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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 9, 2011 22:09:21 GMT -5
I smiled up at him before kissing him soundly, unable to help myself. We could get it! Hopefully, if it wasn't too much. "Oh Leon, thank you!" I gushed excitedly, practically skipping into the shop. I didn't know that he was going to say yes at first, with the way he considered it. But he'd been willing, and I couldn't wait to hear what the price might be.
Stepping into the shop, a blast of heat hit my face and neck from the forge. I'd forgotten how hot it was in shops like these. I glanced around, taking in the familiar sights; the anvil, the blazing fire, all of the tools hanging from the ceiling. Looking closer, I saw no one, although he could have been in a different part of the shop.
I looked up at Leon, smiling still, and slipped my hand into his once more. "Hello?" I called loudly, my voice echoing a bit. "Is anyone about?"
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 9, 2011 23:06:30 GMT -5
The happiness that Fion exhibited as we walked into the shop was all I needed to see in order to feel that I'd made the right decision. As we entered, I felt the warmth of the forge, and inhaled sharply. It didn't take long to see, though, that there was no one in the main part of the shop.
A few moments after she called out, a hulking man with salt and pepper hair came in from the back of the shop, glancing at us as if we'd interrupted something. "What can I do for you?" he asked, his face remaining stern as his eyes glanced back and forth between my beloved and I until he saw the vambrace in her hand.
Before either of us could even answer, he gave a price that, while high, was likely a bargain for such a piece of work, as well.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 9, 2011 23:18:58 GMT -5
I blinked and took a visible step back; the man seemed very angry. And he was big. It made me automatically nervous because I didn't understand why. Not understanding made it that much worse. I pressed the vambrace into Leon's hands and scooted until I was mostly behind him. The man made me skittish.
I heard him say a price and murmured quietly to Leon, "I leave it to your discretion, my love. I do not want to talk to him. He makes me nervous with how angry he looks."
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 10, 2011 0:04:15 GMT -5
Oddly enough, the man did not intimidate me. I'd met others like him, in Tiberium; specifically, when I'd gone to buy a new sword. Blacksmiths were not as muscle-brained as many assumed. Their mass was necessary to work the forge effectively, but learning to do what they did was complex, and the sort of thinking necessary to do it well often led to introverted or eccentric people.
Nodding at her words, I took the vambrace from her, and stepped forward. "Yes, messiere, I am interested in purchasing this for my lady here. I'll not waste your time, though, as you seem to be very busy," I said to him, and immediately began to count out the coin for him.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 10, 2011 0:30:02 GMT -5
I blinked. "Stop," I said suddenly. "Messire," I said, "I realize you are busy, but would you be willing to tell me how you made this? I have never seen such a beautifully crafted, intricate piece of work. Someone of your talent must be extremely hard to find and it is with honor that we purchase this from you. Would you be willing to explain it?"
The man blinked, his surly expression leaving him, a shocked one replacing it on his features. "Aye lass," he said in his gruff voice. "It is quite simple, if you know springs. The trigger lies against your inner wrist so that when you move your hand, the blade pops out. When you move it again, the trigger is released and the blade once more disappears into it's sheath. To explain the intricacies of the spring would take longer than I have time for right now but, if you are ever willing to learn, pin your hair back and come by my shop and I will show you."
Smiling, I nodded. "My deepest thanks, messire. I am sorry to trouble you by taking your time; I realize you are a busy man."
The smithy nodded, the corners of his mouth turning up. Holding up his hand to Leon, who had stopped counting after I'd begun talking, he shook his head. "That will do, sir. My thanks to you for your business. Good day, you two." And, with that, he walked back into the part of the shop that we had seen him emerge from.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 10, 2011 1:18:06 GMT -5
I listened to the exchange between Fion and the blacksmith as I counted the coins, smiling slightly as I heard him explain how he'd made the vambrace. Not many blacksmiths actually understood springs, as they were usually the realm of clockmakers. The fact that this one did showed a surprising amount of ingenuity. When he thanked us for our business, I nodded my head toward him politely.
