Aries' Cloak Creation

[21:43] The artificer starts the work on a somber note, contemplating more recent events. She takes out the materials from her stash of goods.

The cloak, from Aries' long passed father, is draped over the work table with care; the scale and the lion's head brooch, the later of which is handled delicately and kept at arm's length, are set nearby.

She considers all of them.

"She's gonna keep bein' a problem, I figure. But...ain't in me to do politics," Katrin frowns. Or at least that was her excuse.

"Think Ethric's got the right of it. But that's just my opinion."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[21:49] "Mhm, best to focus on what's happenin' in the here 'n now."

His eyes widened a bit when he saw his father's cloak brought out. A sight for sore eyes, he'd missed that old cloak.

It was one of the very few physical mementos of his father. Emerald hues scanning over the lion's head brooch that was set down.

It looked pretty cool now that he had a second look at it.

"I'm not eer qualified in all this kinda stuff but I'll do what ya need me t' do."
(Aries Grace)
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[21:53] Katrin gets a very different set of memories from seeing the cloak. Even if she had not known the man very well, she had known of him.

With the cloth draped over her work station she begins to examine it for any loose threads, any frayed ends which might undermine its structural integrity. A few snips here, a touch up there.

"I can focus and talk. But it ain't my place to say what happens there," she rumbles. "Ya use fire, yeah. What else again?"
(Katrin Weiss)
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[21:56] "I use fire 'n holy magic."

He'd give a nod before leaning in to observe what Katrin was doing. Though Aries had no talent in this line of work he did hold a respect for those that did and took interest in watching their craft.

"Did ya uh..Know my Dad by chance? I never got the chance t' talk t' him so I like hearin' stories about 'im."

The Grace was a bit awkward on the topic of his deceased father.

"But uh, only if ya can focus 'n work at the same time. Don't wanna distract ya or anythin'."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:01] "S'right. Wanted to be sure," she says with a nod.

Katrin's been in her line of work for no small amount of time. Her hands are deft and sure. Whether it's working in cloth, or steel, or stone, or gems.

"...We weren't close or nothin'. But I knew of him."

The cloak is draped aside again, the scale brought in front of her. She takes what effectively amounts to a rusty spike and begins channeling her mana through it.

On the back of the scale she starts carving an intricate series of interlocked runes. If there was one thing aside from her arts, it was fire, damnit.

"I traveled a lot in those days, y'know. Knew lots of folks. I ain't sure you'd like the stories I got, of what I've seen, though."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:06] "I see, it's alright then."

As he watched Katrin's skillful work, the Grace began to snack on a chocolate bar in his possession.

He couldn't be of any help if he was hungry after all! Aries made sure to be very careful when he ate the chocolate so that no crumbs would fall on to the ground or around the workspace.

"Thanks fer this again by the way."

Aries had always appreciated and enjoyed the talks that he and Katrin had.
(Aries Grace)
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[22:09] There was no need to recount those tales. In those days she's been fresher, brighter eyes. And it had not been a pretty sight. In Achyon's central square, no less.

The recent news was bad enough.

"Ain't no trouble. Ya got good intent. And it's the least I can do." That was what she preferred for her works. That they go to brightly shining souls. She finishes the runeweaving on the back of the scale and turns to try and attempt a similar design to the back of the brooch.

Her hand trembles. Just a touch, but the runes are finished.

"Tell ya what. Runes're nothin' without power. Why ain't ya give this some of your mojo while I pour out a lil' tea."

She gestures to the waiting runes on the back of the blue lion's visage.
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:10] {Item} You drop Mercy.
[22:14] Aries nodded when Katrin told him to throw in some of his 'mojo'. Though he was a bit confused, Aries assumed that Katrin meant to pour some of his mana into the brooch.

The Grace calmed himself, clearing his mind of recent events before allowing a bright, welcoming aura to lighten up the room.

With both hands placed carefully over the brooch, Aries began to pour his magic in, wiggling his fingers erratically in hopes that this would add some special effect.

He'd end up exhausting nearly his entire supply of mana until Katrin stopped him at least.

"Aye, aye."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:19] A good thing Aries assumes correctly. Not that anything too disastrous likely would have come of it.

While Aries does the deed, clearing his mind, focusing his intent upon the piece, she meanders off elsewhere into the shop and home. There's the distant clinking of ceramics as the holy magi makes the dimly lit workshop corner glow.

The artificer, though she doesn't seem the sort to have such things on hand or consider such niceties, returns with a tray of twin fine china cups filled with tea.

"'Ey, 'ey. Easy. Don't gotta' go overdoin' it," she warns, making careful approach. Katrin sets the tray on a nearby table.

"I can handle the fire runes and attachin' it all. Just helps if this piece of your dad has a lil' piece of you too. Yeah?"
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:27] Wiping away a bead of sweat that had formed when pouring in his mana, Aries said

"Right, got a bit carried away hehe."

Aries would go over to one of the nearby chairs and take a seat until he would be called to action again.

