(( 2nd of Galena, 263 ))
(( Resolution of Amor and Jaxler dispute at the reception ))
Amor made a mule of herself at Jury and Partisan’s wedding, not as if she made a scene or ruin the two newlyweds’ day, but that she dragged her two friends down more than they already were. Indigo and her resolve their variance; however the mare has taken steps to avoid Jaxler for a week, as she was unsure to their relationship. The Pegasus’s drinking habit was bound to cause vexation, but she never know how much of a problem it could be. The copper Unicorn still held herself in the wrong as she thought;
Amor you should have went elsewhere in the reception and enjoyed yourself. Even if I would have had no fun, there was no point in doing what I did. She trotted up to the craft-shop where Jaxler was carving up wooden jugs that was akin to small barrels. These were likely going to be used by Oil Macepony for collecting and storing honey. “Hello Jaxler, a fair afternoon to be working.”
Jaxler looked up from his work. He really hadn’t seen much of Amor recently, which was odd. “That it would be.”
Another reason for her visit was to order some woodcrafts for the coming up holiday of Harmony Day, which took place the fourteenth. Even if Dawnpick was less geared to observing holidays, this year they were needed with all that has taken place. “Jaxler, can I make two commissions?”
Jaxler glared at Amor. “I don’t do commissions for people like you...” The markspony then got a stupid smirk. “Seeing how I never make my friends pay for my crafts.”
The mare was slightly caught off guard by Jaxlers’s quip, until he shoots her a silly grin, she shares in it too. “Then I might trade you a masterful marble block as a paperweight.” She slips her tongue out to mark that she was teasing in a poor attempt of humor. The Unicorn pretends to go back into business manner. “Harmony Day is coming up and I wanted to have gifts for Amber, Indigo and Sarissa. I think that both Indigo and Sarissa are loyal ponies, but I’m having trouble with Amber.”
Jaxler titled his head in confusion. The foreign born pony hadn’t the slightest clue what ‘Harmony day’ was or how it was celebrated. “Da’ buck is harmony day?”
“Jaxler don’t be so crude with your words.” The curly mane mare scolds him for using ‘buck’ in such a manner. “Harmony Day is observed differently through each ponies’ household, but one thing that makes it the same to everypony is that we look into each others’ hearts for the best virtues of pony-kind. We then gift charms that symbolize a single virtue to those we consider that emulates that one desirable quality the most. Despondently, in Dawnpick usually Ponies have a special meal, not much different than any other day.” She huffs after stating that notion.
Jaxler sighed heavily. “Midpony isn’t my first language so I can be as crude as I want with my words.” Jaxler then sighed a second time. “And from the way you described it, seems like more of a family oriented holiday.”
Amor listens to the stallion and does not bat an eyelash as he states the reason for his rudeness, it was one of his more tolerable traits and answering his question was more important to her. “Actually, it is a holiday that honors friendship. Imagine after having a family and gaining a hundred years worth of trinkets, you would sooner only accept favors or foodstuff. Speaking of which, I was going to ask Skillet to make some pastries shaped in the symbols of the virtues of harmony for Amber.” The mare then makes herself comfortable beside the workshop, planning to stay for awhile.
The woodcrafter shrugged. “Meh, chests full of trinkets aren’t so bad.” Jaxler then pulled out his carving tools. “So, what do you want me to make?”
The mason pony already had a general idea for the two crafts, but reorganized her thoughts before stating them. “Indigo’s is going to be a bracelet, with a thunderbolt carved into it, and allows for future gem setting. Sarissa is an amulet, but also with a thunderbolt carved into it, she might even want menacing spikes.” The mare says as she ‘blahs’ and shakes her head at the idea of a pony desiring such accessory.
“Okay then, what kind of wood?” Jaxler was actually a little bit excited to have an excuse to use
any type of wood. He had been able to get some cave tree woods from the last caravan to come to town. “You might want to use some Nether-cap wood for indigo. The blue wood matches his fur.”
Natural wood is nearly scarce in Dawnpick, even if the magnificence highwoods were a decant trot from the drawbridge, the dangers were assured.
Maybe Virtue might need to settle a small tree cutters’ hamlet outside of Dawnpick’s walls, north of here. Even with wood from the caravan, it should go for more community projects, also transmuted was more fitting for Unicorns. “Sorry Jaxler, but I was thinking transmuted wood would be more desired.”
