Into the Clovenhorn Smithy. ((open thread))

[Deleted]

"Well!" called a voice from outside and slightly up. Looking down a pair of large hazel-brown eyes peered out from a mop of quickly pulled back brown hair. Putting a hand on her side she grinned at her nearly exact duplicate below her. "Well, Kaleb, what do you think? Our sign finally came today and I have just put it up! So...?"

Kaleb sighed and grinned up at his sister. Shaking his head he took a couple of steps backwards to admire the sign. "Oh...oh, dear. Sister, it's crooked."

Kori looked back and growled. "No way! Man...all right..." she leaned back to get a better look at the sign and saw that her brother was right. It was crooked; reaching out to it, she made a couple of adjustments and then dusted her hands off.

"There," she said, jumping down to the street and then folding up the ladder. "The sign is straight, it's a beautiful day and we are officially open!"

Kaleb nodded and then smiled. "Sister, Kori, how do you suppose we get any customers?" he asked.

"Oh, that..." Kori said from in the store, sounding a little bit muffled. "That's an easy one." Reappearing, she hand tucked under her arm sheafs of paper. "Why don't you go about town and start handing out these papers to people! Word of mouth is the best way to do these things, you know," she gave her brother a wicked smile.

A groan ripped from Kalebs mouth and he shook his head. "You're unbelievable, sister. all right, give them here," he said taking the papers and going out into the city.

Meanwhile, Kori began to set up some examples of their works outside to give potential customers something to look at.

[adris]

(Hahaha, I still pulled it out in the end *Kender will know*)

Faren wandered past the store, wondering most of all where the competition was coming from all of a sudden. He hadn't gotten the pleasure of meeting Kaleb, but that wasn't necessary as he was looking over the wares outside the store.

"Nice little shop you have here... I guess," he was choking back his usual way of talking as well as possible, "When did you all start moving in exactly?"

He was hesitant, usually he would ask a shop owner straight up how much it would cost to buy them out. He still hasn't gotten royal assurance and outsources a lot of what he makes. All of that is a pain in the butt, he wants to make money without having to move anywhere.

[Deleted]

The young female glanced up at the man who just spoke and gave a grin. Putting the final piece she had on a stand, she gave the man a formal bow. "Oh, we started moving in about a week ago. It took us this long to get everything set up and ready."

Dusting her hands off on her pants and straightening her shirt a bit, she stepped forward put out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you...?"

[adris]

Faren looked at her hand, and literally thought for a minute whether or not he should take it. He would start out pleasant for now, luckily he got to yell at some poor soul earlier for some inconvenienced or another. He reached out and shook it slowly, at least he doesn't need to shake with his off hand anymore, that still freaks him out if he isn't thinking about it.

"Vought, Faren Vought. Official weapons supplier to the world, a red merchant if you will. What do you specialize in?"

He didn't know what they enjoyed making, he assumed she could figure out that he can see what they have displayed. He wanted immediate access to the best.

[Deleted]

"Um, well," she said, crossing her arms lightly under her breasts. Nodded back at the store front, she started again. "We make all sorts of weaponry, both for use and for show. Swords and spears for example. We've lately been experimenting in a few new idea's, but they are slow in the making. We also make and design shields if they are so desired..." she paused to study the man in front of her.

"If you don't mind me saying so, but you don't give the air of a customer or even someone really interested in our works. I will ask, but I wont expect an answer. What do you want here, with us?"

[adris]

Faren looked around, overall he must say that he was impressed. It wasn't his style of forging but at the same time his style was hard to replicate unless you were born with it. She also seemed to have a sharp eye, picking him out for who he really was.

"Do you need a merchant? Networking, trading abroad... things of that nature. I'm a blacksmith but make my money by selling to military and others with interests in weaponry. White merchant only of course I have a reputation to build up."

Although if there was a rebellion he would certainly give to the underdogs, luckily in all of the two cases where he has done this they were fallen governments and they won in the end. It is so hard to get your cart across borders though, luckily he had a knack for being on the easier side in all instances.

[Deleted]

She looked at him with a vague look of mild interest before turning her attention pack to polishing one of her pieces. "Networking is always nice, and selling too, but if you are a blacksmith, wouldn't your first ambition or desire be to shutting us down?"

