• Closed • Battered and Bruised

[Lucas Nardovino]

39th Saun, Arc 718

Lucas groaned as he walked away from the bush, a smell of vomit followed him but he was too distant to notice or care. His head was throbbing and waves of nausea spread across his body frequently. The shiner on his eye had swelled up to the point where he was struggling to see through his left eye, it was quite the injury. Still he wobbled and stumbled along towards the home of the Order. The large doors were open, welcoming those in need from the street and giving him a sense of comfort. Not that it could override the pain he felt all across his body, that could not be covered up.

The recently released convict often wondered if the beatings could be avoided, maybe if he channelled his pain and anguish into something more productive. Getting drunk and brawling with the first guy to show inclination of being bad wasn't really working out for him and while he was sure Ilaren appreciated the sentiment maybe it was not why he had been released. In prison it had been different he had not had such easy access to alcohol and out here it was round every corner. He'd shown more control in the prison maybe he should assert some of that out here too. He had dreamed about what he would do when he got free, that he would do good for Rharne but he had not anticipated quite how hard it was to control himself.

Lucas wondered what his father would think if he could see him now, he had always remembered when his mother told him the m,an had been a lightening knight. It had been his biggest motivation in the prison. The ex-convict had gone into prison fully resigned to the idea of his execution but the longer it had been delayed the more he had changed. Something had brewed in him and caused him to act out in a good way, apparently the motivation had escaped him out here.

It still lingered in the back of his head though as he made his way inside, blurred vision unable to really make sense of his surroundings. Some passed him and he reached out, he felt a petite woman's arm and squeezed gently. "Please help me." His expression was one of need even if it was distorted by the bruised swollen eye and the still bleeding split lip.

"I need some..." He swayed and trailed off as his legs finally gave way and he tumbled to the floor in a heap. His body dropping like a stone as the world went black and he felt nothing. Nothing until the ceiling began to spiral back into his vision and he groaned, head throbbing and body too weak to stand himself up as he just lay there wishing he had found his way to the right path already. He was so close. "Ouch." A slight smirk was on his lips as he tried to bring his own spirits up.

[Faith Augustin]

She worked here.

That was what they told her and she believed them. Or, she was starting to. Some of the things that they said were very strange to her, like the idea that she was free, or married or a doctor. It was like, she had told Padraig most earnestly, finding out that you were not truly a teapot even though you had believed yourself one all your life. Something int hat had caught him, he'd smiled and been gentle and calm as he was with her, but something in it had twisted in his heart. She wondered what it was, really. It must be hard for him, the girl understood, to know a person and then they simply not be inhabiting the body he knew so well. He was a kind and gentle man and she thought that he truly loved his wife.

It was just that she didn't know that his wife actually was her.

It was like here. People expected her to know things, to be able to do things. They looked at her like she was a person and the girl who still had trouble using the word "I" or referring to herself by name, found it absolutely incomprehensible. Truly so. All of that completely flabbergasted her, but the thought that she was a mother rendered her more or less incapable. The twins were beautiful, adorable and terrifying. They were bundles of need and, whilst she was trained to meet needs, even those not spoken - they looked at her and called her 'Mama'. Padraig had watched with hope in his eyes, trying not to show any disappointment when she didn't remember.

More and more, as she discovered this idyllic, wonderful life that she lived, she started to wonder if she'd been given some sort of drug and was, in fact, hallucinating. A slave's dream, she considered and smiled a slight, sad smile. But here, in this Order of the Adunih, she was apparently a doctor. Which was great in theory but she had no idea. Yet, the healer had said that she should live her life and so, here she was. She couldn't do any actual medical work, so she spent time with the patients. This one was a persistent and repeat visitor and they hoped she might be able to help him.

They seemed to hope that she could do a lot of things which she thought highly unlikely, frankly.

Still, he woke up and looked rather groggy. Sitting in the chair next to his bed was a very petite young woman with long black hair and earnest silver eyes tinged with a deep ruby. "Hello, sir," she said, her voice soft and barely above a whisper. "You're in the Order of the Adunih in Rharne." That was a good thing to do, someone had told her. Tell them where they are. "Would you like something to drink? Some water?" Just in case he thought she was offering him beer. "This... my name is Faith." It was still so tricky, not referring to herself as 'this slave'. The girl looked at him and smiled softly. "Does it hurt anywhere?"

