Private The Line Between Order and Trust

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

“Out of food as in likely out of ration bars.”

Varin chuckled as he placed his hand over her shoulder.

His gaze flicked to the calm waters by the dock, her suggestion of someone learning new caused him to smirk. Likely she was talking about his swimming, normally he would agree with her. But today seemed like a perfect day for something else.

“You are correct, I do prefer solutions.”

He slowly got up and looked at her before he started to dress himself.

“As much as I love this view,”

His eyebrow arched as he looked directly at her as he picked up his spare clothes.

“We do need to find ways to feed ourselves.”

He slipped on his more field based pants. Darker colored, pocketed. Enough to hold smaller items he would need in the field of survival.

“Have you ever fished before?”

His gaze found hers as a small grin appeared on his face.

“It's rather relaxing really. Sitting down in the warm sun and breeze, enjoying a drink, some small talk company and the drive or the hopes to catch something.”

He looked down at a small crate by his bed as he slowly pulled it out. Inside was a small tackle box full of lures and a pole that he swiftly had to assemble first.

“It definitely requires more luck than skill though. But that’s where I think the entertainment lies. Regardless, you are awarded with something, if not food then you received moments of peace.”

He gently sat on the side of the bed closest to her, his hand resting softly on her leg.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren watched him as he moved about the room, her gaze following the quiet efficiency of his routine. There was something grounding in it, the way he shifted so naturally from rest to purpose without losing the ease of the moment.

At his question, the faintest hint of amusement touched her lips.

"Fishing?" she echoed softly, tilting her head just slightly. "No…I can't say that I have."

She shifted, sitting up a bit more fully now, her posture relaxed but attentive as she watched him assemble the rod.

"I grew up in a house where food simply appeared," she admitted, her tone calm, unembarrassed, just honest. "Prepared, plated, and presented as if it required no effort at all. Cooking, hunting, anything resembling actual acquisition. Those were not skills I was encouraged to learn."

Her gaze flicked briefly to the tackle box, then back to him, something thoughtful settling behind her eyes.

"A minor failing in hindsight," she added, though there was no real regret in her voice. "One, I suppose I am now in the process of correcting."

When his hand rested against her leg, her attention returned fully to him, the faintest warmth threading into her expression.

"Though I doubt I'll be much help at first," she continued, a subtle hint of dry humor returning. "Unless the fish respond to negotiation."

A small pause, then softer: "But…I would like to learn." Her gaze held his, steady and open.

"And if it offers even half of what you just described…" A faint, genuine smile touched her lips. "…then it sounds like time well spent."

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace

He looked at her while she spoke. Speaking of her life of how she did not have to retrieve or hunt her own food. Many would see that as luxury, in his family though, that was seen as something that would be costly.

A faint smile touched his lips then he bent down and grabbed a second rod.

“Failure only happens when you quit in general. Not knowing how to do something because you were never taught is not failure.”

He gently handed her the disassembled rod.

“We will put the hooks on when we get to the dock, but for now, I can show you how to assemble it.”

He then set his rod near them for visual reference.

“Assembly is easy, much more simple than a lightsaber.”

A bit of humor touched the tone of his voice.

“Handle and reel should be fine, the rod itself will just need to be put together. Each section locks into place, and the highest point is the thinnest.”

To many, the explanation may seem mundane or unnecessary, but to Varin, when it came to learning something every detail was crucial.

“I will help as you go, then we can head out.”

He sat with her, watching her. Helping her out where she requested, allowing for moments of error and correction. Whenever she would ask questions he would answer to the best of his abilities.

Moments like these were always precious to him. They helped build trust with both individuals, and eventually became a learning experience for the both of them.

“Perhaps one of these days, I could take you on a hunt as well.”

He chuckled lightly as they finished her rod.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren took the disassembled rod from him with a measured sort of curiosity, turning the pieces slowly in her hands to study the unfamiliar mechanics. There was no trace of frustration in her expression because she applied the same quiet intensity to this task that she usually reserved for far more complex and ancient mysteries. At his comment about the nature of failure, her eyes flicked up to meet his for a brief moment as something significantly softer passed through her gaze.

