Time: 10 a.m.

Location: River Port Beach-Slime Day

Interactions: [@kazemitsu] Kharne, [@FunnyGuy] Kaleb

Mentions: [@potter] Rue, [@Helo] Bowyn, [@princess] Annya

Equipment: Wodden Mallet

Amas: 899

 

 

Dwarves are naturally reserved individuals, especially around new people.  They are not shy or introvert.  Any dwarf will be quite boisterous regarding any complaints or judgements passed.  There will be no doubt regarding where you stand in their option.  However, they are just as open handed with their distrustful graces, unapprovingly furrowed brows, and dismissing grunts. It takes quite a long time for a dwarf to even acknowledge a person let alone warm up to the possibility of friendship.

 

Arn however, was the exception.  Being approached by a dwarf for other than just business was rare.  Being approached by a dwarf in a friendly manner was something to gawk at.  Many who dealt with dwarves would think that the young medic was some sort of demon or changeling and would immediately distrust him.

 

Perhaps this was the reason that Bowyn had been so wary of him.  Some natural instinct ingrained in other races told them that a Dwarf was not a relaxed and easy going, shy, and amicable person. 

 

That a dwarf was loyal, trustworthy, and a stanch defender to those whom they called friends was well known.  In fact there was a saying “Neither heavens wrath or hell fires can break a dwarven bond”.  Those of other races who managed to secure such a bond held it in extreme importance.  But everyone would readily tell you that no dwarf would readily offer their hand in friendship.

 

The young soldier’s stocky feet had carried him across the sand easily enough towards Kaleb.  There was a slight hint of a smile on his face as he approached the curly headed elf.  His eyes were clear and none threatening.  As a matter of fact, nothing about Arn seem threatening.  The usual cold aura that followed a typical dwarf was replaced with what could even be described as uncertainty and willingness to please.

 

Arn nodded in acknowledgement towards Kaleb as the elf seemed to remember his name.  That brought a slighty bigger smile to his face.  It stayed there as his warning regarding a rash caused the young looking, even for an elf, lad to freak out and start slapping at his face trying to get the mucous remains of slimes off.

 

 

The soldier’s own face morphed in time with Kaleb’s.  Arn’s slowly changed to sport a confused and alarmed look as the elf’s face showed mistrust and contempt. His mind began to back pedal and backtrack trying to somehow pinpoint the cause of such a reaction at what he thought were helpul and well inetioned questions regarding safety.

 

Had he mistakenly offended the curly headed lad by implying that Kaleb was not capable of ensuring his arrows hit only the slimes?  Had he hurt the other’s pride by stating that perhaps there was need of protection?  Kaleb’s sudden barrage of accusations made the young soldier throw his eyes wide before blinking at each word.

 

Confusion was plainly written on Arn’s face as he tried to stutter an apology, or an excuse or something to let the elf know he had no intention of being offensive or insulting.  Had he known that Kaleb’s background had been fed by Bowyn’s own misgivings, then the medic would have felt sick. 

 

Many other people would feel anger at having somebody talk behind their back and spreading lies without basis.  However, Arn was the kind who would feel guilty that he had presented such a bad impression that the impression had been passed on to others. As it was, the dwarf’s mind was spinning wildly trying to grasp and comprehend where all this was coming from.

 

At the final accusations regarding wanting the spot light Arn took a step back. [color=0054a6]“Wh….what?” [/color]  he managed to ask.  In his mind however, the questions were much more specific.  Why would he think that I am trying to compete with him?  They had barely just met.  The solider knew as little of Kaleb as the elf should have known of him.  Even their small interaction could not have been enough to cement any sort of preconception of the medic.

 

The young soldier was still thinking on this when the lizard behemoth made his way to the two of them, a cloak of slime remains a testament to single handled butchery of the slime hoard that fell before him.  Kharne’s simple truth seemed to release Arn from the frozen uncertainty the dwarf felt at being accused.  He nodded his head as the towering giant moved past in search of more prey. 

 

Hesitant steps made him turn but not before he looked back uncomfortably and said in an apologetic tone.  [color=0054a6]“I apologize for whatever I did that made you feel that way.  It was not my intention.” [/color] The young dwarf figured that perhaps Kaleb had had sour experiences with other dwarves before.  After all, his people were not the friendliest of races and there was some animosity towards the fair elven people for some reason or another.

 

Even though his steps took him away from the young elf, there was a sort of need that kept him from just walking away.  It felt like there was question to be answered and confusion to be dispelled but he could not bring himself to do it. Instead, he hefted his wooden mallet and whacked dispassionately at a passing slime. 

 

Before his interaction with Kaleb, he had been in the high 40’s as far as kill count went.  He moved more sluggish and lost any delight he had felt at being able to use his combat training on something that would not violate his code of ethics.  In the end, before the time elapsed for the slime day extravaganza, Arn ended up collecting only about 59 cores. 

 

It had not been for the money that he had ventured forth in this activity.  It had been mainly to try and interact with the group that had gravitated towards Princess Annya.  A small part was so that he would not be the only male in company of all the lovely ladies.  Though by the time Bowyn had decided to accompany Rue, it was too late to change his mind without it being awkward.  The dwarf sighed and followed the other participants to the various lines where one delivered their cores to exchange them for money.  Much like the slime covered sands, his attempt at interaction had been a mess.

As he walked away from the tent where he claimed his price he spied Kaleb a few lines away.  a few of those in line could hear the dwarf as he shook his head....[color=0054a6]"Well Shit" [/color]