[Lucas Nardovino]

Lucas' humour quickly subsided as he lay in the bed, the spinning having stopped now and the wound of a woman's voice in his ear. He rolled his head to the side, wincing at the pain of doing so and began to grumble. "Water, yes, water." His throat was dry but he hadn't really noticed until that moment and he groaned. His voice was hoarse and strained as he looked at the woman. Lucas had never seen eyes like that before, except his own icy orbs of course. "You must be new here?"

He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, even as she said her name. Most of the doctors and nurses there had an air of confidence about them, a feeling of experience but not Faith. "Don't worry, I can only tell because I see a lot of medics, I am a bit of an expert." Lucas smiled and hissed as his lip opened up again, a new layer of blood oozing out. It was frustrating to say the least.

Her question was a little amusing to him, mostly because the answer was quite obvious. "Yes. It hurts everywhere Faith, from head to bloody toe." He did his best to show his sarcasm but whether it came across or not he wasn't sure. Clearing his throat he did his best to sit up, propping himself on his arms and scooting up against the headboard. It hurt but in the end it was better than staring at the ceiling or having his head on the side.

"I am Lucas." He offered a hand, split knuckles now scabbed over as he looked at his own dirty hand. "I am sorry, I should wash those." He retracted the hand and wiped it on his jacket, knowing it would do nothing but it was his only choice at that moment.

The man looked at the woman before him, there was something familiar about her but he wasn't sure what. In fact as he thought about it more she sort of reminded him of his mother but he did not wish to think about her right now, too man painful memories and the physical agony was bad enough. "Do I frighten you Faith? I must look like a lunatic huh?" He knew how he appeared to others, he wasn't an idiot.

[Faith Augustin]

She helped him with the water, assisting him as he sipped and she smiled as he said that she must be new here. "So they tell me, sir, yes." Yet, the cloak that she wore was a grey one and, to someone who knew the order at all, they were very senior members. Faith looked at him with serious silver eyes and smiled as she helped him drink. "New to Rharne, at least." She helped him like she was used to doing it, yet the uncertainty in her voice made it seem like she might not be - but muscle memory, knowledge memory kicked in and she did her job efficiently and effectively. As his lip started to ooze, though, she lifted a cloth to it, immediately, putting small amounts of pressure on it. "That must sting. We can see if there is something which might hold it together. In the meantime, try not to smile. Or laugh. Possibly," she said with a slight smile, "No extreme emotions at all." She wished she knew, wished she understood half of what she said and she couldn't help but wonder whether she was making some of it up.

It was possible.

But it hurt everywhere? From head to toe? Briefly, determination flashed in those eyes and she nodded. "Well, lets see if we can do something about that, sir, shall we?" She knew, without a doubt, that she hated feeling useless and she had spent a lot of time in prayer since waking up on the floor in the house of a stranger who was her. Things were most peculiar, but she had a desire and need to help people and he was a free man. "With your permission, please would you allow me to put my hands on you?" If he allowed it, then Faith prayed to Moseke and a soft light bathed him, soothing his small wounds, cuts and bruises. "That should help, sir, hopefully." Her voice was low and quiet - more suited to a library than this place. "Do you feel better?"

When he gave her his name, she smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lucas," she said and she shook his hand. When he talked about needing to wash, though, she looked up at him and her smile was obviously one of delight. "That is something we can do. Some clothes and a wash will help you, this slave is sure." She didn't notice the slip up in what she referred to herself as, it was there and gone and lost in her excitement at being actually able to help. "One moment, if you do not mind?"

If he allowed it, she would return pushing a wheeled trolley. There were clothes on it, and two large bowls of warm water, a third empty bowl, cloths and towels. Looking at him, she smiled. "It is my belief that you are capable, and probably would prefer to do this yourself?" She had a spark of amusement in her eyes as she spoke, "But if you need help it is there for you." Then, either while she helped him or, as he washed himself behind the curtains she had pulled across, but she was still in the room, Faith asked. "You say you are used to medics, Lucas?" There was no doubt a question in her mind as she said that. "Would it be possible for you to tell me why?" She thought she knew and no amount of knocks on the head would change that but, Faith liked to be sure, so, she checked.