As we turned to leave the shop, I once again took her hand into mine. "I cannot wait to see what it looks like in the trophy room," I said to her as we exited, stepping back outside.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 10, 2011 1:23:45 GMT -5
I grinned up at him. "Aye, I can't either!" I said excitedly as he took my hand. "Are you done shopping for the day, shall we go home and put it in the trophy room?" I asked. We'd been gone almost all day and, as much as I had had fun, I was ready to be alone with Leon. Of course, if he wanted to stay out and walk more, I would be content to do it. I didn't much care what we did, as long as I was with him.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 10, 2011 10:18:27 GMT -5
I didn't mind spending the money, but because I didn't like to travel with obscene amounts of coin, we'd just spent most of what I had left on me. So when she asked if I was ready to return home, I nodded, for more reason than my obvious desire to be alone with her; that was a temptation that was always present, after all. Without any other pressing business, it could be difficult to make myself leave the bedroom anymore, so long as she was content to remain there.
"Yes, its likely a good idea to head home, see how this looks in the trophy room, and then check to see if there is any business for me," I responded; thus far all of the business I'd had in the city had been light and simple. Merchants wishing to buy portions of our land's crop harvest, or petitions passed on by my mother from tradesmen wishing to set up shop. Little things, but important to the running of my lands nonetheless.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 10, 2011 10:39:46 GMT -5
I nodded, smiling. Leon was very easygoing; it was one more way we were perfectly matched. It didn't bother me like I thought it might most women when Leon had to leave to see to the business of things; it was something he must do and it wasn't as if he was gone for any large length of time. He explained them to me, his business transactions, and it was all rather interesting. I never asked to accompany him, as it was probably more of a male-oriented thing anyway and I would only cause discomfort. Besides, I was content to roam the house and go into the kitchen while he was gone. The cook was a very nice middle-aged woman and she and I always chatted about Eire; she had relatives there, she said.
"I think it will look beautiful in there, where will you place it?" I asked him as we walked to our townhome. Our.... The thought of it sent a burst of happiness through me once more and I grinned hugely as I slipped my hand into his once more, a contented smile settling onto my face at my thoughts and the fact that we were going home to be alone.
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Post by Leon Charles d'Essoms on Feb 10, 2011 10:55:26 GMT -5
"I'm thinking against the wall near the billiards table. Or maybe on a stand over the mantle, under the crossed swords there," I named a couple of the ideas that came to mind as we began to head back toward home. It was an odd piece, if beautiful, and would be certain to draw comment and question from visitors who saw it.
At the sudden happiness that came across her expression, I smiled curiously. I loved seeing that look in her eyes, but could not help but wonder what, exactly, had brought it on that time. "What is it, love?" I asked her softly, giving her hand a firm squeeze in mine as I glanced over at her.
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Post by Fionnula mab Bevin on Feb 10, 2011 11:17:35 GMT -5
"Oh," I blushed, having been caught out at my grin. I squeezed his hand in return and turned my grin up to him, my eyes meeting his beautiful sapphire gaze momentarily before he turned back to watch where we were going. "I was simply thinking of what a wonderful day it's been and how happy I am to be going home with you. And," I added, "I was also thinking of how much I love saying 'home' in reference to the townhouse, and instead of saying 'your trophy room' or 'your bedroom' or 'your parlour' I can now say 'our' for all of those things. Well, except the trophy room," I blushed a bit more, wondering if he thought I had turned into an utter fluffball. "It's simply nice to be with you every night, to fall asleep in your arms and wake up to your smile and... to not be scared anymore," I said, realizing that I was right.
"It also has other perks," I continued, my grin turning more sly. "Like making love where ever we like, sneaking down the the kitchen late at night, being able to listen to you play your harp every day, sitting in your study and practicing my reading while you work on business...." I shrugged, trailing off. "It's all just wonderful," I finally said, having found at least some way to explain it. "I'm sure I could go on for hours, possibly days with this. But I won't bore you," I finished with a laugh.
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