"That is a perspective not everyone in our circle is willing to share," she said in a quiet tone that suggested she found the thought genuinely refreshing. "But I think I find that I prefer it over the alternative."

Her attention returned to the rod as he spoke, and she followed his instructions with a careful and deliberate precision. Her movements remained steady despite the occasional pause she took to adjust her grip or to recheck the alignment of the components before she finally locked a section into its proper place.

"You claim this is simpler than a lightsaber, so I believe I shall have to hold you to that promise," she added while a faint hint of dry humor threaded through the melody of her voice.

She tested one of the joints to ensure it held firmly, then moved to the next piece, focusing on learning through physical motion rather than simple repetition. Whenever something did not quite align on the first attempt, she corrected the error without a hint of irritation because she viewed the mistake as nothing more than a moment for quiet refinement.

"It is certainly different than what I am used to," she murmured after a long moment of concentration. "There is no inherent urgency to the work, and there is no dire consequence for getting it wrong the first time."

Her fingers adjusted the final section until it secured with a soft and satisfying click before she finally looked back up at him.

"I can certainly see the appeal in something so grounded," she admitted with a slight nod of her head.

At his mention of hunting, her brow lifted slightly while a flicker of genuine intrigue crossed her features to replace her previous focus.

"We shall focus on the fishing first," she replied in a calm manner that was far from being dismissive of the idea. "It is best to master one skill at a time before moving to the next."

There was a small pause in her speech before she offered a much quieter addition to her thought.

"But I find that I wouldn't say no to such an invitation."

Her gaze held his for a moment longer as she allowed the silence to stretch between them before she eventually shifted her eyes back down to the rod.

"Though I suspect I will need to prove I can manage this simple tool before you would ever trust me with anything more dangerous," she noted while a faint trace of satisfaction settled into her expression.

She paused for a beat while a new thought seemed to take hold of her mind, and she looked at him with renewed curiosity. "Tell me, when you go on these hunts, is the feeling of the pursuit similar to the way one might hunt dark-sided creatures, or does the lack of malice in the prey change the nature of the shadow you must cast?"

There was no challenge in her question or her posture. There was only a quiet and sincere willingness to learn more about the man standing before her.

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

He watched as she inspected the rod first, then worked through her process of assembly. He did not try to guide her hands for her, he allowed her to learn and to make her own errors. A small smile came to his face when she spoke of the refreshment of his perspective on lessons and failure.

How could you fail if you had never even started?

“Well, I suppose it's easier than a lightsaber when you are so used to doing it. A matter of perspective perhaps.”

He watched her as she spoke, clicking parts into place, testing alignment and angles. He waited with a measured patience that was like a stone. Confident in any way that she would figure out how to do it.

And so far…she was proving him right.

“You are also learning in a more controlled environment.”

He spoke softly to her as she fixed the final section into place. The rod complete, and ready to do the duty it was called to do.

Varin gently picked it up and inspected it further. His gaze ran down the length, checking the locks and the sections.

She had done it. A small, but great accomplishment.

“I agree, let's focus on your fishing for now. For the most part, it's a lot more calm than hunting.”

When she agreed to accompany him on a hunt eventually his chest fluttered ever so slightly. A companion to take hunting with him, someone to share the moment with instead of holding it in to himself. It was refreshing…

“I think you are far more capable than you realise. You possess patience and quiet. Thats most of the work for fishing.”

A small smirk appeared on his lips, then her next question came, one that kind of took her by surprise.

His jaw set slightly as he thought for a moment.

“The day I found Sinew, I hunted her pack’s alpha. It took some time of tracking and no sleep, Tuk’ata are smart. They are extremely good at ambush tactics.”

He sat the rod down in front of her as he reminisced, the hard times that shaped him into the man he was today.

“Dark side creatures hold an intelligence that is deceiving. Hunting non dark side like creatures do not have certain skills that these creatures hold. Dark Side creatures, at least to me, give a higher rush. Especially since I had barely finished that fight.”

