Welcome to Gaia! ::

Semashi kept her company a good deal these days. Dyakida enjoyed the gossip she gave her almost as much as the weaponry discussion she provided. She made a good crafting companion, and – as a sheepish feel of her face told Dyakida – she was very attractive.

She really did seem to be interested in weapons. Dyakida enjoyed telling her the finer points of crafting them, and the challenges and tricks thereof.

“... I could use glue to attach the spearhead, but twine works better – it holds it more flexibly, keeping the connection from breaking completely, and it can be easily removed for repair...” she demonstrated, unwrapping the twin she had just secured and holding up the spear's head. “Like so.”

“Oh! Wow! That is fantastic.”

“You have to be able to remove the head so that you can sharpen it more easily and safely.” Dyakida explained, “And so that you can modify the balance of the shaft as needed.”

“Does the twine make it easier to attach charms and such?”

“Yes it does!” Dyakida said, smiling warmly, pleased at the question, “It's easier to weave the charms into the attachment than into something unrelated – the pressure of the blade helps hold them where they need to go.”

“That's... that's great! Why do you put a crystal on the end, though?”

“That?” Dyakida flipped the spear over expertly, touching the sphere on the other end of the shaft, “That's for additional balance. And for looks. This one is attached using a socket and glue – it doesn't need so much resilence.”

“... could someone use it to strike an enemy?”

“Yes, actually. It makes a good emergency bludgeoning weapon. The hard surface aids the blow, and it protects the end of the spear from damage.”

“Wow... that is very clever... “

“Is the color all right?” Dyakida asked, suddenly anxious. She kept her crystals separated by color, but there was always a chance that she had mixed up a color. “Does it match the head? Or the wood?”

“It's... it's perfect.” Semashi's voice was suddenly close. Dyakida could feel her warm breath on her shoulder. “The colors... the carvings... perfect. You make such beautiful weapons, Dyakida...”

“D... do I?” Dyakida knew she was blushing. She could feel the girl... no... the woman's... hand on her shoulder, creeping along her back. She lowered the spear.

“Yes... yes you do... They are such works of art...” Another hand, now, at her side. Dyakida's heart was beating faster, but not in fear – in eagerness.

“I-I'm glad you think so.”

“And you, their creator... are an artist.”

Dyakida was surprised by the lips suddenly pressed against hers, but she soon responded, the spear falling to the reed-lined floor as she curled her hands around the other alkidike's body and accepted Semashi's kiss.