[Voice / Action]

[vermified]

To all new arrivals, or simply uninformed residents of the village- just as Winry stated earlier this week, we at the smithy are available for metalworking commissions. Currently we're lacking in projects, so if you have any desire for a weapon or some kind of crafted work, feel free to make a request. I specialize in advanced weaponry design and armor.

Additionally, I... request the advice of anyone who's had difficulty controlling the elements. Whether it is by way of this world's spirits, or your own world's magic- if you found it a challenge, and have since mastered the obstacles that stood in your way, how did you do it?


[Edward's going to be at the smithy for most of the day, working away on some sketches and developing new projects for the future- or present, if he gets no commissions. He's mostly designing new swords and armor.]

Comments

[vermified]

[Twitch. It's all Edward can do to stop himself from marching over there and rescuing that poor abused sword.]

Last time I checked, you had a home.

[markofthewise]

It's still Luceti.

[It's not the smithy that bothers him. It's Luceti.]

[vermified]

[Don't make him borrow the Wang Fire beard, grumpy gus.]

What's the matter with you?

[markofthewise]

Suki's been kidnapped, people are always coming and going, and there's nothing I can do, since I don't even have that strength anymore.

[He runs the whetstone along the blade again.] So, you know. Nothing new.

[vermified]

[...Ah, the girlfriend. That explains it. Though Edward knows how the rest of the issues can certainly pile up; half of why he likes doing the smithy work so much here is so he has a good excuse to bash a hammer against things on a daily basis.]

So you're going to sit here and ruin swords until something new happens?

[markofthewise]

[He looks down at the sword.

... it's not ruined. [Just sharpened very unevenly...]

[vermified]

Twenty more strokes like that and you'd be better off melting it down.

[SOB, what a waste.]

[markofthewise]

Okay, so fine! Maybe I'm not paying much attention to my work. What else is there to do?

[He'd go and fight to burn off steam, but that's just a bitter reminder of how much weaker he is now.]

[vermified]

If you're going to ruin things, you could at least work on the spears! It's not like anyone uses those.

[Save the swords first, deal with Sokka's angst after. HE ONLY HAS CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN ONE GOAL OKAY]

[markofthewise]

Why work on stuff nobody is going to use?

[Your logic failed, Edward. And you're really a bro helping him out with this.]

[vermified]

Why ruin stuff people will use?

[LOOK. LOOK AT THAT SWORD. IT IS A TRAVESTY. HE WILL THROW YOU OUT IF HE HAS TO]

[markofthewise]

Fine, whatever! [Sokka holds it out for Edward without the typical grace he affords swords.] Take it and give me a break.

[vermified]

[Edward takes the sword, looking it over. Pokes at a few of the nicks and scratches. Peeeeeeeeers.

...Sob. It's probably beyond repair. But after all that he's not going to admit defeat, setting it on the desk instead and focusing back on Sokka. The sword is safe. He can move on.]

You yourself have been kidnapped twice recently, and returned safely each time. What makes you think this will be any different?

[markofthewise]

That's not the point. I know she'll be back. But what's going on now? She already had to spend time imprisoned once! She shouldn't have to do it again.

[He remembers all that time he spent wondering what Azula had been doing to Suki, what horrible torture Azula was putting her through. It was terrible. And now it's just like that. Only this time he can't rescue her. He has to wait for 'Azula' to get bored with her.]

[vermified]

Chances are she was just as concerned as you are now during your own absences. Yet you've both endured just fine. If she's experienced an imprisonment before, she's probably better equipped to deal with it than most people here. Isn't that something in her favour, then?

[Soldier-logic is the only logic he's good at, sorry.]

[markofthewise]

Being used to it doesn't make it any better, Ed.

[vermified]

I'm not saying it's better. I'm saying it helps. [Which... almost makes it sound the same.] ...Dammit, you know what I mean!

[markofthewise]

I know what you mean. [A sigh.] Maybe it helps. Just not much.

[vermified]

[...Sigh, indeed. After a moment, Edward shakes his head.]

For what it's worth, I'm sorry she's been taken.

[markofthewise]

Thanks. [Well, now he has no weapons to ruin. So...] So what are you working on?

[vermified]

I'm trying to recreate the design of a famed blade from my homeland. Working from just memory is proving to be difficult.

[markofthewise]

So improvise instead? Or if it's that famous, maybe it's in the library?

[vermified]

I doubt weaponry designs from a lost civilization will show up there, but I'd considering checking it anyway.

[markofthewise]

Do you have a design already?

[vermified]

The basic design and measurements, yes. It's the details that I'm uncertain of.