He looked at her.

“For these creatures, they will continue to come after you until you not only kill their alpha, but you destroy them. I had to rip it apart with my bare hands.”

He sat next to her as his gaze looked out to the horizon beyond.

“With normal hunts, it’s mainly for food instead of dominance.”

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened without interruption, her attention fixed on him rather than the rod now resting between them. There was no discomfort in her expression at the way he described it, no flinch at the violence of it. If anything, there was a quiet understanding, the kind that came from someone who had seen different kinds of battles, fought in different ways.

"You don't do anything halfway, do you?" she murmured, a faint note of recognition in her tone rather than judgment.

Her gaze drifted briefly outward, then back to him, thoughtful.

"Dominance through force…through endurance…through proving you can outlast and overpower what hunts you," she said softly. "It suits you."

A small pause followed, then the faintest curve touched her lips.

"I think I would approach it differently."

Her fingers traced lightly along the length of the rod, absent and slow.

"If I were hunting for dominance…I would let the shadows do the work for me," she continued, her voice lowering slightly. "Pull them apart before they ever realize they are no longer the predator."

Her eyes lifted to meet his again, calm, unbothered.

"It keeps things… cleaner."

There was no arrogance in it. Just quiet certainty.

"But for this," she added, nodding faintly toward the rod, "I think I can manage something a little less… dramatic."

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

Varin gently placed his hand on hers, a long quiet pause in the room as he pictured the act in his mind.

“It suits you, quiet, clean and efficient.”

His grip tightened only just a bit.

“I can’t afford to take half measures. It is why I am the one they send when quiet does not suffice.”

He paused.

“When finesse or words fail. I’m the last resort.”

He looked at her, a small huff leaving his chest as he shook his head, as if to remove the tension he felt he was beginning to build.

“Apologies.”

A nervous quiet chuckle left him as hand came up and kneaded his opposing shoulder as if nervously massaging a strained muscle that did not exist.

“Luckily for you, fishing does not take drama to be successful.”

He slowly stood up, his hand reaching down to grab the tackle box.

“How often do you get dinner that is as fresh as it comes?”

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren felt the subtle shift in him before he spoke it aloud, the tightening in his hand, the weight behind his words. She didn't pull away. If anything, her fingers adjusted slightly beneath his, steady, grounding rather than retreating.

"You don't need to apologize for what you are," she said quietly, her voice even, without softness that might dismiss it, but without judgment either. "There is a place for that kind of certainty…even if it isn't always a comfortable one."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, reading the tension he tried to shake off, before she let it pass without pressing further.

When he shifted the conversation, she allowed it, the faintest hint of a smile returning.

"Fresh?" she echoed, rising with him, her tone lighter now. "Rarely."

She brushed her hand lightly against his as she moved, deliberate but unspoken.

"Prepared, refined, presented…yes," she added. "But something caught and eaten the same day?"

A small shake of her head.

"No. That's new."

Her eyes met his again, a quiet spark of curiosity there now.

"I suppose that makes this more than just a lesson," she said. "It's an introduction."

A faint pause, then with a touch of dry humor:

"Try not to let your 'last resort' instincts take over if the fish prove difficult."

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

The contact of her hand tugged another smile on his face. He grabbed the two rods as the ramp to the ship opened up.

“Well, sounds like one of us will definitely be learning and experiencing something new today.”

He walked beside her as the interior of the ship filled with the scent of tropical salty air and the feeling of a warm breeze. The sound of the ocean just outside and the various birds that scoured the sands for food.

“Having prepared food is not a bad thing, I wanna be clear on that. But I promise you, once you have something fresh, you will never want anything else.”

He looked at her.

“So a bit of a gift and a bit of a curse as well.”

He chuckled. His gaze tracing towards the empty dock ahead. Calm winds and calm skies spoke promises of a beautiful and easy day. Perfect for such an activity to pass the time.

“I will try my best not to resort to my “Last Resort” tactics.”

