Hammers and Fire~ [Open Thread]

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Characters: Refia and anyone who wants to meet her
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Refia has a new job - who wants to meet her/distract her/torment her?
Location: Lindblum
Date: February 1804
Warnings: Pssshhhh

Refia was wrapped in an oversized leather apron, since there wasn't one in her size, to protect her clothing and some of her body from the heat of the fire, hair tied back out of her face, attempting to figure this out. Wade had given her a pair of old daggers and told her to make them into a double-bladed pole arm - and while she could do that in the more traditional "smith" way, she wasn't entirely sure yet how to do that with synthesis. It was partially smithing, but partially magic, and she'd yet to figure out what the magic was, since it was nothing like she'd ever seen before.

The bell on the door rang, making her look up quickly and then back to the forge. "Just a minute!" She was also taking care of customers today, so she gave one last pump to the bellows to fuel the fire before turning back to the door and pulling off her heavy gloves. "Yes? Can I help you?"

Comments

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa entered the shop more out of curiosity than anything else. She'd heard that new equipment could be made out of old equipment here, and wondered how it worked.

Stepping inside, she smiled at the young woman who approached her. "Hey... I just thought I'd take a look around, is that okay? What kind of stuff do you make here?"

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Refia smiled back at the older woman, setting her gloves on the counter and keeping one ear out for the forge and anything potentially going wrong. "That's fine, go right ahead. We make everything! Weapons, armor, even some items and jewelry. It's just combining things that already exist to get a new item!"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa nodded, glancing around. "So... If I wanted a new pair of gloves, could you tell me what items you'd need to combine?"

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

And there was a definite expression of startlement at Tifa's question. "Ahh... I can try. I'm sorry, I just started here recently... I think there's a list back here, just a second!"

And she dove behind the counter. Wade had shown here where the recipes were, digging out the stack and bringing it up onto the counter. It made a fairly hefty stack. "Ahh... What kind of gloves were you looking for?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Leather gloves, like these." Tifa held up her hands to show the girl.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"Ummm... hmmm." Those were clearly fighter's gloves, with the plates on the knuckles and back of the hand. Refia started flipping through the pages, looking for anything suitable. "I think there's more claws than gloves, but we should have something..."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"I use claws too," Tifa reassured her. She smiled. "They're just gloves with sharp bits on the end."

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Refia smiled back at that, relieved. "Good! The claws I know are a little different, but they should be all right for you whichever form they're in... Ahh, here we go!" She separated two pages from the stack, pulling them in front of her. "There's something called Thief Gloves, which need a Mithril Armlet and a Sargatanas - that's a weapon, a dagger or a variant - or Duel Claws, which need... hmm, Dragon's Claws and Tiger Fangs."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Hmm. So I'd need to have some claws already." Tifa shrugged. She didn't have any of the items Refia had mentioned. "Well, that's good to know! Thank you."

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

And now she felt kind of bad about letting this nice woman down. "I'm sorry - but maybe those things aren't so hard to find? I know we can make that Sargatanas thing ourselves, if you'd like one."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa shook her head. "That's okay. You've been very helpful anyway. I'll know what to bring next time I come."

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"Okay." And Refia gave her a smile. "Do you need anything repaired, then? We can do that as well."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Not right now, but I'll be sure to come here when I do. I think we're staying in Lindblum for the long haul now..."

This was for the sake of the children, really, but there were worse places to settle down. Tifa looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged and smiled.

"So I'll probably see you around." She gave Refia a small wave before turning to leave.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Yes, there were. Refia quite liked it here, actually, as much as she could like any place that wasn't her home world.

"All right! We'll be here!" Refia called back, leaning a little over the counter to wave in return.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko had decided within minutes of meeting Marlene that she really liked the girl. She couldn't quite take Mog's place, but then no one could. Marlene came pretty darned close to fitting the bill though. So the minute that Ingus had his back turned, which wasn't often, Eiko slipped off to find her new best friend to sneak out into town. There was so much to show her!

Hand in hand, the little summoner led the way through Lindblum's Business District, pointing out interesting places and sharing her inexhaustible knowledge. Just as they came into the square, she paused and suggested, "Let's go check out the synthesist's shop! I want to look for something!"

She pointed to the shop, then without waiting for much of an answer, started driving their little caravan of two in that direction.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Marlene followed alongside Eiko, her little hand grasping at her friend's. The town was so big and bustling. It was so much more different than Edge had been. And with an expert guide like her friend here to show her around, Marlene was just tickled pink.

The little girl took in everything with wide eyes, making mental notes of things for the future. Best places to eat, cool looking scenery and the like. Marlene stared at the shop Eiko pointed at, looking confused. "What's a synthesist's shop?"

Looks like she was going to find out as she got pulled along.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Two small girls weren't what she was expecting. Refia peered at them in curiosity, leaning over the counter to see if any adults were following them. That was a no, but what would they be doing here by themselves? "Are you lost?"

