Re: Curios, Curiosities, and Collector's Items
Posted: August 16th, 2021, 2:03 am
In all his years working as a doctor and a humanitarian, Calem had learnt an important lesson - the smallest of gestures can grow into something grand. Throw a stone in a lake, and watch the waves ripple out, spreading across the entire lake. Help one man - say, a good-natured if unfortunate rogue - and watch as that event changes an entire dockland. Maybe only a little, but there had been a few times that the sailors now had greeted him, perhaps considering him a good-luck charm (or at least as one who offered aid from the evils of the world). Calem's weakness in that regard was that he rarely thought ahead about his actions. He just wanted to help people, to make them smile, and make the world a little brighter for a time. Perhaps it was that nature that was leading him now.
He managed to catch up to Vanessa, exhausted from running as hard as he had - and yet the bouquet of flowers was still nearly perfect. Calem was trying to catch his breath as he held out the bouquet to her. "For--you. Flowers. They're pretty. You're pretty." Calem was blushing furiously, struggling to catch his breath and look Vanessa in the eye at the same time. Of course words failed him at precisely the wrong time. Something about Vanessa just always seemed to take his mind away. Something about the glow in her eyes, that slight grin that promised the entire world could be hers if she so wanted. Her confidence was intoxicating.
As he barely managed to catch his breath, he managed to get his senses back enough to realize she was saying something as she approached. "--asked to join the expedition. You needn't try to bribe me with gifts."
"Wait--what?" Expedition? Vanessa had mentioned something about one in her note. But join...was she asking him to come with her? A million thoughts flashed through his mind, each trying to be the first to come out of his tongue-tied mouth, but before any of them could, Vanessa's arms wrapped around him and they all seemed to vanish as she whispered her velvet tones in her ear. "I--" He was supposed to say something at this point, but he couldn't figure out what. "...glad you like them..." he whispered as he found himself walking in step with the professor towards the building she pointed out. Her words only served to keep him blushing at this point (though he couldn't help but smile, her words bringing memories of pleasant times).
It was only when he was halfway through dealing with the outfitters that he realized what he was being pulled into. An expedition? To where exactly? How long would they be gone? Granted, Calem had managed to negotiate some time off from working at the hospital, but they wouldn't wait forever. And with a group of people that Calem had never met before - granted, he knew a few of the sailors from his time helping Artemis at East Hall, but all of the ones nearby had been giving him such strange looks. Especially that other woman Vanessa had been talking to, the one who'd given him such a glare. Was she one of the crew members too, already prepared to dismiss him? How on earth was he going to survive? The instinct to try and get out of this situation hit him full force like a truck.
He looked over at Vanessa, sitting nearby and also organizing her own supplies. She was completely focused on preparing her own supplies. Even in the face of so many unknowns she seemed so prepared - thrilled, even - to explore any potential aspect of the world. Her confidence, even now, was just as intoxicating as the first time he'd met her. Maybe that was what calmed Calem at first, but there was something else too - his own desire for adventure, long buried in old tales and romances, was slowly coming to the surface. For the first time ever, he had the chance to go on an adventure - to learn about the world and the people outside Fellsgard, even to learn more about magic. To finally find a place to practice magic away from suspicious and paranoid minds. The realization came with a slight warmth coursing through his blood - as if the magic that he'd read about and hidden deep inside himself might have a chance to be released. With that, Calem made up his mind.
"I've never been on a ship before..." Calem spoke to her. "I always wanted to see the sea though. Well, I mean, you can see it from the docks but I don't mean that, I mean..." Damn it all, the words still didn't come out quite right, whenever he was around her. "I always wanted to see what the sea looked like, from the middle of it. On a ship. It must be beautiful, watching the waves." He paused, trying to consider his words. "If you think I can be of help. Real help, I mean. I'd like to come with you." Calem smiled, though it was quickly replaced with another questioning look. "But where are we going? You didn't really mention in your note."
He managed to catch up to Vanessa, exhausted from running as hard as he had - and yet the bouquet of flowers was still nearly perfect. Calem was trying to catch his breath as he held out the bouquet to her. "For--you. Flowers. They're pretty. You're pretty." Calem was blushing furiously, struggling to catch his breath and look Vanessa in the eye at the same time. Of course words failed him at precisely the wrong time. Something about Vanessa just always seemed to take his mind away. Something about the glow in her eyes, that slight grin that promised the entire world could be hers if she so wanted. Her confidence was intoxicating.
As he barely managed to catch his breath, he managed to get his senses back enough to realize she was saying something as she approached. "--asked to join the expedition. You needn't try to bribe me with gifts."
"Wait--what?" Expedition? Vanessa had mentioned something about one in her note. But join...was she asking him to come with her? A million thoughts flashed through his mind, each trying to be the first to come out of his tongue-tied mouth, but before any of them could, Vanessa's arms wrapped around him and they all seemed to vanish as she whispered her velvet tones in her ear. "I--" He was supposed to say something at this point, but he couldn't figure out what. "...glad you like them..." he whispered as he found himself walking in step with the professor towards the building she pointed out. Her words only served to keep him blushing at this point (though he couldn't help but smile, her words bringing memories of pleasant times).
It was only when he was halfway through dealing with the outfitters that he realized what he was being pulled into. An expedition? To where exactly? How long would they be gone? Granted, Calem had managed to negotiate some time off from working at the hospital, but they wouldn't wait forever. And with a group of people that Calem had never met before - granted, he knew a few of the sailors from his time helping Artemis at East Hall, but all of the ones nearby had been giving him such strange looks. Especially that other woman Vanessa had been talking to, the one who'd given him such a glare. Was she one of the crew members too, already prepared to dismiss him? How on earth was he going to survive? The instinct to try and get out of this situation hit him full force like a truck.
He looked over at Vanessa, sitting nearby and also organizing her own supplies. She was completely focused on preparing her own supplies. Even in the face of so many unknowns she seemed so prepared - thrilled, even - to explore any potential aspect of the world. Her confidence, even now, was just as intoxicating as the first time he'd met her. Maybe that was what calmed Calem at first, but there was something else too - his own desire for adventure, long buried in old tales and romances, was slowly coming to the surface. For the first time ever, he had the chance to go on an adventure - to learn about the world and the people outside Fellsgard, even to learn more about magic. To finally find a place to practice magic away from suspicious and paranoid minds. The realization came with a slight warmth coursing through his blood - as if the magic that he'd read about and hidden deep inside himself might have a chance to be released. With that, Calem made up his mind.
"I've never been on a ship before..." Calem spoke to her. "I always wanted to see the sea though. Well, I mean, you can see it from the docks but I don't mean that, I mean..." Damn it all, the words still didn't come out quite right, whenever he was around her. "I always wanted to see what the sea looked like, from the middle of it. On a ship. It must be beautiful, watching the waves." He paused, trying to consider his words. "If you think I can be of help. Real help, I mean. I'd like to come with you." Calem smiled, though it was quickly replaced with another questioning look. "But where are we going? You didn't really mention in your note."