He looked at her with a hint of humor in his voice.

“Usually though, when fishing, that just looks like me standing on a bank with a club in my hand. But, the rods will definitely suffice.”

He could feel the hot sun on his bare back as he looked over the horizon ahead of them. The calm waves preceding their own randomized rhythm of movement, and the eventual bird that landed on the waters surface to rest.

“I think I could get used to this. With you.”

He smiled at her, his voice soft.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren stepped down beside him as the ramp lowered, the warmth of the air and the sound of the ocean greeting her without resistance. She paused just long enough to take it in, the shift from the quiet of the ship to the open world outside settling easily around her.

His words drew her gaze back to him, that quiet softness in his tone not lost on her.

"Careful," she murmured, a faint smile touching her lips. "You might convince me this is something worth repeating."

There was no deflection in it this time, only a lightness that hadn't been there before.

As they moved toward the dock, her attention drifted outward, watching the water, the birds' movements, the slow rhythm of the waves. It was different from anything she had known growing up. Less controlled. Less curated. More… real.

"A gift and a curse," she echoed softly. "I suppose I'll have to decide which it is after I've tasted it."

At his comment about his "last resort," a quiet breath of amusement escaped her.

"Let's try the rod first," she said lightly. "We can escalate if diplomacy fails."

She stepped onto the dock with him, the wood warm beneath her feet, then turned slightly toward him as she adjusted her grip on the rod he'd given her.

"Where do we start?" she asked, her tone shifting back to that focused curiosity, though the warmth lingered just beneath it.

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

His brow arched as he smirked towards her. He slowly offered his arm to her before making their way across the sandy beach.

“Well, if it isn’t something we are going to repeat, then we may as well try to enjoy it further.”

He stepped up to the dock with her, watching as she grabbed her rod ready to begin the event. A small smile crept on his face as he looked at her. The way the sun hit her, brightening the angles and curves of her features.

A sight to behold, and she was not even doing anything. Yet he was drawn.

“Start in the shallow. We are going to catch some better bait first.”

He sat down the tackle box and opened it up, pulling out a couple of smaller hooks. He slowly drew the string out from her rod and knotted the hook to the end. Next he added a small bright and reflective lure just above the hook, and finally a small bright round bobber, just some distance back from the hook.

“Alright, you are all set. Let's get you to your place.”

He stepped behind her, his hands gently guiding her to a place at the edge of the dock, a few feet deep of water ahead of her. But inside the crystal clear vastness of liquid, small schools of fish and bottom dwellers roamed.

“Now, grip the rod.”

He gently guided her hands to the proper placement. His hands feeling the contrast of fiber and warm skin. A small exhale left him.

“Pull it back, and gently lay your finger on the release trigger.”

He slowly pulled her arms back along with her shoulders, his hands softly guiding hers to their proper placement.

“Finally, you fling it forward, when you hit the apex of your motion flip the release trigger.”

His gaze found hers as he looked down at her, his eyes for a moment getting lost within hers.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren's breath caught, just for a moment, when his gaze lingered on hers. There was something in it…something steady, intent, and far too easy to fall into if she wasn't careful.

But she didn't look away.

Instead, a faint smile curved at her lips, softer than her usual composure, as she let herself remain exactly where she was—guided, steadied, aware of every subtle movement of his hands over hers.

"Like this?" she asked quietly, her tone carrying a flicker of teasing confidence despite the slight uncertainty in her grip. Her fingers shifted, not quite as precise as instructed, the rod tilting just a fraction off the ideal angle.

She followed his guidance, drawing it back, feeling the unfamiliar tension in the line. It was heavier than she expected, the balance slightly off in her hands, her shoulders not entirely aligned with the motion he had shown her.

Her eyes lingered on his for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Then she turned forward, focusing.

"One try," she murmured, more to herself this time.

She cast. Not perfectly.

The motion was a touch too stiff, her timing just a fraction late. The line snapped forward with a slight wobble, the lure arcing lower than intended before landing with a louder splash than necessary, the bobber bouncing once, twice, before settling unevenly on the water's surface.

