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

"Let me help you pack." Roisin offered. "I don't want you to be late or get scolded." She said. "Plus, I have to go to the tarven to help Axa and my nephew pack. I also owe Archer an apology ." Roisin sheepishly added, rubbing her ears.

"That's alright. I don't have much to pack," Jude assured her. He sat down on the other side of the bed to take off his old prosthetic leg and set it aside. "You should go talk to Archer. Don't worry about me." He reached over and picked up his new leg but didn't put it on yet. He would do that after he'd finished packing, but he wanted it where he could reach it easily. "Thank you for coming to see me before I had to go."

She let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "Okay, if you say so," Roisin said as she headed towards the door. "Of course. Thank you for having me stay over. I wish you the best on your travels back home. Bye, Jude." She said before opening the door and walking out. Roisin had closed the door behind her and began walking towards the tavern. She had a small smile on her face.

Jude smiled as he watched her leave. What an odd, volatile, but ultimately sweet dwarf. Although if she kept rubbing her ears like that, she was going to end up rubbing them off entirely. He turned his attention to packing. It did not take long as he traveled very light. In fact, the heaviest thing he owned and had to carry was his leg. It was the strangest feeling packing his old leg. He took the new one and put it on with care. It was a lot nicer than his old one, but it was also new and unknown. His old one had a lot of problems, but they were known problems. It took a lot of trust to let this new leg take his weight for an actual journey. Still, he wanted to try.

Within the hour, Jude was packed and ready to go. He set out on his new leg and joined the small caravan heading out and back to the railway town. He was offered a place in the back of one of the wagons, but he chose to walk for a while. It was the perfect time to test out his new and improved leg.

Roisin made her way to the tavern. Once inside, she greeted Archer before going to help her sister-in-law. Her nephew kept teasing her for the flower crown and asking many questions. Axa tried her best to stop her son’s teasing, scared of Roisin’s anger, but was surprised when her sister-in-law rolled her eyes playfully. Once she helped them pack, Axa took her hands in hers. “I’m so sorry for being the bearer of bad news,” Axa spoke softly, though too softly that Roisin’s ears twitched.

She didn’t clearly hear her sister-in-law but assumed she apologized for telling her about her uncle wanting a duel. It made her think about what Jude said. The thought alone saddened her, but a small smile appeared. “It’s okay. You saved my life without realizing it.” Roisin assured Axa before getting her bags. “Let's hurry before the carriage leaves.” She added as her sister-in-law, and her son followed, holding a few bags as well.

Once they left and said their good-byes, Roisin went to Archer. “Sorry for last night. It was stupid of me to leave like that.” She apologized. He looked around, confused, before raising an eyebrow. “Red? Is that you, or are you some shifter?” Archer asked. Roisin glared at him, resulting in him putting his hands up. “Yup, that’s you alright. Did Judie melt that cold heart of yours?” He teases before becoming serious. “Does that mean-” “I don’t know. He reflects them, especially him, but still. I’m planning on testing that soon.” She cut off Archer, knowing what he was going to say.

Jude returned home, arriving in one piece to the delight of both parents. Not that they showed it in energetic displays of affection, but his father did pat him on the shoulder, and his mother made his favorite meal for dinner. He took a day to rest from the journey, and then it was back to daily life as usual. He thought about the dwarf he'd met in Valebright, especially when he was out in the woods reading his books, but he did not think he would see her again. Maybe when he returned to Valebright, if he was asked to join the group again, but why would she make the trip here to his town? No, he would not see her again until his visit to Valebright, and then only if she wanted to see him.

Two months passed peacefully. Trains passed by daily, sometimes stopping for repairs. Tracks were forged. Timbers were hewn for railroad ties. Trees were carefully harvested for their lumber. New trees were planted. Some were saved and protected as they were old, and some animals would only live in old-growth forests. Jude recorded it all, especially the expenses and income. It was the same, more or less, day after day.