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"This is it," Eiko explained matter-of-factly. "They take stuff, and make new stuff with it. Like accessories and weapons." For a kid, she seemed pretty excited at the prospect of buying these things. She blinked in surprise at seeing a girl there instead of just Wade. And instead of answering her question, she asked one of her own, "Where's Wade?"

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

"Ooooooh..." She'd never seen anything like this back home. Yes, she knew of materia, and weapons shops, and item shops and the like, but this was so much more cooler! Maybe Tifa would bring her back here one day.

"We're not lost, Miss!"

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Refia blinked at Eiko. Apparently the girl was a native, or a long-term resident, if she knew about Wade and synthesis in general.

"He had to step out, but he'll be back. I'm not sure when, though. Are you looking for him?"

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Nah, we're just shopping!" Eiko told her cheerfully enough. Then giving her attention back to Marlene, she asked, "You like accessories, right?"

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

"Yes! I've never really bought one for myself. I like looking a lot though."

She was really interested in looking around. She'd never been into a shop like this before.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Well, browsers were perfectly all right. Shoplifters weren't, though, and she didn't want Wade mad at her so quickly. So Refia turned back to the forge, keeping half an ear out for movements the girls made. They weren't very suspicious (and were too well-dressed to be street kids), but it was only common sense.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

While Marlene looked around, Eiko rummaged through her pockets. She was very much like a young boy in that she kept a smattering of assorted junk on her at all times. After a few minutes of fishing, she finally managed to extract a peridot and a gold choker.

Eiko marched right up to Refia and held out the items. "I want an anklet," she announced. After a moment's hesitation, she added on, "Please."

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Marlene turned towards Eiko and Refia after a moment, bounding back over.

"Can we watch you make it? Or does it take too long?"

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Humming quietly to herself as she took a giant bite out of the purple apple she brought, the flower girl came to a slow halt once she noticed the shop nearby. Taking another munch from that delicious dumbapple, the girl tossed it towards the nearest trash bin as she wandered inside of the shop. While she really didn't have anything in mind that she wanted synthesized, Aerith wondered if the blacksmith inside could be able to enhance the new flute-like weapon she found within Memoria.

"Oh, hello!" She greeted with a happy smile. "You...are a blacksmith, right?" Aerith asked a tad hesitantly at the younger girl who stood behind the counter. While she doubted that this girl could possibly be older than sixteen or seventeen, Aerith hoped Refia could be of some help to her.

“Oh, wait. You are a synthesizer, not a blacksmith.” She giggled softly at her own mistake. “I am still trying to get used to the terms people use around here.”

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

And Refia turned just a little pink around the ears at those questions. "Umm, both, actually. A synthesist needs to be a smith as well, or we can't do our work. I was a smith apprentice before. Can I help you with something, then?"

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

At that brisk little answer, Aerith decided that she does have a job for this young synthesist after all. "Why yes! I would like for you to check this flute out for me." Prying out a pale coral and ivory flute out from her handbag, the bubbly flower girl placed the flute upon the counter before Refia with a grin. "You see, I am not very sure what sort of tool this is supposed to be but so far it amplifies my magic rather well." She explained as she lazily fingered the fancy designs etched upon the end of the musical instrument.

"But I was wondering if you could make it stronger than it is by adding another property to it." Aerith's eyes lingered away from the flute and over towards the young synthesist once more. "I want it to boost my magic just a little more because I need it to be more powerful than it is now." Already certain that she was going to be leaving Lindblum soon with Nanaki in tow, Aerith wanted to make sure to be well prepared for this treacherous trip around the world.

"Can you really help me?"

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"Ohhhhhh, that!" Refia's face lit up as Aerith procured the flute, taking it from her and turning it over in her hands. "I have one of these, too. I did... hang on, just a second!"

Leaving Aerith's flute on the counter, Refia dug under the counter to pull her own out of her mage robes bundled away down there. She pulled it out to display to the older woman, turning it over - the design now just slightly different, the "fins" a little longer, with a slightly different pattern in the etchings.

"I'm not sure if this is what you want, but I changed mine a little - I gave it a little boost in power, but not very much. It was the first thing I tried, so I didn't want to try anything too difficult in case I messed up." She wouldn't experiment on other people's weapons, but she'd gladly play with her own.

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Her green eyes lit up like emeralds once she saw the girl reappear with a flute of her own. Instead of just being a young synthesizer, this girl also happened to be a White Mage as well. "Can't believe I've met another mage at last! Most of the people I know are fighters or knights." She said with a happy squeal since she was honestly thrilled by this fortunate meeting.

"That's pretty nifty..." She said as she leaned in a little close to get a better look at Refia's flute. "That's exactly I want, just a little boost in power. I am not asking for it to be amazingly powerful but just give it a little bit more 'bang'." Aerith smiled.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Yes, a smith who was a healer. It made sense, really.

