|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:53 pm
When things went wrong, they seemed to go wrong all out. An important order, a stubborn piece of wood, and here he was staring in horror at a broken rasp in his hand. This would simply not do, especially with the patterning he had in mind. Closing up shop quickly, he all but ran out into town, eyes darting about. It had been years since he'd needed a tool fixed...And the usual smith he went to go see had long since moved on to Palisade. It took some asking around, but soon enough he ended up at another shop, unfamiliar and daunting none the less. But few would mess with a man of his caliber, despite how angelic his blonde curls and blue eyes made him look. He stepped in, leaning over slightly out of habit as to not hit his head on the door frame.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:09 pm
Farthir was, for once, not doing something he shouldn't be. It was he who spotted the customer first from his position at the street and trotted back into the shop with his ears folded back. Roger looked up to see his stubborn Guardian only to watch a tall blonde enter.
"No need to duck, we made this place for big men," he said, chuckling slightly. It seemed this particular one was a bit bigger than even him, though.
"The name's Roger Payne. Roger for you. How can I help you?"
Occasionally, people would come in looking for a reference or directions. Maybe it was the warmth of his fire that drew them in, because a blacksmith certainly wasn't the least intimidating person in town. He offered the new visitor a soft grin regardless.
Farthir just watched between his Chosen and the new man, wondering if something was about to happen that he'd have to divert. Yes, he'd scoop into the coals with his antlers and heave them at the attacker while valiantly assisting his Chosen in escaping...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:23 pm
It was somewhat surprising that there was another building in town that could take his height, though the carpenter didn't let the emotion remain on his face for much longer. Hie eyes were drawn to the fire, making sure that this really was a smithy before he went any further. Soon enough though, his gaze switched to the master of the house, and he fussed with his hands, holding the tool in them. "I need this fixed. As soon as possible." It wasn't that he wanted to be rude, he just needed it done. Work first, formalities later. But, perhaps realizing how brash this seemed, his cheeks flushed slightly and he bowed his head. "Nicholas. Nic is fine though. I'm sorry it's just I've got this important job and..." He trailed off, distracted by the guardian between them. Come to think of it, where was Riven? While he didn't often see much of his own doe, it had been quite a while since she had revealed her location to him. Ah, no matter. Work was far more on his mind. Little did he know, the doe had followed him, peering in from behind him, as silent as ever. It wasn't often her human got all worked up about something, and as much as she hated crowded streets, she would accompany him today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:31 pm
Farthir smelled... deer? He lowered his head and crept for the doorway, just in case it was the big, mean black Guardian again.
Roger looked from the flames to the front counter and seemed confused a moment, his mouth ajar. He was working on something he couldn't just quench, but he didn't want to lose a potential customer, either.
"I'm sorry, I can't see it... here. Come back here, be careful of the hot things, and we can talk this over," he said finally, motioning to the small swinging door that separated the front of the store from his workshop.
"Everything red is hot, by the way. Don't touch things that look like fire, and you're pretty much good."
That being said, he pulled a nearly white-hot blade out of the forge and laid it on an anvil before taking to it with a relatively small hammer. Scale flaked off and onto the floor as he used the precious few moments of pliability to better shape the edges of the metal form.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:18 am
Riven folded her ears closer to her head at the sight of the buck, moving just the slightest bit closer to her chosen, who jumped in surprise that the doe was with him. Nicholas hesitated for a moment, before patting her head reassuringly. He wasn't that used to her presence, after all. The carpenter flushed a little when he realized he hadn't quite shown it to him, and moved carefully through the shop, being particularly careful after Roger's warning. He seemed to be rather cautious of the ceiling, since if he did bump anything hanging, it wouldn't be the first time at all. He stopped far back enough to keep away from the sparks as he began to hammer it, holding out the two pieces cautiously. "Here...Sorry." He murmured, feeling the heat emanating from the furnace and blade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:49 am
Oh, it was a fair maiden deer! Farthir suddenly stood erect and puffed out his chest, the way a proper hero did. She would be safe with him, he would be sure of it!
Roger meanwhile looked up from his work and squinted in the relative dim.
"Ah! Yes, that shouldn't be a problem," he nodded. Rasps meant some serious time from scratch, what with the dozens of tiny holes, but it was his work and he rather enjoyed it. The smith took a moment to place the cooling blade back into the forge and offered a hand out to take the broken tool.
"Do you want me to try and fix this one, or make a new one? I could reuse the handle... same shape and size, I'm assuming?"
He was no carpenter, but he had fair general knowledge. Most men he knew were fairly handy, but if they made their livelihood from woodworking, clearly they were skillful. He wondered idly just what this particular man excelled in. He didn't think he had ever met the man before. He'd remember a face like that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:43 pm
This action on Farthir's part made her even more nervous, she wasn't used to seeing other male deer about....Except for one. Thinking of him made her a little lonely, she wanted to see her friend again! She glanced up at her chosen when he petted her head, and closed her eyes, allowing it. Just this once... "Oh thank goodness, I wasn't expecting this to snap today of all days..." He sighed in relief, smiling. He handed it over to him, careful not to let either piece drop. "Ah, a newer one might last longer, but I'd hate to put that much work on you..." Nicholas murmured, looking down. "If you're available. Have things been rough from the war?" He took the moment to tuck a few of his curls out of his face. In his dash to get here, some had fallen into his face, after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:59 pm
"Well, I'm not saying it wouldn't cost a little more," Roger chuckled. He eyed Nic's face briefly, watching him push a lock of hair from his face, and smiled slightly.
