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

"Water or wiping it down with a damp cloth. It would remove the camouflage for a day, but soak it in water for a longer period of time, the longer the camouflage isn't active." Roisin said before finally removing the hatchet. She grabbed the other two axes. "I can't repeat a mistake, so the tree is a replacement. I regrow some of these trees." Roisin said, going back inside the cabin.

Jude shifted around to stand just inside the door, still leaning on the wall. "Soaking it in water will kill a spell? Curious." After a pause, he asked, "And what mistake would encourage you to kill a tree?"

"Not kill it, neutralize it." Roisin corrected Jude as she put her battleaxe where it belonged. She didn't answer the question; instead, she began treating her hand with the green bottle. The bottle was alcohol mixed with healing herbs. Roisin would occasionally hiss in pain.

"Would you like some help with that hand?" Jude asked, gesturing with his own hand. "I have two good hands. I can probably help you out a little more than you can help yourself right now."

Roisin looked over at Jude before mumbling under her breath. She stopped and motioned for him take over. Despite being mad, she was letting him help only because he was right. She was doing a sloppy job and causing herself more pain than anything.

Jude stepped forward and took her hand in his. His touch was gentle yet efficient. He caused very little pain, only the inevitable when doing something like this. In a town of loggers, steel workers, and other heavy labor, it was a common thing for people to get hurt. Thankfully, injuries like losing a limb were rare, but getting one's hand sliced or a finger caught was not so rare. Everyone learned quickly how to tend to such wounds, because to delay was to invite infection and much worse consequences. Soon, he finished the wrap.

"I came to say thank you for the leg," he said, still holding her injured hand. "It was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me."

Roisin had avoided eye contact with him during the whole time. Her free hand shifted between fiddling with her earring and rubbing her ear. She was still upset from last night's news, but felt calm in Jude's appearance. It didn't scare Roisin, but it was something she never thought she would experience again.

She looked over at him when he thanked her. Roisin's face flushed with color. "Thank you for attending to my injury. I haven't had anyone attend to my injuries before."She confessed, looking away once again. Roisin noticed her injured hand still being held, but didn't withdraw her hand or point it out. She let it be as it is.

"You are welcome," Jude smiled. "Now... I am not going to pretend that we are deep bosom buddies or friends of many years and experiences, but you look very much like someone who could use a listening ear. I am willing to be that ear, if you are ready. A burden shared is usually much easier to deal with, after all."

Roisin let out a breathless laugh. It wasn't bitter or sarcastic. Yet didn't pull her hand away; it stayed where it was. As if it were a familiar embrace. "Even if the truth is terrifying and can change your perspective of me?" She asked, looking at him. Roisin seemed to look for a reaction to determine whether he would still offer to listen to her.

Jude cooked his head to the side and smiled. "What truth could the builder of a leg for someone they barely knew and the weaver of impeccable flower crowns possibly make me afraid? Tell me what you wish, Madam Red Roisin, formerlyof the peacemakers. I will listen."

Roisin cringed slightly when the Peacemakers were mentioned. "Do you know why the village calls me a barbarian, despite everything I did?" She asked him. She wondered how much he really knew or what he heard. Roisin continued looking for a reaction. It was unclear what kind she was looking for.

He had heard stories, but he knew they couldn't all be true. It was impossible. He knew at least some of it had to be true, but which parts? He said none of this. He only asked, "Why do they call you that?" In a calm, even tone.

Roisin eyes softened before withdrawing her hand back. "I was the cause for making a town where many woodland elves lived, disappeared." She said, her head hanging low and she looked away. "I killed so many. Innocent and the guilty alike." Roisin added.

"That must be difficult to live with," Jude said, his tone never changing. "Why did you?"

"They killed him. Their own kind. It seemed destroying my hometown and my family wasn't enough. They were cowards for protecting the dark magic users. He was innocent. He died, in my arms. I couldn't do anything. Nothing." She said, getting visibly upset as her hands turned in fists. "I carried his body to my hometown after the massacre I cause. Now..." Roisin trailed off before her body began to shake.

"I CAN'T EVEN GO ANYMORE! IF I WIN, I WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE MY MOTHER'S JOB! IF I LOSE, I'M BANISHED FROM EVER GOING BACK!" She yelled before slamming her fists down. Roisin was seething before she got up and grabbed one of her hatchets. Roisin went outside.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jude said, stepping out in front of her to block her way. "Madam Roisin, I think that is quite enough," he said sternly. He held out a hand for the hatchet. "Nothing good is going to come of you swinging that around, and no problems are going to be solved. In fact, you are going to create more problems for yourself if you use your injured hand. So. No hatchet." More gently, he continued, "Look, I know you are upset. Very, very upset. I do not understand even one small bit of why you are upset, but I get that you are enraged, despondent, and hurting. Please. Take some deep breaths, calm yourself enough to be understandable, and tell me the story starting from the beginning. Who are you fighting now? Why? And what does your mother have to do with it?"

Roisin had stopped in her tracks, surprised Jude blocked her way. She held the hatchet closer to her when he held his hand out for the weapon. Her rage got to her and could hurt him, but she refused to. Roisin didn't want to lay a hand on him, afraid she would hurt him. She didn't hear much of what he said, but picked up about her story, who she was fighting, and her mother.

"She was a warrior of my hometown, honorable. Thorlek purposely used her position to kill her, knowing she was planning on retiring." Roisin hissed as she managed to slip past Jude with the hatchet. "You won't understand. If I become one of his soldiers, I will suffer the same fate, possibly worse. Banishing me from the last memory of my family and him is cruel. The only place I can respect them and remember what these emotions cause." She added, getting ready to throw her axe at the same tree Jude saw.

"And what exactly does losing your temper and destroying a perfectly good tree do to solve any of that?" Jude asked calmly but pointedly. He leaned on the wall and folded his arms. "What does screaming and yelling and carrying on like a tantruming child instead of a grown woman with battle experience do for you?"

Roisin tried to ignore him as she threw her hatchet anyway. She refused to answer those questions. Jude was right about it, but she was afraid of what she could do. Mostly, afraid of making another connection and losing it. Maybe it would be better if she were the one who ends it, whether it be by chaos or the other party.

"If you're going to insult me, then go. I already gave you infromation how to neutralize the spell." Roisin said, trying to sound calm but completely failing. She went over to the tree and removed the hatchet. Roisin walked back and got ready to throw it again.

Jude shrugged. "That was not intended to be an insult, but very well. Let it never be said I forced help upon someone who did not desire it, and I have no wish to argue with a rock weilding an axe." He straightened and started walking slowly away. "When you are ready to be rational, you know where to find me. My door will always be open for you, Miss Red Roisin."