[Lucas Nardovino]

No extreme emotions, whether that was a joke or not he did not know. "I think I can handle that." He slurped the water again, his mouth dry and his head still throbbing but it was more in the background now he was distracted. Lucas finished the water with a sigh as he let Faith take the glass from his lips, it was refreshing but still it had not really helped him feel all too much better.

Still as he said he hurt all over she offered to see if their was anything she could do to help him with that. It was clear she already knew what she intended to do and it was not an issue with her touching him in reality so much as he needed it. Lucas needed the pain, it was there to remind him and to teach him not to make the same mistakes he made in the past. The bruises and cuts, they were evidence of his actions and he couldn't let it be healed.

Gently he stayed her hands, worn and calloused fingers holding her at bay. "Please, it isn't that bad." It was a clear lie but he was sure she would think him insane if he told her why. "There is no need, the water and the bed is enough." He forced what was across between a smile and a grimace, clearly in discomfort but he couldn't let her know that.

Lucas did shake her hand though, nodding politely as he did and she seemed rather happy to say that least that she could help him with his state of dirtiness. The ex-convict still hadn't gotten used to being able to clean himself easily, in prison the one bucket he had was to drink and clean and other things. Out here though it was much easier to clean, it was a strange feeling to be free. "Not at all." He noticed as she called herself slave, an unusual thing to hear in Rharne with it being illegal.

"You are right there but if you could just help me with my shirt, I would appreciate it?" He smiled uncomfortably as he leaned forward hissing at the pain and raised his arms so she could pull it over him. The sight of his body was a shocking one, a plethora of bruises covered nearly every inch of him. There were some that seemed weeks old and other just hours. If he weren't in Rharne one might assume him an abused slave but that were clearly not the case, he was completely free of such brands.

Lucas thanked her and then began to wash himself behind the curtain. The water was warm, something else he wasn't used too. It was somewhat soothing on his tender skin as he cleansed himself of the dirt and dried blood. "I am." She continued and he splashed some water onto his face, the liquid burning his split lip. He watched the water ripple his reflection as drops came down from his nose and chin. He had never been asked that question before, in fact he wasn't even sure exactly what she was asking.

He stayed silent for a few bits before answering her. "That depends what you are asking me." He finished washing himself quickly and began to dry himself. "Do you want to know why I get into the fights or why I lose?" The curtain opened and Lucas was sat on the edge of the bed, cleaned up and dressed in the neater and cleaner clothes. His head still throbbed but he ignored it.

[Faith Augustin]

He put his hands out to stop her, his hands moving on to hers and Faith looked down at his hands with a slight frown on her face. Like she was confused, or something else. "But you are in pain," she said, looking at him with very serious silver eyes. "And it can stop." The young woman seemed utterly confounded and looked back down at his hands again. "Have we met?" Faith asked, quietly. "Before now, that is." Because something about him seemed almost familiar. Almost.

"It is my understanding," she said softly. "That you come here in pain and we work to make you not so. Is that not how it works for you?" Her gaze was mostly concerned but there was an air of sass to it which, frankly, at this point in her life Padraig would have been delighted to see. But she didn't know that, or wasn't aware of it. So, she brought him the things she could to help him get clean and dressed and then he told her that, thank you very much, he was fine, but he accepted her help with his shirt. Faith moved, her muscles remembering what her mind did not and she helped him efficiently.

And, perhaps tellingly, she didn't look shocked. Just a few trials before, after all, she too had looked like he did - or as far as she remembered and the other slaves all looked like that, too. It was how the people around her looked and he was much more normal to her than most of those she saw these trials. "You are a slave?" Faith asked, with no judgement or negativity about it. In fact, of all things she almost sounded hopeful. It would be normal, usual, it would mean that this idyllic world which she had been living in for three trials now had some crossover with the world she knew.

It also, of course, would explain why it was that he would not let her heal him. "Your owner forbids you from being healed?" She frowned slightly, "That is common in my experience. It is a shame," But then, she closed the curtains and left him to clean himself and Faith asked her question. His answer, though, it confounded her. He lost on purpose? Was it some strange issue with his owner or was it him?

