Complicated Emotions - In Character Discussions
Sometime before leaving for Pandemonium...
Raelynn spotted Howard standing in the corner looking despondent. Wait... had he been crying? No, of course not, she thought. Just a trick of light. Still, he DID look like he might need some cheering up. She wouldn't name names, but she had heard a rumor about how his latest studies had gone.
"Howard? Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, and without waiting, pulled him slightly more into the corner and away from any other potentially nosy individuals.
Turning to face him, she continued, "I heard that... um, I mean, I know you were studying really hard lately, and I know you mages can be really hardheaded sometimes, even when your head gets too fuzzy to think properly. Sometimes we try so hard to emulate someone we admire so much that we forget who we are and that prevents us from being a better version of ourselves."
"I just wanted to say... it's okay to ask for help. It doesn't make us any less of a person." Lowering her voice, Raelynn continued, "Like sometimes, when my eyes are super puffy in the morning, I'll get ice cubes or use a light powder to help hide it. I mean, I know I'm beautiful, but there's nothing wrong with a little assistance now and then to prove that I'm still beautiful. Sometimes, I'll even add a little powder or liner to accentuate my beauty! It doesn't subtract from it, and used just right and not too often, sometimes makes me even more so! Did you know some go so far as to use toxins to keep their complexions taunts?? Although maybe that'd helped someone like Lanek..."
Raelynn shook her head, voice back to normal, as she finished, "Anyways, I was just going to say, if you ever need it, I have a spell or two that could help you, if you desired it. We could even keep it a secret if you want! It's just that you try so hard. And, like, you did almost die three times in the short amount of time I've known you, and that was because you were trying maybe too hard all on your own! Sometimes I think some people just need to be reminded that there's no shame in asking for or needing help, okay?"
Howard’s face flushed and he stammered, “Th – thank you, Miss Raelynn. I didn – didn’t think anyone knew. It’s just embarrassing. Branwyn goes to all this trouble to pick spells for us to learn so we can get better and then … nothing. It wouldn’t be so bad if Johan failed too. But that wheezy, old mage who almost never goes anywhere learns all of his spells, and I never seem to be able to learn mine.’
‘If … if you really wouldn’t mind helping. Maybe next time, next time I could come and ask. That would be a really nice thing, Miss Raelynn. I would appreciate that.” Howard continued to blush and looked down at the floor hoping she couldn’t see his face.
"Oh good! That makes me happy to hear," said Raelynn, clapping her hands to emphasized it. Still beaming, and giving no indication if she could tell he was blushing, she continued, "And remember, you're you, not Johan. As you say, he rarely goes anywhere so he's had the time to learn how to study well, but I doubt I'd ever see him attempt to directly face down a manticore, or if the story I heard was true, jump after an ankheg to save a wolf. I know who I'd prefer to be on the battlefield with me, and I promise it's not just because I'd rather not have to look at someone else nearly as....wheezy as Lanek. Mostly."
Raelynn gave him a wink, and started to walk off before the poor mage melted into the floor. She paused just long enough to add, "Just don't forget to ask, okay? And that includes any help outside of your studies, too!"
(End of story OOC comment for once and future mages: Bless gives a 5% or +1 for whatever you apply it for, and Chant sometimes works, but as a spell can take days to learn, may also not.)