There she stood, in a town unknown to her. A crowd she would rather not be part of, but it was common after getting off any kind of transport. She should've asked where Jude lived so she could write to him. Possibly many things, in fact, but she was too focused on apologizing. Two months passed, and Roisin felt it was time to keep her promise to visit him. Thankfully, she packed light; however, she felt she lacked her usual weaponary but it didn't stop her from protecting herself.

Roisin began departing from the crowd while forcing herself not reach for her ears or earrings. She was extremely nervous, more so since it been a while since she traveled beyond her homeland and Valebright. Once she reached a less crowded area with a sitting area, she released a relieved sigh that she was unaware she held in. Roisin finally sat and began thinking of a way map out the town. She was dressed casually and not in her usual outfit in Valebright. Roisin tried her best to pack things and clothing appropriate for the trip.

The crowd dispersed quickly. The town was small, only a few hundred people strong, it was not exactly a tourist attraction, meaning everyone who came to the town came on business. Some people were there to see friends and family. Others, to work at whatever jobs were available. A few were there to inquire about building or fixing various parts of the track. All of them were busy, and none noticed the singular dwarf sitting by herself.

The people of this town were a good deal different from those at Valebrite. The human population made up about a third of the population, and any non-humans were powerful sorts, usually the types that did not normally frequent nicer towns, such as centaurs, minotaurs, and ogres. There were even a couple of trolls that walked down the street side by side, grunting to each other in their own language as the people parted around them. The massive, burly, muscular humans barely even glanced at them, just made room for them to pass.

One of the humans spotted Roisin and turned toward her, his nose twitching slightly. He steered toward her and came to a stop, caloused hands tucked in his rough overall pockets. He grinned crookedly, his shaggy brown hair nearly hiding his eyes. "Are you new here, miss?" he asked, his question clearly only to be polite as it was obvious she was new.

Roisin noticed other species besides humans in the town. It slightly calmed her down, but he was still slightly nervous. Her ear twitched when she heard someone coming her way. She turned her attention to the person. Roisin didn't say anything at first as she looked at him from head to toe. "Yes, I am." She finally answered. Roisin was wary but also polite. It wouldn't be much help if she were stand-offish in a location she doesn't know.

"I thought as much," the man mused. He was not especially tall, but he wasn't short, either, with a compact build and surprisingly thick hair on his arms, and the bit of chest hair peaking out from the V in his shirt promised the rest of him was just as hairy. He was on the handsomer side, if you liked that sort, but nothing that would stop traffic. He gave her a devilish grin and offered a hand. "Max Miller. Can I help you find something or someone?"

She would admit he was attractive in general, but not what she would go for. Though she never actually dated anyone before, beyond that crush with her sparring partner. Roisin didn't truly smile back but took his hand, shaking it. "You can call me Red, Max." She said. Roisin was about answer but hesitated. She wasn't sure about saying Jude's name since she didn't know his full name, nor if his name was common in the town. Roisin may try to figure out where he was located afterwards. "Somewhere to rest sounds good." Roisin added.

"Well, I do have some extra space in my bed, if you want," he said with a wink. Then he frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. We're not exactly the most tourist-heavy town, so we don't have an inn, but Miss Kotia and Miss Merril both rent out rooms. One of them might have a spare room for you to rent." He jerked his head. "They're both in this direction, so you can pick which one you want to try as we walk."

Roisin gave Max an annoyed look when he suggested his bed. She was about to either insult him or punch him, but didn't when he mentioned renting rooms. "Sure sounds good. Do you happen to know how much it costs to rent the rooms?" She said as she got up. "Oh, and Max, next time, make a move like that again. Your teeth would fall out," Roisin said, waiting for him to guide the way. Her expression was neutral when she said it.

Max just laughed and sauntered ahead. "If your skin is that thin, Red, then maybe you aren't cut out for this place. I thought soldiers were built tougher. Anyway, Miss Kotia charges two bits and does a decent breakfast. Miss Merril charges four and does an excellent breakfast." He stopped several buildings down the road and pointed to a tall, oddly shaped house with a lot of space around it. "That's Miss Kotia's place. Miss Merril is down that way and left toward mill. It's a bright yellow house, can't miss it. I can walk you there, or you can find your own way. The dry grocers set up three streets that way this month, if you find yourself needing anything, Billy's butcher shop is at the edge of town, and the Dreary Sisters serve a smoothe ale out of their house every few days. I think they're due tomorrow. Need anything else?"

