Fork.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Please give to Adventwings.

Crystal flew into town, not sure exactly what shop to look for. She needed a better weapon, but most weapons shops didn't carry forks, and mostshops that carried forks didn't keep them sharp enough to be considered a weapon. Finally she settled on a blacksmith that was in town.

After struggling to push open the door, Crystal noticed a small hole in the window that she could fly through.

The place, itself was full of dust, and the only sign that the shop wasn't closed was the fact that there was still heat coming from the back room where everything was made.

"Hello! Anybody there?"

[AdventWings]

"...Hello?"

A voice called out from the backroom, curiosity and suspicion clearly displayed in his voice. Slow footsteps followed after the message died in silence, the owner appearing within the doorway only moments later with a small hammer in his hand.

Noah drew back slightly after he saw the fairy flitting about, unsure if this was indeed the person who spoke up earlier. After all, he normally did not receive customer foot traffic like that of his competitors. More or less, the only ones to come by were inn and tavern owners who would commission him to craft their eatery.

The man wondered what a fairy would do in his shop.

"...um, hi. May I... help you?"

[Crystal Suncrest]

"Um, Hi. I need to know if you could custom-make a fork for me for around 20 gold. I know it sounds like a weird request, but the fork is my weapon of choice, so if you can, I would also like it made of at least steel. can you help me?"

[AdventWings]

Well, now here was an odd order.

"Ah... A steel fork?"

Noah scratched his head, wondering why a fairy would want[/] a fork. Well, sure, she said it was her weapon of choice... But a tiny spear or even a trident would have been far more useful than a... [i]fork.

Then again, it could be because of other limitations...

"...OK, I can do that." The smith rubbed his clean-shaved chin, wondering how the final design would come to be. "Give me about a day or two, I should have some designs done by then. And don't worry about payment - We'll see if you fine the ones you like first."

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal left with a smile on her face and waited patiently for two days just outside the shop. Her smile got bigger the closer she came to the store. When she finally got to the store, she was Beaming. Unfortunately, she was just as hyperactive as before. Flying quickly through the hole in the window, and unable to slow down fast enough, Crystal crash-landed on the shop counter, tumbling head over heals three times before finally coming to a stop. Odd thing is, it hardly seemed to even faze her. Sure, she was a bit dizzy, and had a bit of a headache, but other than that she recovered from it without too much injury.

"So, you got the designs for my fork ready yet?" Crystal asked as if nothing had happened.

[AdventWings]

Noah almost jumped up in surprise when the tiny fae burst into his thoughts, the large man fumbling with a set of polished knives awaiting to be delivered to an influential man living in the Capital. Catching the dangerous utensil with a slight breakout forming on his forehead, the smith carefully put away the rest before turning his attention to his customer.

"Actually, yes. I'll go get them for you."

Reaching into a desk shelf, Noah produced them to the fairy and laid each one out on the weather-worn counter.

The first was a decidedly simple one - flat steel, chiseled and grounded until the four prongs protrude a good two inches out into the air. They were made of fairly hard steel, so hard they would snap instead of bend under pressure. Not that the smith thought she would be the one to do that kind of damage, mind you. Asides from that, there was nothing of note - it was a plain, flat piece of eatery that looked like any other one would find in a small tavern.

The second one was where some of Noah's artistic shine came into play. The handle was rounded and smooth, ending at the butt with a bulb-like point while the other end looked somewhat similar to the regular kitchen fork. Small chiseled rose designs ring the neck of the fork, forming a sort of flowery necklace to the otherwise utilitarian design.

The third design, however, was the epic masterpiece.

While it was indeed made of steel, Noah had figured plain-looking steel grey was just... Not beautiful enough. Therefore, infusing the alloy with tin gave off a nice polished surface that turned a beautiful light tan in the candle light. Segmented neck and a square cross-section of the handle would be a bit cumbersome for regular users, but perhaps this customer would be more comfprtable using it.

Noah stepped away from the three forks, allowing the fairy to browse his designs at her pleasure.

