My Momma Didn't Raise... [November Open]

[somebodychildofanyone]

Who: River la Croix and YOU + 1 Closed
What: Obligatory forge prompt, gay gardening, coping
When: Early November (before the event)
Where: Places. Locations even. Possibly: spaces
Warnings: Discussion of the carnival quite possibly, and anything you bring in with you



And With The Other, Buy Hyacinths [Closed to Annabel]

The land for the flower garden still hasn't quite been cleared, but it doesn't need to be cleared to build the flower boxes, including some smaller ones for under windows. River's going to add some to her own home as well.

Flowers would be good to have, after a long day before fire and steel.

Though the wood and many other supplies had to be bought, River made a point of forging as much of the tools as she could herself. Even the nails, and gods in Arcadia, how she fucking hates making nails. It felt...right. River's leaning back to get a better look at what she's doing when one of the local crows swoops down and deposits an acorn in her lap.

Sorry Annabel, River will be back after these messages: extended laughter.

100% Asbestos Free [Infernal Arms And Armor]

Hey Vox is there gonna be a forge prompt every month YOU BET YOUR ASS THERE WILL BE. This month brings two new additions to the sign, though, hanging by short chains beneath the original INFERNAL ARMS AND ARMOR sign.

NOW OFFERING ENCHANTING SERVICES - INQUIRE WITHIN

&

NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCAL DEMONS

I Could Use A Distraction [Oak & Iron, Social Visits]

River's sunk more than she has been to date into her grocery budget this month, and a lot of that upgrade is, I'll be real, liquor - more to have it if she wants it later than to tear through it now. Wanna invite her to a social function or like, out to dinner? She'll go. Looking to drop by? She'll host a guest. Or catch her at the Oak & Iron of an evening, shuffling an odd-looking deck of cards with a thoughtful expression and making a single glass of whiskey last more than an hour before even thinking about ordering another one.

Someone get her out of her own head, yeah?

Wildcard

Come at me I'm fucking jacked bro

Comments

[witheredpeonies]

Annabel loves hearing River laugh. Loves seeing her in her element, making something with her hands. Loves being out in the dreary autumn weather, occasionally moving closer to steal warmth by holding hands.

She's dressed in her arrival clothes, for hands-on work, and her hair is pulled back with a scrap of ribbon that she's embroidered, dark green and gold on black.

"Perhaps we should plant oak trees, too?"

[somebodychildofanyone]

"I'm not sure I can," River chuckles. "What the Lady of Ravens' children offer me belongs to Her. But hell, I can take a suggestion." River leans over and nuzzles Annabel's shoulder with her head. "Oaks are a tree you grow old with..."

"..."

"...Well. For me anyway."

Elves! How do they work?

[witheredpeonies]

How do dead girls work?

"Let's make it a full year before we focus on the idea of growing old."

[somebodychildofanyone]

River sticks her tongue out. "I can plant a tree for me and be as the cat is. But point taken."

She takes up her hammer again to carefully get these nails in completely straight. "You know, I've never actually gardened? Hope like hell the public library has some information on it, it'd be nice if we could figure out how to keep flowers year-round. Which, while I'm on this, public libraries? Wild to me as a concept. Books being that cheap is wild to me."

[witheredpeonies]

"And with Gerry working on printing and bookbinding, they'll stay affordable, too. I actually have a journal he made me, in exchange for some embroidery work." Annabel holds the boards that River is hammering steady, because she's a helpful trophy girlfriend.

Forge

[theydrewfirstblood]

John doesn’t have much in the way of money, but he also feels…naked without his knife. And his tags.

…but mostly his knife.

Until he gets work, however, it can’t hurt to make a few inquiries, right? Especially if he wants something like his knife back home, so when he sees the sign…

Noticing him may take some time. He draws no attention to himself, says nothing, and when he enters the establishment is rather focused on looking around with keen, quiet interest.

If not spotted soon enough, he might even turn up somewhere near River’s elbow—give or take about three feet, he’s curious not suicidal—just to watch her work.

[somebodychildofanyone]

Point in River's favor: she's very attentive.

Point against: smithing is loud work.

She's quenching spearheads for Zelda's order when she realizes someone else is in here breathing. River's ears swivel in John's direction, followed by a nice, easy turn of her head -

"Wren's fucking tits sir, what do you eat to be that ripped?"

Friendly greeting failed(?)

[theydrewfirstblood]

John flinches, but only slightly. For a second he’s confused, looking down at his simple rough spun shirt for a tear…then realizes about one and a half seconds later that she’s commenting in a much kinder fashion on his physique than the deputies in Washington.

Looking up again, he shrugs, expression soft but deadpan, dark eyes twinkling with humor.

“Wild boar.” He replies. “Nice and lean.”

[somebodychildofanyone]

"Damn, bring me some next time you take one down if that's the results comin' in." Spearheads back out of the oil; they'll need to be heated again, and River busies herself getting them set up for exactly that. "River la Croix, resident smith of Infernal Arms and Armor, nice t'meet'cha. What brings you in?"

