House Repairs [Minerva]

[Nira'lia]

As Minerva spoke, Nira'lia listened to her intently and put a careful eye on the brooch. It seemed to be almost done, and the konti couldn't help but feel at awe at Minerva's work. She had no skill or knowledge in what Minerva was doing, and in the end she was fascinated by it all. A startled look spread over Nira'lia's face when Minerva said she was from Sunberth. The look was mixed with what seemed to be fright and anger, and it was gone just as quickly as it came. All that was left was a blank look of coldness. Minerva was speaking about the city pushing away magic, change, and other things. However, when Nira'lia thought of the city, she thought of much darker memories. She thought of years of slavery and being pushed around like an animal. While Minerva seemed to have bad memories of Sunberth, Nira'lia doubted these were from years of slavery. "I was born in Sunberth. I was there until I turned fifteen... I think. I know what you mean," replied the konti, her voice slow. It had a certain coldness to it, one that didn't usually surface. The konti looked at Minerva and tried to judge how old this girl was. She was a human, and Nira'lia mused that she was more or less in her twenties -- she couldn't really tell. "I left that place roughly eighteen years ago, so I'd think you were just a baby or so then. Maybe things have changed, but what I remember is that Sunberth is horrible, though I probably saw the worst end of it considering I was a slave." The konti forced a smile and looked back at Minerva. She pushed away the negative feelings. "Oh, I made the conversation depressing, didn't I? I apologize."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Minerva's hands froze in her polishing work when she said she was also from Sunberth. That had been the LAST thing she'd been expecting. She was about to say that they must have left home about the same time, considering Nira couldn't be older than eighteen or so. But then Nira explained how long ago it was, and she frowned in confusion for a moment. Then she remembered, Oy, 'at's right, 'ey live a long while... Sometimes she forgot how differently other races aged. "S'awright, Sook," she said when the other girl apologized. "Ain't nothin' doin'. But yer right. 'At place is a trash 'ole, she is. But no worries... ain't no reason what fer us ta ever go back, aye? Aye." She knew she certainly wouldn't ever return. Not no way, not no how. There was nothing for her there. Not since her Granddad died. She finished up the polishing and examined the brooch one last time. It was no work of art, but a carving like this was well within her skills. It was simple, and she could show it with pride. She handed it to Nira and asked, "Whatcha think, Sook? Jus' need 'at clasp fer 'er, an' she's all set!" She got up and gestured for Nira to follow her. "Wanna come? Ain't take but a few minutes, walk down ta the market 'fore she closes." She was grinning again, the depressing conversation of s moment before completely forgotten. Tock was always a girl to live in the present and look to the future, never the past. She couldn't completely get away from where she came from, but there was no reason to dwell on it either. She had too much to do with her life to waste time worrying about things that were done and over with.

[Nira'lia]

As Minerva held up the brooch to examine it, Nira'lia observed it as well with an enthusiastic and excited grin on her face. Minerva handed it to her, which she took happily. She took a moment to marvel at it until she responded to the red-haired girl. "Yes, I'll go with you. I'll pay for the clasp." Just like the other girl, the dark conversation from just a minute earlier was now forgotten in the konti's mind. She stood up and followed Minerva to the door, clutching her new brooch in her hands. "Perhaps there are some in the general store?" asked Nira'lia. She didn't know what Minerva meant by 'market', but she mused that it could have had the same meaning. It was just a hunch, but a clasp seemed to be the kind of thing one would find there. She locked the door behind her and made a mental note to get back as soon as possible. After all, she did say she was going to watch the house. The konti quickened her pace to catch up to Minerva. She pointed towards the direction of the General Store, even if she knew Minerva probably already knew where it was. "Do a lot of people ask you to make things for them?" the konti asked curiously as they walked towards the store. "And what kind of things do they usually ask for?" The store wasn't that far off, and soon enough, it was within eyesight. "I'll leave the picking to you then, you surely know more about it than I do. Don't forget though, I'm paying."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Minerva followed along, letting Nira lead the way. She'd only been in the city a couple of weeks, and didn't really know her way around at all. It was very different here than back home, or Syliras, where she'd spent most of the last year and a half. It was taking some getting used to. "Aye, I make stuff all the time," she said. "O' fix stuff fer people. I does 'ouses, an' carpentry, an' carvin', and I makes Golems an' stuff, too. Well, I's gonna make Golems, anywho. Ain't done quite got up ta 'at yet. Workin' on 'er though, up a' the Uni." She nodded with determination. "Jus' got done makin' a chess set, too," she added. "Ya know chess? Ain't so many folks what do. Ol' Archimaneus, my ol' teacher, done taught me ta play. Never could beat 'im, 'course," she shrugged. When they got to the store, she went fishing around through the shelves until she found what she was looking for. She held a couple of clasps up to the back of the brooch until she found one that was the right size, and nodded. Before it was even paid for she screwed it in place, making sure it was nice and tight. "'Ere ya go, Sook!" she said, grinning. "All done! Might 'beaut, if'n I do says so myself." It had been a simple little project, but she was proud of it. She always took pride in her work. Her Granddad had instilled that in her. Back then, it had been the only pride she had.

