Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

It was always a delight to Faith when someone came into the shop; after all every purchase here funded the charities she was so inexorably linked with. While that was true, that each person was welcome here and a welcome sight, when Gennadiya walked in, Faith beamed in delight. She knew her colleague, of course, but to Faith it was more than that. Genna was with someone - an older man and Faith looked at him and back to Genna and she thought that there was more than a slight family resemblance. However, she didn't assume and never would, so, she stepped forward and smiled. "Gennadiya, how lovely to see you. Hello," she said to the man with Genna and she offered her hand to shake. As she found out that this was Gennadiya's father, Faith's smile widened. "You must be incredibly proud," she said quietly. "Your daughter is one of the most talented medic I have ever met." To Genna, then, she turned and looked at her with a considered expression.

Faith glanced at the other person in the store, and she smiled to him. "Are you needing help also, sir?" Once he had answered, she would help him, but as she did, she moved over to a rail and pulled out a white dress It was unusual in design, intricate in its pattern and there were accents of silver on it which shifted and changed colour. "I can make you something specific for you, but this is something which I thought you'd like to see the possibility for accent fabric as part of the design. With white - or any colour - it can be very effective." She smiled to the man in the shop, then, and nodded her head. "And, I agree. I think white suits her very well indeed."

Looking between the three of them, Faith waited to see what they thought and said. She hoped that Gennadiya's father liked what his daughter chose here; it was important for Genna's sake.

"Will you be wanting an outfit, sir?" she asked to both Genna's father and the other customer in the shop. Then, she waited to see what her customers - all three of them - thought.

They looked at dresses, and Faith considered carefully as she looked at Gennadiya and her father. When Genna declared that this was the dress, Faith smiled in pleasure. "I'm pleased," she said softly. "More than pleased. Now, how about I make the silver have the effect of molten silver? Shifting shades to look almost liquid? A subtle effect, I think, would be best. We don't want to detract from the beauty wearing the dress, but instead only to enhance and emphasise." Depending on what Gennadiya wanted, Faith would be very happy to oblige. She did her best for each customer, of course, but Gennadiya was a colleague and a friend and, more than that, Faith was of the opinion that Genna's abilities and actions had been under-estimated and under-appreciated in Rharne. Faith smiled at Genna's assertion that her father needed a suit because of the age of his current outfits; it was intriguing to her to watch father and daughter together. Would, one trial, Padraig and Rose have a conversation like this in a shop like this one?

Faith pushed that thought out of her head and then, she got on with finding things for Gennadiya's father. Sharp clothing, classical and elegant but with a feeling of uniqueness, she thought. "I'm thinking, sir, something like this?" she said, pulling a jacket and watching to see what his thoughts were. They could, also, she pointed out, do it in white or any shade or colour. Subtle embroidery, small details, those things were her thought, but she went through the process of finding out what he liked, what he did not. Working through until they got to the right one. Of course, if he wanted it, she explained, she could add the liquid-silver-like fabric on his outfit, too.

Faith took all the time they needed and made detailed notes. While Gennadiya's father was in the dressing room, with one of the male staff measuring him, Faith spoke to Gennadiya quietly. "It seems most bizarre to say it here, but we never seem to get the chance to speak about anything other than the right-in-front-of-us at work. I had something to ask you, and I'd like you to think about it." Faith smiled slightly and explained. "You're one of the most talented medics I've ever met and I don't know what I'd do without you here. I was wondering how you'd feel about becoming the Head of the Order in Rharne?" Faith had always just "done" that as part of her role as the overall leader of the Order of the Adunih, but it had always been her intention to pass it on when she found someone who could do it well.

And now she had. Leaning forward, she squeezed Genna's hand. "You don't need to answer right away, take whatever time you need. But Rharne needs to see the wonders you've done, and I can think of no one more deserving." Faith knew, in her heart, that this was right.

It was time.

Holding on to Genna's hand, Faith smiled as she squeezed it in return. The young woman was so serious, always, so calm and collected and Faith knew first hand that Genna was not only an excellent medic, but also a very capable organiser. She had, to Faith's mind, the perfect temperament for this line of work, and she'd demonstrated it time and again. When Genna accepted, Faith leaned forward and hugged her; it wasn't something Faith did often, she rarely initiated physical contact with people. A hang over from her time as a slave, or just her natural tendency, the young woman had no idea. But, in this moment, she followed her instincts. "You'll be great," she said.

When Genna's father came out of the changing room, Faith was pleased to see the smile on his face. With a glance between father and daughter, she knew that Genna was happy and Faith nodded. "I think that's a good choice, sir," she said softly. "And, we can make sure that the two outfits compliment each other. The pattern on your jacket can be mirrored in a subtle embroidery on Gennadiya's dress, for example. It certainly is do-able, if you'd like that?" Faith often wondered what it must be like to have parents and she had a very earnest and genuine desire to make sure that Genna's father was happy.

Faith knew that, when it came down to it, she could trust Gennadiya as a friend. There were many people who knew Faith, who wanted things from her. But there were very few who she knew she could rely on, could call friend. She cherished the people in that small group - and Genna was one of them. She smiled at Gennadiya's father, and considered him carefully. "We could, in fact, use the same subtle embroidery in your jacket with the same colour shifting, almost liquid-like effect?"

She was very happy to do that and, when it came down to it she wanted them both to be happy with how they looked, to feel comfortable in their own clothes and to know that the other was feeling the same - so, she would work on details and continue to do so until they were both as happy as they could be. For Genna, she asked "Would you like a shawl or cloak to go with that?" The young woman might want to keep away the chill of the air, after all. Then, after those questions were dealt with, the final (she thought) thing to check was. "And would you like to consider what jewellery or accessories either of you will be wearing? Are there any adjustments which need to be made, in light of that?" If Genna wanted any ribbon or such for her hair which matched aspects of the dress, Faith would be more than happy to provide.

That all asked, she waited to see what they both felt. When they were done, she'd go from there.