Forge post

[ostro_goth]

Teja is in the forge, working furiously.

The midwinter holidays are not far off; also, it has been his while since he's seen Charlie, and that brings up feelings in the Goth that are best dealt with by intense sparring, or vigorous hammering.

The cats, not minding the noise, lounge by the fire.

Despite the cold outside, the door is open, and all comers, be they friend or stranger, customer or merely curious, are welcome.-



[[OOC: Forge post -- open until it scrolls!]]

Comments

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta knocks at the door.

[ostro_goth]

"Enter!" Teja calls, still hammering.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta does so, bending to scritch the nearest cat.

"Am I interrupting, sir?"

[ostro_goth]

"No," Teja says. "If you would wait until I finish this, shortly, we may talk without shouting."

[fiery_ring]

"All right." she sits down with the cats.

[ostro_goth]

It takes a few minutes; then, Teja returns the piece he was working on to the forge, and turns to Carlotta.

"Would you take some water with me?" he says.

[fiery_ring]

"All right." Carlotta says. "What are you making?"

[ostro_goth]

"Mokume-gane, for ornaments," Teja says, pouring cold water into two clay cups, and handing one to Carlotta.

[fiery_ring]

"Thank you." Carlotta says, sipping the water.

"I don't know what that is." she admits.

[ostro_goth]

"Precious metals, layered in the manner of folded steel, originally used on the ornamental parts of Japanese swords," Teja says. "I learned of it when I visited the lands of Japan, where Ryu Hayabusa lives."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"I need your advice." she says, after a moment.

[ostro_goth]

"You know you will ever have that," Teja says, gently, sitting down near her.

[fiery_ring]

"You know Mary, the lady my father is involved with?" Carlotta says. "Well, my young cousin Marigold spotted her in a picture belonging to one of her form. Apparently she used to be involved with that girl's father, but deserted him with a pricey engagement ring one day."

Small wince. "She may of course have changed, but I don't know if or how I should tell my father."

[ostro_goth]

"Yes, you must," Teja says. "It is dishonourable to not return such a present, when breaking off the betrothal. It would be good if your father found a wife again, and let you have more leeway for your future; but he must know of such things. You cannot leave him to danger just to gain your own freedom."

[fiery_ring]

"That wasn't why I hesitated." Carlotta says. "More because I thought he would just think I was, well, jealous. And he's really happy."

[ostro_goth]

"He knows you," Teja says. "He knows you would not do such a thing out of sheer spite!"

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"I still don't like to ruin his happiness. I hope they can work through it."

[ostro_goth]

"It would be worse if you abandoned him to run into the bared blade that awaits him," Teja says. "You are not ruining his happiness if his happiness is counterfeit by a deceitful woman; and you are not, either, if the questions are cleared up, and it turns out to be nothing."

[fiery_ring]

"True." Carlotta says.

"Do you think I ought to write it in a letter, or is it safe to leave it a few weeks until half term?"

[ostro_goth]

"How long ago did that woman deceive your cousin's friend's father?" Teja asks.

[fiery_ring]

"Well, she said she was told her stepmother died when she was six, so it must have been eight years ago."

[ostro_goth]

"Then she does not move fast, from man to man," Teja says, "and you can leave it until you may confront her, and your father, in person."

[fiery_ring]

"What if she's had other men in between?" Carlotta points out.

[ostro_goth]

"She has been long at this, and would bide her time," Teja says. "And a letter is more easily cast aside."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"If she passed my grandma's screening, she must have been at work quietly if she has done it again."