"Take a step back?"
He handed the rasp back to the man and took his blade from the forge again. Now when he spoke he was continuing his work.
"I new one would definitely last longer, and honestly would be a little easier than trying to melt and... well, it'd just be easier. As soon as possible, I could get it to you tomorrow night or the morning after, whichever is best for you. The war hasn't... I mean, business is booming, but it's not too much to handle." He looked up then and smiled, finally quenching the blade with a plume of spattering water and steam.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:07 pm
"I was expecting that, actually. I'll pay whatever it takes. I'll even make you something if it requires it." He was very serious, though couldn't help but smile when their eyes met. "Oh yes, of course." He jumped a little, stepping back immediately. He didn't glance behind him, and worried midstep he'd bump into something. It didn't seem to happen immediately, so he breathed a sigh of relief, glancing back to Riven. He took the rasp carefully, smiling as he watched him get back to work, looking it over. "Yeah...If you don't mind, a new one would be great. I can come by whenever, but tomorrow night might be the best option for me. I need to get this order done as soon as possible, you see..." He breathed, feeling the steam rise in the air. It was hot in here, no lie. How could he manage? Nich had begun to sweat the slightest, and dabbed at his forehead with his sleeve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:13 pm
"A little warm?" Roger laughed, honestly amused. He was by long used to the heat of an indoor forge, having been taught in them from early childhood. "Summer's especially fun in here. Sometimes it's worth the weird looks to just go shirtless. There's really nowhere to hide in here."
He motioned around the expansive room and then rubbed his cheekbone with the back of a sooty hand. He realized the filth and pulled a cloth from nearby to try and wipe them down.
"So, if you'd leave it with me, I can do my damndest to get it the right size, hm?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:17 pm
"Yeah, just a little. Feels about the same as when I'm starting a new piece." He laughed, face flushing slightly in embarrassment. He nodded at the mention of going without a shirt, knowing that feeling. "Yeah, sometimes I end up doing that too..Even in the middle of winter I just get so hot I have to..."
He noticed Roger's struggle with the soot, and frowned, noticing a bit that didn't get wiped up. "Ah, just a little more to your left..." He murmured, smiling the slightest as he tried to point it out.
"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow night then?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:24 pm
Roger arched a brow and looked down at his hands. They looked pretty clean to him, but a smithy's view of cleanliness tended to be much different than that of normal society. He tried to scrub his palm and suddenly realized that it wasn't at all what Nic meant. Eye contact lingered for a moment before the man tried in vain to find a clean spot on his cloth. He was sooty more often tan not, but this guy...
Really? Was he just seeing something he hoped for, or was this Nic character being a little over-friendly? He certainly wasn't complaining himself; the big blonde carpenter was not unpleasant to look at. There was no harm in some shameless flirting, though, was there? Young women flirted with him all the time and nothing ever came of it, except maybe an annoyed glance from their husbands.
He was a people-person, what could he say?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:28 pm
Nich felt terrible as he tried to communicate with him through a series of gestures, then winced at seeing the state of the cloth. The least he could do was be kind and help, he supposed, though he hesitated before finally giving in.
"Ah, here, allow me..." He murmured, stepping closer as he withdrew his own handkerchief, gently brushing the spot on Roger's cheek. He was hesitant, the slightest bit, but did his best to clean the last bit of soot. "There...I'm sorry." He murmured, smiling. He stepped back, but not before leaving the square of cloth beside Roger.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He murmured, bowing his head the slightest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:34 pm
Roger closed his eyes and smiled, but it slowly became a chuckle. The whole situation as just so absurd. Here he stood, an unusually large and muscular man in middle-age, being remotely pampered by a much younger, albeit similarly large man. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, of course, but it was hard to not find it amusing.
"I'll be sure to try and not touch my face," he said finally, and of course immediately felt several different itches that brought forth a wiggle and grimace.
"Aww, no, don't--!" The poor guy seemed embarrassed. He hadn't meant to offend him! Hands up so as to not destroy anything, Roger nodded down to the clean handkerchief.
"If you leave this, it's going to be destroyed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:43 pm
Nicholas smiled a little bit at his comment, feeling the slightest bit embarrassed at having to pamper him like this, though laughed it off. "It's okay, I just...After you tried to get it off, and then..." He trailed on a little, scratching the back of his neck.
"It's fine, it's fine, don't worry." He waved it off. "As long as it does you some good, that's all that matters right?" Nich nodded the slightest.
"Well then...Until tomorrow." He bowed out gracefully, leaving the handkerchief behind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
