----------------------------------------------
RESPITE MARKETPLACE - LATE AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Cavro is wandering the marketplace, looking about at each stall without really taking anything in. May hadn't gotten back to him with the actual schematics yet, but the badger was already running over the list in his mind and considering what materials he was going to need for the generator. Reaching the end of the marketplace closest to the Thirsty Minnow, he looks about, trying to find someone specific.
Nora walks out of the Minnow, heading back to her room, having had her fill of cheap beer at the moment.
Cavro peeks into the alley beside the Minnow, ducking back out and scratching his head as he looks left, muttering under his breath about disappointingly inconsistent ore vendors.
Nora keeps walking but stops at the marketplace. This construction work with Dorri is going to end soon, and besides it's not pleasant. She's going to end up in the same situation she was in before if she doesn't do something.
Cavro turns back to the stalls, heading to the nearest one. He nods at the unfamiliar goat shopping before he addresses the vendor directly. "Good af af afternoon, Hector. Have you seen a certain dusty old mole about?" The vendor only shakes his head at Cavro, leaving the badger looking disappointed. "Oh, alright. Would you you you mind asking him to drop by the Oldhammer if you see him?" He gets a shrug back as the vendor looks to the goat instead, hoping for a sale.
Nora: Do you... need something?
Cavro glances around to the goat, nodding slightly. "Oh, yes. A miracle would be nice, if if if you have one of those on you. I'd settle for a pile of iron ore, though."
Nora: I... can't really say I have either. I'm no miner... or miracle worker.
Cavro sighs, shrugging. "I I I guess miracles are a tall order to ask a stranger."
Nora: That's... fair? What do you need that much ore for, anyway?
Cavro: "Oh, well I'm sure you you you're aware of the generator situation. The town mechanic asked me to forge some parts for her, but I'm going to wind up out of materials by the time I I I finish her order." He scratches his ear, thinking. "And it's going to put a lot of orders further behind, too."
Nora: Ah. Right. Yeah, that's... definitely a problem.
Cavro nods. "Just a bit of one, most of the old orders are relatively simple. You don't happen to know someone who can at at at least swing a hammer, do you?"
Nora: Well... how well do they have to swing it?
Cavro blinks, considering the answer. "Oh, I... Hm. Well enough to make nails, I suppose? That's the most common order I have right now. Not really a challenge, just time consuming."
Nora: I mean... I could. I was a smith's apprentice before I came here. I was mostly repairing explorers' stuff in the field.
Cavro: "Hold on, are you you you being serious?"
Nora: Yes? Why wouldn't I be?
Cavro chuckles nervously, tilting his head for a moment. "Well, I I I don't know, you just said you can't perform miracles, didn't you?"
Nora raises an eyebrow. "I mean, I still can't."
Cavro grins before chuckling with a snort. "Oh sure, I don't think I I I can believe you're not a miracle yourself. If you you you really want to help, do you want to see the smithy?"
Nora: Um... sure?
Cavro nods, starting to head South from the marketplace, but stopping next to the goat. "Oh, how rude of me, my name is Cavro Honeydew!" He holds his hand out to shake in greeting with a wide smile.
Nora accepts the handshake. "Nora Wrentill."
Cavro: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nora. Come along then!" Cavro's visibly excited, not even thinking to ask if Nora has elsewhere to be as he starts toward the Southward street.
Nora mentally shrugs and walks along.
Cavro leads the way through a handful of streets that cut through the center of town and will make the trip only take about ten minutes. "So how long were you apprenticing? And with whom, if if if you don't mind me asking."
Nora: I mean... not too long, honestly. And not with anyone important.
Nora: If I'm being honest, I needed something to do with my life and I was kinda good at it.
Cavro nods. "That's okay, it's it's it's not everyone's passion."
Nora: Well... I kinda need a passion. But, whatever. I... I can make nails.
Cavro looks at her, smiling. "Well what are you looking for?"
Nora: Just... I dunno, something? That's what I came here, and then... well...
Nora: Exploration is hard.
Cavro: "Oh, you were an explorer? That's a a a noble pursuit."
Nora: I wasn't... really an explorer. I just wanted to do it, wanted to get away, wanted to... I dunno, be something.
Nora: I mostly just stayed at the camp and fixed the stuff they broke.
Cavro chuckles, scratching the back of his head as he looks forward again. "Well, that that that's much bolder than anything I've done. Only ever left town to to to visit Bairnell's Foothold once." A building stands out from the others up ahead by virtue of two massive doors taking up most of the street facing wall, with a standard door next to them.
Nora: Well... bold isn't always smart.
Cavro reaches for a key in his pocket, using it to open the smaller door as he speaks. "I I I may have been lucky to find my passion early on, but I've had to be bold for some things." He blushes a little, swinging open the door.
Nora: Well...honestly, right now I just need work to do. So I don't starve to death out there.
Cavro nods as he steps inside, turning a keyswitch that lights up the room. "Well, I I I will pay you for your work, of course." He steps aside to allow Nora to walk in at her leisure. In the center of the room sits a large workbench with anvil plates and vices of different types. Against the wall opposite the door, Cavro and Smitty's tool cases and parts cabinets sit proudly clean. Tables and shelves full of schematics and woodworking utensils line the wall next to them, and kiddy corner to the entrance is the forge, fitted with a suspended crucible. The mammoth oven is fed air by a massive bellows that appears to be run by a weight-and-cog contraption.
Nora: Seems nice. Not that... I'd know an amazing one from a good one, or anything... I'll shut up.
Cavro shrugs, walking over to his tool set. "It's basically home, but but but I haven't got any other to compare it to, really." He takes up a hammer and pair of gloves, bringing them to the workbench along with a small amount of ore and a trio of nails, two straight of different sizes, and one that's been twisted.
Nora: I mean. It's good. Decent? It works, is what I'm trying to say.
Cavro: "It's enough to to get things done. Here, I'd like to see what you can do, try to to to copy these as closely as possible." He waves his hand over the nails. They spent the rest of the afternoon, Cavro testing Nora with more and more elaborate tasks and getting a good feel for her abilities.