Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Blacksmith and The Bookworm (1x1)

Roisin's eyes teared up as she remained quiet. She mumbled something quietly and looked over at Jude. "I guess I never truly thought about that. Thank you." She said. "Is your town close or far from here? I think I would like to see you more." Roisin confessed. She wanted to check something about herself first before she decided to act on it.

Jude smiled faintly, and he offered her a handkerchief. "I would like that. It is about a three-day journey from here, traveling by cart at an easy pace. It would be easy to cut that time down quite a bit."

She took the handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. "Okay, that sounds great. I would for sure come by." Roisin hummed as she gave it back. "What about you? What's your story?" Roisin asked.

"You want to hear my story on the back of your severe trauma?" Jude chuckled. He gave her shoulder one more squeeze before letting go. "There really is not much to tell. My hometown is so small that it has never been given an official name. It has had plenty of unofficial names over the years - most of them not fit for polite company - but no official name. It also drifts just a little bit over the years. It remains in roughly the same area, but if there are more problems to the south, the townsfolk move to the southern edge of the city. If the trees are better to the north, we go north. So, the entire town sort of rotates around a central point that may or may not stay put."

Roisin smiled a bit. "It seems fitting." She hummed. "However it's quite interesting why your hometown hasn't claimed an official name to it. What about your family? What are they like. I can't only assume based on what you told me from our time at the tavern." Roisin said as she leaned back a bit, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around her.

"My parents are both alive and still working hard," Jude said, leaning back on his hands. "My father loves the work. He puts his heart and soul into it, and he is the type who rarely says a word, but when he completes a job he is satisfied with, he gives a nod." Jude pulled a serious expression and gave a firm nod as an example. "He also grunts in approval or disapproval, and it takes him a long time to make a decision, but once he does, everyone abides by it because they trust it's the right one. My mother runs her household and the local school with an iron discipline that would fool anyone into thinking she'd been a part of the army at some point. If something needs doing, you can bet she will get it done. I have one older brother and a younger sister, as I have mentioned. My older brother is a lot like our father, married, and chose to move to another rail town that was hurting for workers. I think he has two children now? My sister still lives in our hometown, just recently married, and she is still as fiesty as ever."

Roisin listened and let out a soft laugh when he gave a small example of his father. "Your family seems like lovely people. Do you enjoy being an uncle to your brother's children?" She asked. Roisin was relaxed and was enjoying the time she was having with Jude. Not only that, but she was also enjoying learning more about him.

"I've only met the older one once," Jude admitted, "during a winter festival. They live too far away for me to really be much of an uncle to them. They seem like good children, though, and my sister-in-law writes monthly reports on how the family is doing. Sometimes, during the winter, we might go two or three months without hearing from them because of the snow, but we keep well abreast of how they are doing."

She nodded. "I agree. Distance makes it hard to become an uncle or aunt." Roisin hummed softly. She remained quiet for a bit before speaking a bit. "I'm sorry for last night and for getting upset with you," Roisin said quietly, looking away. She was embarrassed by her actions, not by apologizing to him. She knows he deserves one and much more.

"Thank you," Jude said, accepting her apology. "I know you were very hurt and upset and just lashing out a bit. I am glad you came to try to make it right before I leave. Though, I might be back in a few months, so we can see each other again then." He smiled at her.

Her head perked up and looked at him. "In a few months? As of now, right?" She asked, eagerly. Roisin heard herself before clearing her throat, turning slightly red. "Well, at least I would still see you. Even if not soon, I will still come to your hometown. Will you be my guide when I come by?" She asked with a small smile.

Jude chuckled at that. "Of course! I will take you all around and show you all the corners and the gardens. I will take you out into my forest and show you all the best picnic spots. There is even a waterfall I can show you."

"That sounds lovely. Especially the waterfall. My hometown used to have one." Roisin hummed softly. She sighed softly as she began to remember her homeland. "Do you live by yourself or with your parents?" Roisin asked as she was trying to stir her thoughts away from the memories.

"With my parents. Generational dwelling is pretty common in our area. There simply is no point in singles living on their own, for the most part, and many times even married couples live with one of the parental sets. There are several families who live together four generations strong. It is easier to live and work together to help each other out, and sometimes a group of singles will decide to have a house alone in order to practice living on their own, especially if they intend to marry or move away from the town. Of course, there are exceptions, but I am not one of them," Jude explained.

A light knock on the door announced the return of the laundry, now cleaned, pressed, and neatly folded. The laundress did not bother to wait for anyone to open the door, leaving the basket in front of it and carrying on. She had a lot more stops to make.

"I guess that's what we have in common. However, with married couples, they must choose one household to stay in. It's up to the wife's parents to decide, unless a child is included, then it's different. They have the freedom to shift between two households." Riosin explained. Her ears twitched when a light knock was heard.

"Was that the door? Want me to get it?" She asked as she removed the blanket from her and got up. She stretched once she did.

"It's likely just the laundry, so go ahead," Jude nodded. "Your clothing should be nice and cleaned now." And probably patched. She charged extra for that, but it was worth it.

Roisin nodded as she went towards the door. She than grabbed the laundry, closing the door behind her. Roisin put Jude's clothing on the bed before getting hers. She noticed the patchwork.

"Jude, you didn't have to. How much was it?" She asked, amazed by the work. Roisin normally did it, though it wasn't nice like the one on her clothing.

Jude waved a hand dismissively. "The company pays for it, and as it is my last day, I don't think they'll be too annoyed by me abusing the privilege just this once." He strapped on his old leg and stood with care. The new one sat waiting on the dresser behind him and out of immediate reach. "Let me step out so you can change." He moved around Roisin carefully as it was not a large room and stepped out into the hallway to wait.

She let out a soft sigh and nodded. She watched him leave the room into the hallway. She already noticed he didn't wear the new leg, but felt it was right to question why he didn't wear it. Even if Roisin's guess wasn't right, she wasn't going to question it.

Roisin changed from his clothing to her own. She admired the patchwork once again and folded the shirt. "You can come in." She hummed before handing the clothing back, folded. "Thank you for letting me borrow it. " Roisin said.

"Of course," Jude said, accepting the clothing back. "It was the least I could do." He gestured around the room. "Although, I really should pack. The others will be leaving soon, and I should be ready to join them. Will you be all right?"