Birthday Break in Boredom (Solo)

[Dimitri]

Spring 1, 511 AV

Dimitri woke up on his day of days, a smile adorning his face. He looked around his dormitory room seeing his fellow squires asleep. He always woke up early on his birthday, though not on purpose. He stepped out of bed, and quickly made it, folding the sheets neatly, pressing out all wrinkles and ensuring they were tight. He stretched, beginning to enjoy his day off from his patron Knight. He walked toward the latrines when he heard some scuffling in a nearby dormitory room.  He peered in and saw some middle aged squires maybe fifteen or sixteen, holding down a young squire Dimitri recognized as new. He couldn't tell what they were doing to him but he did see fear in the boy's eyes and welts on his skin. Dimitri rode in, towering over the younger boys, and they turned to him, fear of being caught evident. He cuffed the two boys on the ears and barked "Get back to bed and don't let me see this again." The boys hopped back in bed, and Dimitri extended a hand to the boy. As he helped the boy up, he knew he had to teach the boy toughness. He gave him a stern look, "I won't save you next time, train your body and steel your will young one." The boy looked at him in strange wonder then, seemingly understanding what he said quickly hopped into bed.

A few minutes after returning to his own dorm, Dimitri pulled out his sword and shield, both wrapped up in protective cloth. He removed the cloth and pulled out his gear kit the Knights gave them. He began polishing his shield in the darkness of his dorm, his fingers still learning every edge and ridge in the shield. His fingers gliding over the shield, he marveled at it's feel. Cold, hard yet strong and unyielding, forged from the very earth the Knights sought to protect. He wiped the shield clean, and held it's sword. He tested the edges. Though still sharp he was able to feel it dulling slightly. He grabbed a sharpening stone and guided it along the edge. In soft small motions he stroked it off the blade edge, a slight shnick sound filling the small space. He continued the motion on both sides, on both edges of the sword as well as rounding off the point. He then pulled out the polish and gave it a quick polishing, his hands sliding efficiently over the fine blade even though his eyes couldn't see in the dark room. Having finished he stood up, put on his breeches, shirt, and boots. He then strapped his shield to his back, his sword at his hip. He strode out of the room, down the hall exiting the dormitory on this lovely seventeenth birthday of his.

[Dimitri]

As he wandered the dark stone halls of the castle, Dimitri tried to plan out his day. He couldn't decide if he wanted to go fishing, combat training, or find some lovely ladies to flirt with. He left the Bittern section, nodding at other Knights as he passed them, and entered the main hall to find a young girl crying. He walked over to her, she had to be five or six, and knelt down to her level. "What's wrong little girl? Why are you crying?"

"...sniffle... Fluf... Fluffles jumped out of my arms, climbed the wall, and ran away.... I want my kitty back!" she began to cry hysterically, as if she lost the only friend she knew. He considered his day off and the fact that it was his birthday. He placed his hand on her head, smiled, and ruffled her hair. "As a Syliran Squire I am honorbound to help a damsel in distress. I accept this quest to save your kitty." The girl's eyes grew in awe and wonder and she began giggling at the thought of being a princess. "Dank you Mistah, Fluffles is black with a white tummy and white feet."
 

[Dimitri]

Dimitri began wandering around the darkened halls of Syliras, seeing neither hide nor tail of Fluffles. He received many strange looks as he walked around making little calling noises even though he had no idea if it would even attract the missing cat. Many people and other guards stared at him like an Akalak having a personal dillemma in the middle of the halls. He walked into the courtyard, finally enjoying the fresh air and sunlight kissing his skin. He looked around on the ground but saw nothing, he sighed knowing this would take a lot longer than he first thought it would.

