While the festival was something Rachel didn’t want to spend much time thinking about, she certainly thought about the kindness a certain stranger showed her. A man by the name of James was the only person to come and check on her, and she didn’t even know him! It was an act of kindness that Rachel felt the undying need to repay with something, anything.
So, she baked. She had to ask to borrow the oven at the inn’s kitchen, but luckily she was allowed to and she made some chocolate chip cookies. Hopefully it was something that James actually liked, considering it was a thank you gift. It’d be a little sad and awkward if he accepted it but never actually ate it. Once they were all wrapped up, it was time for Rachel to find him. Then came the hard part: actually finding the guy. She got no information about him other than his name! Rachel smacked her forehead in frustration and took to wandering the streets of Arcadia with the cookies in hand. She began to wonder if perhaps he might not even be from around the islands and the idea that she wouldn’t be able to properly thank him poured dread into her with every step she took. Suddenly, though, she bumped into someone and lo and behold, it was James of all people.
“Oh! James! I was just looking for you, actually! I’m rather surprised to see you, to be honest. I was beginning to think you didn’t live around here…” She realized she was beginning to ramble and held out the package of cookies. “I, uh, wanted to thank you for the other day at the festival. You know, for checking on me and all that. It was very kind, and you didn’t have to.”
James had decided to stick around Arcadia for a while after the festival, wanting to explore more of what the island had to offer. He’d found himself in a bit of a rut and needed to figure out what island he wanted to lay his territory on and was having a hard time deciding [and slowly running out of time to decide, he needed a place to stay].
A curious hum rumbled in the back of his throat as he stopped at a street corner, carefully examining all the little shop signs. He had to admit, he quite liked it here on Arcadia, yet there was also something about Leuda that was tugging him back and uhg, this was starting to become a frustrating war in his brain.
So he was partially glad that he was suddenly broken from said war when someone bumped into his back. He turned around, pushing his bangs from his face and spotted the young girl he had met at the festival, Rachel was it? Yes.
His expression turned a bit blank as she began to ramble before he even had a chance to say hello. He stared at the package that was held out towards him and soon after a smile tugged at his lips.
“These smell delicious,” He commented, having yet to open the package, but being able to tell exactly what they were. “Honestly you didn’t need to go through all the trouble. I had just happened to notice you, it wasn’t like I was doing anything more exciting.” He shrugged.
“I hope you at least left some for yourself. I couldn’t possibly take everything you made without you at least having one.” Yup, playing up the gentleman card.
