A Joyous Fall

[kree_soldieress]

Who; Lauri-Ell, Terra, Open
What; Forge Work, Delight Over The World
Where; Forge, Market District Tavern
When; September
Warnings; None

I. A New Forge Crafter | Bay Blades Forge

Today was a good day, an important day. Today was the day that Gili had declared Lauri-Ell's success. While she was by no means a proper master yet (hadn't even considered what her masterwork might be), she had graduated to full journeyman. Lauri-Ell was finally a proper crafter who could sell her things freely and take commissions for Bay Blades. And oh but the woman was happy for it.

And, to celebrate, she was doing something almost meditative. Instead of some great work, some amazing project, she was doing needful work: she was pulling wire. Lauri-Ell hummed happily as she held the tongs holding the lead of the wire, hauling it through a small hole in a braced metal plate. It was nice, to watch the way the wire thinned out, cooling through the very process. This was a delight. And, as the final pull came, she was careful to not let the wire lash out quickly and hurt someone. That done she coiled her wire and returned it to the heat of the forge. She's going for very fine today, and more heat will be needed.

The timing, though, was such that as she nestled the coiled metal in the heat, she heard someone approaching. The large blacksmith smiled and dusted her hands off on her leather apron before turning to the approaching steps.

"Good day! What can we do for you?"

II. Tavern Time | Market District Tavern

The Tavern. It was a wonderful place, so alive with people. So alive with noise and laughter and life. There were not things like this among the Kree, and given Lauri couldn't cook, she was happy to enter here when she could, to gain some joy. These were a good thing to hear. To know that the city is happy now.

Lauri-Ell moves to the counter to order her drink (scotch, neat) and her food (stew, double serving with a good dark bread). Once it was in hand she moved to a large table, one that locals cleared without a question she she approached. After all, people knew that after she ate the fun would come. Lauri-Ell was the queen of arm wrestling in the tavern, and people loved challenging her and betting. It was fun.

She started into her meal, enjoying the noise and talk and laughter and music. This is all good, so very very good. It was right. Just as right as the noise of someone approaching. She lifted her head and nodded.

"You are welcome to eat here, if you wish. They just give me the space so I can do arm wrestling later."

Comments

[orangewayfinder]

"Well I hope there's more reasons for people to get together and have fun." Terra replied. "Seems like everyone gets in a good mood and all of that."

His blue eyes never left his work, but he really did like to see people get together.

[kree_soldieress]

"There was a ball last winter. That was lovely," she said with a smile. That had been a good thing, and she thought it would be a good way to learn still more.

"Here," she said, finally waving him over. "You have done good. Come see how the coals look."

[orangewayfinder]

He nodded. "I was here with a friend of mine for that. But I left shortly after, and I showed back up, which really is kinda weird."

Terra then focused on Lauri-Ell's words and stepped away to go take a look.

"Wow."

[kree_soldieress]

"Ah, I am sorry we did not meet then," she said. It was nice to know people after all. For now she points into the fire.

"This color is a good shade, for the working of the metal. It is very hot, but this makes it malleable."

[orangewayfinder]

"It's okay." Terra replied cheerily. He was busy with Namine at the time and he ignored the feeling of missing her to turn his attention to the coals since he was here to learn and not mope.

That he could do later as he continued to eye the coals.

"I didn't realize how much time goes into all of this."

[kree_soldieress]

"Yes. One of my duties is to arrive just before dawn to start building the fires. And we have to learn to control for the heat and time for different metals. Luckily we do not do gold smithing which is very different."

[orangewayfinder]

Well that was news. "So you get up early every morning to come to work and help get everything all set up for the day? Wow, I hope they appreciate you here."

He said all of this with a smile on his face.

[kree_soldieress]

"Gili has been very kind and appreciative," she said as she pulled the metal out. Yes, this was ready.

"You should get a drink of water. This is hot work."

[orangewayfinder]

It was then that Terra noticed he was parched.

"Water..right. Give me a minute."

And then he drank down quite a bit.

[kree_soldieress]

She nodded, and knowing she had to strike while it was hot, she focused on hammering out the metal. Better to get started.

"Sorry for the noise."

[orangewayfinder]

He had a mouth full of water when she apologized, so all he could do was shake his head for the moment. Afterwards though, he smiled.

"It's fine, it's what needs done, right?"

[kree_soldieress]

"It does," Lauri-Ell agreed with a nod between strikes of the hammer. And her attention was fully on her work now, because this was something that absolutely needed done.

[orangewayfinder]

[Putting the water down, Terra walked over to where Lauri-Ell had begun to work. Of course he stayed out of her way, but was close enough to watch to see what she was doing. And he stood ready to help if she needed it.]

[kree_soldieress]

Hitting the metal while it is hot doesn't just shape it. It helps work out impurities in the metal. This is very important, to keep it from breaking."

[orangewayfinder]

That gave him some thought. "Never thought about metal having junk in it, but that makes sense."

The more he knew.

[kree_soldieress]

"Oh yes, all metals tend to. Sometimes we put them in there deliberately, to make them heat better, or be stronger," she said with a nod.

[orangewayfinder]

"So you put dirt in there on purpose?" Well there was an idea. Still, he nodded. "There's so much to learn here."

[kree_soldieress]

"Not quite dirt," she answered, before gesturing to a container with black stones. "It is a refined form of carbon often called 'coke' apparently."

[orangewayfinder]

His blue eyes looked over at the container that had been indicated. "So you just collect those?"

He's a little confused.

[kree_soldieress]

"We buy it," she says with a smile. "Because it is very needed for strengthening steel. It is very vital."

[orangewayfinder]

Blue eyes looked back at the material.

"Is it something that's expensive to buy?"

Curious Terra is curious.

[kree_soldieress]

Lauri has to consider that. But how interesting to ask.

"I do not believe so. We buy it in bulk."

[orangewayfinder]

"Oh okay." Terra replied with a shrug. He wasn't going to press for answers, but he still was interested in all of the facets of a job like this.

[kree_soldieress]

“You should ask Gili when she returns from lunch. She is much wiser in the processes of running the forge. I am only recently a journeyman.”

And it was something she would have to learn, but not quite yet.

[orangewayfinder]

"I can do that." Terra smiled as he stepped back a step since the sparks were pretty close at that point. He was hoping it was something that he could help with, but if they bought the materials, then it wasn't something he could just go look for.