Seren stilled, watching it.

A small exhale left her, somewhere between a sigh and a quiet laugh.

"…I assume that was not graceful," she admitted, glancing back at him over her shoulder. There was no embarrassment in her expression, only a calm acknowledgment of the misstep, paired with a faint, amused curve of her lips.

"Though it did, technically, reach the water."

Her gaze flicked back out across the surface, studying the bobber as it drifted.

"I will refine it," she added softly, the quiet determination in her tone threading beneath the lightness.

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

He watched her form before she cast. A slight stiffness, bringing a slight delay to her timing. It was a slight doubt between her mind and body. Something she would have to sync together for a smoother motion. She was still brand new at this, so the form and what followed was no real surprise, but he offered her a soft chuckle as the bobber plopped on the water, closer than what she was intending.

“Could be worse. My first time on my cast, I got the hook stuck to the deck. Then on my second attempt I lost the bait and the bobber.”

He stepped beside her, looking over to the bouncing steadying bobber, then back at her with a soft smile.

“Making it to the water is further than most get on their first try. Sometimes even the second. I say, this was still a success.”

He stood straight, as he readied his rod.

“Refining is always a process. Eventually, you will have your own technique.”

He tied the hook and bobber to his.

“Perhaps you would like to see it first?”

He stepped up beside her, readying the pole. His eyes glanced over the surface of the calm ripples of the water, looking for any sort of disturbance. His gaze fell to one spot and his body stilled for a moment. Unmoving like a statue as he studied the movement. A slow breath, before he flicked his pole forth, in a fluid and swift motion unlatching the lock to the line.

The line sailed forward like a flying arrow through the wind. The trail of string behind the bobber arcing with the path of air current before it landed close to his mark. Well placed into the shallows.

He locked the line and placed the handle of the rod into a small hole in the dock made for holding unoccupied lines.

“It took me a while to get it down when I was young. But I have confidence that you will get it.”

He stood back up, looking at her.

“Lets get you reeled back in, and give it another try.”

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren watched his cast with quiet focus, her glowing amber eyes following the smooth arc of the line as it cut cleanly through the air and settled exactly where he intended. There was no wasted motion in it, no hesitation. Just control.

She noted it. Stored it.

And then, at his earlier admission, a soft sound escaped her. Not quite a laugh, but close enough to warmth to be noticeable.

"Caught the deck on your first attempt…" she murmured, a faint curve forming at her lips as she glanced at him. "That is reassuring."

Her gaze drifted back to her own line, the bobber now settled into a gentle rhythm on the surface. For a moment, she simply observed it, as if committing the distance and placement to memory.

"Then I will consider myself fortunate," she added, quieter now, "that mine at least reached the water."

Her hands shifted on the rod, still not entirely natural, but more deliberate this time. She located the reel, fingers brushing over it briefly before turning it slowly, testing the mechanism's resistance.

The line tightened. The bobber began its return. Seren's posture adjusted subtly as she worked, shoulders easing, the stiffness from before giving way to something more controlled, even if not yet fluid.

"The motion is…less intuitive than it appears," she noted, a hint of quiet amusement threading through her tone as she continued reeling. "There is more conversation between hand and motion than I anticipated."

The hook neared the dock, lifting from the water with a small drip of sunlight-silvered droplets. She paused, glancing briefly toward where his line rested, then back to her own. "But I see what you mean," she said softly. "It is not force. It is timing."

A small inhale. Then she reset her grip, adjusting her stance just slightly closer to what she had seen from him, not mimicking perfectly, but adapting. Her amber eyes flicked toward him again, calm, steady, with the faintest trace of something almost playful beneath the surface. "Again," she said.

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

Her words drew a short chuckle from him as he watched her reel her line back in.

“It is kind of hard to feed a family with just wood. Need a bit more meat in the diet.”

The line slowly pulled back to her, leaving its own trail of smooth small ripples as the water made a small passage for the bobber. When she pulled out the hook, he watched it glint in the sunlight. The bait that held at the end still clung tightly close to the top of the hook.

