ORIGIN

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"huh." he thinks to himself, "that voice sounds familiar." , only barely hearing the slightest hints of Algol's voice.

oh, no matter. oh, this was going to be great!

"Welcome! sorry for the lack of surfaces, anywhere on the floor is fine! everyone else is out, it won't get stepped on!"

it would be another few moments, a couple huffs and a bit of clinking and more rustling, but after a bit he'd let out a victorious "huzzah!" from the other room, before his shadow, and soon figure, would emerge from behind the wall.

"Blacksmith, Algol, it's so good to-!" he started, his eyes flicking over to the collector and his voice skidding to a halt. his ears would lower almost immediately, if only by a fraction, something like confusion and almost dismay in his expression for a few moments. "Collector?" he said, dumbfounded, before regaining his composure. "ah- i did not know you two were related! though i can.. see the resemblance- it's so good to see you both!!"

his voice, previously confident and joyful, was still quite happy! but it had a layer of nervousness, a kind he hadn't felt in a long time.

not since the last time he had visited the collector, atleast. it's been a long time...

he coughed, eyes averted for a moment, before he spoke, a bit awkwardly. "Come, sit! i'm sure you've walked a long way, you must be starving! banshy, come sit with us!"

he walked over to the counters with the trays on them, balancing the 2 (albeit wobbly) over to the table, setting the servings down in the spots seemingly reserved for them all, with cups already in place. "i didn't know what kind of tea you both liked yet, hence me boiling the water last. should be ready for whatever you desire!"

he was very much avoiding the subject of knowing the Collector, his words fastpaced and a bit desperate.

"Speech." Thoughts.

Banshy would turn their head at forgraves shift in tone, feathers ruffling. they would turn back to the water for only a moment, before huffing as he moved to sit at the table with them.

They put a hand on Forgraves shoulder as he passed to grab the trays, a silent question, which recieved a tentative nod and smile.

They watched the brothers silently for a moment, before humming.

"I am Forgraves.... brother. He's spoken much about you both. i was under the impression he did not... know you." they said, tone still mostly monotone, an inquisitive expression on their face. careful.

Banshy;

love, dante

The Blacksmith hesitated, still cradling the box to his chest. Instead of setting it down, he simply stood there, as if reluctant to merely set it aside. "It is... a fragile gift," he answered, with a tone of soft suggestion.

When Forgraves' greeting ground to a halt--recognition in his eyes--the Blacksmith turned and gave the Collector some sort of... look. Whatever it was, it turned Algol's near-predatory stare into a roll of eyes, a sigh, and a "Oh, very well." The exchange went unexplained, but he looked to Forgraves, then. "Forgraves... how lovely to see you. And how kind of you to invite us for tea," and when a faint sinister tone threaded through the words, the Blacksmith gave him Another Look.

He eyed his brother, and exhaled. "...I apologize," he murmured to him; "force of habit." Then, more loudly again, to his hosts: "I do adore tea. I'm certain that... whatever you have made will delight us both. My brother is so very easy to please," and there was a faint dour note in it.

The Blacksmith sighed gently. He set down his box, at last, and drew out two plants, one at a time. The first was a beautiful little bonsai: with tiny, five-pointed reddish leaves, and a delicate trunk. It looked like an ancient tree, gnarled and rough, yet was less than a foot tall, and was planted in a glazed, rectangular ceramic pot in hues of gilded blue and green. The dirt around its twisting roots was thick with moss. "This... is a bonsai. -Have you heard... this word? It is a tree--fully-grown... but tended, all the years of its life... to remain delicate... and small. A microcosm-... a reminder... of life, in grand form; but small enough... for a table. It will still need... light, and water... sometimes. And this," he went on, setting the bonsai back in the box, and retrieving a far smaller pot. This one held a small, green plant, but clearly young, this one: a seedling of some kind. "I have brought you... six small pots... with seedlings. This is... a true tea plant. You will not... find its like... elsewhere in the cave, but... with proper tending? It will be... a fine drink. It is where... Algol gets... his tea," he added, with a smile in his words and a hint of playfulness in his tone.

