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ASHFORM'S FORGE - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Strix was adjusting to her new status quo, and was now looking for someone to help her with a matter. Normally, maybe she'd go to someone with medical knowledge, or perhaps even a clothing expert, but well..she's metallic now, and as such..she needs a metal worker. She arrives at the forge, and knocks on the entrance, looking in "Ah. Hello? Anyone there? I have some work"
Ashform turns from the forge, the crackling fire behind highlighting the hulking form of an ox, though the fuzzy grey outline doesn't represent fur very well, looking velvety smooth, and lacking luster. As the apparent smith takes a few steps toward the center of the room to greet Strix, sparks drift upward from glowing hot charcoal hooves. "Good morning! Or day. Or not so good. How is the sun and the weather? Er. How are you, rather."
Strix: "Oh. I'm doing well!" She gives a gentle smile to the smith "And the weather is good too. Everything is good. I was hoping you could help me something. I want a little patch added to my arm, sort of a name tag? Just a small patch, maybe a small spot weld, or the like, I..ah..well, I'm changing my name, and I want a nice easy to way to let people know, so it's not awkward having to mention it. Not that I mind. I like my old name
Strix: too, just..y'know. Fresh start?" She's talking as if Ashform has any of the context whatsoever
Ashform hums, walking away from the forge toward the center of the room and into better light. Leaving a slight trail of ash to drift behind it, the light reveals beady charcoal black eyes and a kind smile. "I see, that can be arranged." There doesn't seem to be much hesitation in the request of welding something directly to someone's arm... "What sort of metal were you looking for? Bronze? Brass? Both polish up nicely and don't tarnish. Hold an etching very well, too."
Strix: "Oh, I already have it" She takes out a small plate of silver "I already melted down some silver coins for this" There is a small etching of the name 'Mia' on it. "I know how to attach it, but ahh, I want it down perfectly right, and I can't do it to my own arm. I know from experience that doing work with one hand is always a little bit untidy" Strix for her part is unfazed by the perhaps odd appearance of Ashform. Who, after all, is she to judge?
Ashform halts in searching his stock of metals to turn back to Strix. The huge head nods as it steps up and takes the plate in one large hand, examining it. "Hmm. Quite pure. Nicely shaped. Are you a smith as well..?" Squinting at the plate, the elemental looks back to the customer. "...Mia."
Mia nods "Yeah, I went by Strix before all this madness happened. I have my own little setup the other end of time, but before..well" She gestures at herself"I was a lot more kobold, and a lot less metally. Still me, just feel less..Strixy, if that makes sense?"
Ashform hums, tilting it's head a bit. "Your body changed? I suppose... Yeah I haven't seen anyone made of metal before." The ashform gestures towards the large workbench, sliding two stools into place next to it. "Most folks are flesh and scales or fur. Or feathers."
Mia takes the stool, and sits on it "Not many at all. There was an accident at the generator, and..well. It's magic, and the magic saved my life, but this was the end result" She pulls down her blouse, exposing her shoulder, considering "Hmm, I'll need my shoulders exposed for this" She ponders that, and starts making 'adjustments', making little cuts, so that the blouse would expose her shoulders afterwards. The shoulder that has been offered to Ashform actually has a mark on it already, a little down the arm, a Sarn official product marking.
Ashform sits on the other stool, lightly polishing the back of the plate Mia had brought in preparation. It only take a few moments to notice the marking already on her shoulder, leaning over her and squinting. "Mmh. Something's already there. Is that your old name? 'Erk...Sa...Muck-ee? [ARC-SA-MKII]"
Mia shakes her head "No..It was Strix. That..name..well" There's a pause "In a way that's my name too. When the accident happened, I was fused with a Magical Amplifier, which was a Mark two. You could say that I'm an upgrade to that, so..Mark three, but..well, I'm no magical amplifier" There's a small little shiver "Though I imagine some people in Sarn may not see it that way"
Ashform blinks, humming. "That sounds like you have a mage after you. Familiar." It nods toward the serial number. "That should be covered then, yes?"