His eyes fell to the water below.

“It’s simple small gestures. But your mind has to agree with what you are doing and where you are aiming before your body can smooth the motion. Touch also plays a factor as well, which comes with time.”

He crouched down to get a better look. Not too far ahead he noticed a small school of fish swimming in a strong group together. Ideal size for bait.

His finger slowly pointed in that direction.

“Give that small pocket a try. Odds are, one of them will bite.”

He looked over at her with a confident smile on his face, before he stood back up and gave her a bit more space to cast.

He watched her posture and her movements.

“Breathe before you cast. It helps loosen the muscles.

He spoke softly to her, a tone filled with instruction and care.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened without interrupting, her attention divided between his words and the quiet mechanics of what she held in her hands. The rod no longer felt entirely foreign, though it had not yet become familiar either. It was something in between, a tool she was still negotiating with.

Her gaze followed his hand, her amber eyes catching the faint shift beneath the water where the small school moved as one. A target. Defined. That helped. She adjusted her stance slightly, more deliberate now, aligning herself with the space he indicated. It wasn't perfect, but it was closer.

"A shared agreement, then," she murmured, almost to herself. "Between intention and action."

Her fingers tightened and then eased again around the rod as his next instruction settled in. Breathe. Seren stilled.

For a brief moment, everything else fell away. The water, the dock, and even his presence at her side faded, leaving only the quiet rhythm of her own breath. She took a slow, measured inhale and followed it with a controlled exhale, releasing the tension she had not realized she was holding.

Her shoulders lowered slightly. When she moved this time, it was different. It wasn't flawless, but it was much smoother.

She drew the rod back, less rigid than before. Her timing was still just a fraction behind her instinct, but she was getting closer. When she cast, the line followed a cleaner arc. It wasn't as sharp or precise as his, but it no longer felt forced.

The lure landed nearer to where he had pointed. The splash was softer, and the bobber settled with only a slight bounce before finding its place among the faint ripples.

Seren watched it.

After a moment, a quiet and almost satisfied breath left her.

"…Better," she said, not asking for confirmation, but simply observing the result.

Her eyes shifted briefly toward him. That faint, composed calm was still present, but it was now joined by the smallest trace of approval.

"It listens more, this time."

Her gaze returned to the water, her posture steady as she held the rod. She was waiting now, not forcing or adjusting, but simply allowing the line to exist where it had been placed.

"Now we see if they agree."

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace​

A small satisfied smirk lifted his lips.

“Exactly. Agreeance between intent and action.”

He mimicked her words as a sign of affirmation in hopes to instill confidence.

He watched her breathe, take her time. He watched the easing of her shoulders and back. The tightness and tension releasing their hold over her body and mind. For a moment, he knew what she felt.

Alignment.

Her stance and form were both noticeably more effective. The evidence laid in the way her line shot forth towards her intended target. Her body and mind had made their decision, though it was not perfected, she still showed promise of how quick she learned.

And that always surprised him.

The bobber landed with a softer plop into the water near the small school of fish. Almost exactly where he pointed.

A soft exhale of surprise and pride escaped him.

“Very well done!”

The words escaped him with an excitement like he had just witnessed her demonstrate a technique that was borderline expert level, but in truth, he was just excited that she was showing drive to learn.

That was far more valuable to him than if she did accomplish what she wanted to do and where she wanted the hook to land.

His arms crossed over his broad chest as he watched her bobber bounce softly in a more peaceful rhythm.

“You were more clear on your direction, and it shows. Likely, you will be rewarded for that.”

He approached beside her.

“Now, these fish are sneaky and smaller. Lightly keep one of your fingers on the line. You will feel the string move with the water, it has its own rhythm. But, once you feel a sharper pull get ready. Don’t pull yet, it would just mean they are curious. They have to commit before you pull.”

He walked back to his line, testing its tension with his fingers.

Nothing…yet

“Now, it's a game of patience.”

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren did not react immediately to his praise.

