Crafting | The Sound of Madness; the Speed of Thought

Starting the second sabaton, and the last piece of armour for the time being, Hua Li took one last deep breath. No matter how much she liked working at the forge, even the Demon Smith could do with a break after an entire month worthwhile work. She could imagine that double-latte coffee already... with twice the toast she'd usually eat just to treat herself to something good.

---

Crafting: Day 1/3

Solo post: 5 XP
Total: 275 XP

So close to being done...

---

Crafting: Day 2/3

Solo post: 5 XP
Total: 280 XP

At long last, after an eternity of craft§ing, the base of the 'Last Thought' was done. Anything after that would be an upgrade to it. An improvement of its general protective ability. But now, this very moment, the mannequin actually looked the sort. A fully armoured puppet of wood. And a gods be damned good looking one too even if Hua Li had to say so.

---

Brief [EXIT]

Crafting: Day 3/3

Total used:
- 15 lbs nevarite, 5 lbs leather

Total gained:
- Last Thought - Body Suit [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Chest Piece [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Waist Piece [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Thigh Piece, left [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Thigh Piece, right [A/S++]
Armour Smithing, rank up!
- Last Thought - Sabaton, right [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Sabaton, left [A/S++]

Solo post: 5 XP
B-rank craft: 30 XP
Total: 315 XP

---

Emiki came strolling in, her arm in a sling and her chest wrapped thickly in bandages. As she noticed the armor before her she let out a tiny whimper, "If Emiki had waited to wear you oh Emiki's precious, her body would not be made out of pain."

Waiting for the Tengu, Emiki took out 13k Ryo, and placed it before her, "Apparently Emiki might need to buy more to fit all of Emiki's body. She tends to fight by running into things really, really, really fast. Like super, mega, ultra fast. Faster than both all of the worlds winds and shadows. But Emiki's body sometimes gets broke from the horizontal crashing ... how much would it be to finish Emiki's 'Last Thought'?"

[1]

Seated on a chair, feet resting on a crate, the yokai enjoyed the warmth and taste of a mug of coffee when a familiar face strolled in with a not so familiar bandage. Not distracting herself, her eyes remained focused as she took a swig of the most appreciated drink in the world and almost spat out her coffee in withheld laughter when she heard the girl's comment on the armour.

"I recon crashing into things would be less painful with solid armour. Not that I'd suggest crashing into obstacles, mind you. It's altogether better for the armour and your health if you could avoid that."

Having said those words, the yokai rose to her feet and walked over to the coin-bearing pouch that was offered. She'd pick it up, weigh it in her hand and take a peek at its actual content before accepting it as proper payment for her services. Having done that, she rested an arm on the girl's shoulders and lead her deeper into the forge and closer towards the armour set known as 'Last Thought'.

"All yours. Why don't you try it on and see how if fits? It'll allow me to help you adjust it a little better before you take it home."

As Emiki would make her decision on trying it out or not, Hua Li took her time to ponder about the question she had been given. How much would it cost to finish the rest? She'd scratch her head at that, knowing the market's prices seemed to have skyrocketed in the meantime. As if they had suffered a great loss of opportunity with the presence of the Demon Smith taking an interest in their goods.

"Thing is... Price for steel went through the roof recently. You're lucky I bought the materials for this part of the armour at a good price before that happened. But let's see if I can make you an estimate, at least...", she'd fall silent as she calculated the future workload. The sketches for the shoulder were done, but she had yet to take care of the upper and lower arm and its gloves. With each piece needing a set amount of steel - or nevarite for that matter - to get it done, she was still not looking at anything lower than a 2'000 ryo cost on materials. "Taking new material prices into account... Workdays being at least another twelve days... It'd be around 4'500, give or take a few hundred ryo. That'd give you a set of shoulders, upper arms, lower arms and gloves to add to your outfit. And I'm still making this as cheap as I can since you're the first Kirigakure customer, mind you."

Emiki gave a pleasant laugh at the comment of not crashing would be better for her health and armor, "Emiki is very, very fast. She can run faster than the wind ... but Emiki is not so good at the stopping part ... or the turning part ... or the not shattering her weapons and armor as she runs part. So usually it's other people who break her horizontal fall ... nay, her horizontal crashing."