Jaxler really wanted an excuse to carve some of the cave wood he kept stashed, but kept his slight disappointment hidden. “So, compressed wood stuffs it is!” Jaxler pulled out some transmuted longland wood. “Want anything carved into the wood? I can even make it as detailed as you like.”
“Just the thunderbolts and Sarissa’s menacing spikes, but if you can make depictions of Unicorns I think the two would take pleasure in that.” Amor shuffles on the grass to get a better view of the Pegasus’s work. “Oh, you don’t mind if I watch?”
Wood carving was actually almost second nature to the markspony. One might assume incorrectly that it was his special talent. “I don’t mind.” He started to carve the transmuted wood, which was boring. Jaxler really didn’t enjoy carving common woods that he had grown accustomed to working with.
During a pause of Jaxler’s work, Amor thought best to tell the stallion the other reason why she was there. “Another reason why I came here was to apologies for my foalish behavior at the wedding.” She said as she shifted to get a better view of the crafts-pony’s expression.
Jaxler paused his work on the ‘log’ of wood he was carving into. “Meh, don’t be sorry.” The pony then looked back down at the log. The craft he was carving into it was starting to take shape.
“Thank you” The goldenrod mane Pony says contently and turns her attention to the materializing bracelet, she then places her hoof on the plank to stop him from continuing. “Another rationale for not going for ornaments that match coat color is that they are less visible and now that I think about it, this wood won’t stand out on Sarissa, got any wild strawberry wood?”
Jaxler stopped and pondered for a moment. “Yeah, I think I have some strawberry wood.” After responding The pegasus went back to work on the bracelet.
Soon the bracelet was freed from the wood and Jaxler started to labor on the fine details. With another pause from his work, the Unicorn probe him for information as to what to give him for Harmony Day. “So, I see you are using liver-tented tools, black bronze?” She makes a observation unsure if she hit the mark.
Jaxler didn’t stop carving the bracelet as he responded . “Yeah, it’s black bronze.” The little pony looked at the bracelet which seemed finished now aside from the image which needed to be carved in. “I know I could something more practical like iron, but I’ve always had a liking for Black bronze.”
Listening comfortable from her position, she plots. The mare levitates her flask out to take a drink and spies Jaxlers’s pigskin waterbag. “You don’t carry alcohol in that skin do you, especially when employing those tools?” Pointing her hoof towards the waterskin as she asks in a slight distrusted tone, moreover that the item was made from the flesh of an animal, un-pony-like.
Jaxler was about done with the image of indigo, when he turned his head to look at his waterskin. “Yes I don’t carry booze in my waterskin. I only drink after I get my work done.” Jaxler went back to work carving. “I wouldn’t want to do anything that would make my hooves less steady.”
Amor breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that. “Good to hear, I care about my friends and don’t want them to do anything that brings unnecessary harm.” She takes a little dignified sip of her carrot juice and returns to her friendly prying. “Would you like that old skin replaced?”
Jaxler really didn’t care much his water skin. Though, he never really minded using animal products, he prefered to have something easier to clean, and would prefer to have ponies stop nagging him about it being “inhumane” and “Unpony like” to use a animal product. “Yes actually.”
“Alright, then do you have any plans for Harmony Day now, such as giving gifts to your friend Flux or his and your apprentice?” The Unicorn questions with a sly smile and carries on. “Best to keep that day opened.”
Jaxler shrugged, “What exactly would I get them?” The woodworker then looked down at his craft. The bracelet actually was among the caftspony’s better works, and the image was spot on. “Also, your craft is done.”
Amor rubs her hooves together in contemplation, to her, gifts were best made by one's own love and sweat. Although, she had neither the time nor the will to create each of her friends a statue, and had the knowledge that making one for them to share was unfair. “Maybe make crafts like you are doing right now, or simply telling them what they are worth to you.” She gets up, accepts the bracelet and examines it within her light grasp. “I can wait here until the other is done, if you allow me.” She answers still eyeing the item. The wood was a bright yellow with subtle bands and the engravings were dark. It was of superior quality and almost could pass for exceptional, she was pleased with the craftsponyship.
“Well, I see no reason why you can’t stay here and watch.” Jaxler then pulled out a piece of strawberry wood. After looking the log over he started to carve out Sarissa’s craft.
Not long afterwards, Sarissa’s amulet arises from the deep red colored wood and it turned out to be masterwork quality only a fool could question. “Jaxler, are you sure you want to part with this, you could get a hundred and twenty bits out of this, more if you bartered?”
