Booming Business
Log Info
- Title: Booming Business
- Emitter: Jay
- Characters: Jay, Nemori, Slixvah, Zofija, Ravendar
- Place: A02: Lower Trades District
- Time: Friday, May 06, 2022, 10:03 PM
- Summary: Jay drops by Robert's Smithy. He's not present but Nemori is. Slixvah arrives, and soon after Zofija and Ravendar do. The Arvek Nar and the Halfing have orders for bolts, whereas the two Egalrin are just hanging out. Nemori is working on an emblem for Robert, one dedicated to Ceinara.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A02: Lower Trades District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The Lower Trades District is the home of the working man of Alexandria. The Lower Trades is divided, unofficially, into two parts: that controlled by the gobbers, and that controlled by the khazad. The two areas stand in contrast, one with a strong, almost formal architecture and a predilection for blacksmiths, the other a mixture of propped-up rubble and gunpowder. The latter's started to grow however, and take form with the aid of the more structured Arvek Nar. Still, the two stand as uneasy neighbors, though the oruch more easily work both sides, often in the spirit of a friendly, if competitive, warriors' competition that's unique to Alexandria, itself.
Here, the "khazad section" boasts a number of blacksmiths, glass smiths, artifice shops, and basic taverns, as well as any number of trades shops and eateries. The sweet tinge of oil, iron, and spiced BBQ is everywhere. Shrines to Reos, or marks of the same, are found over most doorways, in homage to the khazad Mountain Father and World Smith.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jay 5'9" 145 Lb Eaglefolk Male A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye. Nemori 4'10" 110 Lb Mul'niessa Female A tall and slender, dark skinned elf. Slixvah 5'8" 130 Lb Eaglefolk Female A rust red and white Egalrin covered in veils, ribbons, and shawls. Zofija 5'8" 225 Lb Hobgoblin Female A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer. Ravendar 3'1" 40 Lb Halfling Male A red-haired Lucht Siuil man -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
There's a fluttering of wings, and a loud squawking. "Hey! Hey! Nemori! Robert! Are you there?" Integrity C Truefeather, the 'C' is for cacophony, has arrived. He hops up to smithy's wall and peers inside, "I brought tomatoes!"
Nemori glances up at the sound. She's in the smithy, as usual. Socializing doesn't seem to be something she's willing to tackle yet, despite Robert's urging. But she's not at the forge, either. Instead, she's sitting at the bench with a pair of pliers and a small tapping hammer with bronze plate and copper wire. It takes her a moment to spot Jay, despite how he generally sticks out in a crowd. "Integrity," she finally says, voice raised in greeting. "Robert is not here at the moment.. though I will gladly share some of your tomatoes."
"Okay!" Jay sweeps in, finding a stool to grab and sit upon. He sets the basket of tomatoes down. Each one has a small hole in them. He takes one out and examines it fully before snapping a portion off with a quick bite. "What are you working on? Where's Bob? How is he recovering? How are you recovering?"
He peers at the side of her head. "You know! In Sendor some humans got their noses cut off in duels, so they'd make a little metal plate nose. You could make a metal ear and rivet it on like a piercing!"
A winged figure is walking by Robert's Forge, them slowing as they see Jay chirping over the low wall. She can't help but smooth her feathers back on her head, though that didn't help much at all with the way it laid about.
"Ah. Hiya, Blue," she hums warmly. Slixvah looked a bit different this time around. Missing some ribbons and a few shawls, some were singed in places but attempted to be mended. Some feathers on her head were missing, showing bald spots of pink underneath. "Oh, hey Neomori," she greets, stepping in past the gate.
Nemori's finger twitch a little bit, not quite clenching.. then she reaches up to touch the hair on the side of her head. A faint touch, nothing probing.. then she drops it back down to the item on the workbench, choosing to respond to his first question and not his after statement, reminding herself... he means well. So she holds the plate up instead. A bronze disk, with some design etched around its border. Within the design is a lengthy groove, full of curves and sharp angles, in which she is carefully pounding the copper wire into. "A project," she tells him. The work is simple, certainly not the result of a certified artisan.. but she seems content enough when she looks at it.
When Slixvah arrives, Nemori is quicker to spot her. Her eyes narrow just a little bit, shifting from the newly arrived egalrin to the blue one, then she allows herself a little smile. "Good evening, Slixvah. You are looking better. What brings you here?" As if she didn't suspect already.
"Slix! Slix... Slix?" The bluejay hops out of his seat, "You... oh, you still look good!" He moves to hug her, "I heard you were really brave. The bald look is great."
He floofs and sits back down, patting a nearby stool, "sit, sit! We can watch Nemori make a shiny thing."
Slixvah gives a little wave with a wing to Nemori before she's soon swept up in an embrace. "Ah- yeah, heya Blue. I'm right as rain. Well, the rain's a lil' rough, but I'll be good."
