Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

After a long, good sleep, Evangeline had to admit that she was feeling a bit better. While not optimal, releasing the emotions she had the trial before had helped a tremendous amount. They were still there, of course, but they held a little less power than previously.

The young woman wasn't due at the tavern until the afternoon, so she had the morning to poke around her house and get herself ready. Breakfast was the first order of the trial. Grabbing a few eggs and bread, she quietly set about making her favorite morning meal. There was just something about the smell of fried eggs with lightly toasted bread that made the young woman happy. As she worked, Evangeline thought about why the meal gave her a bit of joy and remembered that it had been one of the first things she had be taught to do for herself.

Taking her plate of food into the main room, she swiftly took up residence on the couch with her favorite cozy blanket and quietly ate, letting the fire slowly warm her on the outside…and the meal on the inside. To be honest, she wasn’t sure why her mood had shifted into something a bit more positive, but Evangeline wasn’t about to question it. It felt good not to be fighting herself for once.

Deciding to go outside and sit on her front step for a bit, she quickly got dressed and finally emerged, clad in a simple sapphire dress, long blond tresses braided and looking a bit more put together, she sat down and let her eyes gaze about the area. It was then that something caught her eye. Unsure at first what she was seeing, she blinked a bit as she stood again and slowly made her way over to her windowsill. There, perfectly centered within the space, was a piece of driftwood that had been carved into…something. Tilting her head curiously, Evangeline tried to figure out what it could be when she realized that it reminded her of…. a fish? Crudely done, obviously, but that wasn’t the point.

Looking around, she wondered how it had gotten there. Someone had to have put it there but for the life of her, the young woman couldn’t figure out who. Running her hand over the surface of the piece, she picked up the driftwood gift, needing to hold it for a bit. Going back over to her spot on the step, she lowered once again and simply sat there, cradling the driftwood.

She often sat on her step…but this time, there was a difference as a small smile was beginning to creep in. Someone had given her a gift and no matter the result, it was the thought that counted.

Evangeline was still sitting on the step, cradling the driftwood fish, when a familiar voice called out to her. Looking up, she found the fisherman she had spent a bit of time with a few trials before. He kept his distance, waving at her from the road, which seemed a bit odd considering what he knew of the man. Their first meeting had been a study in extremes but by the end, he had seemed more subdued. She hadn’t figured out why but then again, she hadn’t really given him much of a chance. He was someone different than herself but that didn’t mean it was necessarily a bad thing.

Waving a small wave, which she had done exactly never in her life, she rose from the step and walked towards him, fish still cradled in her arms like the precious thing it was. “Good morning, Kainoa. It’s nice to see you again. I’m well, thank you for asking. Yourself?” Her tone wasn’t happy, nor unpleasant. It rode the line somewhere in the middle. The unexpected present had put her in a somewhat good mood and as such, she extended the fisherman some additional patience. He seemed to be genuinely trying not to upset her.

If only she could do something about his dialect, she mused. No. That wasn’t right. He was who he was and changing him would mean changing who he was. She just wasn’t used to it yet but maybe, given time, she could be. Only time would tell.

He had told her a bit about himself the trial they had met but she hadn’t pursued the matter due to irritation and deviation from her schedule. It was a poor excuse for rudeness. Evangeline hadn’t meant to be but…it was complicated. Maybe if she asked, he would indulge her curiosity a bit.

“Kainoa, would you like to sit with me for a bit? I was admiring the view from my house. Or perhaps it looks like you are headed someplace? I wouldn’t want to interfere…” Regardless of his choice, the offer had been issued. She owed him another chance.

Walking up to him, she immediately was reminded how hard it was sometimes to decipher what he was saying. The sun was out, yes. Wind? Probably. Oh…on his way to the water which he considered home. The rest was rather self-explanatory. As he mentioned the wood-carved fish in her arms, she looked down at it and smiled a bit before returning her attention to him. “Someone left it for me. I don’t know who. It’s…. it’s the first gift anyone has ever given me. I just wish I knew who left it so I could say a proper thank you.”

Something others would always notice about the young blond was her voice. The way she spoke was clear, concise, and soft. Almost lyrical. Like music being spoken.

Accepting her offer, they both walked back over to the porch and got settled. Evangeline noted his bucket and trowel but said nothing of them. A good thing too as before long, she was having to interpret his words again. It was harder when he talked more than a few sentences…and he seemed to like to talk A lot. Focusing, the young woman thought she knew what he was asking. Hopefully. Nodding in response, she looked out at the water. “I like to watch people from here...but as well, the scenery allows my mind the chance to escape. I like to think about other places of my own creation. Different worlds. Not here. Someplace…else.” Someplace where she wasn’t sad.

He talked about the views from his boat. Maybe. Possibly? It seemed as though he felt there were one of the best parts about sailing. She wouldn’t know that…but Evangeline knew something about watching the weather roll in from her house. “I love watching storms coming in. I don’t mind the sun so much but for some reason, I really like storms. Sitting inside my house or on the porch, watching the dark clouds roll in. But I suspect that it’s not quite the same when you are in a boat on the water.”

“Kain,” she repeated. “I like that name. You can call me Evangeline…or Eva. I find that people usually prefer one name or another and it sticks. Whichever you like better is fine with me. Most tend not to bother with the longer version.” Unlike him, she chose not to divulge if she had a preference for one name or the other.

Nodding at the bucket, she brought cradled the wood fish closer to her and asked about the items. “What are you up to totrial?"

Arching an eyebrow softly at the invitation, Eva quickly considered her options. Kain was, essentially, a nice guy. A little over the top sometimes but she never felt as though he meant anything by it. She did wonder from time to time if all Biqaj were like him, trying to recall the times she had encountered them at the Cove. Watching him rise, her eyes rose with him, attempting to make up her mind. The young woman looked back at the front door to her house, but then rose too, placing her wooden fish next to the front door. “Alright then. I have some time. Show me this buried treasure you speak of.”

Following him, she offered up a small smile. He was a bit quieter this time around, seemingly enjoying the view, their first encounter, he had talked a great deal. With his accent, it had been a bit overwhelming but this time, something seemed to be tempering his inclination to fill the silences with chatter, giving her time to think of something to say. “Oh, how is your boat? Did you manage to figure out how to keep the snow from piling up so much?” There was the briefest urge to offer to help him, should he need it…but she kept her mouth shut, although Evangeline wasn’t sure why.

His question about her trial was met with a small smile and quiet reply. “I work later totrial. I didn’t have much planned for totrial so it’s lucky you stopped by.” The young woman was being kind, but she curiously wondered if there was truth to what she was saying. He had been lucky to catch her outside her home - that was true. She wanted to say that she was happy he had asked to her join him, but Evangeline wasn’t sure if that was one bridge too far yet. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the invitation really…but the truth generally had a way of working itself out.

“Thank you…for the invitation.” Yes, that was the least she could say, and it was truthful. She was appreciative of the offer.