[theydrewfirstblood]

That gets a very small smile out of John--there and gone in an instant--but his expression is a little more open, one corner of his naturally crooked mouth still ticked up pleasantly as he offers her his hand when she's done working with her spearheads.

"John Rambo--pleasure, Miss la Croix. I, uh--I'm hoping to have something made as soon as I have a little money to work with. I can't...I mean, I really just want to find out if it's possible to make first, and get an estimate so I can work on payment? I understand if that's a lot to ask upfront--I-I can come back when I have more funds if it's a problem..."

As bestos I can!

[lasthumanvoice]

Surprise, River, there's just. A lingering reporter dude by the front of the shop, as you do. He's never been to a forge before!

[somebodychildofanyone]

"You might as well come in!" River calls from where she's grinding spearheads. Wholly blunt is bad; they need just enough of an edge to give an idea of what using them is like. "Also you may want to shout, this is loud!"

Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

[lasthumanvoice]

"CAN WE--that is loud, damn.--USE YOUR FORGE FOR PIZZA?"

He's going to start from the assumption she knows what pizza is and why it is necessary.

[somebodychildofanyone]

"ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FLATBREAD DISH INVENTED BY SOLDIERS AND THEN BROUGHT BACK HOME FROM VARIOUS ANCIENT WARS TO BECOME A STAPLE PEASANT FOOD BECAUSE IF SO THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON HOW EDIBLE YOU FIND CARBON ASH TO BE."

[lasthumanvoice]

"IT SHOULD BE A STAPLE HERE TOO! GERRY AND I WANT IT, BUT NEED OVEN!"

This Asbestos is FREE?

[hyliasblessing]

Zelda is not happy about having to come here. In addition to their awkward encounter at the Gala and the silence that followed (not to mention the fact that Zelda's conversations with Annabel Lee have been painfully brief since the two reconnected), Dr. West has also offhandedly mentioned that he and River are no longer associating. So this is basically guaranteed to be an incredibly uncomfortable situation and Zelda does not, under any circumstances, want to do this.

But, she promised Jean. They're trying to organize a militia, and they need training equipment to do it.

She sighs, and lets herself in the door of the shop.

[somebodychildofanyone]

River's surprisingly free right now, almost like she's not experiencing some kind of high-volume order or something. Weird how that works. Weird indeed how that works...

She looks up from where she's doing her books and her ears flatten against her head. Great. Shovel talk round two? Zelda catch wind that River and Annabel decided to try again? Then again, maybe she wants a weapon more effective than a champagne flute, which River honestly and wholeheartedly can only approve of.

"Welcome," River greets, rather more measured than her usual enthusiasm. "You here for steel, spells, or a chat?"

[hyliasblessing]

Zelda's back straightens unconsciously. "I am here for combat training supplies. My partner is planning to run a training course. I am hoping to commission practice dummies and simple training weapons."

[somebodychildofanyone]

River blinks, and then nods. "Yeah, I see the utility. Big order, but it'll be the gift that keeps on giving..." She hrmms. "Trouble is arming the trainees for real after but one problem at a time, I suppose. I'll need to get some wood and straw, y'all can probably save money if you paint the dummies yourselves...what's the training for?" Beat. "Not that I'm like, questioning you here, it's just a different demon if it's individual defense versus like, a proper levy."

[hyliasblessing]

"Jean is attempting to do some public good. Teaching residents how to defend themselves and others in times of crisis, as well as helping everyone get more organized. So yes, a levy, though not in any official capacity."

Forging a friendship?

[maltesefalcon]

A bird walks into River's forge, glancing around at her set-up and materials. He's folded his wings back tight, careful to not knock into anything. River might note he's stopping here before even getting a fresh set of clothes to wear, though. He's right off the ferry, and wants to arm himself already?

[somebodychildofanyone]

River looks up from where she's arranging tools (mise en forge...) and blinks. This is not the sort of bird-person she's used to, but she's still used to people with wings. "Welcome! Good news, the forge ain't normal fire, bad news, if you clip a wing into it you'll die, it'll hurt the whole time you die, and I won't be able to stop it. How can I help you?"

[maltesefalcon]

"Well, no one can say the warning isn't fair." He makes sure his wings are tucked back even further, even more carefully. It is not comfortable for him. "I was looking for a local artisan who'd be able to forge a pair of hand-axes, weighted for throwing as well as melee combat."

[somebodychildofanyone]

River beams. Finally! Weapons! Her actual specialty! She was starting to think it'd be horseshoes and beds until the end of all time and light. "You came to the right elf, my friend. River la Croix, resident smith and enchanter. The axes for you, or a gift?"

[maltesefalcon]

"The axes are for me. I had a pair at home I was familiar with, I can sketch the shape out for you if that would help. And if you enchant weapons as well, we might need to have a longer conversation than that."

Cerrit's crest lifts slightly, as if he's visibly perking up at her reaction.