Breaking the Ice (Evangeline)

[Kainoa Nik'ua]

Timestamp: Zi'da 62, 720

Weather & Calendar Entry

Weather: No specific entry. 5 trials after the end of bad snow storms.

Calendar: No specific entry.

Kain was sitting on a barrel next to the railing of his ship, huddled up under his cloak. It wasn't quite as cold as it was a few trials ago, the sun coming out a bit, drying out the wood of his ship's deck. In his hands was his fishing rod, carved from bone and so not so frigid under his tough. He was fighting hard to keep his hands absolutely still from shivering each time a slight breeze blew through. Looking down the side of his ship, he saw the hole in the ice.

He remembered earlier in the morning when he hopped off the side of his ship, onto the ice, as he'd done several times in the last several times. But this time, his one foot cracked the ice, falling through. He'd lost his balance, falling backwards into the hard hull of his boat. His shoulder was still sore, as was his shin that got scraped up by the edge of the ice at the hole. But once he'd recovered his balance, he carefully began breaking the ice that was thinner around his boat's hull, until a decently large hole was formed.

And now he was tossing hooks into the water with chunks of old stale bread on them, for he didn't have any other bait to use. And waiting. As he waited, still shivering from time to time, he cast his eyes over the frozen bay. It was so strange, seeing what should normally be moving and alive being frozen and dead. It was unsettling for Kain. He could see people up and down the bay out playing on the ice, throwing balls of snow at one another, racing around, having fun.

It was all so terribly strange to him.

Another shiver racked through him, causing his line to shake and bounce. Then the breeze passed, and the line didn't stop bouncing. Kain's eyes went wide and his smile grew. He tightened his line grip hand around the string, pulling up on the pole. He saw the tip bend and then start being pulled. He had a bite! He stood up, giving a few test pulls, trying to get a feel for the weight of it. It jerked back, trying to escape further into the ice. Kain remembered the ice scraping his shins, and tightened his hand hard around the loose line, feeling it bite into his skin before coming to a stop. He slowly pulled backwards against the fish, his eyes serious and hardened.

He saw the deep bend in his pole, and tipped it forward to lessen the strain, which caused the fish to run a bit more. He had to change tactics or he'd lose string or his pole. Kain tried a direction change, going from downward to hard to his right. As he did this, he watched the fish start trying to run to the right as well, and he felt its hard pull lessen a bit. And in that moment, he pulled in a bit more of the line.

Kain kept this up, over and over for several long bits, slowly bringing the fish in, his arms burning from the strain. He slowly pulled the blood slicked line up and out of the water, seeing the fish splash all about. He began pulling it further up to the ship, reaching out to grab the line just above the fish. The creature bounced, and one of its fins sliced right through the line, and it fell back down into the water, darting away under the ice.

"Foooooooooooooooooooooooooook!"

Seething in annoyance, Kain fixed up the line on his pole, wrapping slightly cut hand in a cloth. He stowed away his pole, grabbed his pack, and stormed off his ship in a huff. He needed to walk it off, his gait agitated. He was stomping heavily through the slush, ignoring the people he walked past who ignored him in equal measures.

This place sucked.

[Evangeline Quinn]

Zi'da 62, Arc 720

Another day off, another walk. The sun was trying the break free, but the warmth was having a hard time reaching Evangeline. It felt good to be outside, but she was struggling to appreciate the beauty of the place she lived on that particular trial. It was fair to say that the young woman had been in a mood for a while now, although she didn’t know what it was or how to break free from it. Others had described it, from their perspective, as melancholy. She supposed that could be the case, but she didn’t know.

There was a list of things she wanted to accomplish so setting off into town, she crossed past the docks, not bothering to glance over the boats there. The boats were always there. Nothing new to see. Her boots took her up into a small cluster of shops near the docks but really, all she wanted to do was a little window shopping. Pretty things were nice to look at but not necessities and if it wasn't a necessity, Eva didn't need it.

