shri | FADE RIFT [INBOX]

You are with the Inquisition's forge - ?

[ Almost a chitter. ]

I will be down shortly.

At the base of the Templar tower.

( Dryly, )

It's the room with the forge.

( u can't miss it )

[ Look here you. ]

[ But she leaves it there. Moving on from the small tasks she was busy with. This could wait, but there was an eagerness to it. She does not know rightly, if it's entirely that she might have a weapon she knows from her home - even if it's not necessarily her preferred, or best - or that it gives her a reason to do something idiotic but, even so. It moves her steps quickly, totally unexamined to present herself.

Dressed in the basics of Inquisition gear, booted and long hair braided and pinned to the back of her head. ]

Miss Magni?

[ A call, determinedly separate. Asks no more than polite intrusion in spite of and because of the last time. ]

( This is her element. She stands in a tunic, woolen, with sleeves that reach just past her elbows, and over that lies a leather apron. She is not presently working on the project for Her Majesty, but returning some of her hammers and tools to their various places, meticulously maintained, and she is peeling away the leather gloves to set them on the desk before turning around. )

Magni.

( Her correction. She is no Miss, no lowlander to need titles and embellishments. )

[ She is as impressive now, as she was then. There's a soft taste to it, to know how those muscles holding the hammers so comfortably had felt under her hands. The taste of smoke she'd had in her hair, the rough callouses that had caught on her skin. Not less so, more so, knowing how all that strength could move and know it and call it - ]

Then Rani, or Lakshmi. I am not... whatever they are called here.

[ No, she preferred to be as practical as she could as she steps that little further into the workshop. How had she not realised where she worked? It was hardly as if Magni could be mistaken in a crowd for anyone else. ]

( How many names does she have?

The hammer is set away, and Magni starts to walk towards one of the work stations, stooping to evade more tools where they hang. )

If that is the exchange, your Majesty, then I am Talonhold.

( Is she being serious, or—?

Nevermind. She is drawing a cloth off the worktop, and taking a few steps back to reveal the whip-like blade, and looking back to Lakshmi. )

[ She follows after her, at a polite distance. Last thing she needed to do was force closeness on either of them. She was here for business. Nothing more. ]

Talonhold.

[ It is far different to when she had parroted it back the first time, no softness too it - but like the first time, it is said back perfectly. And regardless of what Magni might think, or more exactly think of the name falling from her lips -

- she is utterly taken almost immediately with it. What might almost be a smile, pulling at the corner of her mouth. Surprised, maybe, perhaps she really did not believe it until she saw it - but mostly utterly pleased look that dawn over her face. Rich with that eagerness. This at least, she was safe to be herself in. ] May I?

( Her arms are crossed as she leans against the wall, and all she does is gesture with a slight tilt of her head. Of course, it says, and go ahead.

Deceptively casual, as she intently watches the catch of that potential smile, the brightness in it. The reverence and excitement that comes with the sight of the weapon; a piece of home, perhaps, and if not that than at least a finely crafted blade.

Lakshmi seems happy. Lighter, a glimpse of the woman she met before, and Magni's own smile is so understated as to be secretive. )

Test the balance.

[ She does not need to be told more than once - her fingers curling around the hilt of the blade. Lifting it, the clatter of the metal on this was different. After all it was not being unsheathed to hiss, rather it clattered as it unravelled from the position, an odd twang as she moved it around in her hand -

A ridiculous looking thing, when it was still or just slow movements. ]

The tang is well set. The movement seems to be correct as well - although [ Colour her impressed, and openly so when she looks up at her briefly. Eyes sharply bright. Taking a step with a hand to indicate going back out into the open. ] If you will, this is not something to be tested indoors.

[ As if long blades ever were, but this especially. ]

( Neither am I, she would say, if she were being— difficult.

Thankfully, she is not. Magni simply nods, the barest suggestion of a smile enough to indicate that she appreciates the feedback, but has not slipped into being self-congratulatory. It still required testing, after all, and she begins to move to the door. None of this business of waiting or bowing, no. That would be too far. Instead she leads the way, a long-limbed stride towards the training yard. Even when Magni is not walking quickly, her stride is such that it is a brisk walk for others.

Briskness is better than being too caught on that brightness. )

Do you wish to spar?

In a moment. It has been some time...

[ It's wistful, mild, half talking to her, certainly. Enough not to be rude, but - a moment, just to test the blade the unusual way such a thing requires. Feeling it's bend under her palm as she folds the end up to sit in her palm gripping the hilt, stepping around Magni into the open space of the training yards.