There's a wince at the mention of being bald. "... it'll grow back, I guess you know what happened," she mumbles, puling away from the embrace with a pat on the back before moving to sit upon the designated stool. "Oh? What'cha got cookin' Miss Nemori?"
Nemori holds the disk up a moment longer so that Slixvah can get a glance at it, then sets it back upon the bench. She takes a deep breath, then lets it out softly as she brushes away some of the filings. "A gift for Robert. He has mentioned Vaire as his muse. I had thought this might be appropriate." A gesture. An attempt to fit into this growing circle, or just calculatingly filling the role? "It is a small one. The materials used are his. But perhaps it will help smooth over the trouble I have brought." She takes her hand away from the project, shifting around on her stool so she faces the other two. "Are you feeling better, Integrity?"
"Bob and Muscles caught me up, trouble with what sounds like gelataneous globes." Jay says, happy and oblivious to the suffering involved. He sits up when the Mul'niessa moves her stool and faces him directly, them directly.
He's not quite transfixed, but still unsettled.
"A little, yes! Um! More settled! A good night's sleep helped. Several" He tries to sound convincing.
Slixvah inspects the disk for a beat before bobbing her head once. "Ah, a right good gift. Nice of you to do so."
Her feathered brows pinch a bit. "I don't think ya given him much trouble, least not in his eyes. He's a good man and jus' wants ya on the right foot is all."
Her attention shifts to Tegri. "... yeah it was a right shit time, not going to lie."
There's a chirp that's about to come from her robes, but a hand stifles it. So all that comes out is an, "Ack!"
She tilts her head to the side. "Least you're gettin' better Blue. I'm glad ta see it."
"Ah. Yes. I believe I will remain off the boats for the time being," Nemori says, rubbing at her bared arms... being that she's in her smithing clothes rather than her day to day ones. "Integrity can go in my place should the need arise." The implied if unspoken message being, 'Do not worry, Integrity. I will respect your apprehensions.'
"That's... ah... great. Great! Um. Well staying off boats seems like a good idea." Integrity says, glancing at Nemori's arms, at Slixvah, then back at Nemori. "So, did you research Vaire, can you tell me about her? What you're working on is coming along nicely."
Nicer than an iron bar, hammered over and over.
Slixvah rubs her arms as well. "Likewise. Rather just glide 'round that get my feet on a rickety ship for the time bein'," she echoes.
The questions prompted by Jay make a curious gaze slide over to Nemori. Recognition didn't flash across her face from the name, and new information was being asked. It's only nice to be polite and stay quiet to hear the full answer.
Nemori gives a slight shrug. "As you can probably guess... she is not particularly venerated where I am from," she begins, gaze not wavering from either of the two eagle-folk. Watching, ready to measure their reactions. "I did pay a visit to her temple, here. Ceinara, I believe they call her here? The Great Muse? I had.. reasons.. to ask." She makes a disconcerted face. "They are quite flamboyant. But I felt if Robert likes it, perhaps he will find a place to mount it." She shrugs again.
The bluejay nods vigorously, staring back at Nemori. He meets her eyes, then very slowly raises the tomato to his beak and bites it in half. He chomps it a few times and swallows, then says, "I went with him to the celebration. Reos', I didn't understand much of it, but it was very flashy."
"Then there was a poetry reading, which was her thing, I think, at the end."
He spreads his wings in a half-flap before folding them again. "He'll like it, especially since you're making it for him."
Slixvah rubs the side of her beak, and ergo, a missing spot of feathers on the side of her face. "Honestly, ain't ever 'eard of her. But she sounds slick. Better read up on the lass, check out her temple and all that fun stuff. Ain't ever been one to be picky with that stuff.."
A little chuckle leaves her, wings ruffling a bit to settle in as she watches Jay's eatery vanish. "Yeah. I think Robby Bobby will like it tons. Ain't got nothin' to worry 'bout, sugar."
A familiar Arvek-nar was wandering around the lower trades district, finding nothing in particular to be done that day for the time being, no new jobs at the explorer's guild or elsewhere to be undertaken. It left the cavalier to relatively aimless travel, which brought her past Robert's smithy.
Well, she did probably have some work to be done, and it was better someone known than untested. But when she entered the area, the man was nowhere to be seen.
There were at least some familiar faces. Zofija waves to the people near the forge. "Hey, wasn't expecting you all here, well, Nemori maybe. Good to see you all." The arvek-nar grunts. "Robert around? I need some javelin heads made, and figured I'd give him the chance to take the work first."