Jaxler looked the craft over. “I’m fine if.” He then picked it up and continued to look it over. "ughs, If I had doubled the menacing spikes it would have been 20% cooler. I really wouldn’t care if I parted with it.”
Amor doesn’t see it, but the amulet matched its future owner; the mare thanks her friend. After returning to her room and hiding the presents in her cinnabar cache, Amor trots to the metal works. There she searches for black bronze ingots, but only finds what she mistakenly thought was its basic components of copper, tin and silver. At the blistering smelter, the mare was corrected by Crimson, as instead of tin, gold was used in the alloy. Worse still was that the incredibly skinny stallion stated that the mason pony was best to place an order with one of the metalsmiths, as he was diligently fulfilling steel orders. Amor then sought out Kat, although found neither hair nor feather of the mare, on the contrary she discovers another Pegasus, Pewter. The two Little Ponies were proficient persuaders, nevertheless Amor would have to wait the eve of Harmony Day to receive the item to her preference. Paying forthright four gold, six silver and ten copper bits and compensating any additional on the day of pick-up, the mare leaves unsure of the quality of work she would come back to.
On Harmony’s eve, the copper coated Unicorn collected the *black bronze metalwork* and paid the remainder of 330 bits, thanks Pewter for her work and even for her wrapping it up after examining it. Next day, Amor gifts Indigo’s at the dyer shop, and Sarissa’s at the temple grounds, by her being off duty. The curly mane Little Pony next finds Jaxler in the meeting hall.
Jaxler stopped his drinking momentarily once he saw his good friend walk in. “Yo Amor.” He then took a swig of booze.
Amor returns the greeting; “hello Jaxler, enjoying the holiday?” Afterwards the mare takes a seat besides the slightly inebriated Pegasus and looks on at her friend.
Jaxler shrugged. “It’s been fine, how has yours been?”
“Delightful, thanks for asking; also I got something for you.” She says as she angles out the wrapped gift from a pocket on her smock and places it before the Pegasus. “I hope you love it.”
Jaxler Smiled as he picked up the gift. The pony had no idea what it could be. “Hmmm, I wonder what it could be.” He then tried to unwrap the thing with his bare hooves, which didn’t really work out at first. Eventually he unwrapped it, though he hadn’t the slightest clue how he did so. Once he finished, he saw *Black bronze flask* embossed with a apple on one side, a cloud on the other and on the bottom is Jaxler’s name. “Damn, now that’s neat.”
Amor ears perked up at Jaxler’s excitement at the liverish receptacle, her eyes light up. “I’m very thrilled that you like it, Jaxler.” The mare states as she awkwardly sets there staring on at Jaxler looking over his gift. Her mind feared that he would physical display his affection as friends often do.
Jaxler really didn’t know what the apple engraved into the side ment, but he still liked his gift. “So, I guess now I can throw out my old waterskin... thanks.”
“You’re welcomed, and thank you for your friendship.” After saying that, the hail began to clear out, a few gifts were exchanged and a party or two was thrown, but was apparent that all the ponies had enough excitement this year. The Unicorn looks over to Jaxler and states in a lower volume, “the apple symbolizes honesty, of all things, odd that it is not health or something like that, but it is what it is.”
“Heh, honesty...” Jaxler sighed, before continuing. “Thanks for your friendship as well.”
“The measure of life is not length, but honestie.” The mason pony adds and the two set there enjoying each others’ company in near silence, but it is broken again by the mare’s soft voice. “An envious title ‘Honest Pony,’ and I desire to hold the resolve and courage to preserve mine, but others wear it better then some, you do.”
(( Note:
The Meandering Gloss Currency ))
(( Note: Harmony Day -- Galena, 14 -- Day to honor the elements of harmony; Honesty, Kindness, Good Cheer, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic. Friends give each others amulets, bracelets and other items that bears one of the symbol of the elements of harmony that represents them the best. ))
(( Note: Indigo’s reaction, he just accepts the bracelet and put it in his chest, then carve her something for her birthday. If he has some reason to install a gem, like Amor asking him about it, he would pick something cheap and with fitting colour, likely either green glass of red tourmaline. ))
(( Note: Sarissa’s reaction, she is surprised in a good way, no pony has given her a gift in Dawnpick until now. ))
Author
Topic: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress) (Read 229905 times)