The Collector was looking around, and after a moment, swept his robe out from beneath him and--taking Forgraves' words as an invitation--sat on one of the mud 'chairs.' He looked to Banshy. "Ahhh, but it is quite possible he knew me by my title. I do not give my name out to just anyone. My brother," he added, with his own faint tone of reproach--eyes flashing to him--"does not always share my reservations, it would seem. No matter. Thank you for the invitation. The food smells quite appetizing."

@Forgraves

he would Shiver a bit, almost unnoticable if not for a slight shake of his tail, at the light sinister tone, but calmed. he would sigh, a bit relieved, if anything, but wary. "it's lovely to see you again too, Algol. apologies for any aprehension. I appreciate you coming."

he hummed at the Collectors words, reaching for some of the flowers, grabbing a jar of rose petals. "well then!" he would say, in reply to Algol. "if you aren't picky about tea flavors, maybe a personal favorite could suffice for now?"

he would drop a handful of the petals into the pot and begin stirring, humming before leaving them to steep.

After he took care of that, he would tilt an ear in the Blacksmiths direction as he heard him move. he would turn to the man, and as he noticed it, regard the Bonsai with something a bit more than awe, taking it into his paws gently. "The little trees.." he said, with a slight gasp, and a touched, ear to ear smile. "Bonsai, hm?.. oh, blacksmith, it's lovely! i- oh?" he would say, stopping short again when the Blacksmith continued to pull out pots.

he listened to the explanation of their contents, and if it were possible, he somehow looks even more touched, maybe even a bit teary eyed, the sap. holy mother of pegasus, TEA PLANTS!!

his wobbly smile broke into a grin, and he let out a giddy little giggle, foxlike in its cheeriness. "oh i love them!! i'll take good care of them all, honest!! oh, where to put these-" he said, tail curled and wagging side to side as he looked around, finding and empty shelf to set the saplings, before humming as he picked up the older bonsai, and setting it neatly on the counter beside his bowls of picked flowers.

After he was satisfied with the placing, he would walk to the table, listening to the conversation as he grabbed his teapot from the set.

"Speech." Thoughts.

Banshy would give the slightest hint of a smile as he listened in on the Blacksmith and Forgraves' exchange, but would largely stick to him and the collectors conversation.

They would grab one of their own kebabs with a clawed hand, humming. "he'd been practicing for a while. I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that." they would say, before clasping one end between their beak and sliding a few pieces off.

they would test it, for a second, before nodding their head in satisfaction, as if they were also a little unsure of whether or not it would taste good.

"Hm... I assume the blacksmith would.. also, be a title then?" they inquired. "If he smiths, you would... collect, if the theme is consistent."

he thinks.

"he has only mentioned a Collector once. he did not want to elaborate much."

it's really hard to tell what tone he's going for, as it does shift. suspicious? worried? amused? indifferent? any could be possible. their expression is little more than a raised brow.

Banshy;

love, dante

The Blacksmith's attention lingered on Forgraves, and his petal tea. "The tea... What plant... do you use?" he inquired.

The Collector, meanwhile, took a stick of food, examining it with interest--in particular the meat. He glanced at Banshy. "Hmm? Ahh. Yes, I collect a great many things," and he kept his tone neutral, with a glance at his brother. "You Gembounds are always welcome, of course, to seek me out in Canis. I only ask a little... task, in return for my wares. And yes--Persei has kept the Blacksmith as his title. I can't imagine why... perhaps he prefers to provide his service than be known for who he is. I suppose I can understand that," he added, as the Blacksmith glanced his way.

@Forgraves

"hm?" he hummed in response to the question, before grabbing the bowl of rose petals, holding them up for him to see. "I believe these are rose petals! one of my favorites, certainly. a bit hard to find, bebby helps me grow them for the most part" he explained, tapping the bowl.

as he puts them back down, seemingly moving after a moment to take the petals out with a spoon, he paused.

"Persei? is that your name?" he asked, smiling again as he dipped the teapot into the tea. "it sounds lovely!"

banshy mutters a "you say that about everyones name." , earning a swift flick to the side of their head as he passed again to pour tea into the cups.

"Though.. i understand, of course, if you'd prefer i use your titles? i shouldve asked you the moment i recognized you, truly." he asked, directed towards them both, but the latter half moreso and apology to Algol. "I wouldn't want to offend."

He sits down with them, finally, with a sigh. cupping his hands around his own tea.
"Speech." Thoughts.