Mia considers, before shaking her head "No. That..that's still me. I'm..me, I'm the Mia formally known as Strix, but..I'm still what made me the me I am now. I'm a weird little tech kitty, and..I'm not going to hide that" She sets her face as one of determination "I..used to run, and hide..but..no. If I've decided that I'm not going to be scared anymore?..Then..well" She puts her hand over to her shoulder, and rubs the mark "I want this to stay"
Ashform smiles gently, nodding. "Understood. Just above it, then." The oxen reaches down with the polishing rag, rubbing the sanding grit on Mia's shoulder where the badge will sit, roughing the surface to help bind the metals together. "Hm. These hands will be too big to make this easy." While polishing away at the spot, the ashform begins shifting. It's shoulders are nearer to Mia's height, arms slimmer, hands smaller, though the long okapi neck still leaves it taller than Mia.
Mia: "Oh! That's a cool trick!" She nods "Bigger and bulkier for the heavier work, then smaller like that for the more delicate, up front stuff" She doesn't seem too bothered by the surface work, though she wiggles her toes as it happens "It doesn't hurt exactly..but..uh..well, it's not something I'd for fun" Her 'skin' is pretty tough, all things considered. Nothing he can't work with, but strong and flexible enough that it would be a real nice material to work with and do stuff with if..well, it wasn't attached to a cat right now.
Ashform chuckles, doing it's best to not puff smoke into Mia's face, which is one reason for picking a still tall form. The ashform has found that most don't appreciate eyefuls of smoke and ash. "Yes, an advantage of being an elemental, apparently. I didn't even know I was doing it the first time. Has caused a little bit of trouble." It holds the silver plate to the roughed spot, checking the size while holding Mia's arm still with the other hand. "Strange... Your metals are... Familiar, but also an alloy I've never touched before."
Mia: "I haven't had a chance to examine it much yet. It's some sort of magical alloy, It feels like flesh, but..it's strong, and tough" She flicks her arm with one finger, and it gives a soft ping. Much more subdued than metal would be. Close to flesh, but..with a slight pitch to it. "I..came to you somewhat because..well, I was hoping you'd understand the problems with being made of..well, something unique"
Ashform nods a bit, standing from the stool after it sets the new badge down. "Oh, you'd heard of me then, as I am I mean? I... Do they use a name? I haven't found one for myself yet. Suppose I can leave Mia off the list." It looks over a shoulder to give Mia a small grin, setting a pot of solder in the coals to melt.
Mia: "No" She shakes her head "Just that there was a smith here that was formed of ash" She lifts her own shoulder, to look at the work "Oh, that's nice. That'll work great. I want something like solder, so I can take it off after everyone is comfortable with the change"
Ashform nods, chuckling again. "Just don't play in any hot fires and melt it, okay?" The smith pulls the pot from the ashes, holding the smoking hot clay bowl in one hand and using a piece of metal to lift some liquid metal to apply to the badge. It quickly adheres the badge to Mia's shoulder, pinning it place as the heat slowly dissipates. "Shame. Everyone has a name. You've had two. The one i was born with was not my own." The ashform sighs a stream of smoke just over Mia's head.
Mia: "I'll be careful! I'll put a guard on it if I need to work the forge" She pauses, and tilts her head "Well, I'd never be so forward to suggest a name. Especially since I don't know you, but is there anything that well, feels like it fits? I chosen Mia because..it's short and simple like my old name, and sorta sounds like a catty sound. And..well, it's Me. Mia. Me? Get it?"
Ashform thinks about it for a moment, smiling. "You're right, Mia does seem to fit you pretty well. So does this badge you made. There." It draws the hand back, using a cloth to brush off the ashy residue and shining the badge up. It nods after a few moments of closer inspection. "No excess scratches, no overrun."
Mia: "Excellent work!" She touches the patch "I came to the right place for sure" She smiles, bobbing her head "So. How much will that be?"
Ashform hums, leaning back from Mia as it considers. "This is a rather special thing to do. And you really didn't use any of my materials up. Honestly, it was nice to be part of something this important, so no charge."
Mia: "Well. That's..really nice" She smiles "You're a kind fellow. Is there anything you'd like me to call you?"
Ashform rubs it's chin, shedding ashes onto the floor. "Believe me, I've thought a lot about it since Melia brought up having a name, but just don't know."