Then the wind carried a slight mew... to his ears. He looked around, trying to hear it again. He turned his head this way and that, and heard it again. He tried to pinpoint it's location and believed it was over by the western wall. He walked over to the wall and heard the mews once more. He looked around the ground then heard it again above him. He looked up and saw the kitten staring down at him from a small alcove in the wall. It was about nine feet up so he wouldn't be able to reach it. He removed the shield from his back. He held it up above him as flat as he could. The cat simply looked down at him uncaringly. After doing this for nearly half an hour Dimitri left and returned to the young girl. He explained how he had found Fluffles but was unable to get it down from the wall. "He likes fresh fishies from the docks."
Dimitri smiled at the young girl and began heading to the docks, happy to know e had a plan now.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri arrived at the docks seeing it slightly busy. He walked to the end of a smaller dock and sat down. He pulled out his fishing pole and strung it up. He checked the poles closely for faults or cracks. His fingers ran down the smooth wood, finding nothing of concern. He checked the string, currently taut, and was pleased that he distance need to change it. He didn't know much about fishing aside from equipment care, and baiting of course. He opened his fishing kit, and selected a small sinker, a small hook, and a wooden bobber. He tied the string in a poorly done but correct knot to the hook. He then took the leftover string and tied it to the sinker tightly. He slipped the bobber onto the line and knotted both ends around if to keep it from slipping. He then pulled out a wooden box full of soil and opened it. Inside were a few worms, pink and squirming. He plucked one out and stuck it on the hook.

He got the pole ready for a cast, when he noticed some young women watching him from another dock. He stuck his chest out hoping to impress them. He swing the pole back, then whipped it forward. He felt a sharp pain and a tug as the hook snagged his ear, the worm still squirming. His face flushed and he tried to play tough though it hurt something fierce. He managed to extricate the hook and attempted again. The pole whipped forward once more and the wooden bobber clocked him in the back of the head. The girls all started laughing and pointing at him. He attempted a third and final cast and this time it made it into the water properly. The girls all applauded, waved at him, and walked off. He was embarrassed but if he couldn't rely on his skills to pick up women, he at least had looks. He sighed and watched the bobber closely.

Several hours later, the twelfth bell chimed signalling midday and Dimitri's patience was wearing thin. He was on his last worm and hadn't managed to catch anything, not even some kelp. He didn't know why he tried his hand at fishing, but try he did. He was about to pack up when he saw the bobber bob once. He got excited and saw it bob a second time, returning quickly. The bobber then ducked beneath the surface and he pulled quickly on it. He saw the splashing of a fish on his line. He tugged and tugged, holding the pole in one hand and pulling the string in with another. The string dug into his skin but he held firm. For each stretch of string he pulled from the water, he wrapped around the base of the pole, so the fish couldn't get any further away. Eventually he fought the fish near the edge of the dock and with a flick of the wrist it popped out of the water and landed at his feet flopping wildly. It was maybe the size of his hand, he didn't know what kind it was but it was a shiny blue color. A lot of fight for something so small . He cut the string and held the fish up by it as began packing his stuff. He knew the kitten would be his before too long. He smiled and began toward the courtyard, small prize fish in hand.

[Dimitri]

Dimiti received many stares as he walked through town holding the fish as if it were the head of a fierce dragon as a trophy. He eventually found the courtyard, and walked over to where he had seen the kitten earlier. He couldn't quite see it in it's alcove now. He leaned his shield against the wall, stood on it precariously and whipped the strung fish toward the alcove. It landed with a plop on the edge and Dimitri waited, balanced precariously on his shield, it tipping back and forth threatening to buck him.

And buck him it did. He lost his balance and fell hard on to his back, managing to keep ahold of the strung fish which plopped next to his head. He sighed, wondering if all this trouble was worth the smile on the little girls face. Thoughts of giving up began to invade his mind as he laid there soarly. Then he felt the string in his hand tug. The string tugged a bit harder yanking it from his hand. He rolled his head to the side and saw Fluffles eating the fish with much vigor. He chuckled to himself and rolled over and stroked the kitten's scalp, hearing it purr loudly as it ate. He let it finish then he picked it up and began heading back to the little girl. He knocked on her door as the kitten had fallen asleep cradled in his arm. The little girl's eyes lit up as she saw it and she picked it up gently and hugged it. She beamed up at Dimitri, "Tanks mistuh! My Daddy may have some rewards moneys for you if you wait here!"

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Dimitri   Skills Skill Gain Info. Observation 1 -- Childcare 1 -- Fishing 2 -- Flirting 1 -- Acrobatics 1 --   Lore Knightly Duty: Defense of the Weak Knightly Duty: Assisting the Damsel in Distress Fishing: How to Hit the Water Gratitude [tab=Extra,#000000,white][table]+ 3 GM, Reward for the Noble Task + 1, Wounded Ear (Minor), Heals by the 10th of Spring

Additional CommentsA very nice thread. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to PM me.