Roisin didn't say much about her skin being thin or that soldiers are supposed to be built tougher. Thankfully, Max gave her a taste of what the townfolk may be like; something she'll try to adapt quickly. She listened as she looked around as they walked. When they stopped, she tilted her head slightly. "I'm okay, thank you, Max. Here's for the troubles I caused." Roisin gave him a small pouch of gold coins. She had plenty with her, so giving him a pouch wasn't a huge deal to her. Roisin waved goodbye before heading down to Miss Merril's. Pricing and food were no issue to her but she would perfered comfortable distance away from civilization, even if it wasn't much.

Max opened the bag Red had given him, not knowing what it was at first. When he saw what was inside, his eyes widened. He caught up to the dwarf and dropped the bag in front of her, leaving it up to her whether she'd catch it or let it fall. "First, it's pretty damn offensive to pay a friend for giving you directions," he drawled, "and, second, you're an idiot for waving that kind of cash around. This bag right here could buy a house here. Unless you're really looking for trouble, don't wave that kind of money around. Not everyone here is as upstanding as I am." He winked and walked away, leaving her to her own devices.

Miss Merril's house was a low, single-story house that took up a surprising amount of space. Large flower and vegetable gardens dotted the land around it in neat, geometrical shapes. The woman herself was out tending the garden. She was a dwarf, like Roisin, but getting on in years. Her red hair was more white than red, and pulled back in rows of neat braids underneath a wide-brimmed hat. She looked up when she heard Roisin approach and looked her over with narrowed eyes. "Looking for a room?" she drawled, sitting up and brushing her hands off on her tattered overalls.

Roisin was quick to catch the pouch and looked at him. She tilted her head a bit more when he spoke, but didn't say anything. She listened to him talk until he left. Roisin was slightly confused but understood what he said. In all honesty, she was embarrassed by how long it had been since she traveled to a town. However, what truly threw her off was Max considering himself her friend. Still, she would take his words as advice.

She admired the house and the gardens. Roisin practically admired everything about the outline. It felt familiar to her. "Yes, ma'am," Roisin said. "Beautiful garden. You accept gold coins?" She added. It did phase her seeing another dwarf, though it should have, as she hasn't seen her own kind beyond Axa and her nephew. Still, her goal as of now is to rent the room and explore the town before looking for Jude. Overall, she regretted not asking important questions back then.

"Gold coins?" she repeated with a throaty chuckle. "Honey, this is an itty-bitty rail town. Tradin' in silver is considered rich. We mostly do copper and bronze. A gold coin would get ya maybe six months of a room to yourself." She grunted as she heaved herself to her feet and finished brushing off her hands before offering one to Roisin. "Miss Merril. If you're lookin' for a room, I got two on offer. I take it you're from one of the bigger towns."

Roisin let out a soft sigh. She did have sliver and bronze but only had a bit equally. Thankfully she did but now she figured she'll have to find a place that will exchange them. Roisin took her hand and shook it. "Yes, I am. Call me Red. Since gold and silver is considered rich, would there happen to be a place that is will to exchange gold for copper or bronze?"

"The bank," she said shortly. "Come on. Let's see your room." She turned and hobbled into the house, moving with stiff joints through the Dutch door and into the foryer. The house was simple, efficient, and oddly elegant in design with moody colors and a few splashes of wallpaper. Miss Merril pointed down the hallway. "That way's the kitchen and the dining room. Breakfast is at six. If you aren't in by then, I'll leave out some muffins, but you're on your own otherwise. Bathroom is on the right. We have running water, but not a lot of heat, so use it sparingly." She moved the opposite direction down the hallway with three doors off of it. She opened the first door to reveal a smaller but comfortable room done in earth tones. Everything was designed to be closer to dwarf height here, including the wide bed. "Here's your room. Doors lock at ten. Questions?"