At being guided Emiki blushed slightly and let herself by brought before the armor, at the offer to have it adjusted for her Emiki gave a nod, "Yes please, Emiki would like that. This way Emiki knows that everything is on properly."

Before asking about more, she'd Sky Run around the shop a few times, getting used to the feel of it, and occasionally bouncing off of walls with a gentle "oomph ... ow" each time she rebounded. Once comfortable it all fit, and that nothing had come loose from her test run, she listened to how much more it'd cost.

At the price for the rest of the armor though, Emiki gave an appreciative whistle, "If you can throw on a helmet and neck piece. I could easily swing an additional 10k Ryo? Still Emiki must thank you for the armor it's not encumbersome at all, and Emiki can tell that it will last quite awhile. Emiki is very glad that she is your first, it's a shame that more people don't use the crafts of such a pretty, and pretty powerful smith like you."

Of course once the words were out of her mouth she'd get distracted by a collection of swords and would rush over to them before being swatted away by the shopkeep. She'd give a sad whimper as she looked at the pointy shinies.

[2]

Once the armour was worn and adjustments had been done, all that remained was a puff of smoke where Emiki had once stood. Hua Li blinked. Her eyes hadn't noticed the sudden departure of the customer, taking a second of staring at the afterimage before her mind realised it was just an optical illusion. Her face giving nothing away of her surprise, she'd sip of her coffee instead and wait the just as sudden return of the same customer. Somehow, though Great Tengu knew why, she had already succeeded in getting the shine off this newly forged set.

"Faster than the wind, indeed...", she'd mumble to herself, mildly curious where the girl had even picked up that sort of speed without any sort of chakra use. Her thoughts would have no time to brainstorm about it as the girl came up with an answer of her own to Hua Li's price offer - had she disappeared before or after she had mentioned that...? The Demon Smith couldn't quite tell, actually - But the answer floated there, ball in the Daitengu's camp. Accepting meant another few weeks of crafting. Did she have the time for that? Chuunin Exams weren't going to last forever, and once that little festival was over it'd be high time for her to leave Kirigakure. She had business to do back home, too.

"My stay in Kirigakure is limited by the duration of the Chuunin Exams. I can accept the job but I can't promise being able to finish it here. Will that be a problem?"

At being asked if it not being able to be finished in Kiri was a problem, Emiki gave a pleasant laugh before waving the question away, "Distance is of no worries to Emiki, good armor is good armor, and Emiki is willing to wait for the quality goods to come her way. If it can't be done in Kiri, then I can simply give you my address and you can mail it when it's finished."

After all to the young Kunoichi was more than willing to let the artist make her art for her to wear as long as it meant that she would have protection from high speed collisions, although with what she had now, she might as well go the extra distance and find an Enchanter to give the armor and her an additional degree of protection to ensure it lasted longer than the armor she wore in the past.

With the agreements made, and the adjustments done she'd give, Hua Li her address before giving a genuine bow, "Emiki thanks you Dai-Tengu Hua Li, I shall treasure your art and doing business with you. Until next we meet."

And with that she was gone like a flash, a long excited squee taking up the space where she once was.

[3]

// Thread Exit.

OOC: Bought the Armor.

The deal was made, then. An address, no time limit. A satisfied customer willing to see this work come to a finish, no matter the distance. What more could a craftsman ask than the honours of pouring their heart and soul into the work of a lifetime; an entire set, unique in its kind. And considering the otherwise difficult relation between Kumogakure and Kirigakure, Emiki might just as well be the only Kiri-nin who'd be granted the privilege of wearing an armour made by the Demon Smith of Kumogakure.

---

[EXIT]

30 XP
13'000 ryo received.

Items given to Emiki:
- Last Thought - Body Suit [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Chest Piece [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Waist Piece [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Thigh Piece, left [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Thigh Piece, right [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Sabaton, right [A/S++]
- Last Thought - Sabaton, left [A/S++]