Jocelyn's Vignette

[HorizonsDream]

"After a month, if you are still unsure about this man, then you can come back to me for more advice. Though, you should know all the basics about him at least," Jocelyn explains. "You should have at least an inkling on how you feel about him as well."

[JadedDM]

Thanking her, Skye departs.

A couple of weeks later, Jocelyn is visited by someone else. A very dashing, handsome young man wearing fine clothes. "Excuse me," he says, with a sparkling white smile. "I understand your temple has hit on hard times, and was wondering if I could make a small donation. How does five hundred gold sound?" he asks.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn stops and stares at the man for a few moments, her mouth slightly hanging open as she processes the information that was just given to her. "Uh..I'm sorry," she says quickly, closing her mouth so she doesn't look like a retard. "I'm Pastor Jocelyn Blaine, and you are?" she asks. "And...five hundred gold?" she asks in disbelief.

[JadedDM]

"You may call me Hugh," he says. "And I'd like to make a donation to this temple, if I may."

[HorizonsDream]

"Yes, of course you may make a donation," Jocelyn says, smiling to the man. "Anyone is welcome to make as much or as little as a donation as they want." Clearly, she wasn't a picky person, but she still seemed to be in shock that this man was willing to give five hundred gold to the temple.

[JadedDM]

"Excellent, excellent," Hugh says. "I'm sure my fiance, Skye, will be happy to hear of it. There can be no doubt what a generous and kind man I am, especially if it comes from the pastor whose word she puts so much faith in, yes?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Ahh, so you are the man that proposed to her," Jocelyn says knowingly. "You know, Hugh, instead of donating money to the church to prove to Skye how kind and generous you are, might I suggest you help out her family out of the kindness of your heart?" she says. "They are in much more need."

[JadedDM]

"Ah, but of course I will once we are married," Huge explains. "After all, then we'll be family. And is there anything more important than family, I ask you?"

[HorizonsDream]

"My good sir," Jocelyn says. "Aren't you practically family now?" she asks. "I mean, you are all ready planning on marrying young Skye. I would think you would want to show her and her family how much you truly care instead of waiting for that wonderful day when you two will be joined together in matrimonial bliss."

[JadedDM]

"Ah, well there in lies the dilemma," Hugh says. "You see, she has not yet agreed to marry me. What's more, I could just give them money now, but how will her father spend it? Oh his brothel? Is that really something we should be supporting? If I marry her, the business falls to me and becomes mine. I can then use my money to turn the brothel into something better for the community. Perhaps a nice inn instead, where the young ladies there can make a living without subjecting themselves to uncouth brutes who only plan to use them up, then discard them."

[HorizonsDream]

"Tell me, why do you wish to marry Skye?" Jocelyn asks. She was getting a little tired of this game, but she would play it for as long as she could.

[JadedDM]

"Well, have you seen her?" Hugh asks rhetorically. "She's beautiful, on the inside and on the outside. She comes from good stock, and I love her dearly."

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn motions for Hugh to sit down. "Please, sit," she says. "What makes Skye so beautiful on the inside, and why do you love her?"

[JadedDM]

"I don't understand. Why does that matter? Are you refusing my donation?" he asks, clearly confused.

[HorizonsDream]

"No, of course not," Jocelyn says. "But who makes donations to the church is private, so if Skye was to ask about it, I would not be allowed to tell her of the kind thing that you have done," she explains.