Moving past the shops, a few people recognized her from the tavern and called out to her. As always, she offered a quick smile but nothing more, moving past them quickly. Work was one thing – she had to socialize there…but this was her own private time and Evageline didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to. The young woman really didn’t mean to be that way but her time away from the tavern was her time to recharge and renew. It took a lot of energy to smile and such trial in and trial out.

Wrapping her cloak tighter around her lithe body, she continued on further into the city and promptly forgot about the things she had wanted to do, focusing on the thoughts in her mind instead. Eva had plans, things she wanted to do with her life…but they held little interest to her at the moment. It was simply about getting through each trial the best she could with a little grace and the desire to do better the next trial. The problem always came with the next trial when she felt like she had taken one step forward, then two backwards. It was…frustrating. She felt like the moment she was making progress with her situation in Melrath, something sucked her backwards.

How could you fight something you couldn’t see?

[Kainoa Nik'ua]

As he was walking along the road in front of the docks, he slipped a bit on a slushy patch, cursing as he swung his arms about to regain his balance. Once he recovered, shook his head a moment, he found himself looking forward. And he saw that big hair again. He smiled. Curly. She was the only person who had been nice to him since he had arrived in this town. And she was the only one who had any manners.

He was about to run up after her, raising his arm, about to call her name, when he slipped again. Stumbling and swearing once more, he realised that maybe this was a sign. Maybe from U'frek, maybe from someone else. He'd already interrupted one of her walkabouts, perhaps he shouldn't interrupt another. Still, he was curious, about her. So, he decided that he would just happened to be walking in the same direction she was going. He saw that she didn't even bother to look over at the ships.

Still bothered by whatever made her not care for water, was his guess.

He followed at her, stopping to look at anything that turned her head. She was at least twenty five yards out ahead of him, and he wasn't trying to hide his walking. He saw she passed by some shops, one with jewelry, one with a deep sapphire dress, another carrying finely carved dolls. But she didn't seem to be interested in any of them. He heard people call out to her and she gave them a quick, polite moment of her time, but moved on quickly.

That was interesting. She'd talked more to him than these people who knew her, it seemed. He stopped at one small tool stand, buying some of the cheapest rusty fishing hooks the man had to offer, before continuing on after her. She turned a corner, heading deeper into the city, and Kain stopped, grabbing a piece of trials old stale bed for quite a cheap deal. He chomped on it as he walked, turning the same corner.

But now she seemed to be walking... differently. Certainly slower now, but she was seemingly a bit more aimless. Just wandering, no longer walking with a purpose. He smiled. He could appreciate that. Purpose was not something he really cared for. He decided to take a page from her book, and stopped following her specifically. And he just walked, chewing on his bread, taking in the surroundings. The road was gross with mud and slush, but the buildings seem well made. The people here certainly cared about how everything looked and expected it to be the best here. Kain assumed them to be a prideful people.

Reaching a particular tough end of the bread, he saw some sea gulls up ahead, dancing about looking for some scraps near a fried fish stall. He pulled his arm back, lobbing the hunk of bread right into the middle of the group, causing them to momentarily squawk and scatter, before regrouping and attack the bread. He chuckled to himself, looking back around the road, wondering where Curly had gone to now.

[Evangeline Quinn]

Zi'da 62, Arc 720

It wasn’t that she didn’t have a destination. It was more that she didn’t want one. She was unsure why the sudden shift in mood, but she didn't have the energy to fight it so she allowed it to take her where it would.

As her feet plodded along the streets, Evangeline considered what the possible sources could be. The weather? Doubtful. Having lived in Melrath her entire life, she was used to it. Work? Again, not really. The young woman was used to the trial in and trial out exhaustion of working at a high traffic place such as the tavern. The people that worked there were nice – she had a good relationship with all of them. She allowed them to see more of her than most yet….it still wasn’t even half of who she was. The whole point of it was that she didn’t want people to know who she was. It wasn’t any of their business.