"Why do you lose?" Faith asked and added, because it occured to her from the touch of his hand that he was a strong man. "And... could you win?" She smiled, though, when he opened the curtain. "There you are. You look much better. Presentable, even." Looking at him she realised that his eyes were the same as hers. How odd. "How do you feel?"

[Lucas Nardovino]

"I don't recall having seen you before Faith." He admitted, noting her eyes again as they were quite an unusual sight. He had always been told his eyes were quite unique, apparently that was wrong because before him it was almost like looking into a mirror. All be it they were a bit more feminine in shape but still the hue was almost identical, it was peculiar.

Much to Lucas surprise she seemed unaffected by his condition, he supposed she was a medic after all but still. Bruises this vast and extreme were not common to see across only one body. Her words however, they explained why she seemed so at ease with the damage to his body. Apparently it was something common among slaves, which she had claimed to be and by the tone in her voice quite clearly thought him to be too. Especially as she continued to state how it was common to not be allowed treatment.

The ex-con gave a small shrug at the questions and while he was not a Slave he was enslaved by his own conscience. "Of sorts." Was his answer at first before he chose to elaborate, there was no point in keeping secrets from a stranger he would likely never see again. "You will find no brands on me though, I am a slave only to myself and what freedom has given me." He doubted that made any sense to her, Lucas was a free man to claim that he was a slave must have been offensive.

He opened the curtain before he answered her follow up question and smiled at her. "Much better." Lucas dabbed his lip with a towel and then began to answer her questions. "I have won fights but lots of the fights I take I can't win but I still choose to take them because I have too." The free man shook his head, he knew how crazy he sounded. "I made a promise to myself that I have to keep, the fights come with the territory and whether I win or lose is not the point but the good that comes to others from it is."

Lucas was done trying to explain that for the moment although the conversation had brought him some clarity that had been missing this past season. Fighting perverts in bars and the occasional drug dealer was not going to truly change anything, he had to become a Knight. Enough was enough and he had been failing to fulfil his promise that he made properly, he had been wallowing in self pity and breaking under the pressure but the way seemed clear again now.

"There aren't many slaves in Rharne, I didn't even know slaves could serve in the order." Lucas looked at her curiously. "How did you come to be here Faith?" Somehow he could tell she was not a slave, he could see no brands wherever he looked and she seemed too healthy and well dressed for such a title.

[Faith Augustin]

"You will find no brands on me though, I am a slave only to myself and what freedom has given me."

Faith looked up at him as he said that, her hands ceasing their work and her silver eyes showed her surprise at him. "Then it would seem, Lucas, that we are in exactly the same situation," she said, her voice earnest. He had put into words what she could not and he had done so clearly and succinctly. A frown crossed her brow as she looked at him. "You seem so familiar to me. My apologies," she shook her head as she realized she was gazing intently at him. She must look like she was wondering whether to stalk him or not. "Memories," she said with a smile. "My memories have gone. Apparently, after a fall in the kitchen some five trials ago. My usual role here is a white cloak, in charge apparently, but my memories tell me something very different." She smiled at him, her expression a little ironic. "Thus, familiarity is.. strange. It's my first time." She smiled at him, hopeful that her explanation made sufficient sense that he didn't think her quite mad.

He explained, though, once he had exited from behind the curtains, why he fought. Faith looked at him and one eyebrow raised in an expression which might have been familiar, had either of them been raised differently. "Whilst my understanding is limited, due to the amnesia," she said, with a smile. "And therefore, please forgive my ignorance, but it seems very unlikely to me that anyone learns anything, or any good is done by getting pounded." She shrugged slightly and gestured. "My opinion only, but it strikes me that there are more effective ways to punish yourself than to allow people to hit you. Perhaps my mindset is skewed," She considered it possible but somewhat unlikely in this case, and it showed. "But that energy and strength could be put into rebuilding and repairing homes. Carrying water from wells for elderly and young. Sitting with the dying or helping people grow their own food. " She smiled at him and, of all things, shrugged slightly and smiled. "But your life is your own. My suggestion is that simply to reconsider the amount of good for the energy expended. If that is what drives you."


