

I wanna feel free to be who I am
What I'm about is more than I've been
Ready to show the world who I am
Start letting out what I am holding in
Find my own place to stand
So I could be who I am"

It was a soft song, or at least the way he sang it was soft. Almost like a lullaby, soothing and sweet, with his gentle voice that hit deeper notes than you might think you would get from hearing him talk. He had a decent vocal range, and with practice might even become good at singing. Not that he was really realizing he was singing. Normally, he never sang in public, but he was wrapped up in what he was doing, and sometimes music helped him focus.

"I have it inside, I know that I do
All that I am is gonna break through
If only...
I could believe and live it right now
Take the time to work it out
If only...

I'm closer to where I'm meant to be
If I try I know that I can get there
I'm not gonna stop 'cause I believe
That there's so much more... to me to me
So much more"

He was perched on a chair in the cafe, thinking about perhaps ordering a cup of tea as he looked over a book regarding the animals of Scalvoris, and another regarding the plant life, trying to find a way to peacefully capture an animal to obtain what was needed to make a totem, but so far he was ending up with more questions than answers. He decided to go back to researching an animal that he'd make a totem from for now, and come back to the peaceful capture once he returned to the library at some later point in time.

[Faith Augustin]

relevant Lore post (qualification at the bottom of the post)
Location: The Scholars' Nook, Scalvoris Town

In fairness, Faith loved the Scholars' Nook. If there was a business in Scalvoris which she could say was her favourite, it was this one. It was a friendly and welcoming place and, more than that, it was a place filled with people who loved learning nearly as much as she did. It was truly liberating.

She was sitting, as luck and happenstance would have it, on the table next to the one where Arwel was. Not that she knew who he was so the young woman would be unlikely in the extreme to ever speak to him; but actually, on this particular trial, Faith was sitting and talking to Caz, the owner and manager of the Scholars' Nook.

"So, he has achieved his Diploma in Physics, and his Letter and Certificate in Chemistry. I don't think he'd like a big fuss or party, but I thought it might be nice to come here for tea with a few friends?" Faith said. The young woman who was sitting opposite Arwel, but on the adjacent table had pale white skin and jet black hair. Even sitting down it was obvious that she was a short individual and her slender frame made her look positively fragile. What was most obvious about her, though, were the eyes which were such a pale shade of blue that they looked silver.

"When are you two getting married?" Caz asked the young woman and Faith smiled.

"On the 122nd Vhalar. Padraig and I chose the date because it's important to us." Everyone seemed to think it would be too cold, that there were much better times to get married. If there were, Faith couldn't think of it.

"Padraig gets to choose a book," Caz looked pained, but she also smiled. She was fond of the young scholar and she couldn't begrudge him the possibility of a book. "Would you like me to invite people from the University?"

Faith considered it, then shook her head. "No. Friends and family, I think. His grandfather and Katie, Niv, Amaris. There are others that he was in the ice caves with, people he told me saved his life." The gashes on Padraig's leg had horrified her; there had been more than a little fussing. "But I don't know who they are."

"I tell you what," Caz said and smiled, "I'll ask around, see if anyone knows who went to the ice caves with him and Amaris. I haven't heard much about it, but that's fine. And you're sure that's the date you want?"

"Yes," Faith said, with a smile. "Thank you, Caz. I'd appreciate you finding out about the others on the expedition. Padraig speaks highly of them." Caz gave a half-salute and then got up.

"No worries, Faith," she said and smiled. "Padraig's a lucky guy."

Faith looked up in surprise and shook her head, but she didn't say any more than that. She didn't really have the words for it. Instead, she turned back to the books on the table where she sat.

[Arwel Kyric]

Arwel probably looked like a scholar, or student at the university with his set up. Stacks of books on all sides around him, a journal open that he took notes in with one hand on a book, finger following the sentence he was copying down. He’d pause now and then to pull a book from the stacks around him, looking up something he wasn’t sure about or wanted a visual for. His drawing skills had improved since the ice caves, or at least he thought they might have. His journal was full of notes on animals, particularly mammals, as well as any herbs that would put an animal to sleep, and anything poisonous (just so he knew what to avoid if he camped outside). He wanted to find the best way to obtain items for a totem, doing the least amount of harm to the animal if possible. So far, the Nightpup seemed like the perfect option for him for his first totem, his master in magic had mentioned that for his first totem he should choose a mammal and thinking about how it would be his first time shapechanging, he figured choosing an animal that was domesticated to some degree might be a good start. He wouldn’t have to worry about some of the traits that wild animals might spur in him during the change, or at least, that was his hope.

