Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Adam Michaels eyes fell upon a woman whod fumbled into him and her groceries that fell on the ground and his blue eyes immediately lit up. He saw a wonderful opportunity to help a Scalvorian in a moment of trouble after all he wanted to prove his worth and earn his stripes in the elements.

Strangely enough though his otherwise outrageous ego seemed to be put in check as Adam disciplined himself. It did not follow the treatise hed devised to keep himself out of trouble, to start tapping into empathic connections and mental weaves on people not out to do him or other citizens harm that was gonna get him in trouble with his boss lady.

He was shocked for a moment trying to recall the conversation that she fluidly threw out there like what happened two arcs ago happened in three trills, he remembered meeting her at a bar in Andaris and he rememembered her weave and suddenly it came pouring back into his mind. This was the woman that had been psychologically conditioned, brain washed into devoted service. Even if things changed for her on the outside, her inner tangle was still the same. He knew what he felt and saw, in many ways Adam knew Faith more intimately then her lovers or best friends maybe even herself with his outside perspective looking in. The real chains with Faith weren't physical they were internal beyond skin and bone at least that was his summary of her tangle.

Regardless hed lost his chance at purchasing her, those many moons ago. But he himself was a slave, in much the same way from the seekers to Vuda to Augiery to now with the Elements under Sephiras watchful eyes.

He exuded freedom but lacked it in very much the same way. After all he did recall shed rather die then fuck him, but Adam was an outside stimulus at the time; what he translated it as was I'd rather be dead then viewed as ruined by my master. The theory went if he had purchased her from Jamal and he was her master her tune would have changed, and she might be putting the spit shine on his codepiece to this day with nothing short of complete enthusiasm.

The difference between Fundamental and Programmed.

To Adam she was a bird with a broken wing, that overcame it's disability becoming stronger in other areas to compensate. These were Adams internal musings, as her reputation had proceeded her long after they met. The only real way to test it was with an internal stimulus from what he theorized she latched onto as her master, if her master wanted everyone with black hair to die and she had to pull the lever hed wager all of Idalos shed pull it incapable otherwise of any other action.

Or maybe that's just what Adams ego had to tell the man to get over the fact someone found him less then suitable.

Adam snapped back into reality real quick almost missing the fact she almost called him master as his mind wandered mulling over that.

"Actually yes, yes I do...Faith was it? You've got quite the reputation, I'm happy to see you doing so well? Still with the nobles? I joined the Elements myself.

I'm actually glad I bumped into you.

If I recall I was pretty rude to you back then, and after my struggles in Augiery I understand it a bit more.

And I just wanted to say,
I'm sorry. as he knelt down and began helping her pick up her lost perishables that fell on the ground salvaging what he could.

Of course that should of been the end of it but Adams ego egged him on, for science! As it writhed within demanding the use of empathy. He suppressed it however, knowing full well that Sephira might give him demerits or worse.

"I'm new to the area, and I could really use some ~help~.A real emphasis on the word help, he wondered if it was a trigger word.

"I just need to find my way to a tailor, like to get some threads and linins and start working on needle craft. I find the idea of it as possibly a relaxing hobby" seemed like a strange craft for a fellow like Adam but there was more to it then that, Adam thought maybe needle craft and sewing might make him a better empath by messing with mundane threads and creating tapestries Adam could begin stitching and weaving empathic threads with greater proficiency.

But Adam was an inventive and intuitive fellow a regular renaissance man that wondered if the key phrase ~Help~ might be a trigger to Serve in which subconsciously shed be the best slave she could be.

Or maybe Adam was just bat shit crazy.

"Sorry about emphasising help, sort of depressing out here. Everyone and there grandmother seems to hate the elements, it would simply be nice to get a hand. Shit I know what you mean about scary, can't even ask for directions without worrying someones gonna knife you in the back alleys." There was no lie there, people hated the elements and danger lurked around every corner.

Adams ego wanted to present itself as smart, when Faith imposed the question of Augiery. The man wanted to flaunt his intelligence, as he exuded a charismatic demeanor as a grand master seducer.

"Yea Augiery was a mistake thought I'd find what I was looking for, and wound up becoming a slave. Wasn't the deal I thought it was going to be, until finally I escaped. Even when I wasn't in chains I still felt like I was sometimes I still do, it was a difficult time but I saw myself through it. Or at least that's what id like to think." Adam took a moment to evaluate the situation and collect his thoughts, as best to empathize with her after establishing a mutual connection they were both slaves at one point.

"Truthfully I often wonder if there are kinds of wounds you can't see out right. I often felt psychological scars became manifestations of physical dysfunction. Maybe even to a point where slavery in and of itself is abuse, which in and of itself would be illegal as you can't hold slaves if you abuse them.

What are your thoughts? Adam was interested in what Faiths stance on slavery was because he knew she was bound to have one, it seemed like the perfect conversation as hed give Faith time to project her thoughts.

Adam took another moment, as he listened to what she had to say.

Yea that would be great, I'd love to get a sewing kit and meet everyone at the nook that sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe you could show me a trick or two while we are there to get me started, I'm interested in all of it.