She heard it, registered it, but kept her attention forward, fixed on the bobber as it settled into its quiet rhythm atop the water. The stillness she had found held, though there was a subtle shift in her expression. The faintest easing at the corner of her mouth, a quiet acknowledgment rather than pride.

"Noted," she said softly.

At his instruction, her fingers adjusted. One hand steadied the rod while the other reached for the line, touch light and uncertain at first. She was careful, testing rather than assuming, learning the sensation as it came rather than anticipating it.

The movement surprised her.

Not dramatic, not strong, but present.

Her glowing amber eyes lowered slightly, focus narrowing as she tried to understand what she was feeling. The faint vibrations traveled through the line, uneven and subtle, not something she could immediately interpret.

"…It moves," she murmured, quieter now, more uncertain than before. "I cannot tell if that is the water or… something else."

A small twitch passed through the line. She stilled.

Her grip tightened for just a fraction of a second before easing again, catching herself before reacting too quickly. His words lingered in her mind. Do not pull yet.

So she did not.

"You said they have to commit," she added, glancing briefly toward him before returning her attention to the line. "So I wait."

Another faint movement followed, just enough to pull at her focus.

This time, she did nothing. No guesswork. No assumption. Only observation.

Her posture remained composed, but there was a trace of tension in it now, the effort of holding still when instinct suggested otherwise.

"…Patience, then," she said softly, more to herself than to him, settling into the unfamiliar rhythm of waiting without yet understanding it.

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace

Varin watched her unmoving like a stone pillar. He noticed the slight tension in her muscles as her body wished to react to the slightest movements.

Watching with a patient and still mind that had been through this activity time and time and again.

At her first tension he let out a slow exhale. A sign for her to breathe and steel herself.

Fishing looked easy, and it looked uneventful to some, but to Varin it was all a big mental game of patience and endurance.

When she murmured to herself he gave her a slow thoughtful nod.

The sound of the soft waves sloshing on the sides of the deck, the whisper of the wind and the call of birds were all that could be heard.

Time moved on, not too far. Enough to let any normal person let their guard down before…

The rod twitched once, twice before it finally pulled against her. Not a massive force but noticeable that something was fighting and pulling. The sound of the reel clicking as it tried to gain a small amount of space caused Varin to step toward her.

“Jerk the rod back and reel. As you lean back keep reeling and then ease up. You want the fish to fight and wear itself out.”

He watched her as she started to angle her first fish. Outside Varin was stoic, focused. But inside, he was a child filled with excitement.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

The twitch came suddenly, a sharp and undeniable pull against the line that broke the quiet rhythm Seren had been studying. She felt it before she fully understood it, her fingers tightening instinctively and her posture stiffening as the reel clicked in protest. This was different—not the shifting of the water or the weight of uncertainty, but something unmistakably real.

Her glowing amber eyes sharpened, her focus snapping fully into place as his voice reached her, clear and direct. She moved without hesitation this time, though her execution wasn't yet perfect. The rod jerked back a touch sharper than intended, her timing slightly off as she reacted more to the suddenness of the pull than the control of the tool, but it was enough to draw the line taut.

As she leaned back and began to reel, the sheer tension of it surprised her. It felt alive, a persistent force that demanded she adjust her balance. She planted her feet firmly against the dock to compensate, her movements still a bit rigid but no longer hesitant.

"It is…stronger than I expected," she said, her voice controlled despite the quiet edge of surprise beneath it.

When the line tugged again, sharper than before, she resisted the urge to simply pull harder. Recalling his instruction, she maintained the tension by reeling as she leaned, easing just enough when the resistance pushed back. A rhythm was forming, and while she hadn't mastered it yet, she was learning in real time.

"It resists," she added more softly, speaking to herself as much as to him. "So I do not force it."

With the next pull, her reaction was more measured and her control more deliberate. Her shoulders remained set without locking, and her movements began to smooth out under the pressure. The line held, and so did she.

"…I see," she murmured, her attention fully anchored to the task as her confidence grew. "It is not about overpowering it."

Varin Mortifer