She blinked her eyes and putting her hand on her hip, the sword, for the moment, forgotten in her hand. "Look, it isn't that I would not appreciate the help, and I would like to take you up on that offer, but, first tell, what would you be getting out of this?"

[adris]

(I really do feel sorry for making you wait so long... Out of nowhere I suddenly acquired this 'life' that everyone was rolling their eyes and telling me to in High School )

Faren's eyes actually lit up with joy that she called his intentions, finally this town was getting someone to move in that wasn't a complete and utter moron. This just made him want to shut down their business even less, if at the least it means he will get some tolerable neighbors.

"Nothing really besides the opportunity to talk to buyers directly, there is enough call for that sort of thing these days that I won't take too much of a blow for having some competition. It should keep me on my toes at least. The offer does still stand if you would like some networking done though."

He was so close to asking them to close shop though, his usual tactics about coming in and screaming as much as possible about the person's wares. Of course only when customers were there to hear the complaints, this was just a visit to introduce himself.

[Deleted]

She frowned at him, one eyebrow cooly raised. She then turned her back to him and slid the sword back into its rightful place. "Sir, not to be rude, but you reek of someone seeking only money. The best ways to making it and being greedy."

Turning back to him, she glared. "That kind of attitude doesn't make a sword! It only makes a weapon good for only destruction." She grimaced. "What I do is art. Now, if you desire to offer your services again, fine, but do so only when you have something secure to give to me."

((No no. That's quite all right. I dissapear a lot too, for life. Or some such reason...^^ ))

[adris]

Faren blinked a couple times before his face contorted into his usual scowl. He wasn't at all trying to come across as this and must have said the wrong things. There is a certain right for merchents to protect their creative property but he ignores this fact and goes straight to his air of unpleasantness.

"Ma'am, after you spend as many years in the business as I have you learn the money has nothing to do with it. Its all about the prestige."

He wasn't about to lose any of his military contracts to anyone, if two sides were going to cut each other up on the battlefield he wanted both of them to be using his weapons. He still was hoping for word from the palace that he has been made official in Maelstrom... if Jokull was good for anything it was for hiring him.

[Deleted]

Controlling her anger took some time, and so Kori kept her back turned for what felt like many minutes. Then, after she had stopped quivering and set the sword into it's place.

"My apologies." Turning about, she abruptly opened the door and gestured for him to come in. "Perhaps we can talk better over some tea and lunch. Please, come in and look around, if you so would choose."

[adris]

Faren can hardly help from breaking out laughing, he wasn't even trying to get on the woman's nerves and still managed to do it. Perhaps he wasn't losing his touch after all. Saph still wasn't able to take everything out of him yet. Although he had to kick the habit of thinking of the man whenever these situations arise.

"Please milady, I wouldn't want to force anything. Looking though I am very willing to do that, it will just be a moment."

He slips into the area she motioned to and begins to take a peek at the wares. The craftsmanship especially, he wanted to know if these people are better at making war or making weapons look pretty.

[Deleted]

She followed him closely at first and then drifted off to lean against a wall where she could watch him easily no matter where he went.

"Just let me know when you are done, then, if you would please," she called out to him, her arms crossed, one finger tapping her upper arm. Tilting her head, she wondered what he truly wanted. There was something about the man that made the hair at the base of her neck prickle, and while that could be good at times, she wasn't so sure this was one of those.

[adris]

He examined everything thoroughly, his touch soft so he could feel how smooth the blade really is. He checked the integrity of everything and found that it was very much up to personal standards. It has been a confusing visit so he doesn't quite know if this was good news for him or bad.

"I guess that is all I needed to see for now. We really should meet up again some time in the future though. Maybe make it so we aren't only talking about business. I can sense my presence has brought with me an un," he stops to think about the ending of that word, catching himself from saying it was unwanted. Only one party here didn't really want it, "pleasent air. Take care of yourself."

[Deleted]

Seeing him to the door, she waved as he went through. "Yes, of course, some other time, perhaps at your shop, or where ever. Feel free to drop a message."

She watched him leave and then sighed, scrubbing a hand through her hair. She hopped that from this point, the day would get better.