Banshy rose another brow. Canis, hm? they must have met when Forgraves had moved out of their childhood den, they hadn't remembered seeing him in canis after he left, and certainly nothing about any sort of trade or deal. he hummed in consideration.

"i appeciate the offer." they say, an only slightly suspicious glimmer in their eyes. "I will consider it. I believe for now we have all we need."

They eat their food in silence as the Collector continues to speak.

Their comment, "You say that about everyones name.." , does earn them a flick in retalation, huffing with minor amusement as they rubbed the spot. "Was just making an observation."

they thank Forgraves idly for the tea, more of an affirming hum than anything else.

"I could assume You and Forgraves met for a similar reason, then?" he asked, only getting a slight nervous glance from forgraves. "A trade?"

Banshy;

love, dante

The Blacksmith eyed the Collector, for a moment, and then looked to Forgraves. "Whatever you might prefer," he murmured. "This tea is... rose petals?" It would be weak, then--sweet, healthy, but weak, compared to what he had brought with him. "When the time comes... for you to use the tea... that I have brought. The seedlings first... must be grown, into bushes... and the leaves, plucked and dried... in the light. But this tea... will be far stronger, I think... than what you are used to." But he smiled, nonetheless, and leaned forward to lift his beautiful cup of tea. The pink liquid, he thought, went wonderfully with the gilded cups; and he blew on the steam before sipping it.

The Collector, meanwhile, turned to Banshy. His eyes glittered with dimmed malice; ahh, how prime an opportunity to sow discord, but alas. He'd made promises today. "Indeed," he purred. He nibbled at the meat on a kebab--quite the feat, given that he never moved his hood--and then, lifting his own teacup, elaborated. "But the details of my contracts are quite confidential, as I'm certain you understand." They weren't; he had absolutely no compunctions about telling one Gembound about all the evils their best friend, parent, or other loved one had inflicted. That was hilarious. But now... it would be inappropriate. Even Algol knew decorum.

For a moment, the two ate and sipped in silence. The Blacksmith broke it. "Tell me... Forgraves, how did you... learn to steep this? What prompted... learning of... tea?" This was asked with genuine curiosity. The 'evolution,' so to speak, of the Gembounds always fascinated him; did they learn such things on their own? Did they desire a hot drink, and look for a way to do it? Was it introduced to them, quietly, by one of the older creatures of the caves--or had they simply experimented, and found what it was to drink hot water steeped in herbs?

@Forgraves

He smiled. He'll admit, he's not always the hugest fan of strong teas, but even if he isn't, theres plenty of people in this house that are. "That would be nice! a good change of pace from what we're used to, right Banshy?" he chirped with delight, recieving a mid-sip hum of agreement. "Whatever it is, i'm sure it'll taste great."

he hummed, and moved take a small sip of his soup, and then smiled. it was perfect! atleast to him, so much flavor! he took one more excited sip before setting his bowl back down, wiping his mouth to reply.

ah- It was kind of a slope of discovery, if that makes sense!" he said, "I was going to join this group a while ago, they wanted to make a sanctuary for gembound like my family, a safe haven of sorts, but it didn't quite work out. i was going to be the healer, but i have never been a magic type."

he took another sip of tea. he was thirsty, ok?

So, i had been trying to work out how to do that, which, i can't say without thanking Algol. That flask on the shelf really helped! though i wouldn't know what any of it did without trying my mixtures out, and i felt too bad using it on lessers and stars forbid other gembound, SO i just. tested it on myself, dumb as that is."

"You'd be surprised how much of it genuinely tasted amazing! alot of it was bitter and some downright unedible BUT it did give me ideas. i didn't truly get the hang of the process till i visited the library for the first time however, it was a long while of vaguely plant flavored water. hope its good now, atleast, hm?"

he almost felt like he was tempting something, mentioning his flask, but it'd be rude not to give algol his due respects, wouldn't it? and he seemed to visibly relax as he didn't share the circumstances of the deal. it was probably going to be fine, no need to overthink it.

"Though ah, i can promise i did figure out what plants and such were definitely not safe for consumption before i did this. I'm not a bright fox but i'd like to believe i have the least bit of sense!"

"Speech." Thoughts.

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Forgraves

Banshy

Game Master Dark

Forgraves

Banshy

Game Master Dark

Forgraves

Banshy

Game Master Dark

Forgraves