Forgraves hummed, raising a curious brow at the 'little trees' as the blacksmith called them. they kinda looked like small bushes, yes, but when he thought back to the great tree in eridanus, or atleast what remained of it last he was there, it was suddenly incredibly impressive. what kind of work needed to go into a tree to keep it so small yet so beautiful? he'd have to ask another time.

"This whole place is quite the sight..."


his ears would flick, a soft 'oh!' escaping him as a leaf fell on his head. he'd shake softly, and the leaf would find itself centered in the midst of one of his swirls. he seemed happy with this.


he considered the Blacksmiths thoughts for a moment. "i admit, i haven't yet been able to view anything of these caves as something for me to shape. which might be silly giving i have quite literally carved myself a home into it, but... that was necessary, wasn't it?" he muses idly. "I had a friend once who wanted to make a home for those who wanted something like this. a place where they felt safe. i don't know what happened to him.. but it's something i think about often."

Sheng had big ideas, but they never seemed to come to full fruition. maybe that's why forgraves had been so focused on trying again.

"Maybe something smaller for me, more managable.. though i honestly don't know if i'd have the space, with all the people already in my house. it either wouldn't be fully mine or i'd have to find a space away from home. though, i guess thats what this is?" he said, almost a question at the end, and would twiddle with two crystal pendants currently hanging from his wrists absently.

he seemed to mumble to himself, something about needing more time and resources. he would twirl the comb in the sand, a long line of spring-like swirlings. "I think i needed some time away from the den, if i'm honest. i love my family but it is... loud. and cramped. i'm working to fix atleast one of those issues but that takes time."

he'd cough, a bit awkwardly, as he realized he'd been rambling for quite a bit.

"I thank you again, for letting me come here. I had hoped you'd been getting some form of rest, every time i had seen you, you'd been working.. in one way or another."


"Speech." Thoughts.

He perked up, a moved smile crossing his features once more.

"oh, thank you! y-yes, of course, just where everything was." he said, clasping his paws together in an excited motion.


he paused. "oh, i don't believe i've told you of my family before!" he chirped.

the breath he took before talking again could be telling as anything things had developed since the last time they had spoken.


"Well, at first it was just me, once pegasus opened up i had moved my things from eridanus over there into a cave i had dug out from a small hill, so the den was only big enough to fit me and my things, which admittedly weren't many at the time." he said, already down another ramble. "but then! that thulite i brought to you once, the one i had found affixed to a belt among some older pieces of armor, after you had told me to 'do what felt best' i had chosen to revive it, her name is Tori, so i had to make more room in my den for a new addition, but then she ended up much larger than i had anticipated, so i had to dig out the den AGAIN,"

he paused to take a breath.

"and she just kept growing, she's so tall now!, and eventually wanted a space of her own, so together we had dug out the den further into the hill, so inside the den was almost her own nest, which obviously took alot of work, not to mention trying to keep the ceiling from collapsing in on itself,"


another pause for breath.


"and THEN, not even counting the friends she kept bringing over, i had found a younger gembound, one who had just hatched, who fell out of a tree! a small vampire bat, so i took him back to my den to help him rest up. i figured i was more than equipped to do so, right? so anyway, acquired a new son among everything else, his name is nico by the way, so i had to dig him out a little space aswell when he decided he needed one! he's much smaller so it was easier to do that without the roof complaining, but thats not all!"


and another.


"my BROTHER, banshy, had decided to move out of our father's den some time ago, long after i already had, and now they're staying with us too, which meant ANOTHER nest, which mind you i am digging straight out of the walls, like a mini cave, but tori and banshy are both incredibly tall so it was another big one, and once again that blasted ROOF! and then more people just kept coming! we're up to..." he paused to count, realizing he can do that on his fingers, "not including me, i believe thats 6! 6 whole people of various sizes, and any more renovations im worried might send the entire thing into total collapse."


he clears his throat, wishing he had some tea right now, before finally finishing up. "so we HAVE been making it larger, which i'm afraid we can't do anymore. it's why i've been so stressed recently, i've been attempting to plan out some sort of solution. don't get me wrong, as i said, i love them, and they have brought my life such joy! but it's a bit much."

as he finally comes down from his little rant slash ramble, he looks up at the blacksmith. he seems briefly aware he just kinda word vomited but he shows no obvious shame for it. he did ask.


"if you have any ideas, i'm all ears."


"Speech." Thoughts.

