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Post by moralhazard on Apr 9, 2019 22:26:01 GMT
The boy stiffened a little when Solstice reached in, but – he allowed her to pull him close without fighting it. If she could feel him shaking with the force of a few sobs against her, even through her armor, well – he managed to keep silent through them, and his eyes were dry again by the time he pulled away.
“Thank you,” he mumbled, looking a little sheepish and embarrassed, both emotions visibly warring with pride across his face.
Kara just watched, quietly. She said nothing; just stood there, tunic draped over her arm.
“My name is Toby Riverson,” Toby stood a little straighter with the giving of his name – especially the last part.
Kara shrugged slightly in response to Solstice’s question. She stayed at the Bird’s Nest in the Dock Ward, but she couldn’t in good conscience recommend it; that, and Solstice looked large enough that she might well collapse the inn’s not very secure floors. The only other inn she knew to be cheap was the Sailor’s Corner, also in the Dock Ward, where Caim stayed; the proprietor there was a bit cagey, but the room had been clean and neat. Perhaps there? Kara wasn’t sure about recommending it.
“I know a place,” Toby offered, eyes bright. “The Blackstar Inn. In the Dock Ward – it’s a bit pricey but it’s – safe, and clean also. I can take you there.”
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Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Apr 10, 2019 0:24:40 GMT
Wanting to spare his pride -the poor boy didn't have much else- Solstice made no comment on any sobs, though for a moment afterward her own eyes were suspiciously bright. She responded with a nod to the thanks and stood up, brushing herself off. Kneeling on the ground in armor was going to get painful if she had done it for much longer. As it was, she'd been traveling all day and that was going to catch up with her sooner or later, even with the excitement of it all.
That light in Toby's eyes was all she needed to ease any possible qualms about getting involved. Kindle the Light. Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair. Her oath was very specific about encouraging that light in others, that it wasn't enough to just fight the monsters of the world. One also had to foster a world worth saving.
"Safe and clean is fine with me, and I can manage the price." Probably. She had a decent amount saved up, and if the pricing was in any way reasonable, that should last her long enough to get settled. She looked over to the woman, thoughtful. Not much of a talker, that one, but this one incident had already taught her much. "If you're out of a place to rest as well as wages, I can manage it for you too. Consider it my thanks for the kindness you've shown just now."
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Post by moralhazard on Apr 10, 2019 0:53:01 GMT
Kara met Solstice’s eyes when the non-giant looked back at her. She shook her head, rejecting the offer. It wasn’t that her coin purse was so heavy, but she had enough coins for the room, at least for now. Kara wasn’t such a fool as to reject charity when she needed it, but she also wouldn’t accept it when she didn’t. And her actions didn’t require any reward.
Then, very deliberately, Kara pulled her gaze from Solstice and rested it on Toby. If the half-orc had a safe place to sleep, Kara would eat her glaive. She didn’t say anything; she wasn’t talkative, and even she could guess that Toby wouldn’t respond well to it if she did. She didn’t know how to communicate it more clearly, but she hoped against hope that Solstice would understand.
With that, Kara would start to walk away, glaive bobbing on her back, the tunic draped over her arm.
“She’s - a bit frightening,” Toby said, watching Kara go. He paused. “But... she didn’t have to let me go. I should -“ still gripping the oilskin he took off again, lunging past Solstice.
“Wait!” He paused, swallowing hard. “Thank you,” he skidded to a stop in front of Kara.
Kara paused, still in the alley. She turned, looking back at Toby, and cleared her throat, once. “Don’t waste it,” Kara said. With that, she would turn to go again.
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Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Apr 10, 2019 18:42:59 GMT
That the former guardswoman refused any compensation strangely endeared her more to Solstice, whose heart warmed to see someone doing what was right whether or not anything would come of it. She would gladly have paid as mentioned, but didn't push the matter out of respect. There was so much she wanted to learn and ask, but perhaps now was not the time...especially if any remaining guards weren't too far away. It was probably wiser to get Toby somewhere further off; safe and clean, like he'd mentioned. The human woman's gaze at Toby didn't go unnoticed and Solstice greeted it with a solemn nod. She had similar concerns about the boy upon that second bout of healing, and it didn't matter that she'd just arrived and met them both. Whether or not he could regain what was lost to him would not change her promise, and what she lacked in knowledge, she would make up for in determination. He would be looked after, and that was that.
She closed the gap between her and Toby, resting a hand on his shoulder as she smiled at the woman whose mercy made a world of difference to one boy. "See you around, then. Can I get your name before you go, at least?" It was a big city, but Solstice believed in luck and fate. If she ran into this woman again, the firbolg wouldn't be much surprised. Looking down to the boy, she indicated the edge of the alley with a head-jerk. "Let's be off then, aye? Some food and rest would do us both good, I think, and I'll help you find that scribe tomorrow." And at some point, she would tell him a tale about a little girl who was left with nothing and no one, just like him, and found her way with some help. If that's why she met them here and now, to continue the cycle, she'd take it.
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Post by moralhazard on Apr 10, 2019 22:51:14 GMT
Something in Kara’s gaze softened a little at the protective clasp of Solstice’s hand on Toby’s shoulder. There was plenty that she could do herself, to protect those like Toby, but – Kara knew herself too well. Those like Toby would never confide in her. She always seemed to scare them. Despite her size, it would seem Solstice had a knack for inspiring trust, at least in Toby. For a moment, Kara felt a soft, burning envy, but she pushed it away; she was who she was, and she would at least continue to do her best – to make the right choices.
“Kara Bellringer,” Kara said, quietly. She, too, was sure she would see the not-giant again – Solstice was too large to miss, even in a city like Waterdeep.
Kara didn’t stick around any longer. She strode back into the throng of people, until the only thing left visible was the leather-covered tip of her glaive, bobbing steadily as she walked. Before until it, too, faded from view, swallowed by the busy streets.
Toby looked up at Solstice, and smiled. Despite the thin and sallow look of his cheeks, despite the dark bags under his eyes, despite the way he still clutched the oilskin to his chest – there was a spark in him now, a brighter look than he had had before. “All right,” he agreed, perking up a little further at the mention of food. “That sounds good.” It felt like a new dawn for him, like the sun coming up again after a long and terrible night, and he, for one, was happy to greet it.
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