The smell had gotten annoying, too overwhelming for her nose, so she'd excused herself, saying she was gonna wait for the Blacksmith and his brother, bring em to the house, and probably go play with lumi.
After catching a brief rundown of what the blacksmith looked like, she flew off to the far side of the cave, by the tunnel connecting pegasus to cepheus, and waited, playing lazily with a moss ball.
She was atleast a bit excited to meet them. Forgraves had hyped up the Blacksmith for ages, and she'd been told before of how Forgraves had even found her stone, and his brother was a mystery to everyone. she wonders if Forgraves still knows where that belt is, maybe it'd fit her.
She waited patiently, her ears flicking at the sound of distant footsteps.
The tall, cloaked figure with broad, spiralling horns was a vision in black: black-gray fur, black hood, black hooves. Only the faint gleam of crimson pinprick eyes beneath that hood gave away any real color--and that red was full of baleful distaste.
The figure beside him, quite similar but for a pale, masklike face and more upright horns (and no ominous, glowing red) spoke far more mildly. "It will do... you good, Algol." He shifted a package in his arms--a simple box, carefully cradled.
A harsh sigh from the slightly broader figure; a roll of those red eyes. "'Good.' You have far too much faith in these creatures, you know. They are perfectly happy to kill one another, to stab one another in the back. Why, if you knew how many had delivered the gemstones, even the skins, of other-"
"Hush, now..." the more slender figure rasped, with gentle consternation. "It is cruel of you... to treat them so. Many of them... are kind. You will see."
"I have seen," Algol insisted. "I have seen, brother of mine, and you have no idea the depths to which they're willing to sink. It's delightfully grim, really. Cold-blooded murder for a pointless little trinket. Slaughter of a trusting, helpless Lesser for their own ends. Even the ones who think they've trapped the souls of others to torture them, merely for the sake of art-!"
The Blacksmith shook his head, and sighed. "This... is why... you need to get out more. Algol." His words, already weary, were pointed.
By this point they would be in sight of Astoria, their voices a distant murmur as they picked their way toward Pegasus.
her ears tilted toward the sound of voices and her eyes followed, focusing on the tall figures. one was unfamiliar, sounded agitated, looked like they were ranting about something, but the other suited the description her dad gave much better, and she could barely hear that one. Must be the Blacksmith and his brother!
She hopped off her perch, whistling and waving a giant wing to grab their attention. "YO!! You two!!! over here!!!" she called, a birdlike trill to it, bouncing toward them the moment she would grab their attention.
she'd stop short, fluffing her feathers, and plopping her butt onto the floor as she skidded a bit to a stop. she points to the blacksmith with a paw, looking down at both of them. "you're the ones dad invited over, right?? for dinner? Youre The Blacksmith and Algol?" she chirps, "I'm Tori! he wanted to me to lead you guys to the house or somethin. you guys ready?"
she turns her body inward to the rest of the cave, looking back with a flick of her large feathered tail, patient.
she seemed largely unaware of either of their previous existence or importance before forgraves knew them, her lack of her father's 'fancy wording' and decorum as she put it a bit jarring and very telling. blacksmith was a vague title that didn't reveal much past occupation, and algol aside from the cloak didnt look all that unplausible for being another gembound. if anything she seems slightly antsy, like she really wants to get going. she too decides not to comment on their weird difference in names.
The two paused, and then turned, making for Astoria.
"That is... us," the Blacksmith said.
"But first," interrupted the Collector, before he could continue; "might I ask if you are interested-" He, in turn, was cut off (with a wheezing breath) by a sudden elbow from the Blacksmith jutted lightly into his ribs.
"Not now, Algol. We are here... for tea." There was gentle rebuke in it, and the Blacksmith stepped forward, ignoring the soft grumbles behind him as the Collector rubbed where he'd been hit. "Please... lead on. We are grateful... for your invitation."
Whatever Algol muttered under his breath, the Blacksmith did not deign to acknowledge.
Either way, they would both follow wherever Astoria led them.
She tilted her head in curiosity, but made something of an amused snorting sound at Algol's sudden interruption. reminded her of nico, in a silly way.
she'd (attempt) a smile. a wobbly attempt, but it was genuine. "onward, then!" she squawked, before marching forward.
as she moved, assuming they were following without turning back, she would speak. "oh and don't worry, you won't just be getting tea." she said, something akin to exasperation in her tone, "it's all he's been working on all day! wouldn't be surprised if you could smell it a mile away. that den is way too small for what it is for all those new smells."
her rant seemed to largely be over, but it did carry a tone of fondness, almost playful.
she did turn around, walking backwards to face the two, eyes (maybe? it was hard to tell when she didnt have pupils) meeting the blacksmiths. "hey! blacksmith dude!" she called. she would poke the 3 pointed thulite on her chest, a shape not unlike her fathers, the center gem a bright hue of pink. "look familiar?" another attempted smile, a bit easier this time.
she wouldn't spend too much time on that, flipping herself back around. in the distance, they could see a blurb of color amongst the hills, bushes of flowers surrounding a large, makeshift wooden door. must be the place, and sure enough, a smell, though very faint, would grace their noses. wasn't all that bad!