Forgraves had, momentarily, gone back to making swirling patterns around the rock as the Blacksmith spoke. however, he looked back up, eyes wide in intrigue at the mention of magical aid.

"all the gardens... without fear." said the blacksmith, and something about it made his heart swell in warmth. he would like that.

"That sounds lovely! i wasn't aware there was even magic like that, really. though, i have not met many gembound attuned to the earth outside of plants and whatnot, so that's to be expected." he said with a chuckle, thinking it over with a thoughtful smile.

"it may take a bit to get things ready, find a temporary spot nearby to store things until constructions done, just incase something happens, but..." he said, humming, that would be much appreciated, my friend. and i'm sure the others would be just as well! i think bebby would buzz at the idea of decorating more dens with her flowers when all is done. It means quite a bit for you to offer!"

"i could probably send tori your way when things were ready to start, i think she's been aching to explore leo anyhow. does that sound alright with you?" he asked, legs crossed in a bit of a funny position and flicking an ear the other's direction.



"Speech." Thoughts.

Forgraves, for all his knowledge, admittedly did not know a whole lot about smithing. he could gather enough, from the few times he watched the blacksmith, and whatever would be in the library, but it took him a moment to process the metaphor. once he did, however, he seemed satisfied with it, no matter its innacuracies, and hummed in thought.

Maybe, he thinks, he can do something like this. with nature. his father had learned 2 kinds of magic, hadn't he? he saw it demonstrated himself during his trial. maybe he could do that aswell, do something nearly as beautiful. maybe this new magic would help him do that, once all is done.

"Well put, my friend. Thank you." he said with a smile, the sincerity thick in his tone.

he hummed again, and then paused. he could not express his endless gratitude for the man in front of him's help and wisdom. even if some of it may even be indirect, a word of advice or encouragement, he doubts if he had not met the man, none of this, his new life, would have even crossed his mind. he would probably be in canis, still waiting for something new to happen, still waiting for his father, or maybe in eridanus, mourning the loss of a project long abandoned and a friend long missing. the mere notion that he'd help more is already so much.

he almost doesn't know how to thank him, if it weren't for the fact he had been planning this for months.


he coughs, suddenly visibly nervous, before looking up to him with a hopeful expression, and eyes that wont quite meet his face.

"my friend, i have been thinking as of late. i have said before i appreciate all you have done, or atleast, i hope i have, though i fear it may not have been adequate." he starts, fidgeting with the wooden rake in his hands. "But if you would not mind the gesture, i would-" he paused, rolling the words over in his head. "like how you've invited me here, into your snctuary, i would like to invite you to my home, if you don't mind the journey, for food and company! i uh-"

he paused again. he's never invited someone to his home before, and even worse, he's never been nervous about it!

"I admit i am not all familiar with the way most would deliver such an invite, but i thought maybe i could do something nice, although you of course don't- you don't HAVE to come, i figured it was a better time than any to ask, right?"

he finally looks to the blacksmith, anxiously waiting for reply. if he thinks he's been rambling, he once again doesn't say anything.

"Speech." Thoughts.

he visibly relaxed, sighing in relief, and his tail began to wag once more. a brother?

"oh of course! i didn't know you had a brother, it'd be such a pleasure to meet him! maybe my own brother could sit with us, he sadly is also a bit lacking when it comes to.. heh, social situations. they keep to themselves. maybe they'd get along!" he says joyfully, already so excited.

he finds it a tad strange, if his brother has a name, does that mean blacksmith isn't HIS name? or was he just so incredibly determined on what his occupation would be that he chose the name himself? if he had a different name, would it be rude to ask?

all thoughts for another time.

"ah, i have means of making tea at my home, another thing i'm quite excited to show you, but you are free to bring plants you personally enjoy in yours! i can't guarantee what you like would grow the same in pegasus as it does in leo." he said, thinking it over. he laughed a bit as he continued, "but as far as bringing anything else, feel free to bring whatever! i'm sure bebby would be most delighted if some of the fruit from these caves was a bit closer, if you need any immediate ideas

"as far as the time goes.." he hums, thinking, before snapping his fingers, "how busy do you think you would be in 3 days? gives me enough time to prepare the house, and you enough time to think of what you want to bring! and to invite your brother."

he is rambling a bit now, speaking fast as he seemed to remember something, exclaiming with a slightly startling "OH!" before speaking, "do you have any preferences for food? meat, plants, etcetera? any textures you arent a fan of? i have a few small ideas of what to make, but its hardly fun if you can't even eat it" he asked.


"Speech." Thoughts.