A small smile curves Nemori's lips, though it seems to be like most of her expressions. Just.. something lacking. Warmth, maybe. "I hope so," she responds to Slixvah. Then the smile fades when Jay mentions the celebration of Reos. "I elected not to go. I know Robert was disappointed. It did not feel appropriate, not yet." Then Zofija arrives, potentially saving Nemori from having to further expound upon that.
The mul'iessa rises, smoothing her smith's apron out as Zofija gives her greetings. "Good day, Zofija. As you can see, Robert is not yet here, though I will certainly pass on your wishes. I am afraid I am not at that level of craftmanship yet.. but I do not doubt he will be able to attend to your request in short order."
A red-haired Lucht Siuil also makes his way in from the lower trades district. He's carrying what looks to be a violin or fiddle case with him and strapped on his back over his blue jacket is a crossbow, unloaded. Ravendar is whistling a jaunty tune as he enters and stops as he gives a polite nod to the small group present. He looks around for a bit before approaching them.
"Excuse me do any of you work here? I was hoping to resupply my stock of bolts." He inquires in a rich tenor voice, "Used the last couple that I had scaring off some hungry wolves that were looking to make a meal out of me and my companions on my way back into the city."
The bluejay waves a wing at Zofija, "Hey." He scooches around as the red-haired Lucht siuil arrives, "Hey also. Well Nemori works here," he gestures at the Mul'niessa, "can you make bolts. Also, good thing you weren't eaten. Do you want a tomato?"
Slixvah perks up as she sees Zofija approach. "Ah, heya muscles!" she chirps, eyes crinkling in a smile as a wing gives a little wave.
Her attention slides over to the Lucht that ambles up to the forge. She nods towards the bluejay eglarin of the two, echoing his sentiments with an addendum of, "He has quite a lotta them."
Zofija says, ""It's not that hard, is it? First thing outside of nails someone's learning is usually making sheets, and it's not far from that to learn how to temper an arrow or spearhead. But, I get it, I guess. Getting the balance is tricky and all that. I can leave an order for Robert, there's no rush really." The arvek-nar grunts, and shrugs. "Hey Slix, hey Tegri, good to see you both. The tomatoes are paid for, right? If that's the case, sure, I'll take one.""
"Far as I know, Robert seems to make good work, so if you need some bolts made, should be fine." She adds to the Lucht that was there as well.
Nemori shakes her head at the halfling and blue egalrin both, though she is already moving towards a ledger... conveniently turning away to hide her slight bristling. "My.. education is continuing apace. Perhaps it is not hard. I have little wish for someone to die because of my faulty smithing." She sounds sincere, doesn't she? With the ledger in hand, she turns back to face the two potential customers. "An order of twelve, Zofija? I believe that is standard? And how many bolts would you like, and who shall I name to the order?" she directs towards Ravendar.
"Of course! I'm paying for all the blue jays to have tomatoes." Integrity says, clacking his beak, "that Arvek friend of yours insisted. They've all been pre-inspected."
Which seems to involve being pecked by a small bird.
Ravendar gives a nod of gratitude towards Jay, "Thank you for the assistance." He gives a light hearted laugh, "I'm glad I wasn't eaten too, but it was the finishing touch on a rather unpleasant trip out to a local lordlingly /manor/." Ravendar comments with dripping sarcasm. "I've just had breakfast, but thank you for the offer."
The lucht siuil's attention turns towards Slixvah, "Good to know that this shop has good reviews. Thank you." He says politely before getting down to the matter at hand, "If I could get 2 bundles of quarrels, that would be grand. The name's Ravendar Tamwood, of the Triumphant Traveling Tamwoods. Although I'm the only one in the city at the moment.
Ravendar reaches into the inner pocket of his jacket and takes out 2 gold coins, "Is it all right if I pay in advance and come pick them up later?"
Slixvah rises slowly, her stepping towards Zofija and patting her on the shoulder. "If she can't, then Robby Bobby can, no worries," she chirps.
She gives a little chuckle to Tegri, her reaching towards him to scoop up a tomato and pocket it.
"Name's Slix, you might catch me 'round, Rav."
She stretches, and starts on a path down the road. "Good to see you all!" she hums happily before walking off.
She bites into her tomato.
>Clink<
And she pulls out a silver coin in her beak. "... you've got to be kidding me..."
"Well, I saw you making nails last time, but you're not actually quenching nails, so I guess I shouldn't assume." Zofija sighs. "Could still be something to learn, and yeah, no rush if you're making weapons or goods for people, faulty product ruins reputation."
The Arvek-nar reaches to take one of the tomatoes, blinks, before taking a bite out of more than half of it. "Damn, was hoping for something to pay for some of my javelins. Still, free food is lucky enough, suppose." The arvek-nar chuckles. "Yeah, just a dozen, that's all really. Can't say I've heard of any Traveling Tamwoods, but I can't say I've been in this neck of the woods that long, either."
