Ember glanced left as he walked, talking in the forge he'd already seen--it didn't look much different. Steaming with billowing smoke, the glow of lava igniting the tools and equipment in an almost comforting reddish glow. As Spark spoke, he added his voice to the greeting. "Yes. Ember, here--hello, Blacksmith. This is Glory. He's a friend, and a smith. He wanted to meet you."

He paced over into the smaller space and paused, looking it over.

It looked lived-in and worked in--the home of a blacksmith, rather than just his forge. And it was also fairly small. Ember was large--and so he tried his best to squeeze into the back of the room, to leave others room to come in, to maneuver and to find their own places to sit, or stand.

"Also--what is tea, as Spark asked? I have the same question," he asked, glancing over with some amusement, and apology, in his tone.

image credits: [x] [x] [x]

Entering the Blacksmith's home was, to Glory, a marvel. The forge he had was beautiful - the flowing lava directly from the volcano, he presumed, and not magically put there like the smelter he had back in Monoceros. The tools and the weapons and armor, oh yes, this was a true smith right here! As he entered, he couldn't help but crane his head to stare at the display of craftsmanship, eyes raking over the many completed pieces lining the wall. They were quite fine - better made then his own work!

Excited eyes turned to view the Blacksmith (and he noticed right away, with a tinge of envy, that he had hands) and he approached without hesitation. "Wonderful to meet you! As Ember said, I am Glory! I've been living as a blacksmith myself for some time in Monoceros - I had no idea Leo, or you, even existed!"

He was about to continue, to gush about his work on the wall or insist he teach him how to enchant, when he eyed the pot and cup on the table. "...Tea? What is that? Are those things tea?"

He beamed beneath the hood, gesturing with gentle enthusiasm for the trio to join him at the table. It'd be a squish, but it was... possible. If only barely.

"It is good... to meet you... too. And it is... my honor, to... introduce you to... tea."

Cups were set out--varyingly sized, after an appraising glance at each, to match the Gembounds' bulks as best he could. Ember's was enormous; Glory's far smaller, and Spark's, somewhere in the middle. The Blacksmith's was the tiniest of all: a little teacup, well-worn from loving use. "It is... a mix of leaves... chosen for flavor... steeped in very hot water."

"Let it... cool," he suggested, bringing the gooseneck kettle over and pouring steaming water carefully over the leaves. "There is... cream, here," and he gestured to a small container, without explaining what cream was or where it could possibly have come from; "and sugar... here. Taste it and add... what you like... to your tea." This was an herbal blend: black tea and rose hips, giving it a beautifully dark brown-red hue. As he finished pouring, he spoke further. "So you are... also a blacksmith..? May I ask... what it is... that you create?" There was genuine, kind interest in his voice. He did not speak down to Glory; he sounded honestly curious as to what a fellow craftsman might be creating.

@Spark