Without realizing it, her feet took her to the one place that caused the most confusion for her – the water. Somewhere in the middle of the city, her direction had shifted, taking her down to a small sandy area near the water. Sighing softly, Evagenline found her way to a small fallen log that had drifted to shore. It appeared dry – a perfect place to sit and contemplate. Staring out at the water, thoughts drifted in and out. She remembered the day they had died, her parents. Only four arcs old when her grandmother came to claim her, her younger version hadn’t understood the implications of what she had been told for at least another arc beyond. From that trial on, she had been something less. There was a part of her missing
.
Her grandmother had tried her best to find things of interest for the child. The closest she could ever come up with was teaching her a bit of local medicine. The serious child turned into a serious teenager…and then a serious young woman with no one she considered a friend and few acquaintances…and that was the way she liked it.

Or did she?

She often considered why she pushed people away. Was she afraid of something? It was then that she noticed the tears running down her cheeks. Luckily, no one was there to see. Maybe she was afraid of letting people down if they knew the real her. The answer to her question wasn’t easy to figure out. It meant unraveling a lifetime of hurt and pain and Evangeline wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

The tears fell faster and before she knew it, her face was in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

[Kainoa Nik'ua]

It didn't take Kain long to find Curly again. Her big hair made it pretty easy. He followed after her, seeing her turn yet another corner. He saw the water out in front of them at the end of the road now. It wasn't a section of docks, simply soft coast line. The ice that met the shore was broken and sloshing gently from the tides, but further out it was frozen solid. Kain walked slowly after her, curious to see her approaching the water again. He knew she didn't like it, she had said as much quite plainly.

He watched her sit down on a piece of drift wood, seemingly looking out over the water. He walked over, picking a building on the corner to lean against, arms crossed watching her. Then he saw her begin to cry and sob, holding her face in his hands, and he felt his heart begin to break. She wasn't afraid of the seas, she was pained by them. He didn't know her story, but it mattered not, as Kain's mind was beginning to make itself up.

He would honor U'frek, he would honor the seas, by using them to bring this woman peace and happiness, in his own way. The oceans sparked such joy in himself and it pained him to see others not to experience those joys too. No, he would help her, from a distance. He had seen that she while she seemed to know those people earlier, she was not particularly close to them, having cut any potential conversation pretty short.

Kain watched and waited, for he needed to see one more thing from her if he were to follow through on this plan of his. He would need to see where she worked or lived. He knew it was a tavern but he didn't spend much time in taverns so he wasn't sure which. So he would watch her, he would wait for her to finish, before continuing to follow her, his curiosity shifting to a dogged determination to do right be her and by the seas and by U'frek.

He could only assume she had lost someone to the waters. A parent? Sibling? A lover? It was a coastal town, so really any of these could be expected. It happened often. But it seemed that she didn't know that those who were taken by the oceans were not gone. They became part of the waters, to help embrace you when you swim, to help guide you when you sail, to help feed you when you fish. It was one of the few beliefs Kain was raised with that he still held dear to his heart.

And he would show her this way.

[Evangeline Quinn]

Zi'da 62, Arc 720

It had been a long time since she had cried. Holding things in was what she did best. Evangeline had done it for years with her grandmother, not wanting her to know the pain she was in. Even since her passing, she had held it together. The young woman had to. She was alone and there was no one else to count on. Counting on people meant they might go away. She didn’t need any more pain.

Eventually, the tears subsided and she could breathe again. Taking depth breaths, she watched the water, synchronizing her breathing to the waves, focusing on calming down. Over the arcs, she had needed to find ways to soothe herself instead of having the comfort of someone there to help. While she hadn’t wanted to use the water, Eva couldn’t deny that the water….was always there.

Standing up, she decided that it was time to go home. Slowly walking down the beach, her eyes stayed with the water. Walking along the shore, she knew she could follow it almost all the way to the docks. Good. Less chance of running into people. It was never fun explaining why one’s face looked like a ruddy mess after a cry and she wasn’t in the mood to gently explain to others that she didn’t need help.

Finally seeing the docks, she swerved inland and found her way but up into the streets again. Hopefully, she didn’t look too bad but just in case, she quickly drug the hood of the cloak over masses of curly blond hair. She wanted to be home, in front of the fireplace with her blanket. Maybe she would cook something special for herself that evening. Beef stew sounded good. Busying her mind with mudane things helped her forget, at least for a moment, the more disturbing thoughts regarding her pain.