[Nira'lia]

"Golems, was that?" repeated Nira'lia. Her tone of voice was puzzled. Yet again, her obliviousness of the world was getting the best of her. It was a vast world out there, and she knew only a very small percentage of what was available. "What are golems?" On the other hand, she knew what chess was. It was a game she wasn't very good at. It didn't help though that she had only played it a few times against her mother and sisters, and they were much more experienced seers than her. She jabbed that they were probably cheating. When they were ready to pay, Nira'lia rummaged in her purse for the coins that she needed. "What are you getting?" the store clerk asked them. "Uhm, this..." said Nira'lia as she showed him the brooch. He looked at it skeptically, and the konti turned it over and pointed at the clasp that Minerva had screwed unto it. "Just the clasp. The clasp is from here." The man nodded. The clasp had already been put into place even before it was theirs, but he didn't seem to mind as long as they were paying. Nira'lia paid him the right amount of cash and then thanked him, before heading out the store with Minerva. "All done! It's perfect!" grinned the konti as she looked down at the brooch in her hands. She imagined that she could use it for most clothing, especially that white cloak which she had. That cloak was so plain, and while she liked plain things, this brooch would surely add character to what could be deemed as a sheet of blankness. "Thank you, Tock!" She looked at Tock, her expression still of joy. "I should probably be heading home. Tell me, would you mind if I got your address? Maybe I can send you orders about anything I might need, and you can send it to me in a package. I promise I'll pay you... even if you won't let me hand you money, I'll force it on you."

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

When Nira asked, 'What are Golems?', Tock looked at her the same way people usually looked at Tock when she said something strange. Tock wasn't the most learned girl in the world; she didn't know much about religion, literature, politics, or the races of the world. She didn't know the name if the ruler of the city she was in, or any of the laws. She didn't know much about history aside from the basics. But she knew Golems. So she decided to educate the girl. "Golems is people," she said. "People what done were made by people, aye? 'Cept 'stead o' flesh an' blood, 'ey's got wood an' stone an' gears, aye? 'Ey's got souls an' 'ey can be smart an' 'ey can loves ya jus' like a person does. Better 'an a person does, even." When she built her Golems, she was going to program them to love her and care for her like family but never ever hurt her. "An' I's gonna build me a 'ole family o' 'em, I am!" She gave the girl her address and said, "Oy, maybe I can even build ya a Golem, aye? Aye." Nira seemed like the type who could use a little love in her life. "Whatever ya done need, jus' lemme know!" she said cheerfully. She was always glad to be building things, especially for someone whom she had kinda made friends with.

[Nira'lia]

OOC"Nira seemed like the type who could use a little love in her life."... hahahaha, this made me giggle Somehow, the idea of golems made Nira'lia uneasy. She didn't voice this out though, and kept a smile when Minerva talked about them. When Minerva said that bit about building a golem for Nira'lia, all the Konti did was give an uneasy laugh. Minerva's address was scribbled on a piece of paper which Nira'lia tucked away in her purse. She couldn't help but feel enthusiastic. She had no idea what she could ask Minerva to build for her, but she was sure she could think of many things. "I have to head home now!" said Nira'lia with a grin. "Take care, and thank you so much for my new brooch!" Nira'lia took another look at the brooch in her hand before putting it aside as well. She gave the red-haired girl a slight wave of the hand.

[Paragon]

Adventurer's Loot Minerva's Loot : Minerva Skill XP Reward Climbing +1 Bodybuilding +1 Carpentry +2 Carving +3 Teaching +1 Drawing +2 Mathematics +1 Socialisation +1 Lore: Working for its own Reward, Carving into a Hook, Nira'lia's Past Items or Consequences: Nil Nira'lia's Loot : Nira'lia Skill XP Reward Cooking +2 Socialisation +1 Carving +1 Observation +2 Drawing +1 Lore: Dodging Hammers, Minerva's Memories, Wondrous Golems Items or Consequences: + 1 Wooden Brooch, +1 Bone Carve Gouge Hook, - 1 Gold Miza for Clasp Yay, what a fun thread, and some interesting use of carving. I like how Nira'lia knows of Minerva's ambitions for the future now. Great thread, both of you - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.