Nemori holds up her hand, shaking her head towards the diminutive possibly-minstrel. "I do not believe Robert takes money in advance. I can assure you he will see to your order as soon as he can," she tells Ravendar... then glances after Slixvah, almost missing her departure. She considers calling after the cheery avian woman.. but then settles for a wave instead. With the two orders noted, she sets the ledger aside. "Perhaps soon I will pass muster and move on... but I am patient." An afterthought. "Yes. His reputation. I would not wish to damage it." Her head turns towards Jay. "If you wish to leave some of those I will be sure Robert gets them." Robert this, Robert that.
Ravendar gives a wave to Slix, "See you around, although you might see me first I play all over the city." He replies to Zofija, "They haven't come back this way for over a year and it might be a bit longer depending on the route that they are taking and how many shows they are playing along the way."
Ravendar puts away the coins back into the inner pocket, "Of course. I'll come by later to see if the master smithy had time to sell me some bolts. Thank you though for taking my order, I'm sure we'll get everything worked out."
"What?" Jay watches Slixvah as she finds a silver coin, "it paid for itself?"
In the distance, there's a chiming of bells striking the hour. He looks up at the sun, "Oh! I have a meeting. I'll catch up with you later."
He hops to his feet, "Enjoy the tomatoes. See you." The bluejay is out of the smithy when he has a parting thought, "Nemori! Ask Bob to put a ladder on the shop so it's easier to glide away."
"Seeya!"
Zofija was turned to wave off Slixvah, and found herself waving off Integrity, as well. "Oh uh, yeah, later, Tegri." The Arvek-nar grunts, her attention returning to those still at the forge. "Yeah, I'll pay him when the works done if he doesn't take it in advance. And keep an ear out for any players in the city, if you're playing at any pubs or taverns, I'm sure it'll only be a matter of when, in that case." She chuckles.
"If you have not been yet, I suggest visiting the temple of the Muse. I hear she has a fondness for music," Nemori suggests to Ravendar after nodding her assent to Zofija and waving good night to Jay. She begins looking about the smithy, specifically up at the roof. "Hm. A ladder. It may work."
"Please do, I do also play on adventures for the guild, but it's been a while since I've been on one of those, too busy trying to make my mark on the music scene here in Alexandria." Ravendar says, "Oh I'll be sure to check it out, I'm sure The Bard King wouldn't mind." He looks over towards the smithy and hmms, "You think with all the hot air around here you'd get a good updraft."
"Could work, if the roof is designed to support the weight of a full grown Egalrin. Which it should, but you should be careful about long term wear of something like that. Anything lower, and you're not going to gain much additional distance gliding." The arvek-nar muses. "And, probably not. Too close to the forge chimney, and you're scorching feathers, and higher up, it's going to diffuse too much into the air for any meaningful thermal uplifting."
"I mean, yeah. Wouldn't work, would be fun if it did." The Arvek-nar corrects herself with another grunt. "Getting noticed by those Ceinara worshippers is a good way to get a foot in the door. If they take a liking to you, some of those folks will do anything to develop something they find interesting or worth exploring."
Once again Nemori's carefully constructed mask of expression slips away. Unlike previous tims when it was ugly, naked fury, this time it's that of 'young' elf losing herself in a thought process. "But it might be possible to use the heat to build pressure. Perhaps one of Robert's contraptions. And then that pressure could be released in such a way as to provide a substantial enough lift for Integrity. An artificial gust."
"I haven't played any of the churches yet, but I'll see what going on over there, thanks for the tip." Ravendar says, "Good luck with the figuring out the roof situation. I've gotta go get some practice in. I'll see you around the city." He gives a wave before he turns to head out.
"Well, yeah, things expand with heat, so if you have a way to heat something without air escaping, you could increase the pressure in it. But that would also require an exit that can be opened afterwards." Zofija shrugs. "Be impressed if you could create something that can hold enough pressurized air to send someone higher up in the air, without the thing exploding beforehand and being accurate enough for it. Fun thought process, though. Not a bad one. Just that magic is a lot more handy in most cases."
"Take care Ravendar, I'll see you around maybe. I don't really have much reason to stay here if Robert isn't around, though."
Nemori pulls herself away from her thoughts, her expression smoothing as she nods to Zojia. "Of course. I will make sure to tell him you stopped by, Zofija. I hope your night goes well."
"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be a decent night, I'm not working, after all." Zofija chuckles. "Tell him or not, up to you, just make sure he knows that someone needs a dozen javelin heads."
"You should try to look like you're not pissed off at someone or the world more often. Be a shame to let your curiosity die when you're still young." The arvek-nar adds, before striding out of the open air workshop.
Nemori watches the Arvek-Nar leave... said expression still on her face for a time, at least until the taller woman is out of sight before rubbing at her eyes and slumping down on a stool.