Turning down a small street, anyone watching would see the young woman swiftly enter a small, well-kept house. It wasn’t a lot but to her, it was a sanctuary – her one safe place.

[Kainoa Nik'ua]

Kain watched her stand up, and he pulled himself away from the building, ready to dip down the alley if she decided to come this way. But rather than coming back the way she came, she decided to take the sandy route. He smiled. She had chosen that route. Maybe she still wanted comfort from the ocean, even if she didn't know it or didn't want to admit it. He would happily help. Waiting for her to get a fair bit down the sands, Kain walked quickly over to where she'd sat, picking up the driftwood log she'd been parked upon. It was light, still a bit water logged though not too bad.

And he smiled to himself.

He knew what he'd be doing. He'd have to run some errands first, but this would be a good start. He walked down to the water's edge, a stone's throw both back and away from Eva. He kept her in his field of vision, enjoying a stroll along the waters. And he spoke to U'frek and his waters, in his native tongue, lightly smiling as he did, "Ocean Father, please, help to guide my hands and my heart true. Help me mend that which isn't broken, help me find that which isn't lost. The happiness I have sought for myself, I wish to help her find. All should be brought joy by your bounties, none should fear you. Saying your name should cause joy in the hearts." It was half a pray to U'frek, half a reminder to himself.

He kicked at chunks of ice left on the beach, sending them back into the ocean spray, as the tide continue to ebb away. Up ahead, he saw the masts, back to the docks. Wherever she was heading, be it home or work, it was close to his favorite part of every town. All the best towns were those with ports. Ports were honest, earnest, alive. They stopped not for anything. They could be dark and brutal and painful and savage, but they were always real. They united the entire world by U'frek. Part of him wondered what it would be like building a new port, seeing it grow, seeing what it could become. That could be fun.

But he had something else to do for now.

He watched Eva turn again off of the harbor road, and he jogged up over the loose sands to not lose sight of her. Rushing up to the corner where he'd last seen her, he realised he couldn't see her large curly mop of hair anymore. Shit. He started walking up the road, looking at each person he came upon, determined to not lose her, not again. He was cursing himself for getting lost in his own daydreams. Yet again, a lack of discipline struck again.

Then he saw her turn toward a door way. Her giant curtain of hair couldn't fully be contained by a mere cloak hood. Seeing her profile, he smiled, watching as she entered a home. He waited until she was inside, walking up and looking at it. It was cute, clean and orderly. Still, not a place he'd ever live. He had trouble enough sleeping when his boat wouldn't rock due to the frozen bay, he couldn't imagine sleeping on land. Not unless he was really drunk.

But it was good to know where she lived. Time to get his plan going. Smirking, he tossed the driftwood log to his other hand, promptly dropping it to the slush. "Fook," picking it back up, wiping it off with his cloak, and moving down the road.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Quinn

Points awarded: 15 xp
Magic xp: none

Knowledge:

Psychology - The source of depression sometimes isn't readily evident
Psychology - Sometimes depression is a one step forward - two steps back proposition
Discipline - Regaining control after being upset
Discipline - Understanding the reasons why one needs learn discipline and how it develops.
Discipline - Sometimes focusing on getting through the trial is the best you can do.
Mediation - Timing breath to waves helps focus
Detection - Recognizing faces of patrons of your place of employment
Socialization - Hiding pain with a smile

Renown: 0
Loot: nothing.
Injuries/Overstepping: N/A
Wealth Points: N/A

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: This was an interesting exercise, a thread without dialogue between two characters, as Kain was either too shy or else reluctant to walk up to and talk to Quinn. I suppose seeing her cry might've put anyone off. Nevertheless, an interesting and different thread, the likes of which I haven't seen before.

The depression of Quinn seemed well portrayed. I think she should work on remaining aware of her surroundings, though, as she just got a persistent follower shadowing her across a quarter of the city! Nevertheless, I look forward to reading more about Kain and Quinn's earlier interactions in detail.

Kain if you ever return and want rewards/knowledge, please resubmit to the review queue with your skills used and knowledge requested.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!