Mia: "Oh! You know Melia? She's a friend of mine" She ponders "Well..what sort of person do you think you are? Talk about yourself a bit. This is sort of how I worked it out"
Ashform turns, waving an arm toward the forge. "This is what I am. All I am. The iron and coals are what I've known all my life, the core of my being." It hums. "Apparently I am... reclusive? Some customers noted I focus on the work and not on small talk. When opportunity to shape metal comes, that's what I want to do. Smith is descriptive but... I don't know. It doesn't feel to sit right. That is a title, but not my name."
Mia: "Well, Coal can be a name. If that's the core, maybe add something to it? Coal is really helpful, but you're more than coal, Coal..Collin, Joel.." She's clearly just tossing names out, seeing what lands. "Something around Ferris? That's another way of saying Iron. Ferris would be something made of iron, but it's got a sort of playful side to it too?"
Ashform hums, crossing it's arms. "Something to do with the actions? Melting, hammering, er... Or the tools? A hammer, or crucible... Tongs... This is not in my skill set."
Mia: "Forge maybe? Or a name similar, George. Or Melting you said? Flux? That's sort of like melt, and it's a changey word.." She drums her fingers on her leg "I can't really come up with a name though" She gives him a smile "You have to find something that fits, but..I can keep talking! Uh..Hammering. Drawning a bit of a blank there. Mallet? Mal, maybe? I do like shorter names..."
Ashform hums, raising a finger. "You might have a point with Flux, there... I kind of like it. Easy to remember, I think, with it being so short. I'll try that for a while." The elemental smiles at Mia. "Thank you for your inspiration, Mia."
Mia claps her hands happily "Glad to help! Short names are good! And there's the X sound. I lost my X sound, but it's good that we've gotten one back"
Flux also claps, though the hands explode a cloud of ash and the elemental immediately files that away as something to not do. "Indeed!"
Mia: "Well, if it changes again, let me know. If I see Melia before you do though, I'll let her know, if that's okay?"
Flux grins, nodding. "Absolutely. Thank you for stopping by, and let me know if that solder doesn't hold up. It should, but just in case."
Mia: "It should be fine!" She nods "It only needs to last a few weeks after all!"
Flux settles in it's seat, shifting to a smaller body to be more at eye level with Mia as the conversation shifts to shared interests in crafting and metalworking.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EARLY EVENING
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Gareth sits at the counter in the Minnow, eating a nice, warm meal to account for the slight chill in the air as the seasons change again. His search for Maxime has been fruitless so far, but he's been getting some leads here and there, just hints of hints about folks seeing her around town quite recently still, but no solid directions yet.
Fiora slides onto the seat next to Gareth, ordering an ale as she side-eyes the wolf. "What's up, stranger? Haven't seen you around these parts lately?" She gives a familiar grin, clearing joking with Gareth.
Gareth looks over at Fiora for a few moments. "Who are ye, again?" He pauses, then grins as he lightly punches Fiora's shoulder, "Just kiddin', lass, how've ye been lately? House still comin' up alright?"
Fiora mrphs, sticking her tongue out. "It's coming along. Between Brun's reading and working with that weasel, she's plenty good at figuring out what we need to do, and I'm plenty good at doing it. We make a pretty good team, but I still miss the old days, sometimes, you know?"
Gareth grins and nods. "Aye, though... nothin' really stoppin' us from goin' out to take a contract here and there, ye know. I hope ye've at least been keepin' yer skills sharp." He trails off, then chuckles a bit as he helps himself to a sip of his drink, then orders one for Fiora, "Can't believe it's been long enough to call things 'the old days' already, though. Too damned easy to lose track o' time, sometimes."
Fiora snorts, "Of course I'm keeping sharp! I'd ask the same of you, eh?" She turns to take the drink in hand, craning her neck to look down at it. "I hear that, though... Things here didn't quite go the way we thought, eh?"
Gareth gives Fiora a slightly cocky grin. "Still sharp enough to tangle with a group o' six ankhegs without a scratch. Killed four, maimed the other two." He sighs as his grin slides again, and nods, "Aye... we've only been here... what, a year or so? Feels like we've been here fer a lot longer than that."