But he asked how she came to be here and she smiled. "My place of birth is Rynmere, my upbringing Athart," she was more than adept at never referring to herself as "I", it had to be said. "Then, my training complete my new owner took me back to Rynmere, sold me to another and he granted me freedom. In the meantime, Vri had seen fit for me to meet a man who is now my husband. We moved to Scalvoris and then, a little while ago, here." Geturing around, slightly, she shrugged. "Apparently, my involvement in the Order has been since before my freedom, so the hope is that the familiarity will help return my memories" She smiled, but there was a much more defensive, emotional look in her eyes when she did. "Which, thusfar has not and so my family continue to worry."

[Lucas Nardovino]

"Perhaps you are right and if the person with amnesia can see it more clearly then I maybe its time to stop taking so many hits to the face." He mused, stiffling a smile remembering his split lip, he'd had many arcs to consider what he had done before and to plan his future. The issue was after getting out he had been overwhelmed with the weight of choice and free will but he was close now he knew that soon he would get it all together.

Hanabi had been the turning point, the young priestess from a few trials earlier had set him back to thinking of the knights. Helped him to notice he was only wasting opportunity the longer he sat around brawling in bars under the guise of good. This was only reaffirmed by Faith in a way of its own. "You are quite wise for a young woman, especially one who has lost her memories." He chuckled and took her hand gently and nodded to her. "Thank you."

Lucas released her hands and rubbed his beard, the hair prickly and coarse. "Treasure that, even if you can't remember them at the moment I wish I had a family to care for and to care about me." The ex-con had experienced brief bouts of amnesia himself but only lasting a few breaks to a couple of trials, blows to the head could do that. "Give it some more time and I'm sure your memory will come back, at least that's my experience."

"I don't know about working here, I wasn't able to be put in such an experience." He shrugged slightly, pondering whether to reveal his recent history to her. He decided against it. "I will try to channel my energy into something more preductive, I have heard word of a group, perhaps I can offer them some assistance before the cold comes in." Lucas smiled unaware that she infact was teh leader of this charity, Isonomia.

He edged his way around her and stood now with his back to the exit, ready to depart back out into the street from wence he came. "Take care of yourself Faith, I am sure your memories will come back soon enough." Scratching his still sore head he looked at his clothes, the ones he had carried with him from prison and decided to leave them. They only had bad memories anyway. "If you need me ask around the local taverns for Lucas Nardovino, someone will know where I am."

On that note he departed, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea as he went.

[Rakvald]

Here's your stuff!

Faith
Knowledge: None requested
Loot: None
Injuries/Overstepping: None
Renown: Maxed out already
Collaboration: Yes
Magic Experience?: No

Lucas
Knowledge:
Endurance: Functioning with a headache
Endurance: Struggling through the symptoms of concussion
Endurance: Allowing wounds to heal naturally helps build endurance
Detection: Noticing uncertainty in anothers actions
Strength: Standing with weakened and tired muscles
Loot: Some clean clothes
Injuries/Overstepping: Split lip, 5 trials to heal if not rebusted. Split Knuckles, 14 trials to heal if not reopened. General overall bruising will heal overtime.
Renown: 10 for meeting one of the most famousest of people. Haven't you heard about Faith??!
Collaboration: Yes
Magic Experience?: No

Points: 15
Comments:

I enjoy a good turning point thread, even if it is a social thread for the most part. Heck I like socials anyway. This one didn't disappoint.

It was fun to read about Lucas adjusting to life outside of prison. The drive to deal with his pain as a reminder rather than a hindrance was an interesting one, made more interesting by Faith's advice that he take care of his wounds to make more efficient use of himself than getting into another senseless brawl. I look forward to reading more of his exploits, and seeing if he takes Faith's advice.

Faith getting back into her role as a healer for the first time after having come back to it, and suffering a bit of amnesia was a cool angle for her perspective. The slip of 'this slave' makes me wonder how well she's doing having to work on recovering her memories from the ground up.

If you feel I've missed anything or if you have questions about your review, please don't hesitate to send me a quick PM. Thanks!