At the Forge (OTA)

[knife_fighter]

The specially ordered knives had been interesting, and Joslire was proud of the knives that he and Leonardo had been able to produce. Then after that, it had been back to horseshoes and wait for another special order

Comments

[imawesome_ruby]

Ruby had felt naked ever since her demon-killing knife had been stolen from her by Erica Evans. Nothing could replace that knife, it was true, but she needed something to carry, especially in this town that was becoming nearly swamped with hunters. She hoped she wouldn't have to use it, but just the weight of it in its sheath made her feel better.

She stepped inside the forge, watching as he worked, waiting to be noticed.

[knife_fighter]

He looked up after quenching the blade he was working on, and came to her, wiping his hands.

"Good greeting. How can I help you?"

[imawesome_ruby]

Ruby smiled and took a step forward.

"Good greeting yourself," she said with a grin, recognizing Robin and Kerai's salutation, and offering her hand.

"My name's Ruby, and I need a knife."

[knife_fighter]

Joslire took hers with a wince of apology for the dirtiness of his.

"How do you do, Mistress Ruby? I have knives ready made to sell, or I could make you one to your specifications."

[imawesome_ruby]

Ruby didn't mind the dirt, she just wiped it on her jeans.

"Well, I had one that I lost. And I'd like one as similar to it as possible."

She held out her hands to show him about the right length.

"It's about like that, with a jagged blade."

[knife_fighter]

He pulled open a drawer and withdrew a pad of paper and a pencil.

"Can you draw it for me?"

[imawesome_ruby]

Ruby smiled apologetically.

"Yes, of course."

She took the pencil and drew a good likeness of her knife, leaving out the inscriptions.

[knife_fighter]

"And what are the qualities you'd most like in the steel? How much do you value hardness as opposed to strength. Is it more important that it keep a razor edge, or that the blade doesn't break?"

[imawesome_ruby]

"Well, as for the first question, strength is more important. And I need a blade that won't shatter if I drop it during a fight."

[knife_fighter]

Judging by the shape of the knife, that answer didn't surprise him. He made some notes on the paper.

"Do you care how shiny it is?" Jos didn't care, but to some people that really mattered.

[imawesome_ruby]

Ruby laughed.

"Oh, yes, and pink if you can make it that way too."

She winked at him playfully to let him know she was teasing.

"It makes no difference to me at all."

[knife_fighter]

Joslire smiled, a flash and then gone, and his face resumed it's normal solemnity, though his eyes twinkled.

"Wood for the hilt? Resin? Metal?"

[imawesome_ruby]

"Wood, I think. A strong one. One that won't splinter easily. I trust your decision on that. How long do you think it will take?"

[knife_fighter]

Joslire frowned at the picture, there was a good amount of shaping to be done to the blade.

"Four days. Do you care whether the wood for the hilt is light or dark?"

[imawesome_ruby]

"Dark, I think," she said thoughtfully. The design of the last knife had not been her choice, and she thought the dark wood would make it look less...flashy.

"It will be nice to have a knife again. It's amazing how naked you feel without it when you're used to carrying one."

[knife_fighter]

Josliremade a few more notes on the sheet of paper, and smiled.

"I agree, and when my daughter was born the first thing I did was make her a knife -- though of course, we don't let her carry it yet."