Bright eyes gazed intently at Katrin's work. While still not as innocent as in his youth, Aries had largely still kept his initial outlooks on life for better of for worse.

It had put him at odds with Sibyl but his outlook had also been responsible for a lot of the friendships that he'd made along the way.

"I see that yer lil one's got a few friends. Seen 'em scamper on by once or twice."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:30] "S'fine. I get wantin' to put a lot into somethin' you're makin'," she replies with a nod, offering out one of the cups to Aries. She takes the other, sips from it once, and sets it aside. There's still work to do, after all.

There were still the runes on the dragonscale to imbue. It felt fitting that she take over that half. No need to overtax the Grace.

She tugs off one glove, the one on her dominant hand, and traces her fingertips along the etched runes. The flickering ghost of flame of a set of outspread wings erupts behind her, bathing the workshop in more light of a much different hue.

Then it's gone, and she continues as if nothing had happened.

"Ah, it does my heart good knowin' it. Worried 'bout the boy. Knowin' he's deaf and all. But he's doin' just fine. Got plenty of fire in him...Makes me proud to see. Happy that he's got friends he can count on, too."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:30] {Item} You picked up Mercy. Dropped by Katrin Weiss..
[22:35] Aries' eyes widened at the flickering ghost of flame. It was an impressive display to say the least.

"Mhm, makes me happy t' see that he still has friends even though he's deaf. I have high hopes fer the youth o' today."

Even if he'd failed in his tasks, as long as the youth of tomorrow were all respectable individuals, there would still be hope for the future.

"They'll succeed where we've failed."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:35] {LONG DISTANCE FROM: Robert Maven}: Robert Maven's Letter To Katrin Weiss, 1857, I spoke to Alexei at the Docro manor, they didn't have any knowledge on Cold Iron. Looking for new leads.

-Hope you're well

Signed, Robert.
[22:38] Though primarily an artificer, she hadn't been working this long without picking up a few other tricks, apparently.

"I do too. Not too high, mind ya. I know to curb my expectations," she says, with a small, sardonic laugh. Katrin takes a nearby lump of shimmering, silvery metal.

With that very same fire magic she had such keen mastery over, she pinches off pieces of it, heats it until it's closer to putty, and uses it to attach the brooch to the scale. Effectively making both a larger, more impressive cloak pin.

It is maybe kismet that the letter arrives when it does. She glances it over.

"...I'm hopin' they do. Really hope they do, though."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:44] Finally picking up the tea that was slid his way, the Grace began to sip away, watching as Katrin heated the silvery metal and used it to attach the brooch to the scale.

He'd tug at the collar of his shirt as he felt the room temperature rise. However, due to his many trials in the heat it wasn't unbearable by any means.

On the note of children, Aries also had to worry about making his own little ones though finding a wife would have to come first.

"Yer doin' a good job at the whole parentin' thing."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:46] "Ha...ya think?" she has to ask. An honest, earnest question.

One last step, as the mithril welds begin to cool. There's another glob of metal that she forms into a long needle. It, similarly to those welds, is attached to the very, very back of the entire piece. Every brooch needs a pin, of course.

"I'm tryin'. Nurturin' ain't exactly in my nature."

This time, instead of waiting for it to cool, she quenches it in a nearby trough of water.

Then? She pins it neatly to draw both sides of the treasured cloak together.

"And...there. Think that turned out real nice.

All s'left is for the magic to settle. Then ya can take it on home. Might be a lil' while. Runes can be fickle things."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:51] "Well yer alive, doin' better than a lot o' parents by that metric alone. Plus, from what I seen Ryder ain't a lil shit. He's pretty cool."

An honest answer to an earnest question.

Emerald hues watched as it was quenched in a nearby trough of water. Of course, Aries had known that he'd very likely have to give the cloak and the runes on it time to settle.

However from his untrained eyes, the final result looked impressive.

"Looks pretty good. Ya can just mail me when it's done."
(Aries Grace)
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[22:54] "Ha...ya make a fine point," she remarks. She was at least able to be there to take care and look after him. "He's turnin' out pretty good. I'm proud.

I know he's gettin' capable of tusslin'. But. I still wanna' keep him safe." Wasn't that only natural?

"Ah...but yeah. I'll mail ya soon as it's done. Don't ever be afraid to come by for tea though. I know enough is goin' on in the world these days though."
(Katrin Weiss)
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[22:56] "Mhm, I'll see ya 'round."

He'd finish the rest of his tea before standing up and moving to head out of the door. Things had been bad but at least Aries could still rely on his family and friends.

"Ya know Kay, I always kinda thought o' ya as family."

With that, Aries tipped his hat and would head out the door unless he was stopped of course.
(Aries Grace)
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[22:58] It's a slight thing, but it's definitely there. A slender smile.

"...Happy ya think of me that way. Likewise to ya, lil' Aries." Though he wasn't nearly so little any longer. "Ya take care of yourself now, y'hear?"
(Katrin Weiss)