Fiora raises an eyebrow at Gareth, then laughs, "Eh, southwestern nest? They must still be slow from the damage I did to them awhile back if you did so well." She takes a swig of her ale and nods, "Aye. But we've been through a lot. I can check 'fighting in a war' off the bucket list. Not sure if that one ended up as fun as I'd hoped... Liked it better when we were smashing through scummy bars to take down some piece of crap drug runner a few pegs, you know?"
Gareth chuckles and nods a bit. "Had a feelin' those ankhegs were skittish fer some reason. Guess they were worried ye were still prowlin' around nearby." He spends a few seconds eating another bite of his meal, "Well, one good thing with us bein' out this way fer so long... idiots like those are probably gettin' brave again. It'll be easier to find them if we go huntin' again some time in the future."
Fiora laughs, "I think 'prowlin' is a new way to describe me, but true. I guess we let the scumbags poke their heads back out and think Fury and Wrath are gone for good, eh? Then get Grieve down and go headhunting. Heh."
Gareth nods again. "Exactly, not to mention the bounties gettin' a bit bigger if they get bolder. We still got plenty o' time to go and do our thing again one day." He pauses, then scratches at his neck with a sigh, "Probably a good thing, too. Not sure when I'll be able to head out again anyway, but definitely not any time soon, I think."
Fiora nods, "Mmmm. Same." She pauses, giving Gareth another glance, "Eh? What's anchored down the ol' wandering pirate, hm?"
Gareth hums quietly. "Right now? Just tryin' to find Sammi, and I got some leads to work with. But... even that aside, ye know how I start thinkin' a bit when things get quiet, aye?"
Fiora hums, nodding. "Aye. Never been much of a problem for me, I guess..." She probably doesn't recognize the self-burn there. "But you'd get that distant look in your eyes when we'd gone too long without a bit of action." She pauses again, "Sammi, eh? That's the one with the tentacles?"
Gareth nods. "Aye, she vanished not that long after we got back from dealin' with the Saurs. Figured she might have had one o' those weird, long sleeps o' hers, but... searched around a lot and I never did find her, even up at the waterfall." He shakes his head, "Anyway... I'm workin' on that right now. Mostly been thinkin' about stuff after all this, though."
Fiora leans back, "You don't think the Saur did something to her, do you? Guessing you already thought on that angle. If you need me to bust some heads, you know I'll be there for you." She takes another drink, "After all this, eh? Meaning... what happens once you've found her?"
Gareth hums at that. "Mmh, exactly. Kind o' have an idea o' how to find her, so once that's done... well... not like I'm goin' to want to be far from here fer long periods o' time, ye know?"
Fiora chuckles. "So she is your girlfriend, eh?" She hums a bit, "I get that. I figured you'd have taken a ship off awhile ago, honestly, but... I get the feeling."
Gareth smiles a little at Fiora's assertion. "Aye, it's been a while buildin', I think, but there it is." He shrugs a little, "But with that, I kind o' started thinkin'... what if I'd hung up me hat on bounty huntin' as me primary job?"
Fiora slumps a little at the bar, looking down into her drink again, "Yeah, eh? Makes sense..." She sighs. "Tried that too, but I'm no good at anything else..."
Gareth hums as he goes to take a sip of his drink again. "Mmh... I'm almost 40, so I figured I'd have to think about it sooner or later. Never had a reason to before; figured I'd just keep fightin' the good fight until somethin' knocked me out o' action fer good, and then go from there. I'd still take the odd job o' course, but I'd probably focus on somethin' more permanent fer meself... and Sammi."
Fiora sighs, "Guess it is kinda the life that I just assumed would end in a blaze of glory, yeah. Settling down was never in my vocabulary, but here we are..."
Gareth nods. "Aye, life never really goes the way ye think it will once ye settle on actually givin' a crap about it. Already been buildin' a house fer meself, and ye did the same with ye and Brunilda. Might be time fer me to realize this is probably home, now, or at least a home base o' sorts."
Fiora chuckles, "Well, at least we can remain a constant for one another, yeah? We've been fighting together for so long, you're... you're the only family I had for a long time. You're still basically kin to me. You know that, right?"
Gareth shoots Fiora a grin. "O' course, lass. Ye know ye're the same fer me, more than me actual family in a lot o' ways. Ye won't get rid o' me that easy."