"It seems like most people are, but someone has to take care of them so they don't lose their heads, don't they?" And that was basically her entire reason behind deciding to heal - because the boys (minus, possibly, Arc) wouldn't have. And someone had needed to make sure they all survived their adventures. Therefore, it became her job.

"If you want that done, it shouldn't take too long." If she could remember the steps right, but she thought she did. "Hmm... do you happen to have an Elixir with you?"

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Of course it does! Just like a certain flower girl who happens to be rather proficient as a healer. These ladies' day jobs don't quite live up to their moonlighting jobs but either way, the two really are good at what they do.

"My point exactly! With so many tough guys roaming about, someone is bound to get hurt." Aerith snickered at thought of how many times she had to heal Cloud and the others during their adventures at home. Despite how dangerous it was for them face off against both Shinra and Sephiroth, Aerith was honestly the happiest then.

"An elixir?" She paused briefly as she searched within her purse-like pouch. "Yep! I do, its my last one." Aerith offered the sparkling silver phial to Refia.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"It's not so much the 'tough guys' as those who don't look before rushing into something." Ahem. Luneth. Ingus was at least prepared to take the hits for the team; Luneth tended to pick his up by not watching where he was going.

Refia smiled as she took the phial and bent to retrieve a small stone from under the counter - a fairly low-grade pearl. "Do you have any short errands to finish? This should take just a few minutes."

[pinkgospel.livejournal.com]

Letting out a light chuckle, Aerith had to agree with the girl's words since many of her friends have a tendency to leap before they look. Fondly thinking about all the days they spent chasing after Sephiroth, the flower girl had to wonder if life here on this Gaia was going to be different than their Gaia. "Hopefully I won't have any real need for that fancy flute in the future." She said with a slightly wistful sigh.

"I honestly hate it when my friends get hurt, especially on my behalf. They act like such 'tough guys' but they aren't." Trying to shake off that slightly morose thought out of her mind, Aerith offered Refia another bright smile.

“No, actually. So, feel free to take your time! I'm not in a hurry.”

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

Having had a few frustrating minute with the door and his lack of thumbs, Nanaki entered the shop, careful not to slam his flame-tipped tail in the door. "I was wondering if you could perhaps make specialized equipment." He wouldn't say more until he learned if this girl would force him out of the shop for his appearance, but he hoped that she could help.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Refia had looked up when the door started banging just a little with the attempts to open it, but she'd thought it was just neighborhood children running around like they sometimes did. Still, when the beast walked in, her eyes definitely widened - even more so when they spotted his tail.

Her hand started to reach for one of the hammers behind her - fiends had been seen in the cities before, after all - before he spoke. And speaking meant, among other things, not a mindless fiend. Her hand stopped moving, coming back forward.

"...It depends on what you want, I suppose?"

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

Watching as she reached for the hammer, he visibly relaxed (slightly) as her hand returned to the front, though one ear twitched slightly. That hammer would have hurt quite a bit, after all.

"Well... I've been told that my fighting style is that of a 'Monk', and that they usually use gloves, claws; that sort of thing. Except I use my teeth and actual claws." He frowns slightly, tail twitching. "I'm not really sure how to make them any more effective."

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

Her world was one of the ones that didn't have non-humanoid sentient species. She would've liked to have seen some of those, though.

Refia listened to his explanation, frowning just a little as she thought about it and rapidly becoming more comfortable with this creature - he wasn't attacking her, so she was having few qualms.

"Hmm... perhaps more than one set of claws, if you didn't mind wearing something around your feet?"

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

Raising a paw so she could see the bangles around his ankles, Nanaki shrugged as best as one of his species could shrug. "If you can make it work, I don't think I would mind, though I don't know... it would be much harder to move."

He needed mobility to fight effectively, so it was quite the concern. Then again, he wasn't sure he wanted things added to his teeth.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"It would mostly depend on how they were tied... Hmm, what about something that affected you, and not your weapons? Perhaps something that had a Might or a Haste spell sort of built in? Then you could have more speed or strength and not have it get in the way."

It was an idea, at least. And they'd never find a solution if they didn't generate ideas.

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

"I'm more worried about it tripping me, to be honest. I can handle a slight cut to my speed as long as I can actually take steps without tripping over them." Cocking his head to one side, Nanaki frowned.

"Perhaps something that goes over my natural claws, like a... covering of some sort?"

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"You'd need something with good buckles, then, with the straps not too long.

"Perhaps sheathes..."

Refia gave a small hmm and quickly found a piece of charcoal and a scrap of paper, starting to sketch something out roughly on it.

"The tips... would they need to be diamond, or would something softer work?"

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

"As long as they are sharp and not easy to break, it should be fine."

He was quite intrigued by this idea, and by what Refia was drawing, but he waited for her to finish sketching out her idea.

"Oh, it should probably largely flame-resistant, too."

Nodding toward his tail, Nanaki chuckled slightly. "Fire may be the only magic I have here, but it is quite effective -- and incredibly hot." It was more or less part of him, after all.