Attikias hesitated, letting down his guard as Null had offered up the gem. ”What-” he vocalized, reaching down to take it. She had dropped it in his hands, and he drew it back, staring to it.

”A- gem? Where- Nevermind. It’s a nice gem, but I don’t need a payment.” Null had shaken her head, and Attikias grumbled, staring down to the clear chunk of rock. Was it some form of quartz? He turned it around in his hands, flexing his magic into it. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen a dead gem with magic still clinging to it, after all- and if it was like that, then it had some odd connotations to that.

It was. And there came the odd thoughts as he stared down to Null, trying to figure out just where she got a living, intact stone. It wasn't her's- he could see that clearly on her throat. "Where did you get this..?" He didn't expect an answer as he leaned back, staring.

He sighed inwardly. "Fine, I'll take it. It won't take long to make the thing, if you wanna hang around here. Actually, it might be good for you to hang around here. I'll need to measure the straps against you and stuff." He turned to the side, thinking, staring to a random pile.

"I think I have another buckle. Hold tight." He went to the side, digging into a pile of urns that was close to the bench, squatting down after placing the diamond at the edge of it.

Null had let the gem go when Attikias held his hand out for it. It was like a weight had lifted- even if this was some trophy, it was his now, and she didn’t have to carry it forever and ever.

Her jaw worked as the thought settled in, dull pain aching in one side. Did Hargrave ever think about that gem? It’s not like they had a place for it, anyways, and she watched as the elf went about his business. She scooted back when he stepped around her for the urns, golden eyes laying into his back as he worked.

Even if he wasn’t going to make a leg, something to cover that shoulder might as well be good.

Attikias looked back at Null as he retrieved a rusted piece of iron, built in the shape of a buckle. This would work- she probably wouldn’t be able to get it off again very easily, but she wouldn’t’ve been able to get anything like this on by herself, either.

He considered her for a moment. Eyes clung to the shoulder she guarded, then down to the buckle, then he straightened to look at his bench. Right. One hand came to pull the straps closer, and the other brought the leather piece to it, and he curled it around in his fingers, thinking.

"Alright, hold still." He squatted down to Null's level, holding out a strap to measure across her. She had flinched back- "it's fine-" before he placed it on her dark fur, nudging in with a thumbnail at various lengths of where he'd have to cut. Two pieces seemed like the best bet, both crossing at her chest and her spine, secured by the other arm. He may not even need a buckle for this.

He rumbled, deep in this throat, as he straightened back up. Another piece was brought closer and he compared the lengths, notching the one just once and putting aside for a sharper leatherworking knife. This poor table already had so many cuts in it, and it got more as he sliced down on both pieces, chopping them away from the extra length that he didn't need. That should work.

Next, the pad, and this he made a simple rounded rectangle, designed just to lay against the skin. That length may work- it looked a bit too big, but he'd trim it down once it was on her. A few straps tied together with help from his bone needle and it seemed to be ready after a good time of ministrations, some adjusting and some preparation.

"How's this?" Attikias presented the creation down to Null for her inspection, holding it out. "You should be able to step into it on your own. Try it?"

Null had, honestly, gotten herself rather comfortable waiting. She had laid down and curled up with her many tails against herself, her bright eyes watching Attikias work. It was admirable, really- he was fast, though there was still a considerable time until he'd actually finished.

It did creep her out every time he looked back at her to judge sizes, though.

Her jaw worked again and her tusks flexed, considering. The item was offered down, and she reached forward warily, looking over it. Would that stay on? She squinted, pushing up and stepping forward, the elf holding it open for her to go into.

Might as well try. First went in her head, shoving into the hole he'd opened before her one arm hopped into the piece with a struggle, eventually slipping through. The rest of the leather almost snapped in place without much wiggle room, but it wasn't tight enough to strangle her. Hm. Her shoulder lifted as she twisted her head around to inspect, tugging gently with her teeth.

Yeah, it would stay. She huffed out, satisfied, before looking back to Attikias. She'd thank him, really, but she wasn't one for goodbyes- or, any other words, for that matter.

And so, without warning, she started to half-hobble half-sprint away, leaping like an awkward rabbit.

;abrupt exit feat. null

Attikias let go once Null was fully situated in her apparel, planting his hands on his hips and studying his handiwork. "That looks good. It should be comfortable?" She wasn't complaining, at least, as she explored it. "There." He nodded.

Before she just started booking it. "Hey-" He startled reaching for her, but she was already slipping into the brush. "At least give me your name!"

She was too far gone to hear. He grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose as he leaned back onto the workbench. He did all that, and didn't even get a thank you? Ugh. And that was some of his good leather, too.

He did get a gem, though. Turning around, he inspected it once more, running a finger over its surface. If only he knew where this thing had come from. Perhaps- no, he didn't know any other diamonds, now that he thought about it, or any quartzes, or any other clear sort of gem. Holding it up let the light shine through its clear surface, and Attikias hummed.

Well, now, this felt awkward. Should it be given another chance? Did she want him to give it life? Was it a friend of her's? Or some enemies?

Did he trust the idea of this?

An uneasy noise lifted from his throat as he stepped towards the rain shed, thumb still running over the gem's surface. He could give it life- he had the kid with Titanite growing, now, and the one with Lyra. This could work, feasibly, right? His tail lashing, Attikias approached the tent and cleared away some urns one-handedly, keeping the diamond safe on his other hand.

Once everything was clear, Attikias squatted down and stretched his magic into the gem, a sense of exhaustion pouring over him. He couldn't do this forever- and Dip didn't like him making so many kids, it seemed, but this wouldn't hurt. It wasn't right to leave a gem half-dead forever. What if they were sentient in there? What if it had an old family that loved it? What if it had someone who wanted them back?

Letting out a breathe that he was holding in, Attikias laid the diamond on the ground and let it grow into a chrysalis, watching it. This wouldn't be a bad decision. It couldn't be one, he figured, as he stepped away and returned to his own tent.

Caves, he needed a nap after that.

;exit Attik to snz and get me free of this hell thread