"almost there. don't worry, i won't be crowding y'alls space. Too much new company, no offense. it'll just be you, Forgraves and Banshy.
As they walked, the Blacksmith offered an additional greeting. "It is good to... meet you... Tori." And when she showed her stone, he studied it briefly before recognizing it. "Ahh... he mentioned... this. Very good-... I am glad that it... found new life."
There was another roll of crimson eyes, but Algol, at least remained silent--bar commenting a murmured "Sounds like attempted murder, to me," at Tori's remark that they wouldn't be getting 'just tea.'
As for the small den-? The Blacksmith smiled a little. "Ahh... I do not know if... Forgraves has spoken of it... but. I have offered... to do something about... the size of that. We will... find a way, in time." What that something was, he didn't mention; after all, it was possible Forgraves had already spoken of it, and he'd be telling her something that she already knew.
She hummed. "another thing he won't shut up about. thanks, by the way. both of you, actually. it means alot to him you guys are coming. it's nice seeing him happy." she'd chirp, a bit softer, and that'd be the last she'd speak for a long stretch of time, not saying anything about algol's comment, and if she did she gives no indication.
it would be another long stretch of just walking before the house was much closer in view, and it was pretty cozy looking, the door cracked open, and a bit of chatter and rustling could be heard from far away, mostly from 1 voice that the blacksmith would probably be able to clock as Forgraves.
Tori would stop at a point, looking back to the two, nodding (seemingly checking they were still there), and then SHOUTING. "DAD YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE COME GET THEM!!!!"
she'd turn back to them with a smile and a small wag of her tail.
a joyful screech could be heard from a ways away, and then a muffled question.
Instead of forgraves, a larger, bird-demon like creature would shuffle out of the door. shorter than the brothers, and definitely shorter than tori.
"There isn't a need to shout, astoria.." they would chirp in return, waving the brothers in.
"welcome. I trust the journey treated you both well." they said in a low rasp, almost monotone, their expression the only obvious indication of any emotion. they seemed pleased, though. "Come in."
they would push the door open some more, scraping against the dirt, and step aside to let them in, the smells form inside pouring out.
they turned to tori, and instead of speaking, they'd grunt, nodding their head off back into the rest of the caves, and with a joyful shout, and a wish of good luck, tori would leave.
They would wait until they walked inside to follow behind.
From another room, Forgraves would shout. "almost done!! sorry, make yourselves at home!! banshy, can you check the water?" he called out, and banshy would make their way to the pot.
The house is also quite cozy. cramped, indeed, and the wall of nothing but dug out nests was indication enough of that, but the amounts of flowers, homemade tables and countertops out of mud and covered in leavs, and the firepit and pot against the wall, said it was definitely lived in well. trays of various foods were on the shelves by the firepit, and looked steaming hot. kebabs, a mix of vegetables and meat, aswell as small bowls of what looked like soup. his prized tea set was set on the table, its pinks, silvers and golds glittering in the new natural light as the door opened.
it was a bit sweltering, but it was nice enough.
on a shelf on the wall, however, was Forgraves prized green flask. that might be familiar...
The Blacksmith murmured thanks to Astoria, and greetings to Banshy; he introduced himself politely.
Algol, on the other hand, pushed lightly past him and swept into the little home. That wasn't to say he was particularly rude; he did incline his head in greeting of his own, and his movements became graceful and precise as he stepped inside. But his attention was at once taken by the flask. He swept over to it, raising a hand to run a finger down its glass. One Banshy was aiding Forgraves with the food, Algol spoke aloud.
"He poisoned Aquarian, for this, did you know that?" he murmured, so soft that even the Blacksmith very nearly did not hear.
"...What did you... say?" Was Algol too quiet--or was that disbelief?
There was a flash of fangs beneath Algol's hood. "He asked no questions. Did not even care, your precious little darling 'Gembound,' who it was that he was damning. Oh, don't give me that look-... He didn't die." The Collector waved one hand dismissively--then paused, leaning in to study the flask. "Wait a moment, that's not right. How did he-..." And then he was upright again, huffing in irritation. "Someone tampered with its magic! Someone-"
"Hello, Forgraves," the Blacksmith called out softly, interrupting Algol's near-whispered tirade. "I have... brought you a gift. Where shall... I put it?" The look he flashed Algol was reproachful, though it never lost its gentleness.