For the longest time, he was in his own little world researching, pausing only long enough to drink some water, though he couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. Probably before he came to the scholars nook early in the morning, shortly after it had opened. There were some books in the Scholars Nook that he hadn’t been able to find at the library, as sometimes happened when people from out of town brought in new books, and well, his love of learning meant that sometimes he’d forgo things like eating and even sleeping once or twice in his quest for knowledge. He was oblivious to the soft singing he was doing while reading and writing, likely Pash was to blame for making him more comfortable in his skills through their lessons, and probably would have remained oblivious to anything outside of his books until the nook closed if someone hadn’t nearly upset the stack of books to his left. He snapped out of his reverie to help them steady it, murmuring it was alright as they apologized and saying it was nothing. He adjusted the stack and had been about to go back into his research when he heard the words, “There are others that he was in the ice caves with, people he told me saved his life.” Lifting his head to look around, he wondered who was talking about the ice caves, and the people who had been in the expedition. Not intending to eavesdrop, his curiosity got the better of him as he listened to the rest of the conversation, in which the owner of the Scholar’s Nook offered to ask around and find others who had been on that expedition. He blinked, biting his lip as he pondered what to do next. He had been one of the people on that expedition, so perhaps he should go over? But then that would be revealing that he had eavesdropped, which would be a breach of manners and not really a great first impression on the person who wanted to find him and the others...Perhaps if he apologized first? He thought over his options for a few moments as their conversation ended and the woman who had been asking after the ice cave adventurers returned to her books. Finally, mustering up his courage, he moved to stand, closing and stowing his journal and pen, and moved over to her table. Arwel had a rather imposing figure, standing at a little over six feet tall, his arms, torso and even thighs were covered in a myriad of tattoos that added a bit of mystery to his figure. It was his face, or rather the natural look it had, that usually led people to believe that he was one of intimidation when in reality he was anything but. Today, however, as he approached Faith, the look in his eyes betrayed his nervousness, biting his lip as he approached her and running a hand through his short red hair, eyes that were now purple from becoming a Rupterer looking at her as he said hesitantly, “Ah….h-hello, miss. I hate to intrude on your reading, b-but I am afraid I o-overheard your conversation, for which I am sorry to have eavesdropped. But I heard that you were looking for members of the ice cave expedition for some reason?” he fidgeted as he said, “I-I am one of those who were on the expedition, my name is Arwel. D-did you need to find me and the others for some reason?” He dearly hoped that his eavesdropping, accidental or no, wouldn’t unduly upset her. If she was looking for them for innocent reasons then it would be nice if perhaps he could befriend her. He didn’t have many that he considered friends, though he did have a few that were more like companions, though he knew none of them on a deeper level. Padraig and the others on the expedition he felt were companions, people he would put his life in their hands, and yet he didn’t really know them very well. The caves hadn’t exactly left time for that. Though, if he could meet up with them again, he’d love to fix that, if he could get over his shyness long enough to say as such.

[Faith Augustin]

Once Caz had left, Faith lowered her head back to her books and then looked up in some surprise as a very tall man stood there. He was tall, probably about the same height as Padraig and he was broad too. Serious silver eyes looked at him and listened as he spoke. He'd heard what she was saying and had come over because... when he spoke his name, Faith smiled. This was Arwel? Padraig had told her about him; about all of it, in fairness.

"You are Arwel? It's a pleasure to meet you," the young woman said and she stood, offering her hand to him. "Please, please sit down. I'm... my name is Faith, I'm Padraig's fiancee," she explained. With a smile and a gesture she motioned to the chair opposite her. "He told me about what happened in the Ice Caves. Thank you, thank you so much for what you did for him." It wasn't her business, she knew, but the gratitude she felt was undeniable, "you saved his life, you and Amaris, and the armour you gave him meant that he could walk. We are in your debt, enormously." The young woman speaking to Arwel looked her age as she said that, a young woman in her late teens, but her eyes shone with emotion.

"I don't think I could live in a world without him." Faith said, her voice soft and just above a whisper, "if there is ever anything you need. Please, if it is within my power, it is yours." She put her hand on Arwel's arm and squeezed, just for a moment. Then, as emotion threatened to overwhelm her, she moved on to other topics. Facts. Dates. Logistics. Such was her way.

"Padraig and I are getting married on the 122nd Vhalar. We would both be delighted if you could join us. Amaris is coming, too, and Niv. I wanted to try and find you to invite you, Caz was helping me." She smiled and glanced at the books that Arwel was reading. "What... what are you studying?" Faith asked, curiosity about the world mingled with wanting to know more about the red haired man who she owed so much to.

"Are you at the university? I don't think I've seen you there?" It was more than possible he might be, of course, it was a big place and getting bigger, but Faith was resisting the urge to fire questions at him, so that she might find out everything she could. One at a time, she thought, was probably the best thing.