Fiora gives Gareth's shoulder a light punch. "Good. You've kept up with my dumb ass for so long... I couldn't imagine you falling behind now. So, what are you going to do here then, hm? Like, taking a job?"
Gareth hums with a confident air, clearly having given things a good thought before now. "Well, I was thinkin'... I'm a former pirate, still got some o' me connections in various ports, used to be a quartermaster on the Victory North... and me family is a group o' Vamas merchants." He grins at Fiora, "What if I set up a trade company o' me own, here in Aephix, with the fundin' in me Vamas account... and hired ye on as a guard captain to whip hired merchant guards into shape fer me business?"
Fiora blinks, her mouth working up and down silently as she chews on that idea. "...I... whoa. Um, okay...? Okay! Yeah! Hell yeah!"
Gareth grins all the brighter at that. "And, o' course, anyone causes us problems, we go out personally and show them Fury and Wrath haven't gone soft at all, eh? Clear up the trade routes, and claim the bounties or rewards fer doin' that."
Fiora laughs, slapping Gareth on the back, "Oh hell yes! You've always been the smarter of the two of us, Gareth! Here you are again, bailing my reckless ass out of the mess I rushed into."
Gareth laughs, his expression joyful as he claps Fiora on the shoulder in turn. "We always watched out fer each other, lass. Any mess one o' us got stuck in, we both tackled together."
Fiora nods, lifting up her mug of ale to toast Gareth's, "Here here! Ah! Damn! And here I was feeling all sorry for myself, and you already had a plan for us. Well, I'm with you. Through thick and thin, blood and water, and all that!"
Gareth raises his mug and happily knocks it against Fiora's in a hearty toast. "Through thick and thin, as always, lass!" He takes a drink to seal the toast, then smiles, "Honestly, it took a lot o' outside things to happen fer me to figure it out before now."
Fiora drinks once they've toasted as well. "From fighting partners to business partners? Well, I'm glad you did figure it out cause I sure as hell didn't."
Gareth grins at Fiora as he orders another round for the two. "Still fightin' partners, in case someone decides to get funny with our fleet!" He shrugs modestly after a moment, "Figured all the parts were there, aye? Just had to think o' the best way to put it all together."
Fiora nods, grinning wide. "It sure as hell seems to fit to me. Heh. So I guess, once you've found Sammi, you build a home, and then... well, just let me know whatever you need me to do. You've got my axe ready. Sword too. And fists."
Gareth seems to get a little uncharacteristically emotional as he takes a moment to rub his good eye, though his grin refuses to vanish. "And to think, all this because ye started me thinkin' a while back, when ye were frettin' about bein' stuck here in Respite. Well, we're not goin' to be stuck any longer, if we can get this off o' the ground."
Fiora claps her arm on Gareth's back once more, "Certainly not stuck. Hell, the two of us put our heads together, we could run this town instead."
Gareth laughs heartily. "Imagine, eh? The two o' us leadin' Aephix as a merchant nation." He lets out a satisfied sigh and smiles at Fiora again, "Once I find Sammi, I'm goin' to get to workin' on this idea, and I'll keep ye fully up to date on it as it goes."
Fiora grins. "Guess the Silver-Talons have something to worry about now, don't they?"
Gareth grins slyly. "Oh, we'll give them some good competition, I'm sure, lass. Not like pirates, but legitimate businessfolk."
Fiora nods, "Well I've never been anything BUT legitimate. Mostly."
Gareth nods at that. "Well, that was more just fer meself on the legitimate part. Ye have yer ways, I had me own." He chuckles quietly, "Ye know... I remember somethin' ye said the last time we had a talk like this."
Fiora snickers. "Well, it was mostly a joke for myself too." She takes a drink. "Hmmm? What's that?"
Gareth smiles at Fiora. "Well, I remember ye mentionin' how it felt like it was the end o' an era. Made it sound like it was the end o' things." He gives Fiora a teasing nudge on the side, "Might be better to think o' it as a fresh start, aye? Somethin' ends, and somethin' starts in its place."
Fiora shrugs, "It's a better way to think of it, I guess. Just felt weird, like I was putting away a part of me. But you're right. We might be starting something better than we could have imagined in all our days of hunting, and I gotta look ahead, instead of getting stuck in the past."