Well that is if your ok, your eyes are all red.

If your too tired and need to go back home

I totally understand."
Adam had noticed but couldn't distinguish if it was anything special, but hed be polite her eyes looked glazed.

" And no,thank you!
I appreciate the help by the way I love your smile,"

Adam listened to Faiths stance on slavery and her correction of his thoughts, he never did get branded and most of his dealings with his Naerikk master he had cards in his hand through empathy. Part of Adam felt bad genuinely as hed never really put much thought into what Faiths trial to trial life was like, but then there was another part of Adam his lothario ego and it was so diabolically egomaniacal it felt itself a god among mortal men and it seemed more concerned on free will and what constituted as such and could that mean you could be program into devotion and worship? Or that maybe it deserved marks praise and recognition from immortals too, but Adam brushed it off.

One thing was obvious Adam was in fact listening, and paying attention. But continuing talking about negative things had a way of ruining the ambience of fun.

And when she spoke with such pride and pleasure about her marks of Famula Adam gently rubbed the side of his neck remembering his collar. Hed almost forgotten the time they met again, twas brief but Adam had left bitterly expecting to purchase her to find he was runner up to the nobles once again. She displayed those tattoos the same way she flaunted Venoran chains, exactly the same way.

It was interesting, she hadn't mentioned her husband with half the enthusiasm.

"I love your ink it's so pretty, did he do them himself? Wouldn't that hurt on your neck? Would it be ok if I see them a little closer?" Adam asked quietly as he extended his hand very casually for her own to rest upon it if she wished. It was clear he understood he scared her the first time they met, and it would be her choice to let Adam investigate the tapestry and designs of her artwork. But the Seducer he was would be cautious of her personal space.

But if he could get a good look at her design hed know the pattern to play with. What a wonderful gift idea, not a Famula inspired tapestry or quilt of course but rather the thought of Adam whenever she was cozy by the fire with it. Yes the thought of Adam, the ultimate gift as his narcissistic ego writhed too and fro within but Adam would once again resist the addictive urge to cast magic.

After all in a way the military service with the elements was benefiting him as he was becoming a disciplined seducer, sharper more agile then his lesser peers. Rather then suppress his emotions hed focus them like a spearman or archer to pierce hearts with precision and finality.

"You know that's so true it is contagious, all I need for a perfect trial is a smile as happy and lovely as yours."

Adam seemed taken back by all the threads and tangles around him as he stepped into the shop, balls of yarn folded fabrics the man seemed lost in this new and exciting world even his ego the back seat driver it was shut up for a moment. But he knew what colors he wanted naturally it was yellowish green, when told too choose. He was specific in green and yellow color schemes. Those caught his interest and he nodded enthusiastically. Green and yellow fabrics, nice spools of threads and some green and yellow yarn he might have had too much but he seemed very confidant in his choices.

Adam was rather convinced this was the manliest man cave hed ever stepped foot in.

"Yes id like a little of everything, this is going to be so much fun.

I can't wait to get started." Adam beamed a smile of pure delight, he really was fascinated with the idea of threads and needle crafts.

Adam found it very hard to read Faith, to decipher the perplexing seduction puzzle that she was. Hed made a mental note of Famula being a woman and that she was blood, souls and resurrection. And that Faiths hair had bristled when he had mentioned his assumptions wrong, after all he was a keen observer of body language and tells and that hadn't been a good sign. She was still apprehensive around Adam cautious with him and justifiably so.

Discipline was but a shield and seduction his spear, but hed learned patients as hed wave the spear high to raise the shield up wave the spear low and the shield will follow. Adam would be patient to thrust at his openings as they came to him when he spotted what he believed a chink in the armor under the pretense of And If I did.

"Oh really? Did you think of meeting me again?" Adam took a moment to smile sheepishly with a cocky grin. "Why? Where did you see us? Maybe traveling the world? In Rharne with mead in our cups? Bathing in the sun by the oceans shores right here in scalv?" Adam stopped a moment as if pondering something. "the weather is quite beautiful, maybe we should capitalize on it and go for a picnic on the shore tomorrow?" Adam seized the moment to offer a second meeting to test the waters and see if she was interest as hed go for the opening.

Of course it would have been different, Tristans story of a would be king in the sad menagerie that was Rynmere. His story to Adam was filled of what ifs. What if he stood up to his brother? What if he dueled Padraig? What if he used his power and influence to make him disappear to woo a freed Faith to his bedside and make the decision hers? What if he decided that the woman he adored was worth more then all the dutchies and kingdoms of rynmere. His love and adoration fell short, and he lost as he declared his feelings but could never muster the courage to act upon them. Adam might not have been able to afford the silver lining, but she wouldn't have been staring at an empty bed with dissatisfaction yearning for something more either as she made it.

"Oh needle crafts? There's magic in threads the things people desire most can be found in them, the things you can weave the tapestries I think maybe I'm just a slave to fashion; you could say I'm a Maven in the making." As Adam jested a bit trying to break the ice with humor.

But as he did so he was choosing the number seven needles and hooks. As her taken time once again to listen to her advice on the subject.

Just a little

Of everything,

Was what Adam was about.