She unfurls it with a shake of her wrist once she's clear of others. Letting it slither through the dirt, snake-like, quick. Bracing her feet to a fighter's stance, rocking her weight onto her heels, bobbing that little bit lower to balance herself properly. Easy, Manu, -

There was no slow way to wield this weapon for it to be effective. So simply she was not moving, and then she was. At odds, and yet completely herself. Controlled, every muscle moving to one purpose, direct, being sure not only of where her limbs were but where the blade would go as - it spins with the movement. Swinging it around in huge circles, it could cut, just by itself surely. But as she gains the momentum, it would easily tear flesh from bone. Faster, faster, faster again, until her feet begin to move with it, spinning on her heels, dropping low, then rising up again. Breathing fast, the summer heat causing the sweat to bead on her brow. The strikes she aims at the ground, hard, over, and over again. Putting through it the paces it would need to be.

Until with the last turn, she stops, posed from the movements, chest rising and falling in the effort of it. Falling out of it, rising back up to standing straight. A happy, eager look in her face. Pleased, even if it never became more than this. Striding back to her - ]

You have made a marvellous weapon.

( Magni watches intently. She prefers, almost always, to watch and to listen, to gain insight, to perceive whatever she can of the world around her. Now she is focused on Lakshmi alone. Oh, there's the blade certainly, and it is important in that she wants to make it the best she can, improve upon the prototype and get an understanding for how it is to be used, to see how enchantments might augment it further. All of that becomes... shifted out of focus. Still important, but it is the woman wielding it so fluidly that holds Magni's attention. Swift, snake-like in the hands of someone so capable with it.

That is not wholly why she watches intently. There is a sort of exaltation in Lakshmi as she moves, that satisfaction and eagerness that Magni—

it seems familiar. )

It is only a prototype. I will need more time to refine it.

( She shrugs a little bit. ) Enchantments would be worth looking to.

I know nothing of enchantments. Are they are type of... metal here?

[ Like she knew nothing of Lyrium, or anything else really when it came down to it, about this place. It's own rules and customs she had to make ends of it. But, doesn't seem to bother her overly much, as she turns back to walk back to her. Curling the weapon up once more so it did not drag on the ground. The faint dust kicked up from the movements over her boots now. ]

How would they improve the blade?

No.

( Bless. ) Enchantments can imbue a weapon, almost anything, with magical properties. They must have lyrium to be permanent, but...

( A tilt of her head, which to anyone familiar with lyrium might be sufficient to say "but that is a dangerous material and so that is expensive." It might not, of course, but Magni prefers to communicate with gestures where she can, because talking so much as most people is excessive.

She thinks for a moment. ) They makes things— more. The dwarves, they use this in practical ways. But magic can be more... artistic.

( Slowly, she raises her head to cup Lakshmi's as it holds the sword, and guides it, so the curl of it rests against her own ribs. )

A sword that heals you when you strike. Armour that harms those who strike you. Specialises them. Let's... you specialise as you wield them.

That... I saw them speak of it in Orzammar, when I went.

[ She steps forward as Magni's hand settles over hers to demonstrate, talks as a means to make this normal. Feeling the warmth of her body, her ribcage, the body it held together so strongly against her bare knuckles. ]

Such a thing could be possible? [ Her eyes lift, head with it for Magni's tremendous height. Off that visceral contact, promising blood and healing. ] Are they common here?

Not... common.

( Gentle emphasis, although she is distracted from elaborating. A slight smile, but it’s bright. )

You went to Orzammar? How did you find the Frostbacks?

The mountains? [ That was their name? She had not asked at the time. ] Are your people from there?

[ Curious, still, about this place. Even if she can't quite help it, her nose wrinkles a little. ] Quite... cold. I've never waded through so much snow in my life.

The summer snows are light.

( A quiet chuckle. RIP, Manu. )

The Avvar hail from the Frostbacks, our settlements are called holds, and are often named for our hold animal that represents us. I am of Talonhold.

[ The winters of Jhansi were harshly empty, England's as rainy as she ever was. But there was, thankfully, no snow like she had seen. Let her die before getting stuck in that mess again. ]

Avvar. [ She softly repeats the word, learning it like the first time. Putting it clearly to remember it. ] So that is what it means. [ A soft inhale, as gently, she pries her hand free. Too close. Closer than either of them should be. ] A bird then?

( that was barely snow, gurl

Anyway, Magni watched the hand withdraw, and nods solemnly. )

Ducks.

( so grave )

... Ducks.

[ And then because she just can't help herself - mouth opening, being respectful as she can but even so. ] Ducks, have talons?

[ suspicious fucking squint. ]

( Her look says “don’t they have talons in yor world?”

The shadow of a smile threatening to ruin everything as she suppressed it in favour of something more serious is, however, a traitor. )

Mmhmm.

[ She stares at her, as hard as can be. Utterly doubting and yet - this conversation as has followed already gives her so much beyond belief. Why not ducks with vicious talons?

Just. There ought to be a line somewhere. ]

They do not.

They do. As surely as foxes have trotters.

( :] )

[ She looks utterly aghast for a moment - and no, Lakshmi, you saw foxes on the road. ]

You are playing with me. They have no such thing.

[ It's playful though, even if it's growled. Oh, no, no, she is going to make you play for it, Magni. ]

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