Gareth flashes a toothy grin. "That's the spirit, lass! Ye wanted to forge a legacy fer yerself, so we'll damn well forge somethin' bigger than we could have otherwise. And we don't give up our fearsome reputations, either, but add onto it!"
Fiora grins back, "We'll definitely give the Silver-Talons something to worry about. They think their guards are the best eh? Well, we'll just have to show them."
Gareth laughs. "Hah, their guards are good, aye, but with ye leadin' the defense crew fer our fleet? Untouchable, Fiora, I can feel it."
Fiora reaches up to tap her necklace, "We'll be an unstoppable suit of armor around whatever cargo you find, I swear it."
Gareth takes a few moments to down the rest of his first drink. "And if anyone tries anythin' funny, we go out together and bash some heads like we always did best. Capture them, bind them up, haul them to port and toss them in jail fer a nice bounty, just like before."
Fiora clinks her glass again, "Just like before. Maaaaybe a little less collateral damage? I'll try, at least. If we're gonna keep this on the up and up."
Gareth chuckles as he lightly taps his glass against hers for a moment in an impromptu toast at the prospect of this new phase in their lives. "Well, hopefully not too much, since it'll be our merchandise that gets damaged if we're fightin' on our ships and in our warehouses. Outside is all fair game, o' course."
Fiora laughs along, "You already got a name picked out? Wrath and Fury Shipping Co might not be the right branding."
Gareth hums a bit, spending a few seconds quietly contemplating since that particular thing has been a catching point in the whole plan. "Well... couldn't think o' much else, but... I was thinkin' o' keepin' it simple. 'Gwynn and Wess Trade and Shippin' Company', maybe?"
Fiora nods, "It's less threatening at least... I like it."
Gareth shrugs with a smile. "I'm open fer ideas, o' course. Won't be puttin' it in writin' until Sammi's safe and sound, anyway, so that gives us time to think on it all some more."
Fiora: "Yeah... I'll think on it too. Maybe when I've had a few less drinks in me." She empties another mug, though with her size and disposition, it takes a lot to get her drunk.
Gareth chuckles. "Probably easier to think with a clear head, aye. Ye seem to have a knack fer comin' up with names, anyway. Grieve and Zorya, and whatever else ye might have named over the years."
Fiora chuckles, "Well, you know, everyone called me 'Fury' because my old helmet didn't do so great with talking. So I was saying 'Fiora' but everyone just heard Fury."
Gareth hums and nods. "Aye, I remember thinkin' as much when ye first ran into me back in Vamas. Still, ye had the intimidatin' look down pat thanks to that helmet."
Fiora nods, "I think I've figured out the whole intimidation thing without it now too~."
Gareth laughs quietly. "Not too hard to achieve, ye know, what with ye bein' almost eight feet o' muscular giraffe able to knock someone flat in one punch and all."
Fiora flexes in her seat, smirking, "Damn straight. I'd like to meet whoever wants to mess with this so I can teach them the error of their ways."
Gareth nods approvingly at Fiora's flex. "Aye, and that's one reason why ye'd make for a great captain. Ye don't take crap from anyone." He pauses, then amends his statement, "Well, anyone except fer meself, Brunilda and yer sister."
Fiora chuckles, "You three don't give me crap. You give me 'advice'."
Gareth shakes his head, grinning. "Yer sister and Brunilda might give ye nothin' but advice. Me? I still give ye crap sometimes."
Fiora sticks her tongue out at Gareth, "Eh, but only cause you know I'll give it right back to ya."
Gareth flashes another grin. "And that's why I give ye crap, lass. I know ye'll give as good as ye get."
Fiora takes another drink, laughing. "You just offered me a great job that I can run on my own terms... so I'm not gonna give you too much crap for that right now. Buy me another few drinks, and we'll see though."
Gareth gladly takes up Fiora on that little challenge and orders another round of drinks for the two. As the evening wears on, the two continue to amicably trade jabs and barbs, their spirits lifted for the first time in a while in a way that only they really can. For the first time in some months, Fury and Wrath share an evening of good food and good drinks like they used to before life brought them to Respite, setting up a fitting start to a new phase in their lives.