"If these aren't what you're looking for, I could bring out a set of normal forks I have in stock. Maybe you'll find one that you like in there if you haven't seen it already."

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal examined the options carefully. The first one wouldn't work for her needs, it seemed a bit too fragile.

The second one seemed to be a bit fancier, but it fancy wasn't quite what mattered to her. In fact, not even the third design seemed to be right for the fairy.

"While I can see your craftsmanship has no bounds, I was looking for something of a more sturdy nature, if at all possible. Remember, I'm looking for something to stab people with, not an eating utensil. It needs to be sharp and sturdy. I must say, though, I like this design otherwise, it isn't too fancy, but does destinguish itself from the more commonplace forks." Crystal said, pointing at the fork with the flowery design. After a brief pause as she hovered over the second design she continued to speak.

"If at all possible, could you modify this one so it is sharper and the prongs are sturdier?"

[AdventWings]

"Well... Sure thing. It's better I reforge it, for durability's sake. I guess you wanted something that skewers well rather than just for eating? Haha."

After the failed attempt at striking up a joke, the smith checked his schedule before returning to his tiny customer.

"Well, I don't think I have enough time today. How about you drop back here tomorrow? I should have it ready for you by then."

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal Sighed... She really didn't have enough money to go to an inn if she wanted to purchase a weapon as well, but she really had no place to stay otherwise.

"Um, how about I sleep here, I really don't have anyplace to stay, otherwise, and who knows? I might even be able to help you make it better. If you have any questions about how best to construct it, just let me know.

Actually I'd be willing to help you out elsewhere around the store too, if you want. All I ask in return is you let me stay here the night." Crystal pretty much begged of the shopkeep.

I leave crystal in your hands for your next post. I'm sure Noah can find something for Crystal to do. In other words, feel free to bunny Crystal.

[AdventWings]

Noah thought for a moment, realizing how hard it was for a small customer to find a room in a land filled with giants called "humans."

"Sure, you can stay for the night." He shrugged before scribbling a series of lines onto a scrap of paper. "Although I don't think I'll need any help for the night.... Well, maybe perhaps helping me put out the lights. I'll have a bed made for you."

While the tiny fairy went about helping the whitesmith close the shop, Noah went to work on strengthening the fork design.

***

"...Well, it's done."

Stepping back from the work bench, he wiped the sweat from his brows. The special fork his tiny customer requested...

It's finally done.

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal looked the fork over and smiled. it was exactly what she was looking for.

"Thank you very much, kind sir. So how much do I owe you? 20?"

[AdventWings]

"Fifteen, actually."

Noah managed to save a bit of money with the new construction method he had worked out, so he naturally passed it on to his tiny customer. After all, a smith like him did not get many compliant customers everyday.

"Is there anything else you would like look at?"

[Crystal Suncrest]

Crystal thought for a few seconds before answering.

"Not that O can think of at the moment, unless there is such a thing as a piece of armor in my size that costs 5 gold, which I highly doubt."

[AdventWings]

"...Hmm, not impossible..."

Noah, having worked with metals at a small scale for nearly half of his life so far, thought about the idea of crafting a tiny set of armor as a test of his skills. But then he realized the amount of metal used would not be as relevant as the handicraft that would go into the final product as well as its eventual durability.

"...But I doubt it'll be able to help you anymore than that new fork of yours. Plus, I'd have to charge you more than five pieces of gold, too. Sorry."

[Crystal Suncrest]

"Not a problem. I'll come back when I get the money. thanks again." Crystal said as she exited the shop with her new fork. She was extremely happy with her new purchase.

[AdventWings]

"Thanks for using our service."

Noah smiled as the fairy disappeared into the outside world. Then, as if he had just realized something, the whitesmith turned his head to look at the window Crystal had mentioned on her earlier visit.

"...Ah, hell. Who'd gone and broke my window like that?"

((Transaction Complete!

Crystal Suncrest loses 15 GP and receives a steel fork with reinforced prongs. 75 EXP gained for good IC interactions.

See you next time!))