[Arwel Kyric]

Arwel hadn't expected the young lady to know his name, though he supposed if she was looking for those of the expedition it would make sense to learn their names...He was a bit surprised to see that she had silver eyes, his own purple ones eyeing her for a moment before ducking his head shyly and reaching out to shake her hand. He wondered if she had magic, or perhaps was a Biqaj who could change their eye color. Dropping the thought for the moment, he moved to take the chair offered to him and, when she introduced herself, something from when they were in the caves clicked and he said, "Ah, you must be Padraig's flower I heard about then," As she went on to say how he had helped save Padraig's life, he blushed and ducked his head shyly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I-I um...well...I'm glad I was able to help, but really...i-it was just the right thing to do. I did what I would want anyone to do for me...my only wish is that I was able to prevent him from having been hurt at all," he admitted. He still blamed himself for Padraig's injuries. If only he'd done better, moved faster....

He blinked, taken from his thoughts when he felt her hand squeeze his arm, telling him that if there was anything in her power that he needed, she'd do for him. He blushed darker and said, "Ah well....y-you don't have to...um...th-thank you." he finally managed to say after much stumbling over his words. He wasn't sure if he deserved such a thing from her for doing what, in his eyes, was something that went without thinking in treating Padraig and not leaving him to bleed out and die, but he didn't want to refuse it when he saw how earnest she was, and heard how strongly she felt about Padraig. It clearly meant a lot to her, so he would probably think of something small he needed that she might help with so she'd no longer feel obligated. He didn't like the idea she might feel like that over what he did, so he was thinking of the polite way of going around it.

He was entirely taken by surprise when she told him that he was, in fact, invited to a wedding. Her wedding, with Padraig. He'd never attended such an event before, but when she said they would be delighted if he could come, his mind jumped to what he was going to give them as a present. You gave presents at weddings right? Mind already overthinking on what to do for them on their big day, he glanced over his shoulder at the books when she inquired about his studies and smiled. He loved to share what he learned. "Ah well, mostly studying animals and how to safely be able to approach them, like by drugging them. Say you wanted to get mm....samples, from a wild animal, but you don't want to have to kill the creature to get it. If I could figure out the right combination of a humane trap that won't kill the animal, along with some kind of bait that when eaten would safely incapacitate the creature, then you could gather...samples, or study it in safety, without having to kill it." While the samples were more realistically, how he'd get what was needed to make a totem, the idea that he had explained was in fact what he was researching. He just didn't outright say it was for magic purposes. "Ah, no I'm not at the university. I thought about it until well...I saw how much it would cost." he said with a bit of a laugh. "I'm afraid I don't have a job, so I can't afford to go, I'm scrimping as it is just to buy a house here." he fidgeted and asked, "A-are you studying, at the university? What's it like?"

[Faith Augustin]

He seemed rather shy, Faith thought and she smiled at him as he sat down. "Yes, Padraig told me that Niv called him 'Faith's special flower'. I think he probably said it before I heard it from Niv." Which she did, of course. She heard it from Niv and it delighted her. When Arwel said that he wished he could have done more, Faith spoke the simple truth for her. "You were there for him," which was more than she had been. She should have been with him, she knew, she should have fought alongside him. Visiting professors be damned, she shouldn't have let him go on his own. It was something which she very much regretted and to hear Arwel speak as though what he had done was a small thing prompted a very serious shake of her head.

He didn't respond when she asked him about the wedding, but he seemed pleased to receive the invitation. What did that mean, Faith wondered. Either way, she would include him in the lists which were inevitable considering it was her.

But he described what he was wanting to study and Faith nodded. "That sounds like what Amaris is doing. A mixture of Zoology and Medicine, in Amaris' case. It sounds fascinating." More up her street was the study of people, but she very much approved of the study of animals. But when he said that he couldn't afford the university, Faith saw an opportunity. She didn't say anything for a moment because he had also asked a question and so she answered that, first.

"Yes, I'm an associate professor there, in medicine. I'm also studying my Charter in medicine, which I'm loving." She smiled and added, "Padraig is a professor there too, and studying also. He's a professor of physics, studying the stars and astrophysics." The pride she felt shone out of her at her description of what Padraig was doing.

"It's ... I dreamed of it as long as I knew it existed," she said, honestly. "I wasn't able to start studying until quite recently, so I very much appreciate it. You know, I get a discount as a staff member. Padraig does too. I would be more than happy to arrange for you to be able to study at no cost. If, that was, you'd accept that?" She didn't wish to be pushy, but fundamentally, Faith was more than happy to pay his fees.

[Pash Raj'oriq]

Thread Rewards

Aw! This was a fun, sweet thread between Faith and Arwel.

I’m sorry it didn’t see an end.

Faith

Points

XP:
15 | These points cannot be used for magic.

Fame:
N/A

Loot

N/A

Injuries + Overstepping

N/A

Knowledge

Skill Knowledge:
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Other Knowledge:
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